Algorithm

The Ackermann function is a deceptively simple algorithm that stands as a landmark in theoretical computer science. Defined by a concise set of recursive rules, it generates numerical values that grow at a rate faster than any primitive recursive function, quickly reaching magnitudes that are physically incomputable. While its naive implementation serves as a classic example of a recursion depth stress test, its true importance is historical and philosophical.

PageRank, created by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, changed the web by ranking pages based on the quality and quantity of their links, rather than just keywords. It evaluates a page’s authority through its endorsements, improving the relevance and trustworthiness of search results.

Stippling, a timeless artistic technique, traces its origins back through the annals of art history, where it emerged as a method of creating texture, depth, and form through the precise placement of dots.

Voronoi diagrams, also known as Dirichlet tessellation or Thiessen polygons, are everywhere in nature. You’ve likely encountered them thousands of times, but perhaps didn’t know what they were called.

The Difference of Gaussians (DoG) algorithm is a technique in image processing used for edge detection and feature enhancement.