We’re always excited to see new books that illustrate applications of Wolfram technology in a wide range of fields. Below is another set of recently published books using the Wolfram Language to explore computational thinking. From André Dauphiné’s outstanding geographical studies of our planet to Romano and Caveliere’s work on the geometric optics that help us study the stars, we find a variety of fields served by Wolfram technology.

From Curve Fitting to Machine Learning: An Illustrative Guide to Scientific Data Analysis and Computational Intelligence, second edition

We’re fascinated by artificial intelligence and machine learning, and Achim Zielesny’s second edition of From Curve Fitting to Machine Learning: An Illustrative Guide to Scientific Data Analysis and Computational Intelligence provides a great introduction to the increasingly necessary field of computational intelligence. This is an interactive and illustrative guide with all concepts and ideas outlined in a clear-cut manner, with graphically depicted plausibility arguments and a little elementary mathematics. Exploring topics such as two-dimensional curve fitting, multidimensional clustering and machine learning with neural networks or support vector machines, the subject-specific demonstrations are complemented with specific sections that address more fundamental questions like the relation between machine learning and human intelligence. Zielesny makes extensive use of Computational Intelligence Packages (CIP), a high-level function library developed with Mathematica’s programming language on top of Mathematica’s algorithms. Readers with programming skills may easily port or customize the provided code, so this book is particularly valuable to computer science students and scientific practitioners in industry and academia.

The Art of Programming in the Mathematica Software, third edition

Another gem for programmers and scientists who need to fine-tune and otherwise customize their Wolfram Language applications is the third edition of The Art of Programming in the Mathematica Software, by Victor Aladjev, Valery Boiko and Michael Shishakov. This text concentrates on procedural and functional programming. Experienced Wolfram Language programmers know the value of creating user tools. They can extend the most frequently used standard tools of the system and/or eliminate its shortcomings, complement new features, and much more. Scientists and data analysts can then conduct even the most sophisticated work efficiently using the Wolfram Language. Likewise, professional programmers can use these techniques to develop more valuable products for their clients/employers. Included is the MathToolBox package with more than 930 tools; their freeware license is attached to the book.

Introduction to Mathematica with Applications

For a more basic introduction to Mathematica, readers may turn to Marian Mureşan’s Introduction to Mathematica with Applications. First exploring the numerous features within Mathematica, the book continues with more complex material. Chapters include topics such as sorting algorithms, functions—both planar and solid—with many interesting examples and ordinary differential equations. Mureşan explores the advantages of using the Wolfram Language when dealing with the number pi and describes the power of Mathematica when working with optimal control problems. The target audience for this text includes researchers, professors and students—really anyone who needs a state-of-the art computational tool.

Geographical Models with Mathematica

The Wolfram Language’s powerful combination of extensive map data and computational agility is on display in André Dauphiné’s Geographical Models with Mathematica. This book gives a comprehensive overview of the types of models necessary for the development of new geographical knowledge, including stochastic models, models for data analysis, geostatistics, networks, dynamic systems, cellular automata and multi-agent systems, all discussed in their theoretical context. Dauphiné then provides over 65 programs that formalize these models, written in the Wolfram Language. He also includes case studies to help the reader apply these programs in their own work.

Geometric Optics: Theory and Design of Astronomical Optical Systems Using Mathematica, second edition

Our tour of new Wolfram Language books moves from terra firma to the stars in Geometric Optics: Theory and Design of Astronomical Optical Systems Using Mathematica. This book by Antonio Romano and Roberto Caveliere provides readers with the mathematical background needed to design many of the optical combinations that are used in astronomical telescopes and cameras. The results presented in the work were obtained through a different approach to third-order aberration theory as well as the extensive use of Mathematica. Replete with workout examples and exercises, Geometric Optics is an excellent reference for advanced graduate students, researchers and practitioners in applied mathematics, engineering, astronomy and astronomical optics. The work may be used as a supplementary textbook for graduate-level courses in astronomical optics, optical design, optical engineering, programming with Mathematica or geometric optics.

Don’t forget to check out Stephen Wolfram’s An Elementary Introduction to the Wolfram Language, now in its second edition. It is available in print, as an ebook and free on the web—as well as in Wolfram Programming Lab in the Wolfram Open Cloud. There’s also now a free online hands-on course based on the book. Read Stephen Wolfram’s recent blog post about machine learning for middle schoolers to learn more about the new edition.