Chances are you've played Rock, Paper, Scissors, but how do you calculate your strategy, if you have one at all? In Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life, physicist Len Fisher points out that putting yourself in your opponent's mindset is a key to success in the game.
I find the theory (or what I gather of it) fascinating. When I was young my father played thumb war with me and we used to discuss what you could learn from a person and human behavior based off of their actions and reactions. As I got older I grew into using rock, paper, sciccors with my friends. It's unbelievable what one can observe with such a simple playing field.
Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing
Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed
Share links with friends, comment on stories and more
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
Check out the best of what's new here.