EPISODE · Jan 25, 2026 · 5 MIN
Bayesian Searchlights: Finding Objects with Probabilistic Mapping
from Intellectually Curious · host Mike Breault
In 1968 the missing nuclear submarine USS Scorpion becomes a turning point for math in search and rescue. This episode follows John P. Craven and a team of mathematicians who framed the ocean as a probabilistic map, using Bayesian search theory to update beliefs after every dive and zero in on a wreck deep in the Atlantic. We unpack the ideas of a probability space, the update loop, and how this approach reshaped modern recovery efforts—from Air France Flight 447 to today’s CASP software.Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.Sponsored by Embersilk LLC
What this episode covers
In 1968 the missing nuclear submarine USS Scorpion becomes a turning point for math in search and rescue. This episode follows John P. Craven and a team of mathematicians who framed the ocean as a probabilistic map, using Bayesian search theory to update beliefs after every dive and zero in on a wreck deep in the Atlantic. We unpack the ideas of a probability space, the update loop, and how this approach reshaped modern recovery efforts—from Air France Flight 447 to today’s CASP software. No...
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Bayesian Searchlights: Finding Objects with Probabilistic Mapping
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