The top stories of the first half of 2021

{"value":"\n\nFrom Muthoni Ngatia's (top left) journey to becoming an economist, to the impressive collaboration that helped create Echo Show 10, to the award-winning work of the Middle Mile team, these stories are the ones readers gravitated to most often (so far).\nGLYNIS CONDON\n\nIf these stories intrigue you, be sure to see the [latest papers](https://www.amazon.science/publications) published by Amazon scientists, take a look at the deep dives into science on [our blog](https://www.amazon.science/blog), and visit our [conferences and events](https://www.amazon.science/conferences-and-events) section to learn where Amazon researchers will be presenting.\n\n#### **The 12 most popular stories of 2021 (so far)**\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-science-behind-an-amazon-echo-feature-that-helped-save-a-puppy)\n\n#### **[The science behind an Amazon Echo feature that helped save a puppy](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-science-behind-an-amazon-echo-feature-that-helped-save-a-puppy)**\n\nHow acoustic event detection helps Alexa Guard understand what might warrant an alert — and what just might be a microwave beeping.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-amazons-middle-mile-team-helps-packages-make-the-journey-to-your-doorstep)\n\n#### **[Amazon's Middle Mile team helps packages make the journey to your doorstep](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-amazons-middle-mile-team-helps-packages-make-the-journey-to-your-doorstep)**\n\nThe Middle Mile team manages complexity and scale in making routing decisions across the company’s expansive transportation network.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/women-scientists-offer-opinions-on-how-to-forge-a-more-gender-equal-science-community)\n\n#### **How to forge a more gender-equal science community**\n\nInternational Women's Day was March 8 with the theme: #ChooseToChallenge. We spoke to scientists at Amazon to get their perspective.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/echo-show-10-the-intersection-of-design-and-science)\n\n#### **[The intersection of design and science](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/echo-show-10-the-intersection-of-design-and-science)**\n\nHow a team of designers, scientists, developers, and engineers worked together to create a truly unique device in Echo Show 10.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/working-at-amazon/how-muthoni-ngatias-childhood-in-kenya-led-her-to-a-career-in-economics)\n\n#### **How Muthoni Ngatia’s childhood in Kenya led her to a career in economics**\n\nThe Amazon economist says lessons from her mother taught her a lot about how the world works, and why economics plays such a vital role.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/amazon-robotics-see-robin-robot-arms-in-action)\n\n[Amazon’s robot arms break ground in safety and technology](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/amazon-robotics-see-robin-robot-arms-in-action)\n\nWhile these systems look like other robot arms, they embed advanced technologies that will shape Amazon's robot fleet for years to come.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/working-at-amazon/how-three-science-phds-found-different-career-paths-at-amazon)\n\n#### **How three science PhDs found different career paths at Amazon**\n\nTheir doctoral degrees help these product managers bridge the gap between business and science.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/abdigani-diriye-named-among-top-young-african-economic-leaders)\n\n#### **[Credit: Bret Hartman / TED Abdigani Diriye named among top young African economic leaders](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/abdigani-diriye-named-among-top-young-african-economic-leaders)**\n\nThe Amazon research manager was included on a list of individuals 40 and younger who are projected to play a leading role in Africa’s economic future.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/blog/alexa-the-science-must-go-on)\n\n#### **[Alexa: The science must go on](https://www.amazon.science/blog/alexa-the-science-must-go-on)**\n\n“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Alexa team has shown incredible adaptability and grit, delivering scientific results that are already making a difference for our customers and will have long-lasting effects,” Rohit Prasad.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/graceful-ai)\n\n#### **[Credit: Todd CheneyGraceful AI](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/graceful-ai)**\n\nAmazon vice president Stefano Soatto writes about the work his team is doing to making AI more \"graceful\", including publishing papers on backward-compatible updates to ML models and more.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-aws-scientists-help-create-the-nfls-next-gen-stats)\n\n#### **[How Amazon Web Services scientists help create the NFL’s Next Gen Stats](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-aws-scientists-help-create-the-nfls-next-gen-stats)**\n\nIn its collaboration with the NFL, Amazon Web Services contributes cloud computing technology, machine learning services, business intelligence services — and, sometimes, the expertise of its scientists.\n\n[](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-quantum-gambit)\n\n#### **[The quantum gambit](https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-quantum-gambit)**\n\nHow an Amazon quantum computing scientist won the first-ever quantum chess tournament.\n\nABOUT THE AUTHOR\n\n#### **Staff writer**","render":"<p><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/5431a731ff3c448489aa7c9cdaf9fb3c_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></p>\n<p>From Muthoni Ngatia’s (top left) journey to becoming an economist, to the impressive collaboration that helped create Echo Show 10, to the award-winning work of the Middle Mile team, these stories are the ones readers gravitated to most often (so far).<br />\\nGLYNIS CONDON</p>\n<p>If these stories intrigue you, be sure to see the <a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/publications\\" target=\\"_blank\\">latest papers</a> published by Amazon scientists, take a look at the deep dives into science on <a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/blog\\" target=\\"_blank\\">our blog</a>, and visit our <a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/conferences-and-events\\" target=\\"_blank\\">conferences and events</a> section to learn where Amazon researchers will be presenting.</p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"The_12_most_popular_stories_of_2021_so_far_7\\"></a><strong>The 12 most popular stories of 2021 (so far)</strong></h4>\\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-science-behind-an-amazon-echo-feature-that-helped-save-a-puppy\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/0e5632b9c49d4595ac4e2c0f54ba0307_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"The_science_behind_an_Amazon_Echo_feature_that_helped_save_a_puppyhttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewsthesciencebehindanamazonechofeaturethathelpedsaveapuppy_11\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-science-behind-an-amazon-echo-feature-that-helped-save-a-puppy\\" target=\\"_blank\\">The science behind an Amazon Echo feature that helped save a puppy</a></strong></h4>\n<p>How acoustic event detection helps Alexa Guard understand what might warrant an alert — and what just might be a microwave beeping.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-amazons-middle-mile-team-helps-packages-make-the-journey-to-your-doorstep\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/ec38027c535c4f2c92318a115a466686_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"Amazons_Middle_Mile_team_helps_packages_make_the_journey_to_your_doorstephttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewshowamazonsmiddlemileteamhelpspackagesmakethejourneytoyourdoorstep_17\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-amazons-middle-mile-team-helps-packages-make-the-journey-to-your-doorstep\\" target=\\"_blank\\">Amazon’s Middle Mile team helps packages make the journey to your doorstep</a></strong></h4>\n<p>The Middle Mile team manages complexity and scale in making routing decisions across the company’s expansive transportation network.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/women-scientists-offer-opinions-on-how-to-forge-a-more-gender-equal-science-community\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/40bccc2c611f437ab7a0bebbef9b3b4a_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"How_to_forge_a_more_genderequal_science_community_23\\"></a><strong>How to forge a more gender-equal science community</strong></h4>\\n<p>International Women’s Day was March 8 with the theme: #ChooseToChallenge. We spoke to scientists at Amazon to get their perspective.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/echo-show-10-the-intersection-of-design-and-science\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/b96a7e39656b45bf9eedb80a4af82653_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"The_intersection_of_design_and_sciencehttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewsechoshow10theintersectionofdesignandscience_29\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/echo-show-10-the-intersection-of-design-and-science\\" target=\\"_blank\\">The intersection of design and science</a></strong></h4>\n<p>How a team of designers, scientists, developers, and engineers worked together to create a truly unique device in Echo Show 10.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/working-at-amazon/how-muthoni-ngatias-childhood-in-kenya-led-her-to-a-career-in-economics\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/0a111344321a46f69b2b3376fa3f920c_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"How_Muthoni_Ngatias_childhood_in_Kenya_led_her_to_a_career_in_economics_35\\"></a><strong>How Muthoni Ngatia’s childhood in Kenya led her to a career in economics</strong></h4>\\n<p>The Amazon economist says lessons from her mother taught her a lot about how the world works, and why economics plays such a vital role.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/amazon-robotics-see-robin-robot-arms-in-action\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/5d2c531817954e6eab235809c2d37630_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/amazon-robotics-see-robin-robot-arms-in-action\\" target=\\"_blank\\">Amazon’s robot arms break ground in safety and technology</a></p>\\n<p>While these systems look like other robot arms, they embed advanced technologies that will shape Amazon’s robot fleet for years to come.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/working-at-amazon/how-three-science-phds-found-different-career-paths-at-amazon\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/9e91e5df2a8045ab8f637428802adc72_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"How_three_science_PhDs_found_different_career_paths_at_Amazon_47\\"></a><strong>How three science PhDs found different career paths at Amazon</strong></h4>\\n<p>Their doctoral degrees help these product managers bridge the gap between business and science.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/abdigani-diriye-named-among-top-young-african-economic-leaders\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/3bc2f595090c40f794ad65987b2a33f8_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"Credit_Bret_Hartman__TED_Abdigani_Diriye_named_among_top_young_African_economic_leadershttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewsabdiganidiriyenamedamongtopyoungafricaneconomicleaders_53\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/abdigani-diriye-named-among-top-young-african-economic-leaders\\" target=\\"_blank\\">Credit: Bret Hartman / TED Abdigani Diriye named among top young African economic leaders</a></strong></h4>\n<p>The Amazon research manager was included on a list of individuals 40 and younger who are projected to play a leading role in Africa’s economic future.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/blog/alexa-the-science-must-go-on\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/31d55edc40f5490aaddedc66b2976eae_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"Alexa_The_science_must_go_onhttpswwwamazonscienceblogalexathesciencemustgoon_59\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/blog/alexa-the-science-must-go-on\\" target=\\"_blank\\">Alexa: The science must go on</a></strong></h4>\n<p>“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Alexa team has shown incredible adaptability and grit, delivering scientific results that are already making a difference for our customers and will have long-lasting effects,” Rohit Prasad.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/graceful-ai\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/9d3f95281c294b50a960cd16ab947b4a_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"Credit_Todd_CheneyGraceful_AIhttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewsgracefulai_65\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/graceful-ai\\" target=\\"_blank\\">Credit: Todd CheneyGraceful AI</a></strong></h4>\n<p>Amazon vice president Stefano Soatto writes about the work his team is doing to making AI more “graceful”, including publishing papers on backward-compatible updates to ML models and more.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-aws-scientists-help-create-the-nfls-next-gen-stats\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/a9885351731d44908c93392b73ab6469_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"How_Amazon_Web_Services_scientists_help_create_the_NFLs_Next_Gen_Statshttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewshowawsscientistshelpcreatethenflsnextgenstats_71\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/how-aws-scientists-help-create-the-nfls-next-gen-stats\\" target=\\"_blank\\">How Amazon Web Services scientists help create the NFL’s Next Gen Stats</a></strong></h4>\n<p>In its collaboration with the NFL, Amazon Web Services contributes cloud computing technology, machine learning services, business intelligence services — and, sometimes, the expertise of its scientists.</p>\n<p><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-quantum-gambit\\" target=\\"_blank\\"><img src=\\"https://dev-media.amazoncloud.cn/4e782bb5bfcd48a096f231b644d5e462_image.png\\" alt=\\"image.png\\" /></a></p>\\n<h4><a id=\\"The_quantum_gambithttpswwwamazonsciencelatestnewsthequantumgambit_77\\"></a><strong><a href=\\"https://www.amazon.science/latest-news/the-quantum-gambit\\" target=\\"_blank\\">The quantum gambit</a></strong></h4>\n<p>How an Amazon quantum computing scientist won the first-ever quantum chess tournament.</p>\n<p>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</p>\n<h4><a id=\\"Staff_writer_83\\"></a><strong>Staff writer</strong></h4>\n"}