We've all heard that playing video games can improve your hand-eye coordination--usually from kids trying to evade mom's order to go play outside. But those kids may be on to something. New research shows that playing a video game on the Nintendo Wii can help medical students become better surgeons by improving hand dexterity. --by Joe Kullman

What do cancer clusters and galaxy clusters have in common? Quite a bit, it turns out. Astronomer Rogier Windhorst has discovered that software he uses to analyze telescopic images can also be used to effectively detect cancer cells and early signs of diabetes. --by Skip Derra

Al Qaeda operatives reportedly substituted the word “wedding” for “attack” in e-mail messages. Finding these kinds of word substitutions has been a hit-or-miss process for federal investigators. It’s also tough duty for corporate security pros who try to catch employee collusion. But new research from ASU shows that computer programs are capable of detecting word swaps that conceal the true meaning of e-mail messages.

Inverse Ocean Modeling (IOM) is a tool for combining computer models with observations of the ocean. Researchers at ASU are helping to make the system more accessible and easier to use. --by Jessica McCann

Predicting how the smallest details of a golf ball's design will make it act in flight is a painstakingly complex task. --by Joe Kullman

Golfers are always looking for an “edge” to improve their game. So are jet aircraft designers. Thanks to work by ASU engineers, the ardent pursuit of better golfing appears poised to lead to technological innovations that reach far beyond the game. --by Joe Kullman