These are no ordinary challenges, as you might have already guessed—here is a brief summary of what they are tackling:

• Smash-simulation software: Teaching algorithms to be faster at simulating particle-collision events.
• Connecting the dots: Using machine learning to better identify the particles produced by collision events.
• Cells in the cloud: Running biological simulations more efficiently with cloud computing.
• Disaster relief: Helping computers to get better at recognizing objects in satellite maps created by a UN agency.
• IoT at the LHC: Integrating Internet of Things devices into the control systems for the Large Hadron Collider.