A rapid optimization model inspired by cuckoos. Cuckoos are parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. The hatched cuckoos can push the host's eggs out of the nest or raise them as their own, depriving the rest of the vital resources. This allows them to grow and become larger and stronger than if they were raised by the cuckoo's parents. The cuckoo is very intelligent, choosing the nests of other species whose eggs have a similar color to its own. This tricks other birds into not recognizing the foreign eggs at all. On the other hand, before laying eggs in other nests, cuckoos carefully observe the routines and behavior of other species to choose those that have a longer incubation time than its own eggs. Despite its ingenuity, 20% cuckoo eggs will be recognized as foreign eggs, and the host birds will either throw them out of the nests or abandon them along with the nests. 

High-entropy alloys are used in various industries, including aerospace. They have several positive properties, including fracture resistance, corrosion and oxidation resistance, and applicability in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. The researchers used a hybrid evolutionary algorithm that combines Cuckoo Search (CS) and Monte Carlo algorithms. CS is based on the egg-laying strategy of the cuckoo bird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds.

The CS algorithm does something similar: there are multiple “nests,” each with a different “egg” representing possible solutions. The nests compete with each other until they find the best solution. For high-entropy alloys, each “egg” represents a different combination of alloys, and the computer quickly tests different alloys to see which combination is the most successful. By combining this strategy with a familiar Monte Carlo algorithm and mathematical concepts, the researchers quickly found optimal high-entropy alloys for any number of applications.

Advantages: Increased efficiency, reduced computation time

Applications: Computer algorithms, space exploration, materials science

UN Sustainable Development Goals discussed: Industrial innovation and infrastructure; Responsible production and consumption

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Summarized by AskNature.org