Challenge

Much of the science behind cooking isn't well known to chefs, according to longtime Mathematica user Nathan Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures, former CTO of Microsoft, founder of Microsoft Research and trained chef. To change that, he wanted to include answers to questions about heat transfer, the growth and death of pathogens and other technical subjects in Modernist Cuisine, the six-volume cookbook he co-authored with chefs Chris Young and Maxime Bilet. The book's 2,438 pages delve into the science and technology of cooking. It was the James Beard Foundation's 2012 Cookbook of the Year.

Solution

Myhrvold developed the cookbook by drawing on decades of Mathematica experience he gained working in physics research and computer science.

Myhrvold wrote thousands of lines of Mathematica code for Modernist Cuisine, including modeling heat transfer during grilling, using an ice bath and other cooking methods. The variety of capabilities meant he could solve differential equations and produce unique graphics to visualize the results in one piece of software. "No package that I'm aware of has the breadth of things that Mathematica does," Myhrvold said.

Benefits

Mathematica gave Myhrvold the information he needed and allowed him to present it visually so that others can use what he's learned. "Having the ability to create great, compelling graphics and really interesting scientific and effectively engineering results... adds something to the cookbook," he said.