Elliot Lichtman

Contributing Writer

A cube full of colorful shapes is connected to a smaller cube stuffed with the same shapes.

information theory

Data Compression Drives the Internet. Here’s How It Works.

May 31, 2023

One student’s desire to get out of a final exam led to the ubiquitous algorithm that shrinks data without sacrificing information.

About the author

Elliot Lichtman is a high school senior who has logged more than 800 hours teaching computer science to 350+ middle school students at www.ComeCodeWithUs.com. His first book, an algorithms textbook entitled The Computer Always Wins, will be published in 2024.

Follow Quanta

All Time

Saved Articles

Log out

Change password

Elliot Lichtman

Data Compression Drives the Internet. Here’s How It Works.

Data Compression Drives the Internet. Here’s How It Works.

How 3D Changes in the Genome Turned Sharks Into Skates

Elliot Lichtman

Latest Articles

Data Compression Drives the Internet. Here’s How It Works.