The Analytics Advantage

Like many of you, I start every morning with a cup (or four) of coffee. Recently, while waiting for that critical first cup, I realized I didn’t actually know how my drip coffee maker works. So, I looked it up. Turns out, it’s pretty simple. A heating element warms the water, bubbles push it up a tube and drips it over the coffee grounds, and then gravity delivers the finished product into the pot. No pump. No complicated machinery.

In this issue, we take a similar approach to analytics, attempting to demystify (or at least simplify) several topics that seem complex at first glance. We explore the basics of predictive modeling, rethink human evolution through the lens of the female body, and learn how data visualization can help scientists better collaborate with AI. Enjoy this month's issue!

Predictive modelling demystified: How to choose the right model for your data

Predictive modeling might seem complex, but at its core it’s simply about using data to uncover patterns and make informed predictions. In this blog, we discuss the key concepts behind predictive modeling, explore common modeling techniques, and highlight what separates a useful model from a misleading one.

You also learn practical tips for getting started, guidance on choosing the right level of complexity for your models, and a simple way to validate your results. Finally, we demonstrate how visualization can help you compare and interpret your models for faster, more confident decision making.

The science of Eve: Rethinking human evolution through the female body

Human evolution has been extensively studied, but most of the story has been told from the male perspective. In this article, JMP’s Statistical Ambassador Anne Milley reviews Cat Bohanan’s best-selling book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution, which challenges long-standing assumptions about human evolution by placing the female body at the center of the narrative.

Each chapter explores key evolutionary traits, such as lactation, pregnancy, and female strength, offering a fresh perspective on human biology and development. Ultimately, Eve shows how studying the female body, combined with curiosity and better data, can give us a more robust understanding of humanity.

Master in a minute

Introduction to predictive modeling

In this lesson from the Statistics Knowledge Portal, we learn what predictive modeling is, why it matters, and how techniques like regression, decision trees, neural networks, clustering, and others can help elevate your analytical analysis.

Why data visualization is so important

in the age of AI 

Source: ©Archive World/Alamy

As artificial intelligence produces ever-growing volumes of data at unprecedented speeds, data visualization has become a critical tool for making sense of complex information, sharing ideas, and making better decisions. In this article, JMP's Phil Kay explains how strong visualization skills can help us better collaborate with AI, enabling us to validate, interpret, and apply its insights across numerous real‑world applications.

On-demand webinar

Predictive Modeling for Faster, Clearer Decisions

Discover how predictive modeling can help you understand complex systems across R&D, quality, and manufacturing. Learn how to build a model that fits your data and how to use JMP's Prediction Profiler to visualize system behavior. No prior modeling experience is needed. This webinar provides simple explanations and short, practical demos suitable for any knowledge level.

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