Via Alea, a new entry into the best title ever competition: “Option Model Calibration Using a Bacterial Foraging Optimization Algorithm” by J. Dang, A. Brabazon, M. O’Neill, and D. Edelman. That right, using an algorithm inspired by trying to mimic E. coli foraging, one hopes to calibrate a volatility option pricing model. No word yet, however, on whether bacteria will be able to spot CDOs with a large exposure to subprime mortgage bonds.
O brave new quantum world!