Groundbreaking Black mathematician Gladys West, who helped develop the algorithms behind GPS, died Jan. 17 at age 95. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Marvin Jackson, who co-wrote West's memoir.
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Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.