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Digital Darwin
An anonymous reader writes "Using genetic algorithms to breed strings of computer code graphically, this week's Nature magazine describes results from Caltech and Michigan State. Their program is Avida. While they mainly mimic mutation, not genetic cross-over [or inheritance (thus wiping away much memory of initial conditions)], their simulations show how a short-term backward step in survival strategies can generate innovative advances. It is not unlike running a maze which necessarily involves testing alot of dead-ends, and thus shares the graphical look of Conway's classic Game of Life." Here's a National Geographic story about this as well, or see their press release.
Why does Slashdot still have a radio section? The last update was June 29, 2001! Almost two whole years ago!
yeah, that's right. fourth post.
no one ever said the 'f' in 'fp' *had* to be for 'first', right?
where he is at right now and if he is happy with the choices he made in his life, you would not be surprised to hear the answers. Then ask him if he thinks that these algorithms should be run on anybody's computers. And the answer there would be "no." Anything that leads man down the path to the sort of eternal torture that Darwin is enduring now is not a good thing. And he would be the first to tell you that.
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http://matrix.ugo.com/zionswitchboard/messageview. cfm?catid=39&threadid=8247