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Friday, April 3, 2009

Science Rise of the Machines

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 1:11 PM

A laboratory robot called Adam has been hailed as the first machine in history to have discovered new scientific knowledge independently of its human creators.

Adam formed a hypothesis on the genetics of bakers’ yeast and carried out experiments to test its predictions, without intervention from its makers at Aberystwyth University.

Wait until it buys a gun independently of its human creators. We'll see how cute it is then. (Via The Weasel King.)

Comments (15) RSS

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Huh. Robot Scientists. Well, I'll be damned.

Now, the question is, will creationists crazies hate Robot Scientists more or less than People Scientists?

Posted by Julie in Eugene on April 3, 2009 at 1:19 PM

At least a robot can still get a good job.

Posted by Vince on April 3, 2009 at 1:25 PM

What a waste of time, everything there was to discover about baker's yeast was found out years ago.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on April 3, 2009 at 1:27 PM

The least they could do is make it look like Tricia Helfer

Posted by why yesh, I like Battleshtar! on April 3, 2009 at 1:28 PM

Cool. That's great.

Now, shut it off now.

Posted by LogopolisMike on April 3, 2009 at 1:46 PM

So does this mean SkyNet is going to destroy humanity with a massive yeast infection?

Posted by Smartypants on April 3, 2009 at 1:55 PM

What #5 said. It's clear now a far more depressing fate awaits us than that foretold in the movie Terminator, and it's the apocryphal tale known as Short Circuit. If Steve Guttenberg starts getting work again, consider it the second of the Seven Signs.

If you should need me, I'll be shooting that robot in the head.

Posted by Dougsf on April 3, 2009 at 1:57 PM

I'm not sure I accept this at face value - with names like "Adam" and "Eve" (which is "more elegant") this sounds a bit like an April Fools Day joke. I'll wait a bit and check the scientific journals (it mentions "Science") to see if there is follow up corroboration

Posted by Jaymz on April 3, 2009 at 2:12 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmVaLp8ic…

We are so fucked.

Posted by Need Better Planet on April 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Dear Paul Constant,

I am scared of robots. Please protect me.

Love, Jocelyn.

Posted by Jocelyn on April 3, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Jocelyn, we will protect you.

Posted by The Clowns on April 3, 2009 at 2:36 PM

Thanks, Clowns!

Posted by Jocelyn on April 3, 2009 at 2:42 PM

Luckily for us in America, if the robot uprising happens, it will start in Japan, as their robots are far more advanced and numerous.

Posted by danhowes on April 3, 2009 at 2:52 PM

Kill it! Kill it with FIRE!

Posted by The Amazing Jim on April 3, 2009 at 3:18 PM

@ 14,

Only works with zombies. Same as whacking it repeatedly with a shovel. I think you have to take them out by splashing water on them so they'll either short circuit or rust.

Posted by yucca flower on April 3, 2009 at 5:08 PM