Researchers and engineers have begun to unravel the mysteries of evolution. Yes, we know that DNA changes and favorable mutations are awarded with longer lives and more offspring, but how can scientists tell which evolutionary step was really the best? Computer programs can help to simulate different scenarios but, as many scientists will attest, there is no substitute for the real thing. That is where John Long of Vassar College steps up to the plate. He uses robotics to mimic the movements of species and can change their characteristics ever so slightly to determine exactly what a specific evolution does. These robots can tackle the tough evolutionary questions, not just why the dodo didn’t make it.
Madeleine Paddles with Four Identical Flippers
Scientists and researchers have brought computer simulation forward by leaps and bounds within the past few years. Take a look at the sport of Formula 1 and it will be evident. Every single part of the car is modeled using hundreds of hours of computer simulations and wind tunnel testing. Despite the extensive computer work, engineers still find that the simulations miss a few key points that are only resolved with track testing. There are little niggles in fluids simulations that are just not quite perfect and could make or break any type of testing, not just Formula 1. It is in the real world that the best of testing is still being conducted and Dr. Long knows that.
The most high-profile case of the type of research occurred in Dr. Long’s lab, where he was asked to unravel the mystery of the newly discovered Predator X. The pliosaur, named Predator X for its purpose-built predator nature, was a 45-ton killing machine that owned the oceans in the Jurassic Period. Researchers, however, were unclear as to why the pliosaur had two sets of symmetrical flippers. Most modern reptiles also have two sets of flippers, but they are not symmetrical and each has different a purpose: either propulsion or steering. The symmetry of the flippers on Predator X indicates that all four flippers were used for propulsion.
Dr. Long then fitted a swimming robot named Madeleine with the symmetrical flippers and did a few tests. He found that, though a four-flipper swimming reptile had a low fuel economy (considered the Hummer of the ocean), its capabilities for acceleration were much greater than the two-flipper counterpart. Predator X might have had a heavy appetite, but it was more than capable of catching all but the speediest of prey.
Another stallion in Dr. Long’s stable is Preyro, a robot capable of playing predator/prey that is easily modified to test certain evolutionary possibilities. The evolutionary change that results in Preyro not being caught display the exact mechanics of natural selection. The only difference is that engineers no longer need to wait for a specific evolution to materialize, they can create one within the robot and test it out. For Preyro, Dr. Long changed the number of vertebrae that covered its mechanical tail. The added stiffness would change the speed at which the robot could swim away from the predator. His studies found that exactly 7 vertebrae allowed Preyro to swim the fastest, with fewer or greater numbers giving a slower getaway. This type of research gave an instant answer as to why fish tails evolved as they did. Take a look at the video for more information on Preyro.
The research conducted over robotic evolution is focused mainly on the past, so what bearing could it possibly have on the future? As current robots get better at mimicking past and present real-life situations, the researcher’s knowledge base will continue to grow. The extra bit of information gained in these experiments could not only give engineers a few more options in robot design, but will also serve as good practice in the production of new and unique robots. When a robot is needed for a future application, there will be less need for extensive testing, making it possible to create new robots faster and more efficiently. As they always say, practice makes perfect.
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Cosmic Evolution Simplified
On Black Holes, Biosphere(s) And All Mass-Formats
A. A black future
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/5032…
Without destroying the Earth, the Large Hadron Collider might help humans explore the cosmos
B. On The Origin And Nature Of Cosmic Evolution:
It Is Space-Distance, Not Space-Time.
Life's Is The Ubiquitous Cosmic Evolution Mode.
The mode of a gene's response to organism-culture's feedback signal, i.e. “replicate without change” or “replicate with change” in case of proven augmented energy constrainment by the offspring, is the mode of Life's normal evolution, which is the mode of evolution universally.
Genes' Expression Modification
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/li…
Again, the scope of of genes lifehood is not just the lifehood of genes.
Genes, and Life in general, are but one of the forms of mass, of constrained energy formats. The lifehood of genes is the foundation of the subject of evolutionary biology, which is a major component of the subject of life, which is a minute component of the subject of evolution of the universe, which is the subject for which humanity seeks a unified field theory.
Since the big-bang resolution of E/m superposition ALL the energy of the universe is destined for the galactic clusters expansion plus laying down of the gravity natrix for the eventual cosmic impansion, and ALL the mass is destined to revert to energy for these ends. The mass-to-energy reversion is resisted by the mass, this resistance being the archtype of selection for survival by all materials, including life. This resistance is due, exciting to us, to the fact that – as we know from everyday experience – formation of mass requires investment of energy, that dissipates when the mass disintegrates. And as we also know from everyday experience all energy forms other than gravity end up eventually as gravity energy. This is expected since ALL the contents of the universe are manifestations of the gravity energy freed at Inflation.
And again, a unified field theory is sought since unlike the evergrowing list of specific science/technology divisions drawn by the “scientists” trade-unions like the AAAS, the universe and Earth evolve as an integrated intertwined interrelated tangled whole and not as a collection of individual divisions.
C. Updated Physical Evolution Definition
1. Three present definitions of physical evolution, at
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evolu…
- a process of change in a certain direction.
- a theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in their successive generations, and also the process described by this theory.
- a process in which the whole universe is a progression of interrelated phenomena.
2. Suggested updated physical evolution definition, of Life's normal evolution and universal energy-mass evolution.
a theory, and the process described by it, that the whole universe changes in a progression of interrelated phenomena of mass formats attaining temporary augmented energy constraint in their successive generations with energy drained from other mass formats, to temporarily postpone, survive, reverting of their own mass to the cosmic energy fueling the galactic clusters expansion.
D. Black holes of ALL sizes are constrained-energy mass formats. Like biosphere(s) they require energy to survive temporarily, to avoid as long as possible their energy used to fuel the ongoing cosmic expansion.
Dov Henis
(Comments From The 22nd Century)
Updated Life's Manifest May 2009
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/li…
28Dec09 Implications Of E=Total[m(1 + D)]
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/li…
Nature has spent several hundred million years (or more) figuring out the how to cope and get ahead. We’ve only spent a few thousand actively thinking about this. The more we study the past, the better off our future will be – we’ll not only find the solutions to problems, we’ll find the non-solutions that have been tried and failed (like 6 or 8 vertebrae fish tails) and thus we won’t have to spend out time thinking up so much stuff that fails.
Nature has spent several hundred million years (or more) figuring out the how to cope and get ahead. We’ve only spent a few thousand actively thinking about this. The more we study the past, the better off our future will be – we’ll not only find the solutions to problems, we’ll find the non-solutions that have been tried and failed (like 6 or 8 vertebrae fish tails) and thus we won’t have to spend out time thinking up so much stuff that fails.