September 2008
3 posts
Dynamical Systems Create Mathematical Art →
“Dynamical systems are mathematical models in which each point’s movement over time is set by a fixed rule. While these systems have some practical uses, such as tracking wildlife migration patterns or measuring the flow of water through a pipe, they can also create stunningly beautiful images.” - via io9
Ant 'from Mars' →
“Found in Brazil, the ant has a pale body and no eyes. Its mouthparts stick out like sharp forceps and are longer than the rest of its head.”
“The fact that a single ant ‘rediscovered’ in the rainforests of Brazil can tell us so much about the evolution of the ants highlights how little we know about the diversity of life on the planet.” - via Boing Boing.
The Landscape of Possible Intelligences →
“Whether (or when) AI is possible will ultimately depend on whether we are smart enough to make something smarter than ourselves. We assume that ants have not achieved this level. We also assume that as smart as chimpanzees are, chimps are not smart enough to make a mind smarter than a chimp, and so have not reached this threshold either. While some people assume humans can create a mind...