Computer scientists find mass extinctions can accelerate evolution
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 14:50
in Paleontology & Archaeology
Computer scientists have found that robots evolve more quickly and efficiently after a virtual mass extinction modeled after real-life disasters such as the one that killed off the dinosaurs. Beyond implications for artificial intelligence, the research supports the idea that mass extinctions actually speed up evolution by unleashing new creativity in adaptations.