Artificial Life
Can computers think? Well, not yet, but here are a few folks that are working on making that happen:
20Q.net - this is an online project to create a neural-net on the net. Contributors -- that is you -- participate by helping to train the program to recognize objects already in its database, or to add new objects to its database.
Conway's Life - here's an example of evolution in the computer, using a cellular automata simulation.
Bitozoa 2 - another evolution simulation.
Cafun - a set of Java applets that allows the simulation of complex systems.
Mbiti World - here's another simulation of evolution.
Boppers - a simulation program that was included in an artificial life book from the 90s. The book is posted online as well.
Planet Wator - another artificial life simulator.
Inner Cow
This has got to be one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. Researchers cut holes into the sides of cows and insert an cannula, which allows access to a live animals stomach. These holes are so big, you can actually see what's going on inside -- literally, reach into the stomach of a cow. Cows stomach have millions microbes that aid in digestion, and surprisingly, cannulated cows are usually the healthiest of the herd. You would think that walking around with a hole in your stomach would be bad for you, but apparently not. Some farmers apparently keep cannulated cows in their herd so they can serve as microbe donors to sick cows. Just bizarre. [Source: Oddity Central ]
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