Humans have backbones, as do tens of thousands of other creatures . But why? To discover how vertebrates evolved, biologist John Long uses futuristic technology to peer deep into the past. He creates bio-robots that simulate the behavior of animals, both living and extinct. His bio-robots search for resources, compete for mates, deal with threats—and adapt. Author of the recently published book, Darwin's Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology , Dr. Long asks: --How do bio-robots evolve? Is robot sex just zeroes and ones? --What does it mean to be intelligent? Are big brains really necessary? --How can evolvabots re-create conditions known only from 500-million-year-old fossils? --What can shark robots teach us about human evolution? How do robo-prey escape robo-predators? John Long is chair of the biology department, professor of biology and cognitive science, and director of the Interdisciplinary ...
