Gizmorama - December 28, 2015

Good Morning,

There's a study that claims that the process of evolution is actually "more sophisticated, intelligent and capable than previously thought." Than "who" thought?

Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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*-- Study: Evolution may be smarter than previously thought --*
SOUTHAMPTON, England - New analysis suggests evolution is more sophisticated, intelligent and capable than previously thought.

Researchers at the University of Southampton, in England, say their latest work shows the process of evolution is able to learn from previous experience -- allowing natural selection to better anticipate future benefits and produce intelligent designs.

The new understanding is made possible by a unique approach to theoretical analysis, whereby two seemingly disparate systems or theories are bridged.

In this instance, scientists aimed to compare, contrast and unify the theory of evolution with learning theories, like those that describe the secrets of neural networks or the deep-learning algorithms used to design artificially intelligent systems and robots.

Researchers say drawing formal analogies between the two theories can help them see how patterns from one apply to the other, potentially solving problems and closing gaps in scientific understanding.

"Darwin's theory of evolution describes the driving process, but learning theory is not just a different way of describing what Darwin already told us," Richard Watson, a Southampton professor and evolution expert, said in a press release. "It expands what we think evolution is capable of. It shows that natural selection is sufficient to produce significant features of intelligent problem-solving."

Most scientists describe the process of evolution as "blind," being simply the product of random variation and unable to predict or anticipate the future. But Watson says the latest comparative analysis suggests otherwise.

"Learning theory enables us to formalize how evolution changes its own processes over evolutionary time," Watson explained. "For example, by evolving the organization of development that controls variation, the organization of ecological interactions that control selection or the structure of reproductive relationships that control inheritance -- natural selection can change its own ability to evolve."

In other words, theories of intelligence suggest the evolutionary process is more than just random variation. There is a method to the madness.

"If evolution can learn from experience, and thus improve its own ability to evolve over time, this can demystify the awesomeness of the designs that evolution produces," Watson said. "Natural selection can accumulate knowledge that enables it to evolve smarter. That's exciting because it explains why biological design appears to be so intelligent."

The latest research was published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution.


* China launches probe to hunt for dark matter *
SHANGHAI - China is joining the hunt for dark matter. On Friday, the nation announced it had successfully launched its Dark Matter Particle Explorer into orbit.

The probe blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch site in the Gansu province of northwest China. It was carried into low Earth orbit by a Chinese Long March 2D rocket. In China, the probe has been dubbed Wukong, or "Monkey King."

The probe's dark matter detector was designed by engineers at the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites.

"DAMPE satellite will observe the direction, energy and electric charge of high-energy particles in space in search of dark matter," Chang Jin, chief scientist on the project, told reporters at a press briefing held by SECM earlier this year.

The device combines a series of detection technologies designed to sense and measure high energy electrons, gamma rays and cosmic rays. It's expected to be more sensitive than previous detectors.

"DAMPE will have unprecedented sensitivity and energy reach for electrons, photons and cosmic rays," researchers claim on the project's homepage.

DAMPE is just the first of several planned missions, all with ambitious goals. In 2016, China will launch a quantum-science satellite, designed to test a particle physics theory known as quantum entanglement.

Following will be the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope, which will look for short blasts of radiation that signal the presence of a growing black hole.

All of these projects are largely the work of engineers, astronomers and physicists with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The United States is legally forbidden from working with China on space projects except under rare circumstances, while the European Space Agency has already begun to team up with Chinese scientists on a number of projects.

"It gave a good chance for the Europeans," Wu Ji, director-general of the National Space Science Center, said of the severed ties. "The U.S. should realize that."

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