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How The Cost of Computation Restricts The Processes of Life

51 points| mgl | 14 years ago |technologyreview.com | reply

5 comments

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[+] madhadron|14 years ago|reply
Looking at the original article, I'd be surprised if this wasn't already known in the 1960s, just expressed in a somewhat different mathematical language.

As for the linked article, I think I had better start posting some biology to Hacker News to get the standard up...

[+] schwa|14 years ago|reply
It sucks living in the slow zone.
[+] jgarmon|14 years ago|reply
Vernor Vinge reference?
[+] abc_lisper|14 years ago|reply
Fascinating stuff. However, I would still say that this evolutionarily optimized, with energy consumed being a factor in success. It is worth noting that fundamental limit discovered is achieved by evolution. It did its job right.
[+] icegreentea|14 years ago|reply
I don't really see how optimal survival strategy and fundamental energetic constraints are not linked. The process of germination certainly takes additional structures and systems that would have to evolve.