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Surprising Science — October 6, 2010

Astronomy: Post-Singularity Science?

“Within twenty years, astronomy could become the first discipline where discoveries outpace scientists’ ability to keep up with them.”

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“Within a couple decades, astronomers won’t ever need to go near a cutting-edge telescope, says a new paper by Ray Norris at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Epping, Australia. … As the Technology Review points out, Cornell University researchers last year developed a genetic algorithm that can derive laws of physics from astronomical data. The algorithm came up with Newton’s laws of motion on its own, but also came up with some other mathematical relationships that scientists are at a loss to explain. So is it possible that within 20 years, astronomers will be struggling to keep up with the latest discoveries and developments in their own field? And could other sciences be next? The whole post is worth checking out.”

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