Software Scientist

With a little data, Eureqa generates fundamental laws of nature

Games such as chess have long been mastered by thinking machines. But weightier intellectual feats, such as deducing the laws of nature, have remained the domain of living, breathing brainiacs — until now.

Laptop: andersphoto/Shutterstock; Screen Image: VLADGRIN/Shutterstock

YEAST LAWS REDONE After being fed data on yeast glucose metabolism, Eureqa reproduced the seven known equations that govern the process (three shown above).