Wow! The incredible mind of man. We are gods!

[Stand_watie]

One of those stories that just over(under?)whelms me in comparing how advanced mankind has become in relation to G-d (or mother nature or random chance if you're irreligious).

A hundred years of applying man's most brilliant intellect to computing, and we are now capable, with a "supercomputer", of "simulating"  1/2 the brain of a mouse!

Give us another 100 years! By golly, we'll simulate 1/4 the brain of a cat!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6600965.stm

Mouse brain simulated on computer 
 
It takes a supercomputer to mimic a mouse brain
US researchers have simulated half a virtual mouse brain on a supercomputer...

[Pew pew pew]

To be fair, natural selection's had a few billion years to work with. Half a mouse brain after foolin' around with computers for less than a century is respectable.

[CAnnoneer]

"I am not God, but I am a god." Groundhog Day

[Vile Nylons]

I wonder how they could quantify the totality of what goes on in the brain of a mouse to be able to say that they have matched half of it.

[Antibubba]

By golly, we'll simulate 1/4 the brain of a cat!

There's an oxymoron in there.   

[Laurent du Var]

To be fair, natural selection's had a few billion years to work with. Half a mouse brain after foolin' around with computers for less than a century is respectable.

No, No, No - it was only 6000 years and not natural but - divine !

[El Tejon]

1/2 the brain of a mouse is far great capacity than 2/3s of Congress.

[zahc]

I wonder how they could quantify the totality of what goes on in the brain of a mouse to be able to say that they have matched half of it.

I think they go neurons vs. transistors, by the numbers.

[MechAg94]

To be fair, natural selection's had a few billion years to work with. Half a mouse brain after foolin' around with computers for less than a century is respectable.

No, No, No - it was only 6000 years and not natural but - divine !

Actually, the first two verses of Genesis are separate events and not consecutive (time wise).  ~6000 years ago was a restoration of life on Earth, not the beginning of life. 

[Tallpine]

Actually, the first two verses of Genesis are separate events and not consecutive (time wise).  ~6000 years ago was a restoration of life on Earth, not the beginning of life.

I'm sure glad you cleared that one up.  That's been bothering me since, um - oh way back when ... what were we talking about

[Cromlech]

Yup. I love telling people about how powerful the human brain is, in the pub. Not everyone seems to realise just how amazing it is, and what it is capable of.

[CNYCacher]

Reminds me of a joke 

Man develops the ability to create life from the dirt.  Man speaks to God: "God, I have risen to your equal.  I can create life from mere dirt and therefore am a god myself!"  God answers "Prove it to me."  As Man begins to collect dirt with which to make life, God speaks again: "Hey, you! Get your own dirt!"

[Cromlech]

Talking of creating life, I am really nostalgic for the TV show 'Now and Again'. I wish that they had not cancelled that show.

[cosine]

Reminds me of a joke 

Man develops the ability to create life from the dirt.  Man speaks to God: "God, I have risen to your equal.  I can create life from mere dirt and therefore am a god myself!"  God answers "Prove it to me."  As Man begins to collect dirt with which to make life, God speaks again: "Hey, you! Get your own dirt!"

That's good.