Metal bits assemble into lifelike snakes

[The Cusp]

Just watch the videos, it's amazing, those nickel particles really do look alive. Especially the one with the round head, which looks like it's hunting and eating. http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/snakes.html

[WakataDreamer]

That's pretty cool. But unfortunately I'm a Christian and don't hold with spontaneous life generation as a result, so to me it just seems like metal moving under the influence of magnetism, and moving in a flowing manner as a result of being on a slick, liquid surface. (Yes, I know that the point isn't that they're alive, but it's an analogy for how life could have spontaneously arisen so I decided to express my views.) Still cool though.

[The Cusp]

That's pretty cool. But unfortunately I'm a Christian and don't hold with spontaneous life generation as a result, so to me it just seems like metal moving under the influence of magnetism, and moving in a flowing manner as a result of being on a slick, liquid surface. (Yes, I know that the point isn't that they're alive, but it's an analogy for how life could have spontaneously arisen so I decided to express my views.) Still cool though. Then you must not like the fact that they are close to creating life in the laboratory. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencean...ive-years.html I find those videos mesmerizing, and could watch them all day. I think it offers a very good analogy of how and why life behaves the way it does on a microscopic level. That they are just responding to magnetic fields. The similarities are too astounding. But it seems a very complex puzzle to unravel, and probably won't get the funding it deserves. It didn't seem like a very difficult thing to reproduce, all you need is the right magnetic field and some nickel particles. I'd love to experiment with that.

[juroara]

Then you must not like the fact that they are close to creating life in the laboratory. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencean...ive-years.html I find those videos mesmerizing, and could watch them all day. I think it offers a very good analogy of how and why life behaves the way it does on a microscopic level. That they are just responding to magnetic fields. The similarities are too astounding. But it seems a very complex puzzle to unravel, and probably won't get the funding it deserves. It didn't seem like a very difficult thing to reproduce, all you need is the right magnetic field and some nickel particles. I'd love to experiment with that. im not here to get into an argument, I think both links are fascinating I just wanted to point out a few words wakata said "spontaneous life" and you said "creating life" very different words with very different meanings

[Xei]

Not really. It's religious people who think that life arose 'spontaneously'. Rational people realise that it would have arisen in a gradual process.

[Black_Eagle]

wakata said "spontaneous life" and you said "creating life" I'll bet somebody 20$ that's what God-followers are going to argue when scientists actually do create life in a laboratory.

[Sandform]

The video isn't working for me, and neither is searching google, do you have some outside links?

[The Cusp]

Sorry, that wired video seems to be the only host for those vids, of which there are 8. Can I interest you in some ferromagnetic fluid vids instead? The snakes were only magnetic particles on a 2d surface. Ferromagnetic fluids allow for 3D shapes to form. Pretty much the same principle, a fluid saturated with magnetic particles. But it warps the whole shape of the fluid into crazy forms. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me5Zz...eature=related You tube is full of those ones. This one kind of looks alive...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnAa3...eature=related

[juroara]

I'll bet somebody 20$ that's what God-followers are going to argue when scientists actually do create life in a laboratory. what if the argument is, if you create life in a laboratory it means life must be created?

[Black_Eagle]

what if the argument is, if you create life in a laboratory it means life must be created? Exactly. If scientists do create life in a laboratory, creationists are going to have to come up with something to refute it. The fact that it was created would be seen as the perfect rebuttal even if the conditions could be found in nature. If this does happen, it's just going to add another leg to the typical atheist vs theist argument about whether God exists or not.

[Abra]

But unfortunately I'm a Christian You have a choice, you know. Anyway, this looks pretty neat.

[The Cusp]

Exactly. If scientists do create life in a laboratory, creationists are going to have to come up with something to refute it. The fact that it was created would be seen as the perfect rebuttal even if the conditions could be found in nature. If this does happen, it's just going to add another leg to the typical atheist vs theist argument about whether God exists or not. To me that sounds like the very essence of Creationism. Creationism isn't necessarily about God, people just assume that becasue they want to rip on religion. Like people associating UFO's with aliens, it's the popular view, but by strict deffinition, they are just unidentified.

[Higurashi]

Hm, the video's not working for me I still found the article interesting. Though I guess this deviates from the original purpose of the thread, I'm a Christian, but I don't have a problem accepting that life could be created in a laboratory setting by people. Humans are amazing creatures, I have few doubts of their potential...

[High Hunter]

Hey, even though its a little different and kind of off-topic, I thought you might also enjoy these.

[The Cusp]

Hey, even though its a little different and kind of off-topic, I thought you might also enjoy these. That guy should become a super villain! I could just see spiderman fighting those "sculptures".

[Black_Eagle]

To me that sounds like the very essence of Creationism. Creationism isn't necessarily about God, people just assume that becasue they want to rip on religion. Like people associating UFO's with aliens, it's the popular view, but by strict deffinition, they are just unidentified. If they replicate conditions that are found in nature, it doesn't mean a thing for creationists or theists. You're assuming that I am implying that all creationists are theists. I know this isn't true. However, theists typically do further creationism because it coincides with their belief in God.

[High Hunter]

That guy should become a super villain! I could just see spiderman fighting those "sculptures". Hahaha yeah, I could see those things being pretty brutal if you stand in their way! Hey if he makes a lot of them, it could create a job market for super hero wanna be's!

[redback122]

That's pretty cool. But unfortunately I'm a Christian and don't hold with spontaneous life generation as a result, so to me it just seems like metal moving under the influence of magnetism, and moving in a flowing manner as a result of being on a slick, liquid surface. (Yes, I know that the point isn't that they're alive, but it's an analogy for how life could have spontaneously arisen so I decided to express my views.) Still cool though. God gave us skills to use them You cannot be that harsh. Can you? Thats just related to god in a bad way. He will be upset now. lol