# Rise of the Machines, Part ??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 14, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419 "2006-02-14T05:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/1 "2006-02-14T05:59:07Z")
“Robot moved by a slime mould’s fears” “A bright yellow slime mould that can grow to several metres in diameter has been put in charge of a scrabbling, six-legged robot.” Hmm. Slime moulds. Emotions. Six-legged robots. This can only end in tragedy. [http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8718](http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8718) ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/2 "2006-02-14T06:54:02Z")
Yeah, I think maybe ‘control’ is too strong a word here. They record the movements of a slime mold and reproduce them with a robot, using a computer monitoring the mold. They shine lights on the mold, based on lights shining on a robot, again this is controlled by a computer. Ok, there is a level of feedback coming from the mold, but ‘control’? An elaborate simulation, at best. This is anything but giant six-legged robotic slime molds. Hmm… new sigline? ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/3 "2006-02-14T15:22:40Z")
There is an article in today’s NYTimes about a book titled [How to Survive a Robot Uprising](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/science/14robo.html) . Just thought you should know, for when the giant six-legged robotic slime molds get here. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/4 "2006-02-14T21:16:30Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > There is an article in today’s NYTimes about a book titled [How to Survive a Robot Uprising](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/science/14robo.html) . Just thought you should know, for when the giant six-legged robotic slime molds get here. Bah. You want to know how to survive the robot uprising? Carry a sturdy walking stick and a six pack of Fresca. If whacking the robot doesn’t work, use the stick to tip it over. In the extremely unlikely event that tipping doesn’t work, find a suitable hole, seam or vent and pour Fresca in. Highly acidic liquid loaded with fructose will put an end to the robot army. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/5 "2006-02-14T22:12:04Z")
God help us if they join the Lizard army and the rat-brain piloted F-22 fighters. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/6 "2006-02-14T22:26:51Z")
I, for one, welcome our new slime-controlled robotic overlords. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/7 "2006-02-14T23:09:26Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > God help us if they join the Lizard army and the rat-brain piloted F-22 fighters. Lizard army? I missed that one. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-machines-part/344419/8 "2006-02-15T00:23:57Z")
[http://forms.theregister.co.uk/search/?q=lizard+army](http://forms.theregister.co.uk/search/?q=lizard+army)