Evolving Corals with Neuroevolution and Novelty Search
A research project simulating the evolution of virtual corals - 2018.
Evolving Corals with Neuroevolution and Novelty Search launched on April 3, 2018 with 64 votes, #697 of 2,753 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 8 years on.
In plain words
This is a 2018 research project that simulates the evolution of virtual corals in underwater environments using genetic algorithms. Corals develop in simulated conditions with light and water currents, guided by biological mechanisms including morphogens, signaling, and memory. The system serves as a biomimetic form optimization engine for studying emergent and generative design, treating corals as colonies of identical polyps that function as unified organisms.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
A research project simulating the evolution of virtual corals. Corals are grown in underwater environments containing light and current flow and are evolved with a genetic-algorithm. Morphogens, signaling, memory and other biologically motivated capacities enable a multipurpose biomimetic form optimization engine. This work is part of a series of projects exploring emergent and generative forms. Corals are not plants but rather colonies of genetically identical organisms called polyps, which are attached to one another and act as a single entity. Polyps are genetically very similar to jellyfish. Like jellyfish they collect nutrients from a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic bacteria…from joelsimon.net
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