Yesterday, I assured you that there was no need to worry about super-sentient robots taking over the world and ruling humanity. Then, I read about this.

Researchers at Cornell have announced the creation of self-replicating robots. These are robots that are designed to build exact copies of themselves. They are made up of identical building blocks (cleverly named “molecubes”), each of which contains all of the information needed for the program, not unlike DNA. The current version is simple, only able to self-replicate, but they have big plans for the future:

Although these experimental robots work only in the limited laboratory environment, Lipson suggests that the idea of making self-replicating robots out of self-contained modules could be used to build working robots that could self-repair by replacing defective modules. For example, robots sent to explore Mars could carry a supply of spare modules to use for repairing or rebuilding as needed, allowing for more flexible, versatile and robust missions. Self-replication and repair also could be crucial for robots working in environments where a human with a screwdriver couldn’t survive.

Well, that’s all fine and dandy, but add the idea of self-replicating robots to yesterday’s discussion of robot evolution and now we have ourselves a problem. You see, the only elements that are needed for evolution are self-replication, the possibility of error in that replication, and a competitive environment. The errors that increase the chance of survival within that environment will then spread throughout the population, leading to the inevitable evolution of something entirely new.

But what, you ask, are the odds of robots actually being put in a position where they will be able to reproduce and evolve? Um, how about one hundred percent? Because you just know that this is exactly what researchers are going to do once they have the ability to do it – put self-replicating robots (with the possibility for random mutations) in a competitive environment and see what evolves. Hell, that’s the first thing I’d do, and I’m the one warning you about it. Even if it leads to the destruction of humanity, it’s too cool. It must be done.

But then the robots evolve laser-guided heat-seeking missles before the experimenter has the chance to flip the off switch, and the evolving robots run amok in the wild, mutating and evolving at breakneck speed. And then, one day, humanity gets a bitter lesson in the true meaning of “survival of the fittest.”

So that’s it then. We’re all doomed. Long live the age of the robot.

Today is the two month anniversary of this blog. Break out the champagne!

I want to thank everyone who has visited. I want to thank everyone who has left a comment, took a crack at a puzzle, or played one of the games. I want to thank everyone who has linked here, or has helped to spread the word. I have every confidence that, with your help, we can do another two months.

By the way, yesterday was a record-setting day for Shakespeare Teacher, so I really do appreciate everyone who has helped to get the word out. And these things matter less to me now, but I did want to note that this blog has now cracked the top million blogs in Technorati. It’s like a childhood dream come true.

(In my childhood, I always dreamed that there would one day be a global information network, and that I would moderate one of the top million non-commercial forums within it. I used to scribble Thursday Morning Riddles in my notebooks, and try to get my friends to play Six Degrees of Sir Francis Bacon at recess. That was before the Kevin Bacon game was popular. It’s funny how life works out sometimes.)

Okay, enough of that. I have stuff to do, and time is running out on this week’s Six Degrees. So we’d both better get moving. But I did want to say a word of thanks for joining me in my journey these past two months.

You’ve the right to stay silent, unless I’m ignored;
I’m a symphony famous; or simply a chord;
I’m a column of traitors; the wheel that’s just stored;
And I’m also an avenue most can’t afford.

Who am I?

UPDATE: Riddle solved by Ro. See comments for answer.