The self-healing grid, one that monitors itself, measures itself and even takes corrective action to eliminate reliability problems, may be in the near future.

Researchers are developing computer systems that systems become their own security experts, adapting to threats as they unfold and staying one step ahead of the action.

New intrusion-detection software is being developed that mimics biological immune systems, learning to watch for unusual events. Other software randomly generates "detectors," throws away those that match normal behavior, and retains those that represent abnormal behavior.

For years, artificial-intelligence researchers have gained some of their most useful insights from experts in brain function. And today the biological sciences are making similar contributions to all sorts of technologies useful to business, from software that "grows," "heals" and "reproduces" to tiny carbon tubes that will allow computer transistors to shrink to atomic dimensions even as they grow more powerful.

Programs crash, people make mistakes, networks grow and change. That?s life, and computer scientists are finally building
systems that can deal with it.

David Fisher has created a new computer language that will allow the creation of computer systems that can adapt around attack or sabotage, maintaining survivability by sacrificing components if necessary.

The author proposes that the best way to ensure internet security is to model it after the evolution of biological systems.

IBM has announced it is building a massive supercomputer that will have the ability to repair itself, and keep itself running without human intervention. The supercomputer, code named 'Blue Sky', is being assembled for The National Center for Atmospheric Research and will be capable of predicting atmospheric climate changes, heating oil prices, and global warming.

Tools used to detect computer viruses and stop malicious hack attacks may not be as effective as they could be because they lack the human touch. Security experts contend that protecting computers from people-created plagues and problems requires technology based on human biology and behavior.

IBM has unveiled an ambitious initiative to develop technologies that share the basic biological abilities of living organisms -- the ability to mantain and heal itself.