Intended more for the popular science audience than the serious computer scientist, this book is nevertheless up to date on the latest trends in the areas of genetic algorithms, biological computing, quantum computing, and other natural computing processes. The style is consistent throughout the chapters, presenting biographical information and elucidating computing technologies.

The book is divided into three parts of several chapters each. Each chapter introduces some of the pioneers in a particular area and talks briefly about some of the main insights and methods in use. Technical details, when given at all, are set off in a sidebar.

“Adaptive Computing” discusses digital computing techniques that draw on or acknowledge biological processes or elements inherent in the system. This includes making computers act more like animals when appropriate, using evolution-like techniques in design to find more suitable designs, and looking at safety systems as a whole, including the people involved and their behavior.

“Harnessing Lifestuff” talks about using the biological matter itself to do computing. This includes creating many parallel artificial DNA sequences to find a solution to a problem; DNA origami, where molecules are deliberately manipulated to create microscopic structures; creating viruses from scratch; creating circuits with bacteria; and local interaction.

“Physics and Speed” examines supercomputers, parallel computing, multithreading, analog computing, and quantum computing.

The extensive index uses bold text for the principal researchers discussed and includes many entries that detail the technologies described.