A challenge titled, "Is Open-Ended Evolutionary Innovation in a Quarantined System Possible?" is posted on Innocentive.com (challenge 6409250 -- https://www.innocentive.com/servlets/project/ProjectInfo.po?f=view&id=6409250. You may have to register first). This challenge grew from an earlier attempt to establish a prize (http://www.evolutionprize.net/) for an answer to this question that was posed to scientists who work in Artificial Life. Now The Astrobiology Research Trust is offering an award, $20,000.00, to a broader audience for the _design_ of a demonstration of the phenomenon. If that is done, the contemplated main prize can be established.

Here is the group's description: Open-Ended Evolutionary Innovation in a Quarantined System: is it possible? Can it be demonstrated? Can a demonstration be designed? This last question is posted as a challenge on Innocentive.com beginning in June 2008. The discussion forum for this challenge is here. If you have thoughtful questions or comments, and especially if you want to solve the challenge, please join in!