Automated Scientists and Inventors?

Can science be automated? The scientific method is, after all, simply an algorithm that could be programmed. However, I doubt that scientists are going to become obsolete any day soon; well, except for maybe geneticists!

And what about the creative art of invention? One would think that this is only something a human could do: our advanced intellect and logical thinking working in synergy with our intuitions, memories and emotions. It turns out that an artificial neural net can become an excellent inventor as well when it is disrupted by a little bit of noise. It makes you wonder about the accuracy of the "nutty inventor" stereotype; it may not be such a silly typecast after all. A noisy brain can be a good thing!