03 Sunday Feb 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
Triumph of the bionic limbs…
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/jan-feb/94-triumph-of-the-bionic-limbs
This article links in nicely with my previous link in the strictly science about the future evolution of our species.
02 Saturday Feb 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
The Human Race Will Come To An End. What’s Next?
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/the-human-race-will-come-to-an-end
Okay, just trying out the WordPress app on my new nexus 7. This is a great article with a reference to a book which is now on my must have list. I saved the article on another app called pocket….but I won’t bore you with that. Enjoy the article.
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
The light fantastic: Harnessing Nature’s glow By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website
A nice little article here form the BBC, linking to one of Darwins early observations whilst at sea.
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
Dog evolved ‘on the waste dump’ Jonathan Amos By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
This caught my eye when I was catching up with the news this morning. It suggests how wolves may have become domesticated into the many breed of dogs we have today. You can read a more in depth view on this theory in Richard Dawkins’ book ‘The Greatest Show on Earth‘.
Whats different about this article is that it points to the ability to break down starch as the key factor in wolves becoming domesticated, rather than simply their ‘fight or flight’ nature when scavenging from human waste dumps as put forward by Dawkins. I like to think that both of these theories had their part to play. The point at which humans decided to be okay with keeping wolves around (those that they found easier to live with, and subsequently bred for these characteristics; perhaps using them for protection or hunting companions) is still a mystery. At least I haven;t come across any theories on this.
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
Chimpanzee co-operation linked to ‘social bond’ hormone By Michelle Warwicker BBC Nature
I have always loved and been fascinated with Chimpanzees, not least due to their close relation to us.
This article looks at how they bond and why unrelated chimpanzees co-operate with each other outside of a sexual relationship.
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Strictly Science
New venture ‘to mine asteroids’ By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website
I find a lot of interesting articles on the BBC website. Although brief in their delivery, they do provide a pathway to further discovery.
Personally I can’t see this happening, at least until it can be proposed as being more cost effective than it would be today.
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in General ramblings
Whilst at work, a colleague of mine brought up an encounter they had had with a religinut, and how that persons ignorance and unwillingness to listen to reason infuriated him. In my response to this colleague I chose to quote Hitchens. I won’t post the whole quote here…but the part relevant to my imminent outrage goes as follows:
Let’s say that the consensus is that our species, being the higher primates, Homo Sapiens, has been on the planet for at least 100,000 years, maybe more. Francis Collins says maybe 100,000. Richard Dawkins thinks maybe a quarter-of-a-million. I’ll take 100,000. In order to be a Christian, you have to believe that for 98,000 years, our species suffered and died, most of its children dying in childbirth, most other people having a life expectancy of about 25 years, dying of their teeth. Famine, struggle, bitterness, war, suffering, misery, all of that for 98,000 years. Heaven watches this with complete indifference. And then 2000 years ago, thinks “That’s enough of that. It’s time to intervene,” and the best way to do this would be by condemning someone to a human sacrifice somewhere in the less literate parts of the Middle East. Don’t lets appeal to the Chinese, for example, where people can read and study evidence and have a civilization. Let’s go to the desert and have another revelation there.
This is nonsense. It can’t be believed by a thinking person.
Those wishing to read the whole speech, along with a rather harsh critique of it given that it was written after Hitchens’ death as admitted by the critic themselves…follow the link here (although it’s better to hear him say it. It’s on youtube):
Now, back to my rant. Once I had finished my far from perfect impersonation, another colleague, a younger man, turned to me and said,
“No no, I think you’re getting confused there.”
Now, if when asked ‘in what way am I confused’ he had replied with a well thought out response like some on the above link, then I would have relished at the opportunity for a debate on the issue. Instead however, and try not to bang your head to hard against the wall here, he replied as follows:
“Well Humans have only been around for 2000 years, or just over 2000 years, because of Jesus.”
I promise you he was completely serious when he said this. When he asked how I know Humans have been around for longer I pointed to fossils, historical records and carbon dating to name but a few of ways by which I know we have been around for a lot longer than 2000 years. When I mentioned evolution he replied:
“Evolution is made up, there is no evidence, you are just believing what scientists have made up and written in books.”
This guy could not understand that science books are based on years of observation, research and experimentation…not simply words which someone has written. When asked what the evidence is, I again pointed to carbon dating, fossils, and even described some fascinating experiments using bacteria to prove darwins theory (You can read about this in ‘The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. There is an amazon link in the book section). But without a basic understanding of chemistry or anything I was talking about he simply thought that I was making it all up. Yet he believes in an all knowing, all seeing, all hearing supernatural being when there is no evidence for it what so ever.
In order to preserve a productive and friendly work environment I had to bite my tongue. This man has a child, a child that he will teach, that he will guide.
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Books
Magic of Reality: Richard Dawkins Greatest Show on Earth: Richard Dawkins Universe from Nothing: Dawkins and Krauss The Portable Atheist: …
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
23 Wednesday Jan 2013
An elegant quote by an elegant man.
Hitchens you are missed.
Posted by kalelreeve | Filed under Images
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