Tag: Darwin

California Rep. Pete Stark, the only openly atheist member of Congress, called for the designation of February 12, 2011 as Darwin Day in recognition of the ground-breaking work of Charles Darwin and the importance of science to bettering the human condition.

Palca and scientist Neil Shubin discuss the genetic commonalities between humans and ancient fossil species including yeast, fish, and Australopithecus.  Link to the page and listen to the audio.

Sperm whale fossil has the biggest whale bite ever seen.

A new study published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences rejects the theory that the origin of life stems from a system of self-catalytic molecules capable of experiencing Darwinian evolution without the need of RNA or DNA and their replication. The research has demonstrated that, through the analysis of what some researchers name “compound genomes,” these chemical networks cannot be considered evolutionary units because they lose properties which are essential for evolution when they reach a critical size and greater level of complexity.

Alok Jha and guests discuss a variety show for atheists, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon talks climate change, we visit a conference on Darwin in Egypt and we get some relationship advice from Carole, our evolutionary agony aunt

New Zealand born evangelical Christian Ray Comfort, aka “the banana man”, has published a new 150th anniversary edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, complete with a 50-page creationist introduction. Working with child actor Kirk Cameron, Comfort and his lackeys will be distributing 50,000 copies of the book for free on 50 college campuses around the US tomorrow. “All we want to do is propose the opposing and correct view,” says Growing Pains star Cameron, who, as far as I can tell, has equally impeccable credentials in evolutionary biology as Comfort—meaning, of course, none whatsoever.

This month marks the 150th anniversary of the most influential piece of popular science writing ever published. Geneticist and author Steve Jones has summarized and updated the book for the 21st century

Scientists from around the world gather in Alexandria to discuss evolution – but is religion getting in the way?

For evolutionary scientists there is no such thing as “Darwinism”. Instead we have a scientific theory that, in combination with Mendel’s work, provides the modern or neo-Darwinian synthesis, which explains the development of life on Earth. Although this is a rather succinct definition it effectively sets the limits of the usefulness of Darwin’s theory. However, in the last 150 years, there have been many attempts to take Darwin’s idea and apply it outside of the context for which it was developed, hence the influence of social “Darwinism” on concepts such as eugenics and a more recent Darwinian nihilism that absolves the individual of any moral or social responsibility.

It’s a great birthday present for Darwin in his 200th anniversary year. For the first time, evolution will be on the national curriculum for primary schools when the new version is published later this year. It was initially excluded from the draft curriculum when it was published for public consultation but sometimes, if not always, it seems government will listen to scientists and experts, many of whom were signatories to an open letter (pdf) to Ed Balls organised by the British Humanist Association in July which called for evolution to be included.

More than half of adults in a survey of 10 countries thought school science lessons should teach evolutionary theories alongside creationism. Among those who knew of Darwinism, on average 53% felt other possible perspectives should also be taught.

Jon McNaughton Painting Shows Crippled Kids, Soldiers With Jesus; Lefty Journalists, Professors With Satan

CreationCharles Darwin’s inner turmoil is laid bare in a subtle and persuasive biopic, says Philip French

A well researched article about the fundamental differences between evolution and intelligent design.  It also goes into a debate about keeping creationism out of university science curriculum.  Worth a read.

ScienceDaily (Sep. 15, 2009) — An international team of researchers, including Monash University biochemists, has discovered evidence at the molecular level in support of one of the key tenets of Darwin’s theory of evolution.

A British film about Charles Darwin has failed to find a US distributor because his theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences, according to its producer.

A School marching band T-shirt design includes the image of primate evolution to man, each stage holding a trumpet. Teacher Sherry Melby says she’s disappointed and that she doesn’t “think evolution should be associated with our school.”

PZ Myers joins the Secular Student Alliance Trip to the Creation Museum.

Noah’s Ark farm denies allegations, saying it promotes debate between science and religion over evolution

Atheists are attacking the idea that science and faith can be compatible, but confrontation won’t spread the truth of evolution