Evolution in Two Minutes or Less

The winner and runners up to the Discovery Magazine contest.

You're a Good Man, Charles Darwin

From the Dresden Codak webcomic, the work of the very talented Aaron Diaz.

There is more to see, and you can see it bigger, at Dresden Codak.

 

Hello Ardi!

[From Nature News]

At 4.4 million years, Ethiopian fossil clarifies human–chimp relationships.

Rex Dalton

In a far-reaching reordering of human evolution, researchers report today the discovery of the oldest hominid skeleton, a fairly complete 4.4-million-year-old female from Ethiopia.

The discovery shows that humans did not evolve from ancient knuckle-walking chimpanzees, as has long been believed. The reports, in Science, illuminate how early phases of humans evolved along a separate lineage from the last common ancestor shared by early hominids and extinct apes.

This find has been in the works for 17 (17!) years, go read all about it at Nature News. 

The Tangled Bank

Carl Zimmer has been dropping hints about his forthcoming book; The Tangled Bank [Amazon].

It's coming out in time for {insert mid-winter celebration of you choice here}, so I'm going to be dropping some hints too.

Carl Zimmer is a great science writer; you can find a selection of his articles on his web site or blog.

Save us from 12/21/2012

I guess I have not been paying attention, because I just learned that the World will end on December 21, 2012. Fortunately, Xtine is here to save us:

“I’ve known about 12/21/2012 for a good three years,” explains Minnesota native Xtine. “And I’ve been pissed off about it for a good three years. It sucks to have my birthday right before Christmas, but this end of the world prediction is the last straw.”

Xtine says she “plans to put an end to the end of the world baloney." She encourages everyone to google debunking, disproving, criticism of 2012. As much evidence as there is for the end of the world, or the ushering in of a New Golden Age, there is evidence that “a whole lotta nada” is going to happen on her birthday… again.

After reading her post, I am prepared to believe she can save us by the power of rant alone.

Richard Simmons and the PE Crusade

In an effort to scare off both my readers support a really good cause, I'd like to draw your attention to the PE Crusade. All the colorful one asks is a moment of your time to send the following message to your congressman:

On behalf of Richard Simmons and the nation's children, I respectfully ask that Physical Education be included in the reauthorization of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT as an optional multiple measure, or implemented through the passage of the FIT KIDS ACT. Healthy minds and healthy bodies are key to our childrens' and our nation's future. The longer this takes, the unhealthier our kids become.

Here's that link again.

Report on Columbia Details How Astronauts Died

From the New York Times.

Blindsight: What we don't see

80Beats has an interesting post on Blindsight, or how our brains process visual information without our consciously being aware of it.

Now if someone could only figure out Blindwork.

Tomato Cassarole

A collection of leftover stuff I need to get rid of before it goes stale:

Pharyngula -
Get your kids addicted to cephalopods!
Is nothing safe? It appears that calamari may have addictive properties similar to tomatoes!

Science and Math Defeated -
Probability (part one) "Probability is false"
Darn that NotedScholar! He's going to put me put of a job at this rate.

From TED -
Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce
It's got tomatoes in it, so it must be dangerous too!

Linking the blatantly funny

I feel low - linking to something everyone already knows about. Then again, Dilbert is buried so deep in the business section that I have barely read it in years. OK, that makes me feel better. Go read Dilbert and have fun!

What Makes People Vote Republican?

In my political wanders heading up the the election, I came across a true gem of an article on Edge: WHAT MAKES PEOPLE VOTE REPUBLICAN?

...the second rule of moral psychology is that morality is not just about how we treat each other (as most liberals think); it is also about binding groups together, supporting essential institutions, and living in a sanctified and noble way. When Republicans say that Democrats "just don't get it," this is the "it" to which they refer.

To briefly summarize: It is an amazingly well written article, it's not going to turn me into a Republican, but it might help me understand their position a little better. Understanding is a good thing, and we could all do with a bit more of it.