Evolution is a tit-for-tat game: proof

The team observed viruses as they evolved over hundreds of generations to infect bacteria. They found that when the bacteria could evolve defences, the viruses evolved at a quicker rate and generated greater diversity, compared to situations where the bacteria were unable to adapt to the viral infection. The study shows, for the first time, that the American evolutionary biologist Leigh Van Valen was correct in his 'Red Queen Hypothesis'. The theory, first put forward in the 1970s, was named after a passage in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass in which the Red Queen tells Alice, 'It takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place'. This suggested that species were in a constant race for survival and have to continue to evolve new ways of defending themselves throughout time. [ESN]


Evolution is a tit-for-tat game. How comforting. Obviously into their game theory, the researchers then want to look at what happens in symbiotic relationships rather than pure predator-prey.

Our Future: Truth or Lies?

Is it possible that our future will consist of less religions and theism?
Or…

* Will we evolve into a non-superstitious society or will we continue to cling to these myths to justify our preferences and prejudices?

[...]

I hope that there will be a time when the majority of our population realizes that the answers lie within our physical means? We humans can find the answers that will not only aid in our existence, but will help us progress as an ongoing race and a better world.

from Proud Atheists.

I would just add that we must also retain a mental dimension and be able to look both inwards and outwards with the same scientific outlook of detached observation. Faith is ultimately a physiological state and we can deprogram, but in our society having power over others seems more important than having power over our own mind.

Creationists Freak Out Over Google Fossil Logo

Yesterday, 20 May 2009, Google's homepage had a logo design based upon the discovery of Darwinius masillae, an important transitional form of early primate.

Creationists that frequent the Rapture Ready forum were foaming at the mouth. This was not just about the news but also about Google - the liberal search engine - promoting evolution. The news media didn't help matters by screaming that this was the 'missing link' and proof of evolution. The Pharyngula science blog picks up a tiring but necessary point, that public scientific knowledge is never going to get beyond slogans and cartoons if science journalists and their publications continue to wilfully misguide how science is reported.

Texas on the Road to Idiocracy

"Originally in the Texas school standards was this phrase: "concept of an expanding universe that originated about 14 billion years ago." However, board member Barbara Cargill thought this wasn't good enough. It was too definite. The standards now read, "current theories of the evolution of the universe including estimates for the age of the universe." You can bet that the age of the earth is not listed in the Texas curriculum as about 4.5 billion years old -- in spite of the fact that most of the people my age and older have known (or rather, estimated) this for years."

from Physorg via Pharyngula.

As Myers says, what science classes really need to teach is methodology, logic and mathematics (on the assumption that the maths classes are also not up to speed - no joke, I've had to do this too!) Some things may well be out of date by the time the student leaves school. So what? That's the point; to equip the student with a discriminating rational faculty to understand what changes and what stays the same. Swallowing myths from religious propagandists will just lead to a nation of morons.