“Evolution of cognition might be down to brain chemistry”, Andy Coghlan reports, (New Scientist, 28 March 2011): Philipp Khaitovich of the Partner Institute for Computational Biology in Shanghai, China, and colleagues analysed brain tissue from deceased humans, chimpanzees and rhesus macaques to study the concentrations of 100 chemicals linked with metabolism. In the human prefrontal […]
Month: March 2011
Darwinian brand marketing: it helps to be stunned
Here’s my latest Deprogram from Salvo, a magazine you should support. The stuff you are about to split a gut laughing while reading is all true: FIT FOR A ZOMBIE Evolutionary Brand Marketing for Your Survival[ … ] Hogshead is a brand marketing specialist; she helps executives persuade us to pay more for their brands. […]
An Open Letter to Dr. Jerry Coyne, from the Maverick Rabbi
From: Rabbi Moshe Averick To: Dr. Jerry Coyne is a distinguished biologist at the University of Chicago and a self labeled “cultural Jew.” Dear Dr. Coyne, I’ve been contemplating the three attacks you launched against Rabbi Adam Jacobs and myself within a period of several weeks (3/7, 3/9, 3/27/11). They appeared on your website “Why […]
Epigenetics: But, Dr. Jablonka, the world just feels so lonely without the fat gene, the gay gene, and the God gene …
In “Traumatizing your DNA: Researcher warns that it isn’t ‘all in the genes’” (Physorg, March 23, 2011), we learn, Epigenetic research suggests that the effects of stress and environmental pollution can be passed on to future generations without any obvious change or mutation in our DNA. The problem, Prof. Jablonka points out, is that we […]
Because we know the facts now, Rod, that’s why
Someone reminded me of this: “Darwin Pushed to Margins: Why is resistance to evolution so strong among science teachers?” Rod Dreher wonders (Big Questions On Line, Templeton Foundation, February 22, 2011) Then he lobs this: More broadly, many people of faith are drawn to the study of evolution to explore God’s work, and find a […]
Audio: Interview on “Science, Faith, Homeschooling, Intelligent Design, and Creationism”
The Internet Radio homeschooling show, “Leigh at Lunch “talks to Jonathan Bartlett, of the Blythe Institute which works on teaching new paradigms in biology. Interesting discussion of the most common attitudes to faith and science.
Scenes from the battle of the books …
Someone has noticed “a slew of anti-Darwin books published last fall”. Now, there are two ways of looking at that: 1. Sociologically, it is a quite predictable reaction to the two-year orgy of worshipping the beard. 2. Or, it’s a …conspiracy. Ring up Barbara Forrest, the world-renowned expert on ID and get the … trooth.
Richard Dawkins Interview
Dawkins book The Greatest Show on Earth has now been published in German, and as such is being interviewed by a German publication. The conversation centers mostly on why Dawkins thinks that believing the world and universe to be designed is unhelpful: It is an attempt to disabuse people, especially in America, but also in […]
God yes or no?: Live Webcast of debate tonight between William Lane Craig and Lawrence Krauss
Here: Wednesday, March 30, 20117:00 PM EST William Lane Craig versus Lawrence Krauss Topic: Is There Evidence for God? http://www.thegreatdebatencsu.com/ https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192530664101598 The organizers say, due to limited seating, watch, don’t go. Write here and tell us what you think Also: Thursday, April 7, 2011 7:00 PM EST William Lane Craig versus Sam Harris Topic: Is […]
Epigenetics research weakened by unchallenged assumptions?
In “The Mark of Faith”, Harvard’s Robert E. Kingston (The Scientist, 2011-03-01) ponders the problem in science of belief precluding testing: The motivational issue is worrisome—on two levels. Even in flies, where the experiment is feasible, it will take a lot of work. But more to the point is the experience of one investigator who […]
Neuroscience: “Neuroaesthetics” mugs abstract art
In “Idle Chatter: This Is Your Brain on Art – Can neuroscience explain art? (The Smart Set , March 17, 2011), Morgan Meis recounts V. S. Ramachandran’s neuroscience theories that, he says, explains a lot about art: Ramachandran identifies what he calls nine laws of aesthetics. Let’s look at one of them — law number […]
Puff ball interviews file: In Germany Richard Dawkins is considered a “scientist”
Here, der Spiegel gives Richard Dawkins the floor (03/02/2011), as his book, The Greatest Show on Earth is published in German: SPIEGEL ONLINE: Has religion not been very successful in an evolutionary sense?Dawkins: The thought that human societies gained strength from religious memes in their competition with others is true to a certain extent. But […]
Should we always say it twice?: Identical twins are not really identical
From “No Two of Us Are Alike — Even Identical Twins: Pinpointing Genetic Determinants of Schizophrenia”, (ScienceDaily, March 28, 2011) we learn Singh looked at about one million markers of identical twins (and their two parents) where only one twin had schizophrenia. “The most informative feature of schizophrenia is that it sometimes runs in the […]
Jonathan Wells on his book, The Myth of Junk DNA – yes, it is a Darwinist myth and he nails it as such
Jonathan Wells will publish The Myth of Junk DNA early in May, and offers answers to some questions posed by Denyse O’Leary: So, for those who dropped science after Grade Ten, what is junk/non-coding DNA? “Non-coding” in this context means “non-protein-coding.” An important function of our DNA is to specific the sequences of subunits […]
Darwinism and the conquest of death?
Amazing what people have tried to get out of it. In “Darwinism and the Quest to Cheat Death”(ABC Religion and Ethics | 28 Mar 2011), British pundit John Gray tells us Like so many others, then and later, Sidgwick looked to science for salvation from science. If science had brought about the disenchantment of the […]