Entries in Science (4)
Slow-motion Lightning - Way Cool
Their video codecs don't seem to allow embedding, but you should check out this shot from Gizmodo. Unreal.
This Kind of Thing Drives Me Nuts
Those of you uninterested in the ideological battle around evolution can skip this article.
OK, if you're still here, the NY Times recently ran "Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy", which discusses how folks who couldn't get "intelligent design" into science curricula are now pushing for the inclusion of the "strengths and weaknesses" of Darwin's theory in state curriculum standards. Read the full article if you like, but here's the money quote, courtesy of the chairman of the Texas Board of Education:
In Texas, evolution foes do not have to win over the entire Legislature, only a majority of the education board; they are one vote away.Dr. McLeroy, the board chairman, sees the debate as being between “two systems of science.”
“You’ve got a creationist system and a naturalist system,” he said.
Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth’s appearance is a recent geologic event — thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion. “I believe a lot of incredible things,” he said, “The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe.”
But Dr. McLeroy says his rejection of evolution — “I just don’t think it’s true or it’s ever happened” — is not based on religious grounds.
A young-earth creationist says that his rejection of evolution is NOT based on his religious beliefs, and no one calls him on it?
He actually creates a paradox--a "creationist system of science"--and no one calls his bluff? By definition, creationism cannot be science. It's really that simple, yet this Texas dentist could wind up as the swing vote that poisons both faith and science for a generation of students.
State over here and Church over there - how hard does this have to be?
More Alarming News on Climate Change
It's bad enough that we have to deal with the consequences of climate change here on Earth. But if it is a byproduct of human activities, why would Jupiter's climate be affected?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080522121036.htm
Meteorites the Cause of Leftism?
It seems that stray meteorites may be the source of life on Earth, as well as contributors to left-handedness and leftism in general:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080406114742.htm

