on life and its sources

Tonight I read the geeklet a story at bedtime, the kind of thing that’s designed to be restful with a hint of mind-broadening moral reassurance. As I finished, he looked thoughtful. “We wouldn’t be here without this.” He tapped on the floor. “I don’t mean the floor, or the neighbors downstairs. I mean the ground [...]

Posted by Chris in Evolution, Science on April 10th, 2012 | Comments Off

Meeting of the (Mammal) Minds

This is a great article in National Geographic called Animal Minds. Certain skills are considered key signs of higher mental abilities: good memory, a grasp of grammar and symbols, self-awareness, understanding others’ motives, imitating others, and being creative. Bit by bit, in ingenious experiments, researchers have documented these talents in other species, gradually chipping away [...]

Posted by Deb in Academia, Animals, Cosmetically Enhanced Vertebrates, Evolution, Language on March 14th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

When “a leg up” goes too far . . .

Ok, so this is the biggest, hairiest and cutest spider I’ve ever seen!  (Unfortunately, the little freak is not long for this world; story link is here.)

Posted by Deb in Animals, Cosmetically Enhanced Vertebrates, Evolution, Oddly Enough, You have got to be kidding on August 2nd, 2007 | 2 Comments »

Getting along: a survival strategy

Well here’s something interesting, and in Newsweek, no less. Getting along, social bonding and using their wits are what helped our ancient ancestors to survive: The realization that early humans were the hunted and not hunters has upended traditional ideas about what it takes for a species to thrive. For decades the reigning view had [...]

Posted by Deb in Academia, Cosmetically Enhanced Vertebrates, Education, Evolution, Science on March 12th, 2007 | Comments Off