Public Perception of Evolution: A Reflection of Scientific Literacy in Society

Unfortunately, humans seem to thrive on controversy. Though people may come from diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds, there is one thing that we all love: Arguing. In fact, we’ll even argue about things that experts are decidedly *not* arguing about.

Case in point, the Pew Research Center recently conducted a survey (between March 21 and April 8, 2013) among a national sample of 1,983 adults. This survey dealt with individual views regarding evolution. The survey was conducted by professionally trained interviewing staff under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. According to the analysis, six-in-ten Americans (60%) say that “humans and other living things have evolved over time.” That’s a bit comforting; however, not all of the findings are inspiring.

Discover what the numbers say at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/common-views-on-evolution/

Image:
NASA

Understanding Evolution: What is Natural Selection?

“When it was introduced in the 1940s, penicillin was a miracle drug, especially effective at curing infections caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus ("staph"). In 1941, the drug could wipe out every strain of staph in the world. Now, seventy years later, more than 95% of staph strains are resistant to penicillin.” — Dr. Jerry Coyne, "Why Evolution is True"

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In "Why Evolution is True", Dr. Coyne used this example in the chapter entitled, “The Engine of Evolution.” The engine he’s referring to is none other than natural selection, and this little insight regarding the adaptability (evolution) of Staphylococcus aureus is excellent evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. It’s my go-to “proof,” if you will, when someone asks me to provide proof of evolution because (a) it’s simple and easy to understand, (b) it definitively shows that an organism can adapt to a new environment (in this case, a human body injected with penicillin), (c) it doesn’t require any discourse regarding fossils or the fossil record (which is probably the best evidence for evolution, but it’s very difficult to explain fossil evidence to someone who wants to “see” evolution if you don’t have fossils on hand!), and (d) bacteria are excellent for ‘showing’ evolution in action because they reproduce quickly, meaning that they can potentially evolve much faster than, say, a dog or a dolphin.

Learn all about natural selection at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/understanding-evolution-what-is-natural-selection/

Image:
NASA

Top 10 Science Discoveries of 2013

It"s been a big year for science. Below is a (very incomplete) list scientific discoveries that hit the news in 2013. These are the top stories in the eyes of From Quarks to Quasars. Undoubtedly though, there are many other worthy discoveries that should also be on this list. We welcome you to comment what you think the top discoveries should be. Perhaps your comments will act as a supplemental list for readers. With that in mind, be sure to include links to your favorites.

See FQtQ"s list at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/top-10-science-discoveries-of-2013/

Compiled by "EvolutionEvidence.org:" https://www.facebook.com/EvolutionEvidence.org

Making the Moon Habitable

Being the brightest and most prominent feature of the night sky, Earth"s Moon has long been the source of relaxation, inspiration and wonderment. Romanticized through poetry and demonized through Science-Fiction likenesses, it still leaves modern society in awe as much as it did in the primitive stages of human culture as Anthropology study has revealed.

Furthering this fascination, ever since the late Neil Armstrong laid his footprints in the electrically charged and abrasive dust on the lunar surface, humanity has had the desire and ambition to further itself - to be a multi-planetary species. Through very popular movies, such as Aliens, Red Planet and Total Recall, we have the idea of terraformation - that is, turning extraterrestrial worlds into suitable planets for humanity to thrive upon.

But how does the moon fit into the equation? See: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/making-the-moon-habitable/

Larger Image: http://www.infiniteunknown.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/earth_and_moon.jpg

Lake Vostok: Life in one of the most Inhospitable Places on Earth:

Located on the seemingly inhospitable continent of Antarctica (a place with the lowest recorded temperature on the Earth at -89 degrees Celsius), lies a subglacial lake that is 160 miles wide and 30 miles across. This lake has been dubbed Lake Vostok. It is believed that the lake formed some 20 million years ago. Isolated from the rest of the world for at LEAST 100 000 years, Lake Vostok was one of the last untouched places on this globe.

The lake presents itself as an analog for the study of both extremophilic microbial life (and possibly larger organisms) and evolutionary isolation. This inhospitable environment parallels some environments that we think might exist elsewhere in the solar system – either in the subsurface of Mars or on icy moons like Enceladus or even Europa. Ultimately, the search for life on other planets could start here on Earth at Lake Vostok.

Find out how here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/lake-vostok-life-in-one-of-the-most-inhospitable-places-on-earth/

Image Credit: Nicolle Rager-Fuller / NSF

5 Horrifying Organisms you Don"t Want to Meet:

Earth is an amazing place. It is home to a number of different species that have adapted to a plethora of habitats. There are mammals that live in the ocean and breathe through holes in their head; there are a variety of worms that spend their lives underground living as parasites on plants (some even live in other creatures" hearts); there are insects that fly through the air and suck blood, lay eggs in other living organism, or spread terrible diseases. And of course, this is just the start of the list. Ultimately, there are a number of species that we haven"t even discovered yet.

But let"s take a look at some of the more horrifying organisms that we have discovered.

Here are 5 of the Earth"s more amazing (and terrifying) organisms:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/5-horrifying-organisms-you-dont-want-to-meet/

Image: Assassin bug using ant corpses as armor

Via http://www.flickr.com/photos/pipoujid/3233134946/in/photostream/

6 Ancient Human Fossils that Show us What our Ancestors were Like:

We tend to think of "cave men" as violent savages that would club women over the head to drag them back to the cave (at least, that"s how they are always depicted in cartoons). Truthfully, we do have a rather violent past; however, there"s more to the story than just that. Much more. Our ancestors loved. They Cared. They felt empathy. At times, they were compassionate.

In fact, they were very much like us. And we have the fossil evidence to show it.

Learn what our ancestors were like at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/6-human-fossils-of-compassion/

Crows Could be the Key to Helping Humanity Understand Alien Intelligence

Yes, you read that right, understanding how a crow"s brain works could lay the foundation to helping us understand how an alien mind might work. In case you don"t know, crows are some of the most intelligent animals on Earth. They use tools and pass this knowledge onto their children, they will unite to fight a common enemy or intruder, and their ability to remember is almost unmatched. Recently, a study was conducted to see just how reasoning inside the bird"s brain works, because a avialan brain is very different from a mammalian brain. Here, the rabbit hole goes deeper than we could have possibly imagined.

Learn more about how crows are helping us understand aliens here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/crows-could-be-the-key-to-helping-humanity-understand-alien-intelligence/

The Physics of Death:

Attached to this article, we have included one of the most profound poems we know of about death. It"s one of my favorites, as it doesn"t necessarily touch base on the many disturbing things that happen to the body during the decomposition phase, when the cells and tissues begin to break down, ravishing one of the last physical remnants of a person"s life. Instead, it looks at the subject from a physics standpoint.. the redistribution of energy that occurs during the decomposition process.

So.. where does that energy go? Well.. back into the universe.

See more: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-physics-of-death/

Larger Image: http://imgur.com/gallery/cC8sAOw (via All Science, All the Time)

Death & Decomposition in Space

To read the full article, see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/death-decomposition-in-space/

Image Credit; TheCharles on deviantart.com

Larger Image: http://thecharles.deviantart.com/art/Space-Death-212736240

The Fearsome Komodo Dragon

Have you ever woke up one day and decided "I want a cool new pet," but you aren"t a cat or a dog person? You want something much, much more epic. Upon the realization of this, you take a short trip to the local pet store to scope out your options. Reptiles captivate your attention for one reason or another, thus you decide to take a closer look at the selection of lizards. Monitor lizards, in particular, are rather exuberant little critters. ESPECIALLY the Komodo dragon..

But this pet is one that should definitely stay in the wild. Why, you may ask? Well: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-fearsome-komodo-dragon/

Image Credit: (Top) Adam Riley, (Center) BBC News, (Bottom) Barry Sweet/AP

Eye Lash Mites:

If you are a woman, chances are, you had a “makeover party” at some point during your childhood. If you are fortunate enough to be an open-minded gentleman, then you probably had one as well. But even if you’ve never attended such a get together, you most likely know the kind of party that I am talking about—the one where you apply a gallon of lipstick, slather on a bucket of hair gel, paint yourself with three bottles of mascara, and flounce about like the fabulous debutante that you are. But as it turns out, there is one seriously unfabulous thing about makeover parties: Eye Lash Mites.

To learn all about these little guys, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/eye-lash-mites/

Image:
http://www.sciencephoto.com/set/1217/eyelash-mites

How long will take humans to evolve? What will we evolve into?

Generally speaking, when talking about the evolution of our species, there are two modes of thought. Some people go on and on about how we will transition into super human-humans that have brains the size of small cars, amazing psychic capabilities, and Superman-like physical prowess. Others claim that humans are no longer evolving physically—that technology has put an end to the brutal logic of natural selection and that evolution is now (essentially) dead.

So, what"s the real answer? Find out at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/how-long-will-take-humans-to-evolve-what-will-we-evolve-into/

Image:
http://machineoverlords.com/in-case-you-missed-robots-can-evolve/

Immortals exist!

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your literary preferences), I"m not talking sparkly vampires. The immortals I"m referring to are a species of jelly fish called Turritopsis nutricula. These fascinating little guys have the ability to revert back to their polyp (jouvenile) state after reaching sexual maturity. The process is called transdifferentiation, in which a non-stem cell morphs into another type of cell and, in this case, rejuvenates itself. This process can be repeated indefinitely therefore making the Turritopsis biologically immortal. It"s likely that we could learn from this jelly fish, it would be interesting to see what we could achieve and the doors it could open with self repairing cells on our side.

Learn more about these amazing creatures at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/immortals-exist/

3 of the Most Nightmarish Caterpillars You"ll Ever Encounter

Ever look at a creature and think to yourself, "Wow, how inebriated was mother nature when she created that thing?" Well, as it turns out, you"re not alone. The insect world is rife with critters that are both terrifying and awesome. Take a moment to get to know some of the world"s more remarkable inhabitants. Here are 3 of the most unusual caterpillars in the natural world.

Learn about these amazing organisms at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/3-of-the-most-nightmarish-caterpillars-youll-ever-encounter/

Image sources:
Wikimedia

Common Misunderstandings of Evolution: Part 2

But isn’t evolution just a theory? How could such amazingly complex systems arise by evolution—by mere chance? Doesn"t evolution violate the second law of thermodynamics?

These are just a few of the questions that are frequently asked about evolution. To get answers to these questions, and develop a better understanding of evolution, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/common-misunderstandings-of-evolution-part-2/

Image source:
http://wallpapersus.com/wallpapers/2012/11/Star-Wars-Evolution-Evolution-Funny-900x1600.jpg

The Surprising Habits of a Deadly Fish:

If there were ever a time to use the phrase, "I"m not saying it was aliens, but...it was aliens," it would be in response to this (and believe me, I loathe the phrase) -- the mysterious underwater crop circles discovered by accomplished photographer Yoji Ookata. Over the course of his 50 year career of discovering and documenting the diverse life found in Earth"s oceans, nothing quite like this structure had ever been found. And not just by Oshima, but by anyone in recorded history.



The structure was found some 80 feet below sea level, located just off from the Japanese island of Anami Oshima. Not only were they nearly perfectly circular geometrically (coming in with dimensions of about six and a half feet wide), they were also quite detailed, with many ridges, grooves, and repeating patterns. The question that immediately comes to mind is a good one...what in the world could create something like this? Surely a human, not another species, right? I mean, my dogs are lucky to hit the corner of the pee pad (not that they are particularly intelligent though.).



As it turns out, the structures in question were not created by humans OR alien beings, but can be attributed to one, single fish.

To find out how - and why - see: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/the-surprising-habits-of-a-deadly-fish/

Image Credit: Yoji Ookata

Fact or Fiction? The Urethra Invading Fish:

The Amazon Basin harbors an amazing amount of biodiversity. Freshwater dolphins, bull sharks, vicious piranha, mammoth anacondas, and a myriad of other species all call the Amazon River home. Covering some 7 million square kilometers (2.7 million square miles), it is the largest drainage basin in the world. When talking about length, the river itself is regarded as the second longest river in the world (it is second only to the Nile), so it"s not too surprising that so many species call this water "home.”

The list of dangerous animals that resided here is quite extensive, but not every animal that is dangerous to humans is large in stature. In this case, the tiny creature is a small parasitic catfish that has a tendency to find its way into an orifice of a larger organism in order to suck its blood – sometimes, these larger organisms are humans. Meet one of the most surprising fish in the world, the Candiru.

Find out what threats this fish poses at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/fact-or-fiction-the-urethra-invading-fish/

Image source:
Mike Gibbs/Getty Images

Common Misunderstandings of Evolution Part 3: Observation

Many people believe that we can"t observe evolution, but contrary to popular belief, we can witness evolutionary events; however, perhaps I should clarify -- by observing it, I mean that we have observed results in laboratory and natural conditions that are predicted by evolution, and we see the types of changes that would be expected if evolution were true. Of course, we can’t really observe our own evolutionary history (at least, not until we develop time travel), and witnessing species transitions is difficult as it takes tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years.

Does this mean that evolution is unreliable? Hardly. It is important to note that theories cannot be proven per se, but a theory is not just a random idea that has no scientific backing. The way a theory works is pretty simple: it has to make a clear, testable prediction, and (preferably) make a minimum of new assumptions. So testing evolution is fairly simple. We look at the predictions made by the theory, and then compare them to what we can observe. So far evolution has done a very good job of explaining the things that we have observed, and also at predicting new results as we uncover new ways of testing.

Of course, results can be easily demonstrated in the laboratory; however, we"ve noticed an abundance of natural changes that are perfectly predicted by evolution. So to those who suggest we have not observed evolution, I have a few cases for you to consider.

To learn how we can observe evolutions, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/common-misunderstandings-of-evolution-part-3-observation/

Image source:
http://beacon-center.org/blog/2013/04/08/beacon-researchers-at-work-phenotypic-plasticity-and-evolution/

All"s Fair in Love and War with the Nursery Web Spider

If you have been a fan here at FQTQ for a bit, you may know that we like to cover spiders quite often. From the order Araneae, spiders are truly amazing creatures that never fail to captivate our imaginations (and in some cases nightmares). In relation to species diversity, they are the ranked 7th out of all organisms that inhabit the Earth. And they can be tenacious; they have colonized and made their homes on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica.

Of course, they are rather small (comparatively), but what spiders lack in size, they make up for with character. In fact, they have a number of specialized traits that make learning about them truly fascinating. While many spiders are capable of causing harm to humans, we discuss them not to incite fear, but in an effort to reduce anxiety and to combat the stigma that has cloaked these creatures in a veil of obscurity. Often, what we really fear is the unknown, and if we know what spiders are really like, perhaps we will be less frightened and more inquisitive.

Additionally, when people start replacing their fear with knowledge and wonder, then conservation and preservation becomes more of a priority. Today, I would like to cover a rather interesting spider that exhibits a precarious mating ritual--a battle of intellectual prowess and deceit that can leave one member dead. Today, we discuss the Pisaura mirabilis, or better known as the Nursery Web spider.

Read all about these fascinating creatures at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/alls-fair-in-love-and-war-with-the-nursery-web-spider/

Image source:
http://www.mattcolephotography.co.uk/Galleries/insects/Spiders,%20Ants%20&%20Misc/slides/Nursery%20Web%20Spider%20with%20egg%20sac%201.html