Recent questions tagged evolution

Description : Why are some people terrified of lobsters?

Last Answer : If the waiter was really afraid of lobsters he would have said “We’re out of lobsters I’m relieved”.

Description : Can any species take over human beings intellectually?

Last Answer : the species will be machines. and the takeover is probably right around the corner.!

Description : Does this article give credence to the saying "His head is up his ass"?

Last Answer : Very interesting report. Thanks for posting!

Description : If you don't accept the evidence for evolution, could this article change your mind, or at least get you to thinking about it?

Last Answer : I believe that It is from a recessive trait that expressed itself from typical birds.

Description : Are humans designed to be symmetrical?

Last Answer : Perhaps not designed but evolved symmetry. Humans have bilateral symmetry as opposed to things like starfish that have radial. I suppose the answer has to do with what the starting point was in addition to the obvious advantages. Without symmetry how would protozoa or fish swim properly.

Description : What animal instincts do you think you have?

Last Answer : I howl when I cum

Description : Why is the average man taller than the average woman?"?

Last Answer : It’s usually because of genetics. Most girls get there heights more from there mothers then their fathers. If girls do get there dad’s height range then, in my opinion it’s rare.

Description : In the pokemon anime, what happens if the mega evolution "happens" without the friendship needed?

Last Answer : I mean, it can become erratic, but in what way?

Description : In the anime, when Pokemons evolve, do they forget some of the moves they learned, or do they simply not use them anymore?

Last Answer : The plural of Pokémon is Pokémon. I know that in the games, the Pokémon will remember its moves.

Description : Are women responsible for the evolution of culture and language?

Last Answer : If it were true, isn’t all the war and death and all of the other negatives by necessity the fruit from “the hand that rocks the cradle”.

Description : Is there a maximum size an ocean bound creature could grow to?

Last Answer : It could not grow big enough to exceed its environment. It would have to be smaller than whatever ocean it lived in.

Description : Can someone track down a simple timeline of the history of the earth?

Last Answer : deleted by pachy

Description : Do you find it interesting that young earth creationists actually make an argument in favor of evolution by espousing one of their favorite arguments against evolution?

Last Answer : They of course are ducking the point, and it’s a cute trick when used on the vulnerable.. It’s like saying “We didn’t evolve from our cousins”. It’s a way of avoiding the truth of the accepted scientific doctrine that we and our cousins have the SAME ancestor who was neither man nor monkey.

Description : Have humans stopped evolving?

Last Answer : answer:It's an illusion, we can never control/defy nature. We still can't prevent hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, global warming, melting glaciers or plagues of diseases like Ebola. Nah, ... . We will bring about our own extinction sooner or later, no doubt. Rock-a-bye earthings.

Description : Has intellect overcome instinct in humans?

Last Answer : Some of them, yes. Like, it’s an instinct to run when you think you’re in danger, but our intellect allows us to over come that if running would be even worse.

Description : What if we were descended from swimming apes, rather than from hunting apes?

Last Answer : answer:We'd probably look like dolphins. Hair creates drag and doesn't insulate in water, unless it becomes thick enough to function like beaver or otter coats - so I guess we could've become dramatically hairier. ... top of our heads oh, wow, I'm getting a pretty ugly mental image of a sea-human.

Description : Can science predict when the next "hominid" would potentially arrive (see inside for details)

Last Answer : I do not believe science can predict when a new species will emerge. Evolution happens on a geological time scale, which takes millions of years.

Description : Human Females are unique among all mammalians. Why do you think the ability to hide fertile time periods evolved in human women?

Last Answer : Ummm, what?

Description : As it purely pertains to science, what does, "Survival of the Fittest" mean?

Last Answer : Survival of the one who is best adapted to the environment it lives in. Example: Penguin vs Lion. Easy you might say, right? The lion has sharp teeth and claws, and is faster, stronger and smarter than ... ? But if you drop them both in the antarctic, the lion will die, and the penguin will survive.

Description : What does Human Exceptionalism really mean?

Last Answer : answer:I think we’ve got the building tools thing down. I don’t know of any ants, pigs, or whales that have chucked probes at other planets or put a telescope in orbit.

Description : How long would it take to give birds their saurian appearance back through directed evolution?

Last Answer : Directed evolution?

Description : What's a good book for a non-scientist to read on human evolutionary differentiation?

Last Answer : Not a book but the doc that National Geographic, The Human Family Tree covers this in a way that is easy to understand by those without a science background.

Description : Why do so many creationists and intelligent design apologists lie so much to support their cause?

Last Answer : answer:I'm not going listen or read all that stuff, I have better things to do. But the underlying answer is that they don't believe they are lying. They believe in it, even though it is against ... to call them liars and charlatans. They may be fools, but being foolish is not malicious. Lying is.

Description : Politically incorrect Q: If different racial charactistics evolved as response to different climates, why aren't Alaskan natives or oriental peoples from the north or indigineous peoples of Australia and South Africa as pale as northern Europeans?

Last Answer : According to this article, it has to do with dietary differences. People with diets high in vitamin D don’t need the sun to help them synthesize it. That’s the explanation offered for the Inuit, at least. I don’t know how broadly it might apply.

Description : How is the sun so bad for us?

Last Answer : answer:In Australia they have so educated the public that there are aussie children who are never exposed, they wear bathing suits that cover them neck to toes and wear a hat too. The interesting part is ... potency now than it did in the past. The UV rays are no longer filtered so more dangerous.

Description : What would be the evolutionary advantage given to mockingbirds by mimicking other birds?

Last Answer : Pure speculation here, but since one of the functions of bird song is to lay claim to a territory, maybe it’s the bird equivalent of posting “No Trespassing” signs in several languages. Could be that it deters competition not only from other mockers, but from other rivals for food resources.

Description : Why did the ears not develop a "blink" type reflex to guard themselves?

Last Answer : answer:Evolution is imperfect. You can use your hands to cover your ears. There were fewer instances where man needed to protect his ears, but protecting our eyes happened daily just being in ... exposure. Most loud noises that cause hearing loss are man made, not naturally occuring. Just guessing.

Description : What has been lost in context/translation because of technologies such as texting and the various forms of online communication?

Last Answer : I still begin emails with “dear so-and-so.” I believe a lot has changed and been lost with the advent of modern technology. We often have impassioned debates online mainly because the participants can’t see each other nor hear the tone, volume, or body language as you point out.

Description : How would mankind have evolved if dinosaurs didn't die off?

Last Answer : Running.

Description : I don't care what influences our unconscious brain, but why would we evolve to act seemingly irrational?

Last Answer : “In the light of evolution” and “rational” do not mean the same thing. The idea and process of “rational thought” as a desirable goal had to be invented by humans.

Description : Christians: How do you go about denying evolution?

Last Answer : When I thought more fundamentalist I thought that maybe a biblical day was a circle around the universe. Now I just figure it is more like a parable. The truth is, what I believe about it won’t change reality, and it really doesn’t change my relationship with God.

Description : Is it inherently racist to be worried about the continuation of one's own race?

Last Answer : answer:I think this is more often than not more about the survival of cultures that are associated with certain races as opposed to the survival of a race in itself, though there are some people ... superiority is not mutually exclusive to being proud of one's race and wanting it to continue on.

Description : Are human ways of thinking evolving as computer "thought" evolves?

Last Answer : answer:User: Are human ways of thinking evolving as computer thought' evolves? Cleverbot: No. I am human and you are a computer. I think the largest obstacle here is that much of the information ... constructed description and it got me thinking about a trillion things at once. Thanks for that. ^ ^

Description : How much science education is required to believe in creationism?

Last Answer : Creationism is a religious belief. They don’t “debunk” anything – they just reject modern science because it conflicts with their holy books. No reasonable argument required or provided.

Description : Do you think part of the reason people from cold snowy climates are very pale skinned is camouflage?

Last Answer : I don’t think so. In a white world, almost all of that skin is going to be covered up anyway.

Description : "Selfishness beats altruism within groups. Altruistic groups beat selfish groups. All else is commentary."?

Last Answer : I just be myself.

Description : What is the evolutionary advantage of blue eyes?

Last Answer : It’s a byproduct of light skin, which is advantagous in dark climates for vitamin D absorption. It comes with the package.

Description : Do non-creationist theories of the origin of the universe assume something came from nothing?

Last Answer : answer:It (by it I'm referring to big-bang theory specifically) assumes a singularity of infinite time and temperature, because that's what general relativity predicts and that prediction is currently ... nothing, could be god, could be other universes, could be endless herds of pink elephants.

Description : True of False? When you've seen one entropy, you've seen them all. (Strange Universe Series - 2011).

Last Answer : I might be daft? But I’m not really sure how to answer this??? Do you want one answer or all answered? I’m sorry but I don’t get it. I mean I get entropy just not the way the question is worded.

Description : Is evolution accelerating or are my eyes just getting older?

Last Answer : Blame the age of technology for this (as well as the child's opportunity to express him/herself).. When you were growing up there wasn't many things to do to open your analytic imagination ( ... level of intelligence will be the only way that our heirs and their heirs will become space voyagers..

Description : Terence Mckenna, mad man or genius?

Last Answer : Affected by hallucinogenic substances, maybe. Aided by – I don’t agree with that.

Description : Why are belly buttons located there?

Last Answer : It’s at the center of the body, mass-wise, and would make the transportation of nutrients throughout the fetus close and easy.

Description : Is there a body of thought that links global population growth and declining biodiversity with karma and reincarnation?

Last Answer : answer:While I don't believe one bit in reincarnation, I like your observation. I like it a lot. The fact that more humans are alive than in all previous history has always seemed to be an ... t point you to any writings on the subject, I just wanted to complement you on the creative thinking.

Description : Why do we have two nostrils?

Last Answer : In case one gets plugged up, we have a spare.

Description : Why did nature cause male and female to evolve, when the best method would have been to continue to asexually reproduce?

Last Answer : Why do you assume that asexual reproduction is “the best method”? I, in fact, would argue that evolution indicates that it’s not the best method to get the gene pool mixing.

Description : Why have Western capital execution methods gradually become more merciful?

Last Answer : The cultural and societal prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishment.” If you’re killing someone, the ultimate punishment, you don’t have to do it in a method that is prolonged or unnecessarily complicated. No matter how much they deserve having done to them what they did to others.

Description : If man survived until year 8511 (or much more) where will we get to evolution wise?

Last Answer : answer:Am hoping man's right pinky will be about 7 inches longer to make it easier to hit the high notes on the piano. The legs of women will be much stronger from 6500 years of 60 ... the worst President ever. Archeologists finally found Obama's birth certificate. It's at the lab, results pending.

Description : Does group celibacy naturally eliminate the groups effect on the gene pool?

Last Answer : Seems like a more than reasonable assumption

Description : What survival benefit does dissociation serve?

Last Answer : answer:It’s a tactic for getting through the immediate crisis, not getting through the next 10 years. Dissociating isn’t like your brain just shuts off, it’s like the emotion parts and the reality parts shut off, and you go into fight-or-flight mode.

Description : Clues from clothing lice - Why and when and where did our human ancestors lose their body hair and learn to wear clothes?

Last Answer : We lost body hair because not having it conferred some sort of evolutionary advantage, perhaps being able to shed disease-bearing parasites better than our hairer relatives. : )