Clipmarks | taksmaster's 'evolution' clips

The Potential of Evolution

Wed, 16 May 2007 23:02:10 GMT

clipped by: taksmaster

A major evolutionary transition is beginning to unfold on earth. Individuals are emerging who are choosing to dedicate their lives to consciously advancing the evolutionary process. They see that their lives are an important part of the great evolutionary process that has produced the universe and the life within it, and they realize that they have a significant role to play.

Redefining themselves within a wider evolutionary perspective is providing meaning and direction to their lives. They no longer see themselves as isolated, self-concerned individuals who live for a short time and then die irrelevantly in a meaningless universe. They know that if evolution is to continue to fulfill its potential, it now must be driven consciously, and that it is their responsibility and destiny to contribute to this.

We are set irrevocably, I believe, on a path that will take us to the stars—unless in some monstrous capitulation to stupidity and greed we destroy ourselves first.

Carl Sagan

Tags: evolution, science, future

Unlocking the Mystery of Life

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:40:06 GMT

clipped by: taksmaster

Clip Source: video.google.com

[Video]

Tags: science, evolution, intelligent design, biology, darwin, philosophy, natural selection

SCIENTIST THREATENS TO MAKE DARWIN EXTINCT

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:00:51 GMT

clipped by: taksmaster

Clip Source: www.skepticfiles.org

SCIENTIST THREATENS TO MAKE DARWIN EXTINCT by Neville Hodgkinson, Science Correspondent It

Tags: evolution, intelligent design, creationism, science, atheism

Intelligent design is a science, not faith

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 21:14:07 GMT

clipped by: taksmaster

Clip Source: education.guardian.co.uk

If Darwin had known what we now know about molecular biology - gigabytes of coded information in DNA, cells rife with tiny machines, the highly specific structures of certain proteins - would he have found his own theory convincing? Randerson thinks that natural selection works fine to explain the origin of molecular machines. But the fact is that we are still unable even to guess Darwinian pathways for the origin of most complex biological structures.

But, whatever the limitations of Darwinism, isn't the intelligent design alternative an "intellectual dead end"? No. If true, ID is a profound insight into the natural world and a motivator to scientific inquiry. The pioneers of modern science, who were convinced that nature is designed, consequently held that it could be understood by human intellects. This confidence helped to drive the scientific revolution. More recently, proponents of ID predicted that some "junk" DNA must have a function well before this view became mainstream among Darwinists.

But, according to Randerson, ID is not a science because "there is no evidence that could in principle disprove ID". Remind me, what is claimed of Darwinism? If, as an explanation for organised complexity, Darwinism had a more convincing evidential basis, then many of us would give up on ID.

Tags: science, intelligent design, evolution, darwin, biology, philosophy

Brilliant Minds Forecast the Next 50 Years

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:16:28 GMT

clipped by: taksmaster

Clip Source: www.newscientist.com

Instant Expert: Brilliant Minds Forecast the Next 50 Years

What will be the biggest breakthrough of the next 50 years? As part of our 50^th anniversary celebrations we asked over 70 of the world's most brilliant scientists for their ideas.

In coming decades will we: discover that we are not alone in the universe? Unravel the physiological basis for consciousness? Routinely have false memories implanted in our minds? Begin to evolve in new directions? And will physicists finally hit upon a universal theory of everything? In fact, if the revelations of the last 50 years are anything to go on - the internet and the human genome for example - we probably have not even thought up the exciting advances that lay ahead of us.

Delve into those visions of the future by author in the story list of this special report, or navigate forecasts by topic here: