Small world 31 Oct 2007 Here is an article in Harvard Magazine on bacteria and other wee beasties that make up the bulk of the living world, that is worth reading. It’s called “The Undiscovered Planet”. Hat tip to Jason Grossman. Ecology and Biodiversity Evolution General Science Species and systematics
Epistemology Science is not a religion, nor does it involve faith 15 Nov 201115 Nov 2011 Suppose you had a friend who saw the world in terms solely of his football team. If you are discussing politics, he refers to the boardroom of the team; if you are talking morality, the on-field ethics of his favourites stars. Now you start to talk about science, and he… Read More
Ecology and Biodiversity A tax on gorilla iconography? Oh noes… 27 Dec 2007 Greg Laden is reporting that Rwanda is taxing companies that use gorillas in their advertising, in order to pay for their conservation. Unfortunately, or fortunately if you are an albino silverback in Australia, this only applies to Rwandan companies. Or maybe I would happily pay a tax to the Rwandan… Read More
History The first biological species concept 10 May 200918 Sep 2017 Before this text in 1686, the term species just meant some sort or kind of organism. It was a Latin word in ordinary use without much meaning in natural history, but then arguments began whether or not there were one or more species for this or that group, and so… Read More
But we knew this already, eh? The web-of-life concept that is always is the background, sussurating like insects in the night. From Jacques Cousteau to Richard Attenborough (sp?) and from Marlin Perkins to Carl Sagan, popular culture echoes with this idea. We also suspected it when we were small and got caught up watching bees and flowers, ants and sand grains, birds and wind. No surprise that it extends so deeply into the realm of the tiny and unseen. Evidence that it extends into realms much larger than us is also at hand, thanks to telescopes complimenting microscopes. What I like most is that this sense of connectedness has clear, observable evidence with which to show itself!