evolution http://www.npr.org evolution en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:51:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif evolution http://www.npr.org VIDEO: The National Center For Science Education Keeps Evolving Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), explains in a video how she sees parallels between the rejection of evolution and of the rejection of climate science. Mon, 13 May 2013 11:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/13/183625134/video-the-national-center-for-science-education-keeps-evolving?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/05/13/183625134/video-the-national-center-for-science-education-keeps-evolving?ft=1&f=133650700 Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), explains in a video how she sees parallels between the rejection of evolution and of the rejection of climate science.

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]]> The Threat To Indonesia's Biodiversity, Foretold In The 1800s British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace warned well over a century ago about the risks to diverse forms of life in places like Indonesia. His words are more compelling today than when he wrote them. Sun, 05 May 2013 17:33:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/05/180290318/the-threat-to-indonesias-biodiversity-foretold-in-the-1800s?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/05/180290318/the-threat-to-indonesias-biodiversity-foretold-in-the-1800s?ft=1&f=133650700 British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace warned well over a century ago about the risks to diverse forms of life in places like Indonesia. His words are more compelling today than when he wrote them.

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]]> Defining Our Place In The Universe Is the importance of life on Earth shrinking as science continually re-defines our world as a meaningless speck in an endless and uncaring Universe? Or is life here a precious thing that grows in importance with our ever-deepening knowledge of the Universe? Commentator Marcelo says it's the latter. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/04/17/177597537/defining-our-place-in-the-universe?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/04/17/177597537/defining-our-place-in-the-universe?ft=1&f=133650700 Is the importance of life on Earth shrinking as science continually re-defines our world as a meaningless speck in an endless and uncaring Universe? Or is life here a precious thing that grows in importance with our ever-deepening knowledge of the Universe? Commentator Marcelo says it's the latter.

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]]> Second Genesis: Looking For Aliens Here, There And Everywhere Did the seeds of life on Earth begin on Mars? Are we part of Earth's first alien invasion? Adam Frank says we may be looking at a future full of discoveries in our own solar system that could reset our understanding of life and its origin. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/04/09/176557134/second-genesis-looking-for-aliens-here-there-and-everywhere?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/04/09/176557134/second-genesis-looking-for-aliens-here-there-and-everywhere?ft=1&f=133650700 Did the seeds of life on Earth begin on Mars? Are we part of Earth's first alien invasion? Adam Frank says we may be looking at a future full of discoveries in our own solar system that could reset our understanding of life and its origin.

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]]> Frans de Waal's Bottom-Up Morality: We're Not Good Because Of God Morality emerges from our evolved nature: so claims primatologist Frans de Waal, who takes aim in his new book at the view that morality comes from God. Commentator Barbara J. King finds de Waal's argument persuasive. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/21/174830095/frans-de-waals-bottom-up-morality-were-not-good-because-of-god?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/21/174830095/frans-de-waals-bottom-up-morality-were-not-good-because-of-god?ft=1&f=133650700 Morality emerges from our evolved nature: so claims primatologist Frans de Waal, who takes aim in his new book at the view that morality comes from God. Commentator Barbara J. King finds de Waal's argument persuasive.

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]]> An Eclectic Mix Of Giants Takes On The Origin Of Life Not only is there no consensus yet on how life might have started on Earth, there is not even any agreement on <em>where</em> it started. But still, many think the mystery of life's origin can be solved. Commentator Wim Hordijk revels in the subject at a conference hosted by Princeton University. Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/10/172875449/an-eclectic-mix-of-giants-takes-on-the-origin-of-life?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/03/10/172875449/an-eclectic-mix-of-giants-takes-on-the-origin-of-life?ft=1&f=133650700 Not only is there no consensus yet on how life might have started on Earth, there is not even any agreement on where it started. But still, many think the mystery of life's origin can be solved. Commentator Wim Hordijk revels in the subject at a conference hosted by Princeton University.

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]]> How Did Our Brains Evolve To Equate Food With Love? Until recently, our brains' way of connecting food with love and a sense of well-being was purely a good thing. But in a world where it's possible to feast every day, it can be a problem. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/01/173245261/how-did-our-brains-evolve-to-equate-food-with-love?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/01/173245261/how-did-our-brains-evolve-to-equate-food-with-love?ft=1&f=133650700 Until recently, our brains' way of connecting food with love and a sense of well-being was purely a good thing. But in a world where it's possible to feast every day, it can be a problem.

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]]> For Fruit Flies, Alcohol Really Is Mommy's Little Helper A glass of wine can be a welcome sight after a long day watching the kids, but fruit fly moms use alcohol from fermenting fruit to protect their offspring from marauding wasps. That's just one of the ways the tiny flies are using booze to survive the slings and arrows of existence. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/21/172589714/for-fruit-flies-alcohol-really-is-mommys-little-helper?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/21/172589714/for-fruit-flies-alcohol-really-is-mommys-little-helper?ft=1&f=133650700 A glass of wine can be a welcome sight after a long day watching the kids, but fruit fly moms use alcohol from fermenting fruit to protect their offspring from marauding wasps. That's just one of the ways the tiny flies are using booze to survive the slings and arrows of existence.

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]]> Calorie Counts: Fatally Flawed, Or Our Best Defense Against Pudge? Scientists say the time-honored calorie is too flawed to give people a good measure of what they're eating. But many nutritionists say calories are still the most useful tool for keeping tabs on food intake and maintaining healthy weight. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:17:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/20/172403779/calorie-counts-fatally-flawed-or-our-best-defense-against-pudge?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/20/172403779/calorie-counts-fatally-flawed-or-our-best-defense-against-pudge?ft=1&f=133650700 Scientists say the time-honored calorie is too flawed to give people a good measure of what they're eating. But many nutritionists say calories are still the most useful tool for keeping tabs on food intake and maintaining healthy weight.

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]]> Pig Out In The Winter Or When Money's Tight? Blame Evolution Why do we reach for that handful of M&Ms and other high-calorie treats under stress? In prehistoric times, such gluttony was probably a useful response to scarcity. That "feast before famine" instinct is less helpful in modern times, when obesity is a bigger health risk than starvation – but evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:32:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/01/31/170768421/pig-out-in-the-winter-or-when-moneys-tight-blame-evolution?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/01/31/170768421/pig-out-in-the-winter-or-when-moneys-tight-blame-evolution?ft=1&f=133650700 Why do we reach for that handful of M&Ms and other high-calorie treats under stress? In prehistoric times, such gluttony was probably a useful response to scarcity. That "feast before famine" instinct is less helpful in modern times, when obesity is a bigger health risk than starvation – but evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up.

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]]> An Evolutionary Whodunit: How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance? Thousands of years ago, ancient farmers gained the ability to consume milk as adults without getting an upset stomach. A remarkable mutation let some of them digest lactose sugar. But scientists still puzzle over why that mutation persisted and became prevalent in modern humans. Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:56:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/27/168144785/an-evolutionary-whodunit-how-did-humans-develop-lactose-tolerance?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/12/27/168144785/an-evolutionary-whodunit-how-did-humans-develop-lactose-tolerance?ft=1&f=133650700 Thousands of years ago, ancient farmers gained the ability to consume milk as adults without getting an upset stomach. A remarkable mutation let some of them digest lactose sugar. But scientists still puzzle over why that mutation persisted and became prevalent in modern humans.

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]]> A Pledge To Science? That's Something Congress Should Consider What would you want in a national Pledge For Science? How would you balance out the need to keep politicians from waffling on scientific issues as diverse as evolution, climate change and vaccines while separating out issues of research from issues of policy? Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:39:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/12/07/166732941/a-pledge-to-science-thats-something-congress-should-consider?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/12/07/166732941/a-pledge-to-science-thats-something-congress-should-consider?ft=1&f=133650700 What would you want in a national Pledge For Science? How would you balance out the need to keep politicians from waffling on scientific issues as diverse as evolution, climate change and vaccines while separating out issues of research from issues of policy?

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]]> Adventurous Eating Helped Human Ancestors Boost Odds Of Survival The discovery of new foods by chefs of the prehistoric age may have helped our human ancestors evolve, archeologists say. Hominins that lived about 3 million years ago began eating grasses and sedge, which helped them survive in different environments. Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/11/12/164970806/adventurous-eating-helped-human-ancestors-boost-odds-of-survival?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/11/12/164970806/adventurous-eating-helped-human-ancestors-boost-odds-of-survival?ft=1&f=133650700 The discovery of new foods by chefs of the prehistoric age may have helped our human ancestors evolve, archeologists say. Hominins that lived about 3 million years ago began eating grasses and sedge, which helped them survive in different environments.

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]]> After Sandy: The Most Highly Evolved Compassion Of All In the wake of the terrible damage caused by superstorm Sandy, commentator Barbara J. King reflects on the animal rescues underway and asks if we can tap these selfless impulses to create a greater, sustained good. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/30/163996643/after-sandy-the-most-highly-evolved-compassion-of-all?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/30/163996643/after-sandy-the-most-highly-evolved-compassion-of-all?ft=1&f=133650700 In the wake of the terrible damage caused by superstorm Sandy, commentator Barbara J. King reflects on the animal rescues underway and asks if we can tap these selfless impulses to create a greater, sustained good.

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]]> When Fire Met Food, The Brains Of Early Humans Grew Bigger Because we had better food, our brains grew bigger than those of our primate cousins, scientists say. Early humans cooked, which makes meat and veggies more digestible and nutrients more available to the body. Plus, there was all that chatting and chewing around the campfire. Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/10/24/163536159/when-fire-met-meat-the-brains-of-early-humans-grew-bigger?ft=1&f=133650700 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/10/24/163536159/when-fire-met-meat-the-brains-of-early-humans-grew-bigger?ft=1&f=133650700 Because we had better food, our brains grew bigger than those of our primate cousins, scientists say. Early humans cooked, which makes meat and veggies more digestible and nutrients more available to the body. Plus, there was all that chatting and chewing around the campfire.

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