ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 741

Southern Baptist Seminary President Questioned for His Participation in “Openly Secular” Campaign

Last month, Danny Akin, the President of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, recorded a video explaining why he supports the “Openly Secular” campaign:

Though we do disagree on some very important issues, we also agree on some important things as well. For example, we do believe together that no one should be coerced when it comes to their particular religious beliefs, whether they are religious or not religious, they should have the freedom to express what they believe and they should be able to do so without hatred, without discrimination…

…

We also believe that all people are valuable and have dignity and worth. And therefore, all people should be respected and should be allowed to express their beliefs openly according to the dictates of their conscience.

Readers’ wildlife photographs

Reader Jacques Hausser in Switzerland sent some nice insect photos, one showing parental care.

Here are some pictures of Hemipterans [JAC: “true” bugs], showing a) some parental care and b) aposematic colorations.

Elasmucha grisea (Family Acanthosomatidae), the “parent bug”. Female protecting her eggs. Females not only protect the eggs, but also the young larvae through the first three stages (the first food of young larvae is their egg shell). Readers can find additional interesting details in Wikipedia [JAC: link above].

Fifth (and last) larval stage. The larvae still gather together on the leaf, although their mother is no longer around.

A nice example of aposematic coloration: Graphosoma italicum (Family Pentatomidae). They obviously didn’t read St Exupéry correctly (“love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction”).

The same species; the rostrum (formed by the labium and containing a syringe formed by the mandibles and the maxilla) is clearly visible. As in most of the Hemipterans, this species sucks sap from its host plants, and this menacing stare is just a bluff.

Another aposematic and well known species in continental Europe, the firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Family Pyrrhocoridae). Contrary to the previous species, it is polyphagous, also sucking seeds (e.g., from lime trees) and even dead insects. And if you like curious facts, here is an extract from Wikipedia:

“P. apterus was the subject of an unexpected discovery in the 1960s when researchers who had for ten years been rearing the bugs in Prague, Czechoslovakia attempted to do the same at Harvard University in the United States. After the 5th larval instar, instead of developing into adults, the bugs either entered a 6th instar stage, or became adults with larval characteristics. All specimens died without reaching maturity.

Hot Weather And CO2 Made The Tropics A No-Go Zone For Early Plant-Eating Dinosaurs

Plants and Animals





Photo credit:

The hot dry conditions at low latitudes during the Triassic meant that only small carnivorous dinosaurs (background) could survive there. Victor Leshyk, Author provided

One of the missing links in our understanding of the Triassic Period – between 252 and 201m years ago – is why there were so few dinosaurs in the tropics. Our research suggests that volatile, hot dry weather and high carbon dioxide levels are to blame. The research can even tell us something about the challenges we humans face from climate change.

Propaganda Or Cost Of Innovation? The High Price Of New Drugs

Health and Medicine





Photo credit:

High costs are used to justify high drug prices. Bullstar/Shutterstock

Ever wonder how much it costs to develop a new drug? The independent, non-profit research group, The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, estimates US$2.6 billion, almost double the centre’s previous estimate a decade ago. But how accurate is this figure?

#Distractinglysexy: Sir Tim Hunt’s Gift To Feminism In Science

Editor's Blog





Photo credit:

Lucie de Beauchamp posting on the #distractinglysexy Twitter hashtag. Lucie de Beauchamp

Sir Tim Hunt, a man very much of the last century, was obviously ignorant of this century’s etiquette on at least two counts: it is not acceptable today to be sexist; and, if you are publicly sexist, your comments will go viral in seconds, particularly if you are a Nobel Laureate.

Speaking at the World Conference of Science Journalists in Korea last week, he stated he was in favour of single-sex labs, adding some thoughts on women in science:

Elsevier Acts Against Research Article Pirate Sites And Claims Irreparable Harm

Editor's Blog





Photo credit:

Pirates of Published Research.

The academic publisher Elsevier last week filed a complaint against two web sites who it accuses of pirating its academic articles and other publications and offering them up to the world for free.

With Encyclical, Pope Francis Elevates Environmental Justice

Environment





Photo credit:

Showing his stripes: visiting a favela in Brazil in 2013. Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil, CC BY-SA

When the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose Francis as his papal name, he signaled to the world a dual commitment to sustainability and the global poor. His namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi, was a man of poverty and peace who loved nature and animals, and is said to have preached his sermons to birds.

How to Break the Internet

Ever wondered what it would take to bring down the Internet? Well, not much.

Hosted by: Hank Green

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Sources:

http://blogs.cisco.com/sp/global-internet-routing-table-reaches-512k-milestone

https://supportforums.cisco.com/document/12202206/size-internet-global-routing-table-and-its-potential-side-effects

http://www.internap.com/2014/08/18/growing-pains-internet-global-routing-table/

http://www.bgpmon.net/what-caused-todays-internet-hiccup/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/cable-failure-hits-uk-internet-traffic-3039118125/

http://mentalfloss.com/article/60150/10-facts-about-internets-undersea-cables

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-21963100

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/13/8204655/submarine-cables-internet

http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-flare-electronics.htm

This Thai Meal Gives You Liver Cancer

Health and Medicine





Photo credit:

Candice and Jarrett/Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Koi pla is a popular dish in northeastern Thailand. It’s made from finely chopped raw fish, mixed with herbs, a dash of lime juice, and a sprinkling of live red ants. Although devoured regularly by many in the Isaan region of the country, the dish actually harbors a deadly secret: it causes liver cancer.

The Science Behind The Most Gruesome Deaths In Game of Thrones

Editor's Blog





Photo credit:

Game of Thrones. Season 5, episode 9. HBO

Game of Thrones, the notoriously successful book series and adapted TV show, has had its fair share of gruesome deaths. They’re not messing about when they say all men must die. From being burnt alive by dragons to crushing a human skull with one’s bare hands, the show’s bloodlust in the last five seasons and its brutal season finale has left us cringing and anguished. But are these deaths only possible in the realm of fantasy, or are they scientifically plausible?