Merging Natural Selection with Learning Theory Yields a New and Improved Evolution; or Does It?

Perhaps we could call it neo-neo-Darwinism. As Brendan Dixon noted here yesterday, New Scientist promises that a "radical new addition to the theory of evolution" will fill in some gaps in the hoary old theory "while turning theories of intelligent design on their head." Who would want an upside-down theory, even if it were intuitively compelling?

A feather isn't just pretty: it's pretty useful. Strong, light and flexible, with tiny barbs to zip each filament to its neighbours, it is fantast...