Interesting article on Yahoo today:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2627&ncid=2627&e=9&u=/space/20060405/sc_space/fishylandbeastbridgesevolutionarygap

4/6/2006 11:47:46 AM

As is evolution needed a push.

4/6/2006 11:53:30 AM

Haha pretty cool stuff.

I wish I could see that animal in action, it sounds really awkward.

4/6/2006 11:54:09 AM

they were discussing this on NPR... the guy who talked about it said that it was "a missing link" not "the missing link" and that you needed more.

somewhat unrelated my astronomy professor says that the earths magnetic field switches polarity (which side is north and which side is south) occasionally, and during the intermission between alot more radiation gets in and life mutates alot faster which might account partially for the gaps. (the sun switches like every 11 years, its easier for a gaseous body to do it than something fairly solid like the earth)

4/6/2006 12:10:49 PM

^dr egler is the man. he is incredibly smart.

4/6/2006 12:50:01 PM

God obviously planted that fossil there to test the faith of His true followers.

4/6/2006 1:09:20 PM

SOUNDS LIKE MORE PRO-EVOLUTIONIST PROPAGANDA FROM THE ATHEIST MEDIA.

4/6/2006 1:10:00 PM

THE FURTHER LIBERALIZING OF AMERICA BY THE PRO-COMMUNIST, PRO-DEATH, ATHEIST MEDIA

4/6/2006 2:35:41 PM

^ and ^^ it may surprise you to know that not all those who support the theory of evolution are atheist, pro communist or pro death as you put it. so ask yourselves, who's really the one spreading the propaganda?

4/6/2006 2:58:27 PM

You are brutally retarded.

4/6/2006 3:04:41 PM

^^It may surprise you to know that they were using sarcasm.

[Edited on April 6, 2006 at 3:05 PM. Reason : ^^]

4/6/2006 3:04:55 PM

in other words


IT SOUNDS LIKE SCIENCE!



NEVAR IN OUR HOMES!!!



QUICK!!! TO THE MICROWAVE!!!

4/6/2006 3:13:17 PM

yes it does surprise me to know. i was hoping this would be a more serious discussion.

4/6/2006 3:14:04 PM

Meh, the whole evolution v. creation thing has been debated ad nausea. The end result:

Some creationists wouldn't accept evolution if there was a complete transitional fossil record and some evolutionists wouldn't accept creationism if God himself came down and confirmed it.

[Edited on April 6, 2006 at 3:20 PM. Reason : -]

4/6/2006 3:19:42 PM

Quote :

"somewhat unrelated my astronomy professor says that the earths magnetic field switches polarity (which side is north and which side is south) occasionally, and during the intermission between alot more radiation gets in and life mutates alot faster which might account partially for the gaps. (the sun switches like every 11 years, its easier for a gaseous body to do it than something fairly solid like the earth)"

I know there's pretty solid evidence that this happens, and I believe it does, but can you give an explanation of the mechanism that causes pole shifts to a non-science major? Everything I've read about that simply states the evidence for the phenomenon's existence, but never goes into detail about what causes it. I'm very curious about that.

I read a lot of science articles, so don't be afraid to get somewhat technical, but it's quite possible to go over my head.

---

As for the article:

TRUTH FISH EATS THE FISH-GATOR!!1

4/6/2006 3:21:54 PM

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN THE MISSING LINK AND THE SPECIES

4/6/2006 3:23:44 PM

^^^yeah, the same goes for most moral issues i guess. i just hate that some people won't even consider another possibility, on either side. or the ones who try and convert you to their beliefs.

[Edited on April 6, 2006 at 3:24 PM. Reason : .]

4/6/2006 3:23:46 PM

I hate people who refer to evolution as a belief.

4/6/2006 5:08:23 PM

As opposed to...

4/6/2006 5:12:29 PM

an evidence derived theory.

4/6/2006 5:23:34 PM

"I know there's pretty solid evidence that this happens, and I believe it does, but can you give an explanation of the mechanism that causes pole shifts to a non-science major? "

I'm a non science major so I can give you the understanding I have but as a non science major I'm sure this isn't fully accurate. As a philosophy major I've looked at creationism & god alot more from theological & philosophical perspectives than scientific ones (although I've looked at it from as much of a scientific perspective as I can having taken all the astronomy classes that’s allowed to an undergrad - 2 classes & 1 lab)

I mentioned it also happens in the sun. The magnetic field goes around the body (star or planet). The top thinner part, and wider middle equator part move at the same angular rate, but the middle to cover a lot more distance in the same amount of time actually goes faster. In a gaseous body like the sun this twists & tangles up the magnetic field really fast until it shifts to the other way around. During the transition period it kind of dissipates or is in arranged in a way where it doesn’t really protect from radiation well, but then comes back with the opposite end being north & south magnetically. With the earth it takes a lot longer (maybe like everything 10 thousand to 1 million years or something) for it to get tangled up & flip b/c the earth is more solid so things don’t rotate as differentially as they do with the sun that’s a gas.

4/6/2006 5:26:38 PM

Quote :

"Gamecat: can you give an explanation of the mechanism that causes pole shifts to a non-science major?"

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I remember it having to do with the molten iron center at the core of the earth and the convection currents of magma below the crust. I wish I could go into more detail but alas, i'm not a science major either.

Quote :

"omicron101: i was hoping this would be a more serious discussion."

Ok, This fish is the work of Satan. I saw the devil plant it in the ground so that godless scientist could dig it up and blaspheme against the Creator, Seriously.

4/6/2006 10:41:32 PM

They are a bitch to get off of the hook. I always end up using pliers.

[Edited on April 6, 2006 at 10:59 PM. Reason : .]

4/6/2006 10:59:10 PM