Leaf with dew drops
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
1w ago
Photograph by Ken Phelps, a.k.a. Capt. Stormfield. Photography Contest, Honorable Mention. Morning dew on an unidentified leaf, Ganges, Saltspring Island, B.C. Canon 40D, 100 mm macro. Mr. Phelps writes: "Vancouver Island is temperate rainforest. Our property is mostly a sharp, rocky ridge with a couple micro-climates. Standard issue fir trees, ferns, etc. on the north side, and a bit more of a Southern Oregon feel on the top of the ridge, with some pines and lots of Arbutus. Very hot in summer with all the rock." He adds that since taking the photo some years ago, he has learned that the ..read more
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The difference between skepticism and denial; Darwin, Wilberforce, and the Discovery Institute
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by Paul Braterman
2w ago
Bishop Wilberforce, in 1860, was a skeptic, praised by Darwin for the skill of his questioning. Today’s creationists, not least the Discovery Institute, are denialists, endlessly asking the same questions as he did, although they have long since been answered. Yes, Bishop Wilberforce really did ask T.H. Huxley, “Darwin’s bulldog,” whether he would prefer an ape for his grandfather, and a woman for his grandmother, or a man for his grandfather, and an ape for his grandmother. And Huxley really did say that he would prefer this to descent from a man conspicuous for his talents and eloquence, bu ..read more
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In Kentucky, “inclusive” means “Christian”
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
2w ago
"Replica" of the Ark on opening day. Credit: Dan Phelps. It appears that, in Kentucky, at least, “inclusive” means “Christian.” At least, that is what you might deduce from an article by Jolene Almendarez and Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez in the Cincinnati Enquirer late last year. The article announces the launch of the Kentucky Faith Trail, which is a self-guided road trip that will take you to 11 important faith-based sites, all of them Christian.* The program has received a $305,000 grant from the state. Its purpose, according to a press release of the northern Kentucky tourism organization ..read more
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Anas platyrhynchos
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
3w ago
Anas platyrhynchos – mallard duck, Boulder, Colorado, March, 2024. I am no great fan of mallard ducks (we have almost as many as we have Canada geese, but at least they seem to be housebroken). This one, a male, must have had especially clean, new feathers, because he clearly shows the green, iridescent coloring on his head. That is, the coloring is not due to pigment, but rather interference colors owing to layering in the feathers. You can tell because the color faces you, but is absent elsewhere. Mallards also show bluish iridescence farther back, but that is not visible in this picture. Li ..read more
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Spider web
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
1M ago
Photograph by John Trawick. Photography Contest, Honorable Mention. Spider web – made visible by early morning dew at Lake Murray Reservoir, San Diego, California. Nikon D7100. To see comments on this post click below ..read more
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Dolomedes triton
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
1M ago
Photograph by Mark Sturtevant. Photography Contest, Honorable Mention. Dolomedes triton – fishing spider under water. The six-spotted fishing spider hunts on water for insects and even fish. They can also hide under water to escape danger, as is shown in this staged picture, which was taken from the under-side of an aquarium. To see comments on this post click below ..read more
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Interview with “Executive CEO” of AIG
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by Matt Young
1M ago
A view of the floatless Ark seen from the rear. Photograph by Dan Phelps. Paul Braterman reported earlier that Martyn Iles is the new Executive CEO of Answers in Genesis. Professor Braterman found the appointment of Mr. Iles troubling. Mr. Iles was interviewed the other day by Jolene Almendarez of the Cincinnati Enquirer. I will admit that I was slightly put off by Ms. Almendarez’s first comment, that “most” reputable scientists and educators debunk AIG’s “controversial” claims about the age of the earth and so on. Nevertheless, it was a good interview which asked pertinent questions – though ..read more
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An Immense World: newish book
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by Matt Young
2M ago
I have been reading, intermittently, I afraid, An Immense World, subtitled “How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us,” by Ed Yong. The book is about senses: vision, touch, pain, hearing, but also heat, vibration, electric and magnetic fields, and echoes and echolocation. I am about up to the part where he tries to tell you, with a sort of apology to Thomas Nagel, what it is like to be a bat. In the meantime, I heard Mr. Yong interviewed by Arielle Duhaime-Ross last week on Science Friday, under the title, Expanding our Umwelt: Understanding animal experiences. Umwelt is a German w ..read more
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Darwin Day is February 12
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
2M ago
Daguerrotype of Charles Darwin and his son William in 1842. Photographer unknown. Cambridge University Library. Public domain, not subject to copyright in the United States. Darwin Day, that is, the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth in 1809, is February 12. If you are sponsoring any Darwin Day events, or indeed if you know of any, please submit them to International Darwin Day. As I write, only a half-dozen events are listed, and I am sure that there are many more. To see comments on this post click below ..read more
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Sinopah Mountain
The Panda’s Thumb
by Matt Young
2M ago
Photograph by James Kocher. Photography Contest, Honorable Mention. Morning reflections of Sinopah Mountain (8,271 ft) and Paradise Point, eastern shore of Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana. Also visible on horizon (L-R) are Painted Teepee (7,850 ft); Two Medicine Pass, Sinopah Mountain, Mt. Helen (8,538 ft) and Dawson Pass. The purple/maroon tints of these mountains are colored by mudstones and argillites in the Appekunny and Grinnell Formations (Mesoproterozoic Belt Supergroup, ~1.4 Ga). These formations are also a portion of the Lewis Overthrust structure of the Rocky Mount ..read more
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