Following Satyapal Singh's denial of evolution, a small survey of over 1,700 individuals (both adults and children) from 12 States in India found that public acceptance of evolution was high at 68.5%. While only 5.5% did not believe in evolution, the percentage of people not sure about evolution varied from 14.6% in Delhi to 45% in Haryana. … Continue reading Only 41% in Haryana believe in evolution
Evolution
Humankind’s odyssey from Africa began more than two million years ago
Michelle Langley, Griffith University Can you imagine walking 14,000 km? Trekking across wide savannas, down creek beds, along mountain chains in terrain that is new and home to foreign types of plants and animals? Can I eat this? What is that? This long excursion – once thought only to have been attempted late in the … Continue reading Humankind’s odyssey from Africa began more than two million years ago
Aniket Sule, the scientist who torpedoed Satyapal Singh’s grand plan for evolution
“The petition addressed to Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satyapal Singh to retract his statement that the theory of evolution was ‘scientifically wrong’ was signed by nearly 5,000 scientists. But even if nobody had signed it and if I was targeted, there is no dearth of jobs,” says Dr. Aniket Sule, who … Continue reading Aniket Sule, the scientist who torpedoed Satyapal Singh’s grand plan for evolution
Three science academies denounce Satyapal Singh’s statement on evolution
In a first in recent times, three science academies in India have taken a stand and issued a statement denouncing Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satyapal Singh's statement on human evolution. Two days after Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satyapal Singh claimed that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution of man … Continue reading Three science academies denounce Satyapal Singh’s statement on evolution
At last, there’s a welcome push back by the Indian scientific community
Since 2014, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there have been many instances when members of the ruling party at the centre have aired absurd statements that would never stand scientific scrutiny. Unfortunately, the scientific community has maintained radio silence. The tide is finally turning. On January 8, 2018, speaking during a programme at the … Continue reading At last, there’s a welcome push back by the Indian scientific community
Evolution “prevails” in South Korea
Published in The Hindu on September 9, 2012 Starting 2013, science textbooks in South Korea will continue to carry information on archaeopteryx, once considered the primitive bird fossil, and other examples of evolution, reports Nature. The major victory for science comes nearly four months after the South Korean government issued a petition to the publishers … Continue reading Evolution “prevails” in South Korea
A transitional form between lizards & modern-day snakes found
Published in The Hindu on July 26, 2012 A transitional snake — an intermediate form between lizards and the highly evolved snakes seen today — has been finally identified. This is a major step in answering many contentious questions such as whether snakes had their origin in a marine or terrestrial environment, how their unique … Continue reading A transitional form between lizards & modern-day snakes found
Editorial: Hyping up science
Published in The Hindu on January 13, 2011 Science when hyped loses credibility. Two separate incidents in a span of three weeks show how scientists who hype up and sensationalise their work end up diluting the significance of their discovery. In a paper published online in the Science journal in the first week of December … Continue reading Editorial: Hyping up science
Unlocking the secrets of human evolution
Published in The Hindu on February 19, 2009 Preliminary study of the Neanderthal genome reveals many thousands of differences between the two closest relatives The genetic makeup of chimpanzees and modern humans differ by only 1 per cent. And in the case of Neanderthals, the difference is as small as 0.5 per cent. The rough … Continue reading Unlocking the secrets of human evolution
Charles Darwin: Filling the missing links
Published in The Hindu on February 12, 2009 In 1859, when Charles Darwin published his “On the origin of species” there was great difficulty in interpreting the fossil record to substantiate his theory of evolutionary change. He was referring to the missing links in the fossil record to prove evolution. Missing links are of two … Continue reading Charles Darwin: Filling the missing links
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