Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Evolution Without Darwin
Darwin suspected it, but he would roll over in his grave if he knew how his dogma on adaptation and natural selection is changing. His original teachings are still not accepted by fundamentalist religious people. The new thinking would make them both apoplectic! Evolutionary thinking is finally beginning to mature past Darwin's explosion onto the science scene, after 159 years of stagnation. Forty years ago, there was another explosion in the science world. Stephen Jay Gould published a paper called The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme. What it proclaimed was heresy in biology. Simply put, Gould said that not all adaptations are adaptations, some things are by-products that an organism can put to use, but they were not naturally selected. He likened these abilities to the spandrels in the church of San Marco. A spandrel is a triangular shape created when a dome is added to a rectangular room with arches between the arch and the wall. Artists used these spaces for artwork. Gould saw traits that were like spandrels—the body is a restricted form (the rectangle), and the dome was an adaptive trait. In between were usable by-products—the spandrels.
By Monica Bennett8 years ago in Futurism
Review of 'The Titan'
A common scenario in both science fiction and projections of what future science will do to help humans move out into the cosmos is terraforming: we use our technology to make an alien world more habitable, more comfortable, to humankind. This could include the moderating of the temperature, increasing the oxygen, adjusting the gravity, that sort of thing.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
The Prognosis for Our Planet
We live in one of the most exciting and fascinating times in the history of human civilisation. Our technical and scientific achievements are unparalleled by any other era. Yet while we enjoy the taste of our labours, the environment is covering the bill.
By Cosmic Peak8 years ago in Futurism
The Devil and Apple Juice
“Finally, someone came here! What’s up girl?” I turned around, almost tripping over myself as I faced the voice. I looked at the figure in front of me, confused at the person—well let's call it a person for now I was seeing. A relatively young looking guy, probably late 20s, grinned from ear to ear as he looked me up and down, hands in his pockets.
By Hannah Kelleher8 years ago in Futurism
'Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures' Volume 4 Review
It's been two years now since the first of The Third Doctor Adventures arrived from Big Finish. In that time, the range has gone from strength to strength across three previous sets, recreating early 1970s Doctor Who on audio with Tim Trealor stepping into Jon Pertwee's role. While the range has played it safe to an extent up until now (most notably with the Dalek story in Volume 3), this fourth entry promised to explore new territory by taking this Doctor up against two foes he'd never encountered on TV.
By Matthew Kresal8 years ago in Futurism
How Psychic Ability Can Be Used in Archaeology
Debunkers would call psychic archaeology a fraud, but as I have an interest in the field of archaeology in general, I want to explore how my abilities can help me as an archaeologist. Archaeology is a field of many subheadings such as historical archaeology, or as known as the archaeology of the modern period. I’m interested in the actual science of real archaeology, not just pseudoscience as I want to be a real scientist, in addition to law school and my M.D. UCLA has an archaeology department besides the law department I want to enroll in when I go back to school and get my grades up.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Futurism
The Top Ten Best Star Wars Songs
Star Wars songs are extremely famous because of the acclaim the movie series has gotten and also with John Williams running the show, it’s bound to have lots of extremely deep and loved songs. Spotify has often dared to take the challenge of choosing the “best” and has always failed. In this post, I will complete what Spotify cannot.
By Emma Lansdowne8 years ago in Futurism
'Star Wars the Clone Wars': Chapter Six
Domino Squad (The members of the clone squad that occupied the base of the Rishi Moon base) ~~Lina P.O.V~~ I laid back in my chair and sighed. I turned around in the main pilot chair. "How many more bases do we have to check?"
By Linaflame L78 years ago in Futurism
