The World's Best Book Summaries
Where did religion come from? Is religion a natural part of human evolution, or something else? While we can’t specifically identify the answer to the question “where did religion come from” there are some clues. It also poses bigger questions about why we have religion, and whether it’s a necessary part of human life. Keep reading to find out the answer to the question “where did religion come from?”
What is the anthropic principle? Does it help explain why human beings exist? The anthropic principle is the idea that all things in the universe are constrained to allow human development. This idea helps us think about how intelligent life formed. Read more about the anthropic principle and what it means.
What caused the Permian mass extinction? How long did it last and how many species did it eliminate? The Permian mass extinction was the most devastating of the Big Five mass extinction events in the history of life on earth, eliminating 96% of the species. Scientists attribute it to the sudden warming of the climate as a result of the increased concentration of carbon in the air. Read about the Permian mass extinction, its causes and effects on the animal kingdom.
What is the arguments against creationism? What evidence shows that creationism is false? There are numerous arguments against creationism. In addition to well-documented scientific evidence in favor of evolution, Richard Dawkins also suggests that we evaluate the creationist argument on its own weaknesses. Keep reading to find out more about arguments against creationism.
What are the effects of ocean acidification? What role does an increase in oceanic acidity play in the biodiversity of marine life? The effects of ocean acidification are so destructive that it’s been dubbed the global warming’s “evil twin.” Specifically, ocean acidification is causing an unprecedented reduction in oceanic biodiversity as tehe increased CO2 concentration is affecting the internal processes of the marine microbiome. Keep reading to learn about the destructive effects of ocean acidification on marine life.
What are the arguments against evolution? Why do theists believe that creationism is true? Theists make several key arguments against evolution and natural selection. Despite overwhelming evidence to support science, theists believe that God created the universe for a few reasons. Keep reading for some of the main theist arguments against evolution and natural selection.
What are the effects of global warming on animals in the tropics? Why do researchers project the tropical species to be more affected by climate change than their cold-climate counterparts? Most people think of global warming primarily as a threat to cold-climate species such as polar bears, penguins, and seals. However, the effects of global warming on animals in the tropics are projected to be even more drastic, according to researchers. Keep reading to learn about the effects of global warming on animals in the tropics.
Why are coral reefs dying? What are the main driving factors behind the projected coral reef extinction, according to scientists? Corals have endured for many geologic epochs, but researchers believe they won’t survive the Anthropocene. Instead, they’re on a course to be the first major ecological system to go extinct. The two main reasons why coral reefs are dying are ocean acidification and climate change. Keep reading to learn why coral reefs are dying.
What is the species-area relationship? How is it expressed in mathematics? The species-area relationship is the relationship between the area of the species habitat and the number of animal species that inhabit it. In 2004, scientists used the concept, which is expressed mathematically as a curve, to calculate the species extinction risk at different levels of global warming. Keep reading to learn about the species-area relationship.
What are the two major theories of extinction? How do they explain the mass extinctions that have happened on planet Earth? Which theory holds more weight? Theories of extinction can be categorized into two major schools of thought: catastrophism and uniformitarianism. Catastrophists believe extinctions happen as a result of major catastrophes. Uniformitarians, on the other hand, believe in a gradual process of extinction due to evolution. Keep reading to learn about theories of extinction and how they were developed.