The World's Best Book Summaries
What happened to the great auk? What role did humans play in the disappearance of the giant seabird of the North Atlantic? The extinction of the great auk is attributed to several causes. There was a volcano eruption on one of the breeding islands. However, the major factor is considered to be the mass killings of auks for egg collection in the 1800s. Read more to learn about the factors behind the great auk’s extinction.
What caused neanderthal extinction? Did we—homo-sapiens humans—play a part in killing our species-cousins? According to scientists’ projections, neanderthals disappeared about thirty thousand years ago. Researchers first suggested climate change or disease as theories for their disappearance. More recently, however, other researchers concluded that neanderthal extinction was caused by humans. Read about neanderthal extinction and its causes.
What is logical positivism? What is the main criticism of this philosophy? Logical positivism is a philosophy that states that the only problems worth considering are those which can be solved through observation or logic. Following this logic, scientific paradigms should only work for the specific phenomena they’ve been tested for, and only under those same conditions. Read more to learn about logical positivism philosophy and its criticism.
What is biodiversity preservation? How do scientists attempt to preserve endangered animal species from becoming extinct? The threats to biodiversity have been recognized and acknowledged for some time. Today, biodiversity preservation efforts include legislative changes, creation of national parks, and lab preservation of endangered species’ DNA material. Keep reading to learn about biodiversity preservation.
What are the four rules of science? What rules do scientists have to abide by when they construct their theories? According to Thomas Kuhn, the author of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, rules of science fall into four major categories. These include scientific theories, instruments, high-level concepts, and personal rules for scientists. Keep reading to learn about the four rules of science, according to Thomas Kuhn.
What is the Holocene extinction? When did it start and what is the main driving force behind species disappearance during the Holocene epoch? The Holocene extinction, also known as the Anthropocene extinction, is the ongoing mass species extinction event that started at the end of the ice age. It is attributed to climate change and human activity (e.g. habitat destruction and species dispersal). Keep reading to learn about Holocene extinction.
What is the process of scientific discovery? How do scientific discoveries start and what does it take for them to become accepted facts and theories? The process of scientific discovery starts when scientists find an anomaly that can’t be explained within the current paradigm. This process ends when the paradigm has changed so that the anomalous event is now expected. Keep reading to learn about the process of scientific discovery.
Who is Jerome Kagan? How did his longitudinal research on babies show how introversion and extroversion can be identified at an early age? Jerome Kagan is a developmental psychologist that started a multi-year study in 1989. That study showed that reactivity as an infant was a predictor of temperament later in life. Keep reading to find out more about Jerome Kagan and his research.
What causes anomalies in science? How do scientists deal with anomalous events that cannot be explained within the existing paradigm? Recognizing anomalies in science is a key part of making new discoveries. When scientists discover an anomaly—that is an event or phenomenon that can’t be explained within the existing paradigm—they either brush it aside or establish a new paradigm where the anomalous event is then expected. Keep reading to learn more about anomalies in science.
What caused the End Ordovician extinction? When did it start and which animals were affected? The End Ordovician extinction was the first of the Big Five mass extinction events in the history of the Earth. The term actually refers to two extinction periods, which together wiped out 86% of the marine species. Scientists attribute it to a sudden cooling of the climate that began around 444 million years ago. Read about the causes and effects of the End Ordovician extinction.