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Indefatigable Spirit
EDITORIAL
Darwin’s long argument is won Creationists make a basic mistake in regarding On The Origin of Species as science’s sacred text
(whoever makes a comparison with Nazism loses the debate) and remember what was really the substance of Darwin’s argument as he wrote The Origin. Although aware of the struggle between faith and reason, this does not come into the book at all. Instead, Darwin was preoccupied by the science. Those who label The Origin as a sacrosanct text display a profound ignorance of how science works. Scientific understanding develops, changes and evolves all the time. Here Dawkins should be applauded for his diligent efforts to show how, as the great scientific enterprise rolls on, it has
“THIS whole volume is one long argument.” That was among Charles Darwin’s concluding comments in arguably the most revolutionary science book of all, On the Origin of Species. In the 150 years since its publication, The Origin has been subjected to intense argument, “Free copies of The Origin with a creationist introduction are to be not all of it edifying. Opponents of evolution distributed on US college campuses” often make the ludicrous claim that the book is treated like a bible, a sacred text of science. That is why copies of Darwin’s great work, consistently confirmed Darwin’s ideas. adulterated with a creationist introduction, are What is remarkable is that, though it about to be distributed on college campuses. is 150 years to the very month since John This is part of the same disinformation Murray published Darwin’s landmark work, campaign that brought us intelligent design – its key ideas are still compatible with what we invented to provide a “scientific” alternative – know from modern research, notably genetics. and teachers now fear to teach evolution To underline this, Steve Jones of University because of a creationist backlash. College London has condensed and updated One reason creationists make this argument The Origin for this magazine. is that they can then claim that if the scientific In the heart of this issue is a 21st-century bible can’t provide all the answers (and, of version of the founding text of evolutionary course, it never will), then turn to Christianity thought. Use it to peer inside the brilliant because the real one can. By pointing out mind of Darwin and to read modern examples the fallacy of this argument, Richard Dawkins of the evidence that demonstrates the was accused of fascism by an American argument put forward in The Origin is no TV host last month. A cardinal warmed to longer just a theory (in the colloquial sense). this repellent theme by comparing Dawkins The veracity of Darwin’s thinking shines to Hitler, explaining that both of them out with clarity. The long argument is over see humans only as vehicles for good genes. and, as Darwin himself aptly put it: “There Here we should invoke Godwin’s law is grandeur in this view of life.” ■
Ignore scientists at everyone’s peril BLUEFIN tuna in the Mediterranean are the latest fish stock to face collapse. If overfishing continues, the species will be commercially extinct within two years (see pages 7 and 44). What is staggering is that the ironically titled International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas has consistently ignored the advice of its own scientific advisers (that might sound familiar to UK readers). This year, when its advisers had recommended that the fishery be shut temporarily, ICCAT set a quota of 22,000 tonnes. This week, ICCAT is meeting to decide next year’s quotas, with a provisional figure of 19,950 tonnes. If ICCAT caves in to commercial pressure to adopt this – and it probably will – it will have signed a death warrant for the tuna, the industry and for itself. ■
Indefatigable Spirit NASA has been agonising over how to free Spirit from a sand trap for six months. That’s double the design lifetime of the rover, which landed in 2004. Now, with winter on the way, NASA’s hand is forced. Its plan is to backtrack slowly out of the mire (see page 8). One could criticise the agency for investing too much effort in a mission that’s past its prime, but that would be churlish: Spirit has achieved more than anyone dared dream, and could deliver yet more. Besides, it would seem strangely cruel to abandon the plucky rover to its fate. ■
CultureLab newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab Welcome to the New Scientist CultureLab, a space where artists, authors, editors and readers can come together to share opinions and ideas. The CultureLab will be the new online home for reviews of books, films, TV shows and exhibits – plus author interviews, event listings, reader contests, video clips, picture galleries and more Visit the CultureLab now to find out why Carl Sagan’s books are not only still relevant, but may be more vital now than ever. Check out screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s analysis of a page from Carl Jung’s long-anticipated Red Book. Read about artist Jonathon Keats’s latest installation, First Bank of Antimatter.
Find out about the book that began as a humble diary and went on to win the first-ever £25,000 Wellcome Trust Book Prize for medicine in literature, and hear about Al Gore’s latest strategy for promoting public action against climate change. If that leaves you a little thirsty, we’ve got recipes for mixing ancient cocktails.
Upcoming photo galleries feature evidence of evolution, Gary Braasch’s environmental photography and the wonders of the nanoworld. James Baxter’s new play Let Newton Be delves into Isaac Newton’s world of “darkness, obscurity and magic”. Also on CultureLab, Pluto finally speaks out about the planet controversy – and boy is he mad! From neuroscience to science fiction, from bio-art to opera, we’ll be discussing anything and everything that’s perched on that amazing intersection where
books, arts and science collide. Most importantly, we want to hear what you have to say. CultureLab is there as a forum for you to discuss books and arts with other thinking, science-minded people from around the globe. Join us in making CultureLab the space where we take what C. P. Snow referred to 50 years ago as the “third culture”, and put it under the microscope. For video, comment and online debate, visit www.newscientist.com
14 November 2009 | NewScientist | 5
Darwin’s long argument is won Creationists make a basic mistake in regarding On The Origin of Species as science’s sacred text
(whoever makes a comparison with Nazism loses the debate) and remember what was really the substance of Darwin’s argument as he wrote The Origin. Although aware of the struggle between faith and reason, this does not come into the book at all. Instead, Darwin was preoccupied by the science. Those who label The Origin as a sacrosanct text display a profound ignorance of how science works. Scientific understanding develops, changes and evolves all the time. Here Dawkins should be applauded for his diligent efforts to show how, as the great scientific enterprise rolls on, it has
“THIS whole volume is one long argument.” That was among Charles Darwin’s concluding comments in arguably the most revolutionary science book of all, On the Origin of Species. In the 150 years since its publication, The Origin has been subjected to intense argument, “Free copies of The Origin with a creationist introduction are to be not all of it edifying. Opponents of evolution distributed on US college campuses” often make the ludicrous claim that the book is treated like a bible, a sacred text of science. That is why copies of Darwin’s great work, consistently confirmed Darwin’s ideas. adulterated with a creationist introduction, are What is remarkable is that, though it about to be distributed on college campuses. is 150 years to the very month since John This is part of the same disinformation Murray published Darwin’s landmark work, campaign that brought us intelligent design – its key ideas are still compatible with what we invented to provide a “scientific” alternative – know from modern research, notably genetics. and teachers now fear to teach evolution To underline this, Steve Jones of University because of a creationist backlash. College London has condensed and updated One reason creationists make this argument The Origin for this magazine. is that they can then claim that if the scientific In the heart of this issue is a 21st-century bible can’t provide all the answers (and, of version of the founding text of evolutionary course, it never will), then turn to Christianity thought. Use it to peer inside the brilliant because the real one can. By pointing out mind of Darwin and to read modern examples the fallacy of this argument, Richard Dawkins of the evidence that demonstrates the was accused of fascism by an American argument put forward in The Origin is no TV host last month. A cardinal warmed to longer just a theory (in the colloquial sense). this repellent theme by comparing Dawkins The veracity of Darwin’s thinking shines to Hitler, explaining that both of them out with clarity. The long argument is over see humans only as vehicles for good genes. and, as Darwin himself aptly put it: “There Here we should invoke Godwin’s law is grandeur in this view of life.” ■
Ignore scientists at everyone’s peril BLUEFIN tuna in the Mediterranean are the latest fish stock to face collapse. If overfishing continues, the species will be commercially extinct within two years (see pages 7 and 44). What is staggering is that the ironically titled International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas has consistently ignored the advice of its own scientific advisers (that might sound familiar to UK readers). This year, when its advisers had recommended that the fishery be shut temporarily, ICCAT set a quota of 22,000 tonnes. This week, ICCAT is meeting to decide next year’s quotas, with a provisional figure of 19,950 tonnes. If ICCAT caves in to commercial pressure to adopt this – and it probably will – it will have signed a death warrant for the tuna, the industry and for itself. ■
Indefatigable Spirit NASA has been agonising over how to free Spirit from a sand trap for six months. That’s double the design lifetime of the rover, which landed in 2004. Now, with winter on the way, NASA’s hand is forced. Its plan is to backtrack slowly out of the mire (see page 8). One could criticise the agency for investing too much effort in a mission that’s past its prime, but that would be churlish: Spirit has achieved more than anyone dared dream, and could deliver yet more. Besides, it would seem strangely cruel to abandon the plucky rover to its fate. ■
CultureLab newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab Welcome to the New Scientist CultureLab, a space where artists, authors, editors and readers can come together to share opinions and ideas. The CultureLab will be the new online home for reviews of books, films, TV shows and exhibits – plus author interviews, event listings, reader contests, video clips, picture galleries and more Visit the CultureLab now to find out why Carl Sagan’s books are not only still relevant, but may be more vital now than ever. Check out screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s analysis of a page from Carl Jung’s long-anticipated Red Book. Read about artist Jonathon Keats’s latest installation, First Bank of Antimatter.
Find out about the book that began as a humble diary and went on to win the first-ever £25,000 Wellcome Trust Book Prize for medicine in literature, and hear about Al Gore’s latest strategy for promoting public action against climate change. If that leaves you a little thirsty, we’ve got recipes for mixing ancient cocktails.
Upcoming photo galleries feature evidence of evolution, Gary Braasch’s environmental photography and the wonders of the nanoworld. James Baxter’s new play Let Newton Be delves into Isaac Newton’s world of “darkness, obscurity and magic”. Also on CultureLab, Pluto finally speaks out about the planet controversy – and boy is he mad! From neuroscience to science fiction, from bio-art to opera, we’ll be discussing anything and everything that’s perched on that amazing intersection where
books, arts and science collide. Most importantly, we want to hear what you have to say. CultureLab is there as a forum for you to discuss books and arts with other thinking, science-minded people from around the globe. Join us in making CultureLab the space where we take what C. P. Snow referred to 50 years ago as the “third culture”, and put it under the microscope. For video, comment and online debate, visit www.newscientist.com
14 November 2009 | NewScientist | 5