Publications

Missing Link In Human Evolution (Part 1): Ida – Our Common Ancestor?

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Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

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Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

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47 MILLION-YEAR-OLD FOSSIL TOUTED AS ‘MISSING LINK’

Scientists believe they have found the “missing link,” an ancient primate fossil some 47 million years old which is thought to the common ancestor to all later monkeys, apes and humans.

The nearly perfect skeleton, classified as Darwinius masillae, was found in Germany. It’s a she, about the size of a small cat, with four legs and a long tail and lived for about 9 or 10 months.

The creature, which scientists nicknamed Ida after lead researcher Jorn Hurum’s 6-year-old daughter, is not a direct ancestor of monkeys and humans, but it provides a good indication of what such an ancestor may have looked like, researchers said.

• http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192009/…

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Is fossil Ida a missing link in evolution?

This 47m-year-old skeleton is one of the most significant primate fossil discoveries, hailed by some as ‘the missing link’ and by others, such as David Attenborough, as proof of evolution.

Fossil Ida – The missing link in Evolution:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/200…
Sir David Attenborough David Attenborough on Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/vid…
The world of Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/200…

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Primate Fossil Could Be Key Link in Evolution

Scientists say a 47-million-year-old fossil found in Germany may be a key link to explain the evolution of early primates, and, ultimately, modern human beings. The fossil, of a young female that probably resembled a modern-day lemur, is described as “the most complete primate fossil ever found.” It is small — with a body about the size of a raccoon — but it has characteristics found in later primates and in humans.

It has, among other things, opposable thumbs, similar to humans’ and unlike those found on other modern mammals. It has fingernails instead of claws. And by examining the structure of its hind legs (one of which is partly missing), scientists say they can see evidence of evolutionary changes that would eventually lead to primates standing upright.

• http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/stor…

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Who is Ida?

Ida is a 47 million year old, perfectly preserved primate recovered from the Messel Pit in Germany.

Ida is the most complete early primate fossil ever found, and scientists believe that she could be one of our earliest ancestors. She is a remarkable link between the first primates and modern humans and despite having lived 47 million years ago, her features show striking similarities to our own.

For 150 years, scientists have debated the course of our evolutionary journey from tree-dwelling primate to modern Homo sapiens.

When Darwin put forward the theory of evolution in his book “On The Origin of Species”, he suggested that there were transitional species linking humans with the rest of animal life.

Since Darwin’s time, palaeontologists have made important discoveries of fossils that have begun to uncover our prehistoric ancestry. Best known of these fossils is Lucy, a hominid who lived around 3.2 million years ago at the time when our ancestors started walking upright. But before Lucy there are massive gaps in the fossil record, and scientists have only had fragments of fossils to study.

Scientists have long hoped that the Earth might eventually yield an even more ancient fossil that links apes, man and all other primates to the earliest mammals on the planet. Now Ida is rewriting the history of our earliest origins. She is the most complete primate fossil ever found and has proto-anthropoid features, placing her at the base of the anthropoid branch which leads to monkeys, apes, and humans. Here at last, 150 years after the publication of “On The Origin of Species”, we have the link that connects us directly with the rest of the animal kingdom.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/who-is-ida/
.

Duration : 0:9:6

(more…)

Late in 2009 I got together with Richard Dawkins for a chat. Nice chap and some stimulating conversation.

Sorry about the poor audio. The leading reason were that I was primarily in Europe to do research, and when I left the US 2 months before this was not something that was seriously considered (I had VERY little AV kit with me) and that the discussion was all arranged on very short notice. Many thanks to umbulamidlun, smpaudio and stormfieldproduction for help with the audio, it was greatly appreciated.

Richard Dawkins is of course a big name in the defenders of science, publishing several best selling books and started a foundation that bears his name.
http://richarddawkins.net/

The foundation also has a youtube account.
http://www.youtube.com/user/richarddawkinsdotnet

Duration : 0:36:41

(more…)

Darwinism is the worst mass deception in the history of the world. This false theory, launched with a false use of science, is supported by not a single piece of scientific evidence. But this deception has still been disseminated across the world, using false fossils and intense demagoguery, and has entered school books and is taught as a compulsory course in universities. Propaganda for this deception has been carried in the worlds best-known scientific journals and other publications, as if it were an established fact. This is a result of the systematic activity of the Darwinist dictatorship that has ruled the world for the last 150 years. The Darwinist dictatorship uses this technique to wear people down:

A scientist studies for years, works very hard, makes sacrifices and eventually becomes an expert filled with whole volumes-worth of knowledge. One subject has been taught for decades in the best schools, and it is essential he believe in this if he is to become a scientist: Evolution. From an early age he has seen pictures of imaginary ape-like ancestors of human beings, looking at pictures of hoax skulls, he imagined he was descended from those creatures and believed, on the basis of false fossil images, that living things descended from one another in stages. He was told that there is evidence of evolution and new pictures were placed before him. Odd-looking beings about to step from water onto dry land, or a strange dinosaur about to take off in flight were put before him as evidence of this imaginary transition. He never even thought of seeing real fossils belonging to these fictitious transitional creatures. He never wondered why Darwinists have never come up with even a single intermediate form fossil, why there have only ever resorted to hoaxes or why they kept genuine fossils hidden away. Because throughout the course of his education he was indoctrinated with a single idea, belief in evolution is obligatory, and all ideas opposed to it must be rejected.

In time, this person will realize that he should not oppose Darwinism. He will see that the Darwinist dictatorship holds sway all around him; later, he will even learn that this rotten Darwinist dictatorship rules the whole world and enjoys the backing of the states in it. It will dawn on him that those people choosing to make a stand against Darwinism have been intimidated or removed from their posts, and that his teachers have taught him nothing but Darwinism. And he will realize that even if he has come to believe that Darwinism is a fraud, it is essential that he never question it. Because if he wants to be a scientist, he must do what the Darwinist dictatorship says.

Duration : 0:6:11

(more…)

Missing Link In Human Evolution (Part 2): Most Complete Fossil In Primate Evolution Revealed.

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Subscribe to Science & Reason:
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• http://www.youtube.com/SagansCosmos
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Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

——————————————–

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Source: Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

——————————————–

Scientists hail stunning fossil
By Christine McGourty
Science correspondent, BBC News

The beautifully preserved remains of a 47-million-year-old, lemur-like creature have been unveiled in the US. Christine McGourty takes a look at the beautifully preserved primate fossil.

The preservation is so good, it is possible to see the outline of its fur and even traces of its last meal.

The fossil, nicknamed Ida, is claimed to be a “missing link” between today’s higher primates – monkeys, apes and humans – and more distant relatives.

But some independent experts, awaiting an opportunity to see the new fossil, are sceptical of the claim.

And they have been critical of the hype surrounding the presentation of Ida.

The fossil was launched amid great fanfare at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, by the city’s mayor.

Although details of the fossil have only just been published in a scientific journal – PLoS One – there is already a TV documentary and book tie-in.

She belongs to the group from which higher primates and human beings developed but my impression is she is not on the direct line
Dr Jens Franzen

Ida was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it has been in a private collection.

The investigation of the fossil’s significance was led by Jorn Hurum of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.

He said the fossil creature was “the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor” and described the discovery as “a dream come true”.

The female animal lived during an epoch in Earth history known as the Eocene, which was crucial for the development of early primates – and at first glance, Ida resembles a lemur.

But the creature lacks primitive features such as a so-called “toothcomb”, a specialised feature in which the lower incisor and canine teeth are elongated, crowded together and projecting forward. She also lacks a special claw used for grooming.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8057465.stm

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“Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor – The Missing Link In Evolution” narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The Link is a feature-length documentary film made by the award-winning Atlantic Productions with exclusive access to Ida and the team of scientists who have examined her. The film shows how microtomography, CT scans and X-ray techniques were used to examine and recreate a 3D image of the creature, revealing that this early primate was a previously unknown species and one of our earliest ancestors. Filmed in High Definition in locations in Europe, America and Africa, this documentary special combines one of the most extraordinary finds ever made, the latest scientific techniques and state of the art graphics to take us on an epic evolutionary journey.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/the-film
.

Duration : 0:9:14

(more…)

The two-hour special premieres this Sunday, October 11th @ 9pm E/P on Discovery.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/ardipithecus/ardipithecus.html?smid=YTDSC-YTD-SHP

Find out how scientists managed to safely free the fragile fossils from the sediment surrounding them.

Following publication in the journal Science on the discovery and study of a 4.4 million-year-old female partial skeleton nicknamed “Ardi,” Discovery Channel will present a world premiere special, DISCOVERING ARDI, Sunday October 11 at 9 PM (ET/PT) documenting the sustained, intensive investigation leading up to this landmark publication of the Ardipithecus ramidus fossils.

UNDERSTANDING ARDI, a one-hour special produced in collaboration with CBS News will air at 11 PM (ET/PT) immediately following DISCOVERING ARDI. The special is moderated by former CBS and CNN anchor Paula Zahn and includes research team members Dr. Tim White, Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Dr. Giday WoldeGabriel, Dr. Owen Lovejoy, and science journalist Ann Gibbons

The scientific investigation began in the Ethiopian desert 17 years ago, and now opens a new chapter on human evolution, revealing the first evolutionary steps our ancestors took after we diverged from a common ancestor we once shared with living chimpanzees. “Ardi’s” centerpiece skeleton, the other hominids she lived with, and the rocks, soils, plants and animals that made up her world were analyzed in laboratories around the world, and the scientists have now published their findings in the prestigious journal Science.

“Ardi” is now the oldest skeleton from our (hominid) branch of the primate family tree. These Ethiopian discoveries reveal an early grade of human evolution in Africa that predated the famous Australopithecus nicknamed “Lucy.” Ardipithecus was a woodland creature with a small brain, long arms, and short legs. The pelvis and feet show a primitive form of two-legged walking on the ground, but Ardipithecus was also a capable tree climber, with long fingers and big toes that allowed their feet to grasp like an ape’s. The discoveries answer old questions about how hominids became bipedal.

Duration : 0:1:8

(more…)

The Missing Link In Human Evolution? (Part 3): The Messel Pit.

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Subscribe to Science & Reason:
• http://www.youtube.com/Best0fScience
• http://www.youtube.com/SagansCosmos
• http://www.youtube.com/FFreeThinker
—

Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

——————————————–

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Source: Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

——————————————–

Scientists hail stunning fossil
By Christine McGourty
Science correspondent, BBC News

The beautifully preserved remains of a 47-million-year-old, lemur-like creature have been unveiled in the US. Christine McGourty takes a look at the beautifully preserved primate fossil.

The preservation is so good, it is possible to see the outline of its fur and even traces of its last meal.

The fossil, nicknamed Ida, is claimed to be a “missing link” between today’s higher primates – monkeys, apes and humans – and more distant relatives.

But some independent experts, awaiting an opportunity to see the new fossil, are sceptical of the claim.

And they have been critical of the hype surrounding the presentation of Ida.

The fossil was launched amid great fanfare at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, by the city’s mayor.

Although details of the fossil have only just been published in a scientific journal – PLoS One – there is already a TV documentary and book tie-in.

She belongs to the group from which higher primates and human beings developed but my impression is she is not on the direct line
Dr Jens Franzen

Ida was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it has been in a private collection.

The investigation of the fossil’s significance was led by Jorn Hurum of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.

He said the fossil creature was “the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor” and described the discovery as “a dream come true”.

The female animal lived during an epoch in Earth history known as the Eocene, which was crucial for the development of early primates – and at first glance, Ida resembles a lemur.

But the creature lacks primitive features such as a so-called “toothcomb”, a specialised feature in which the lower incisor and canine teeth are elongated, crowded together and projecting forward. She also lacks a special claw used for grooming.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8057465.stm

——————————————–

The Grube Messel (Messel Pit) is a disused quarry near the village of Messel (Hesse), about 35 km southeast of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Bituminous shale was mined there. Because of its plethora of fossils, it has significant geological and scientific importance. The Messel Pit was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site on December 9, 1995.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messel_Pit
.

Duration : 0:5:3

(more…)

PZ Myers recently encouraged people to subscribe to a free creationist publication, which I did. It arrived today and this is my initial reaction.

PZ Myers blog post about the newsletter: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/07/those_awful_ads.php

A direct link to subscribe to the publication: http://www.gnmagazine.org/evolution/

PZ Myers talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba2h9tqNYAo

Duration : 0:9:38

(more…)

The two-hour special premieres this Sunday, October 11th @ 9pm E/P on Discovery.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/ardipithecus/ardipithecus.html?smid=YTDSC-YTD-SHP

Human feet are very different from those of other primates. Ardi’s foot had a big toe that could grasp as she climbed in the trees.

Following publication in the journal Science on the discovery and study of a 4.4 million-year-old female partial skeleton nicknamed “Ardi,” Discovery Channel will present a world premiere special, DISCOVERING ARDI, Sunday October 11 at 9 PM (ET/PT) documenting the sustained, intensive investigation leading up to this landmark publication of the Ardipithecus ramidus fossils.

UNDERSTANDING ARDI, a one-hour special produced in collaboration with CBS News will air at 11 PM (ET/PT) immediately following DISCOVERING ARDI. The special is moderated by former CBS and CNN anchor Paula Zahn and includes research team members Dr. Tim White, Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Dr. Giday WoldeGabriel, Dr. Owen Lovejoy, and science journalist Ann Gibbons

The scientific investigation began in the Ethiopian desert 17 years ago, and now opens a new chapter on human evolution, revealing the first evolutionary steps our ancestors took after we diverged from a common ancestor we once shared with living chimpanzees. “Ardi’s” centerpiece skeleton, the other hominids she lived with, and the rocks, soils, plants and animals that made up her world were analyzed in laboratories around the world, and the scientists have now published their findings in the prestigious journal Science.

“Ardi” is now the oldest skeleton from our (hominid) branch of the primate family tree. These Ethiopian discoveries reveal an early grade of human evolution in Africa that predated the famous Australopithecus nicknamed “Lucy.” Ardipithecus was a woodland creature with a small brain, long arms, and short legs. The pelvis and feet show a primitive form of two-legged walking on the ground, but Ardipithecus was also a capable tree climber, with long fingers and big toes that allowed their feet to grasp like an ape’s. The discoveries answer old questions about how hominids became bipedal.

Duration : 0:1:16

(more…)

The two-hour special premieres this Sunday, October 11th @ 9pm E/P on Discovery.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/ardipithecus/ardipithecus.html?smid=YTDSC-YTD-SHP

Human feet are very different from those of other primates. Ardi’s foot had a big toe that could grasp as she climbed in the trees.

Following publication in the journal Science on the discovery and study of a 4.4 million-year-old female partial skeleton nicknamed “Ardi,” Discovery Channel will present a world premiere special, DISCOVERING ARDI, Sunday October 11 at 9 PM (ET/PT) documenting the sustained, intensive investigation leading up to this landmark publication of the Ardipithecus ramidus fossils.

UNDERSTANDING ARDI, a one-hour special produced in collaboration with CBS News will air at 11 PM (ET/PT) immediately following DISCOVERING ARDI. The special is moderated by former CBS and CNN anchor Paula Zahn and includes research team members Dr. Tim White, Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Dr. Giday WoldeGabriel, Dr. Owen Lovejoy, and science journalist Ann Gibbons

The scientific investigation began in the Ethiopian desert 17 years ago, and now opens a new chapter on human evolution, revealing the first evolutionary steps our ancestors took after we diverged from a common ancestor we once shared with living chimpanzees. “Ardi’s” centerpiece skeleton, the other hominids she lived with, and the rocks, soils, plants and animals that made up her world were analyzed in laboratories around the world, and the scientists have now published their findings in the prestigious journal Science.

“Ardi” is now the oldest skeleton from our (hominid) branch of the primate family tree. These Ethiopian discoveries reveal an early grade of human evolution in Africa that predated the famous Australopithecus nicknamed “Lucy.” Ardipithecus was a woodland creature with a small brain, long arms, and short legs. The pelvis and feet show a primitive form of two-legged walking on the ground, but Ardipithecus was also a capable tree climber, with long fingers and big toes that allowed their feet to grasp like an ape’s. The discoveries answer old questions about how hominids became bipedal.

Duration : 0:1:16

(more…)

The two-hour special premieres this Sunday, October 11th @ 9pm E/P on Discovery.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/ardipithecus/ardipithecus.html?smid=YTDSC-YTD-SHP

Clues from Ardi’s pelvis indicate she walked upright on two legs, not on all four like chimpanzees.

Following publication in the journal Science on the discovery and study of a 4.4 million-year-old female partial skeleton nicknamed “Ardi,” Discovery Channel will present a world premiere special, DISCOVERING ARDI, Sunday October 11 at 9 PM (ET/PT) documenting the sustained, intensive investigation leading up to this landmark publication of the Ardipithecus ramidus fossils.

UNDERSTANDING ARDI, a one-hour special produced in collaboration with CBS News will air at 11 PM (ET/PT) immediately following DISCOVERING ARDI. The special is moderated by former CBS and CNN anchor Paula Zahn and includes research team members Dr. Tim White, Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Dr. Giday WoldeGabriel, Dr. Owen Lovejoy, and science journalist Ann Gibbons

The scientific investigation began in the Ethiopian desert 17 years ago, and now opens a new chapter on human evolution, revealing the first evolutionary steps our ancestors took after we diverged from a common ancestor we once shared with living chimpanzees. “Ardi’s” centerpiece skeleton, the other hominids she lived with, and the rocks, soils, plants and animals that made up her world were analyzed in laboratories around the world, and the scientists have now published their findings in the prestigious journal Science.

“Ardi” is now the oldest skeleton from our (hominid) branch of the primate family tree. These Ethiopian discoveries reveal an early grade of human evolution in Africa that predated the famous Australopithecus nicknamed “Lucy.” Ardipithecus was a woodland creature with a small brain, long arms, and short legs. The pelvis and feet show a primitive form of two-legged walking on the ground, but Ardipithecus was also a capable tree climber, with long fingers and big toes that allowed their feet to grasp like an ape’s. The discoveries answer old questions about how hominids became bipedal.

Duration : 0:3:34

(more…)