Scientists are stupid.

[Sebby]

They call this science?

There are two competing hypotheses that attempt to explain the origin of flight (for birds): "ground up" and "tree down."

Brilliant. They can't even figure out if it was the egg or the chicken, forget the aviation thing for a while.

 

[milo hobgoblin]

............

uhhhh... its ground up.


Its been know for quite a while that feathers are modified scales... initally to increase surface area and heat dissipation...

As they developed they provided a significant advantage in movement and eventually flight.

 

[Silent Method]

Re: ............

uhhhh... its ground up.


Its been know for quite a while that feathers are modified scales... initally to increase surface area and heat dissipation...

As they developed they provided a significant advantage in movement and eventually flight.

Many lizards live their lives entirely within trees.

Perhaps those scales that were "initally to increase surface area and heat dissipation" were modified and became feathers BECAUSE they were less uselful in that role to the more shaded tree dwelling animals.


An animal living the majority of it's life on terra firma would have much less occasion to become airborne, hence they are less likely to experience adaptive biological advantage from the increasingly precise surface area adaptations necessary for flight evolution.

 

[Burning_Inside]

Re: Re: ............

Many lizards live their lives entirely within trees.

Perhaps those scales that were "initally to increase surface area and heat dissipation" were modified and became feathers BECAUSE they were less uselful in that role to the more shaded tree dwelling animals.


An animal living the majority of it's life on terra firma would have much less occasion to become airborne, hence they are less likely to experience adaptive biological advantage from the increasingly precise surface area adaptations necessary for flight evolution.

I am moving to bermuda where I will live the rest of my life in the trees, mate with natives, and raise my children in the trees also. In about 500,000 years, i will have wings.

 

[Silent Method]

Or perhaps long arms with hook like hands? Maybe feet that can grip? Claws to cling onto the tree with? A tail for balance?

In truth, your human nature will lend itself to modifying your environment to your advantage much faster and more efficiently than any physiological adaptation.

 

[sconoscuito]

so if there was a world with women only, would one of them eventually develop a penis?

 

[sconoscuito]

I cant believe I just asked that

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

Re: Re: Re: ............

I am moving to bermuda where I will live the rest of my life in the trees, mate with natives, and raise my children in the trees also. In about 500,000 years, i will have wings.

The only "native" in Bermuda is the skink and it is endangered - pretty much only lives on one small island now. There are also a few endemic plants as well.

As for the people, they came over on boats on the way to America being discovered - the ones that stayed were arguably either too lazy to go on, or too smart to go die in Jamestown.

 

[big_bad_buff]

Scientists are stupid.

agreed

Anything claiming to be scientific should be scrutinize to the fullest. I wouldn’t take anything “scientific” literally unless it is an absolute obvious fact. Something that you can observe, something that has been proven (with proof for shit sake, not because a "scientist" said so) to be true etc. too much Bs they put in books, TV shows such as discovery channel, learning channel claming to be “scientific” etc. just like that “ FOUR winged Dinosaur “ post. That whole article is a total crock of shit.

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

Re: Re: Scientists are stupid.

Something that you can observe, something that has been proven (with proof for shit sake, not because a "scientist" said so) to be true etc. too much Bs they put in books, TV shows such as discovery channel, learning channel claming to be “scientific” etc.

I would expect nothing less from yourself after reading such well informed threads you contributed to so intelligently in the past.

 

[big_bad_buff]

hell yeah, of course they would, that's evolution baby.

so what good are these birds that can't fly yet? that haven't developed their wings. how did they get in the trees? dont you think they'd fall out a lot without being able to fly? you ever see a bird that can't fly? soon as a dog or cat spots that thing the fucker is done. oh, they were lizards that turned into the birds, and the fish turned into the lizards and the nothing tunred into the fish, and the nothing came from the nothing lol

so if there was a world with women only, would one of them eventually develop a penis?

 

[big_bad_buff]

Re: Re: Re: Scientists are stupid.

yeah, I expected someone to remark about my remark that i remarked about a remark. and I figured it be a generic charge/comment like always, and it was.

I would expect nothing less from yourself after reading such well informed threads you contributed to so intelligently in the past.

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

so if there was a world with women only, would one of them eventually develop a penis?

This happens in the amphibian world. If there is not a high enough concentration of males/females in a given population, the greater population will change over.
Frogs most notably.

If you want a pop culture reference point that is easily accessible, the concept is referenced in the book Jurassic Park, but I wouldn't exactly use that book as the basis for one's scientific learning.

 

[Silent Method]

Re: Re: Scientists are stupid.

I wouldn’t take anything “scientific” literally unless it is an absolute obvious fact.

Any real scientist will tell you there is no "true" fact - only probability.

what good are these birds that can't fly yet? that haven't developed their wings. how did they get in the trees? dont you think they'd fall out a lot without being able to fly? you ever see a bird that can't fly?

There are many bird species that can't fly (Penguins being the most sucessful).

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

This happens in the amphibian world. If there is not a high enough concentration of males/females in a given population, the greater population will change over.
Frogs most notably.

If you want a pop culture reference point that is easily accessible, the concept is referenced in the book Jurassic Park, but I wouldn't exactly use that book as the basis for one's scientific learning.

yup, i've read about stuff like that. pretty interesting. I think what i read about was the 'feminization of fish' -- but I think that was to do with pollution. either way, interesting.

 

[OMGWTFBBQ]

Re: Re: Re: Scientists are stupid.

ere are many bird species that can't fly (Penguins being the most sucessful).

Emu, kiwi, ostrich to name a few more. to some extent chickens, but they can at least flap around enough to get up into the low branches of trees.

 

[digger]

I cant believe I just asked that

If you'd had another 20 seconds to think it over, maybe you wouldn't have.