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Science Books

October 26, 2006

Out of Thin Air: Dinosaurs, Birds, And Earth's Ancient Atmosphere
Peter Douglas Ward (2006)
ISBN: 0309100615

Many believe that the dinosaurs came to a scorching end, but what is less known is that they survived through various other mass extinctions. How the dinosaurs managed to avoid becoming victims of these mass extinctions has baffled scientists for years, but now University of Washington biologist Peter Ward, The End of Evolution and the best-selling Rare Earth, claims to have the answer. Taking an academic meander through the Cambrian, Permian and Jurassic periods, Ward explains how the Earth's atmosphere went through phases where oxygen levels were half of what they are today. Following from this, Ward convincingly argues that important evolutionary adaptations - such as regulated body temperature (endothermy), eggshells and live births - have in the most part been determined by the Earth's fluctuating oxygen levels. But as well as leading to a vast number of positive adaptations, the Earth's changing atmosphere was also responsible for major mass extinctions. In his explanation of how dinosaurs were able to avoid these numerous cullings, Ward launches into a fascinating argument that shows how dinosaurs and birds (the distant relatives of dinosaurs) share similar respiratory mechanisms comprised of simple air sacs. It is this discovery that Ward considers to be the key to the dinosaur mystery, as he argues that this ancient respiratory system allowed the dinosaurs to cope with the Earth's changing atmosphere. This is a well-structured and highly significant work that is bound to attract much controversy and scrutiny from Ward's peers. Recommended.

Creatures of Accident: The Rise of the Animal Kingdom
Wallace Arthur (2006)
ISBN: 0809043211

Wallace Arthur, professor of zoology at the National University of Ireland, reminds us that one of the most important features of evolution is that a simple celled organism can, over time, develop into a complex one. While popular science books are beginning to broach the subject of "vertical" evolution in more detail, explanations about how this remarkable process works have not trickled down to the general public as much as they should have; a generational hangover, perhaps, from the days when evolutionary education was made illegal. This informational vacuum has allowed a resurgence of creationism in the guise of Intelligent Design (ID) to thrive. While ID is promoted as science, its basic premise - that life is deemed to be too complex to have happened by accident - undermines and attempts to effectively shut down scientific enquiry. Creatures of Accident attempts to rectify this situation, and in clear and informal language presents outstanding explanations of how complex organisms gradually develop from simple ones. Drawing on examples from both cellular biology and zoology, Arthur describes the structural characteristics of an array of organisms, while emphasizing that these characteristic attributes are nothing more than purely accidental developments. Most importantly, Arthur cogently argues that the evolution of complex organisms is blind, and should in no way be considered evidence for an unseen designer. After going into some detail about why this is the case, Arthur then addresses a number of religious implications that stem from his arguments. Creatures of Accident is a lively and accessible book that tackles the creationist arguments head-on. An erudite and highly enjoyable read, suitable for both newcomers and veterans.

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