Evolution is a scientific theory asserting that species of organisms are capable of changing through time into different species. Present day species are thought to share common ancestors and genetic continuity with species that lived in the past. Evolution replaced an ancient view that species are basically static over time, not capable of significant change. Although Darwin was not the first to propose evolutionary views, he initiated a rapid paradigm shift. Within twelve years after pub...

“A terrific book, witty and lucid, and brimming with provocative conjectures.” (Wall Street Journal) from the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller GenomeBrilliantly written, The Red Queen compels us to rethink everything from the persistence of sexism to the endurance of romantic love.Referring to Lewis Carroll's Red Queen from Through the Looking-Glass, a character who has ...

Topics covered are:What is Life? – Life vs. Matter,Proof of God's existence,Evolution,Evolution of consciousness,Moral implications.In this book the author has described the Vedic theory of Life which incorporates consciousness as the primary characteristic of life. The author has given a scientific analysis of what life is and described the characteristics of both Life and Matter and their points of similarity and distinction. The author has discu...

This true story of an amazing breeding experiment in Siberia is "part science, part Russian fairy tale, and part spy thriller" ( The New York Times Book Review).Tucked away in Siberia, there are furry, four-legged creatures with wagging tails and floppy ears that are as docile and friendly as any lapdog. But despite appearances, these are not dogs—they are foxes. They are the result of the most astonishing experiment in breeding ever undertaken—imagine spee...

"What pleasure to see the dishonest, the inept, and the misguided deftly given their due, while praise is lavished on the deserving—for reasons well and truly stated."—Kirkus ReviewsRanging as far as the fox and as deep as the hedgehog (the urchin of his title), Stephen Jay Gould expands on geology, biological determinism, "cardboard Darwinism," and evolutionary theory in this sparkling collection.

The 'Well-Dressed Ape', aka Homo sapiens, is a strange mammal. It mates remarkably often and with unprecedented affection. With comparable enthusiasm, it will eat to the point of undermining its own health - unlike any other animal in the wild. The human marks its territory with doors, fences and garden gnomes, yet if it becomes too isolated it becomes depressed. It thinks of itself as complex, intelligent, and in every way both different from and superior to other animals - but i...

The mysterious and remarkable ways that animals navigateWe know that animals cross miles of water, land, and sky with pinpoint precision on a daily basis. But it is only in recent years that scientists have learned how these astounding feats of navigation are actually accomplished. With colorful and thorough detail, Nature's Compass explores the remarkable methods by which animals find their way both near home and around the globe. Noted biologist James Gou...

“If you’ve ever fantasized walking and conversing with the great scientist on the subjects that consumed him, and now wish to add the fullness of reality, read this book.” —Edward O. Wilson, author of Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for LifeJames T. Costa takes readers on a journey from Darwin’s childhood through his voyage on the HMS Beagle, where his ideas on evolution began, and on to Down House, his bustling home of forty years. Using his garde...

The object of this volume is to raise the question: if we accept the Theory of Evolution as true in science, how should it modify the thought and action of a man who wishes to do his best in this world? The question is necessary because we find that different and inconsistent conclusions on the point have been reached by men speaking in the name of science and speaking with authority.

In tracing the history of Darwin’s accomplishment and the trajectory of evolutionary theory during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, most scholars agree that Darwin introduced blind mechanism into biology, thus banishing moral values from the understanding of nature. According to the standard interpretation, the principle of survival of the fittest has rendered human behavior, including moral behavior, ultimately selfish. Few doubt that Darwinian theory, especially as cons...

Advances in morphological and molecular methods continue to uncover new information on the origin and evolution of bats. Presenting some of the most remarkable discoveries and research involving living and fossil bats, this book explores their evolutionary history from a range of perspectives. Phylogenetic studies based on both molecular and morphological data have established a framework of evolutionary relationships that provides a context for understanding many aspects of bat biology an...

Why do we age? Why cooperate? Why do so many species engage in sex? Why do the tropics have so many species? When did humans start to affect world climate? This book provides an introduction to a range of fundamental questions that have taxed evolutionary biologists and ecologists for decades. Some of the phenomena discussed are, on first reflection, simply puzzling to understand from an evolutionary perspective, whilst others have direct implications for the future of the planet. All of t...