Comments on: New Theories and X-Rated Space Follies http://www.sciencenewsreview.com/new-theories-and-x-rated-space-follies/ A fun look at science news Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:24:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Aileen http://www.sciencenewsreview.com/new-theories-and-x-rated-space-follies/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Aileen Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:50:56 +0000 http://www.sciencenewsreview.com/new-theories-and-x-rated-space-follies/#comment-563 Hi, Brad. Thanks for your comment. This short rundown of recent science in the news has apparently generated a lot of "Oh, no it's not!" from scientists in the fields represented by the press releases cited. That's not very surprising, as if you follow the science news for any length of time the funniest things is how so many of the reports say they "challenge previous theories." Must be a regular free for all on the in-house back channel! Because I am not a scientist, I do not argue for the correctness of any research findings by scientists whose research findings are reported in the science news, presumably for public consumption. Even though I do think there's some irresponsible science reporting going on. I have posted a few times here to that issue. Thanks again! Hi, Brad. Thanks for your comment. This short rundown of recent science in the news has apparently generated a lot of “Oh, no it’s not!” from scientists in the fields represented by the press releases cited. That’s not very surprising, as if you follow the science news for any length of time the funniest things is how so many of the reports say they “challenge previous theories.” Must be a regular free for all on the in-house back channel!

Because I am not a scientist, I do not argue for the correctness of any research findings by scientists whose research findings are reported in the science news, presumably for public consumption. Even though I do think there’s some irresponsible science reporting going on. I have posted a few times here to that issue. Thanks again!

]]> By: Brad http://www.sciencenewsreview.com/new-theories-and-x-rated-space-follies/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Brad Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:17:56 +0000 http://www.sciencenewsreview.com/new-theories-and-x-rated-space-follies/#comment-561 Referring to, Meanwhile, a team of planetary geologists reported in the PNAS journal that Extraterrestrial Impact is Likely Source of Sudden Ice Age Extinctions. About 12,900 years ago wooly mammoths, giant sloths, saber-toothed cats, other giant animals and a condor with a 16-foot wingspan disappeared from the fossil record, as did evidence of human remains over entire swaths of North America. 1. The wooly mammoth, giant sloth, and many other animals that apparently went extinct had survived previous ice ages. 2. Their disappearance approximately 13,000 years ago coincided not with the disappearance of human remains in North America, but with the appearance of human remains. 3. It would be foolish to assume that the two events had nothing to do with one another. In fact, by following the appearance of humans into other parts of the world, we can begin to see a not so surprising pattern of animal extinctions. While many of these may also have a component that can be explained by changing climate patterns, it would be incorrect and very misleading to attribute the mass extinctions that had occurred by the end of the last ice age entirely to the weather. Referring to,

Meanwhile, a team of planetary geologists reported in the PNAS journal that Extraterrestrial Impact is Likely Source of Sudden Ice Age Extinctions.
About 12,900 years ago wooly mammoths, giant sloths, saber-toothed cats, other giant animals and a condor with a 16-foot wingspan disappeared from the fossil record, as did evidence of human remains over entire swaths of North America.

1. The wooly mammoth, giant sloth, and many other animals that apparently went extinct had survived previous ice ages.
2. Their disappearance approximately 13,000 years ago coincided not with the disappearance of human remains in North America, but with the appearance of human remains.
3. It would be foolish to assume that the two events had nothing to do with one another. In fact, by following the appearance of humans into other parts of the world, we can begin to see a not so surprising pattern of animal extinctions. While many of these may also have a component that can be explained by changing climate patterns, it would be incorrect and very misleading to attribute the mass extinctions that had occurred by the end of the last ice age entirely to the weather.

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