Sagan discusses the story of the Heike crab and artificial selection of crabs resembling samurai warriors, as an opening into a larger discussion of evolution through natural selection (and the pitfalls of the theory of intelligent design). Among the topics are the development of life on the Cosmic Calendar and the Cambrian explosion; the function of DNA in growth; genetic replication, repairs, and mutation; the common biochemistry of terrestrial organisms; the creation of the molecules of life in the Miller-Urey experiment; and speculation on alien life (such as life in Jupiter’s clouds). In the Cosmos Update ten years later, Sagan remarks on RNA also controlling chemical reactions and reproducing itself and the different roles of comets (potentially carrying organic molecules or causing the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event) If you like this series, buy it! – www.amazon.com – www.dvdtalk.com Content property of Entertainment One (www.entertainmentonegroup.com)
Tag: carl sagan
Is Richard Hoagland a Dis-info Agent or Genius?
Mr Richard Hoagland — a well known researcher who is a regular guest and contributor to the popular “alternative” late night US syndicated talk show “Coast to Coast”. Mr Hoagland is billed as “Science Advisor” to the programme, though he does not have any formal qualifications in science subjects. Mr Hoagland, however, did apparently work as a Curator for NASA for some time and he also worked with famed CBS reporter, Walter Kronkite — presumably on reports relating to NASA and/or the Apollo and other space missions. Richard C. Hoagland’s Main Areas of Research Starting in about 1983, Richard Hoagland has presented some very interesting information about Mars, the Moon and especially Iapetus and he (and others) have highlighted a number of anomalies in various photos which have been sent back by unmanned probes. Mr Hoagland has posted some quite fascinating, if at times verbose, articles on his website “Enterprise Mission”. He has mainly focused on “space-related” research topics and he has covered these at length in books such as “Monuments of Mars” and more recently “Dark Mission”. Readers of some of his articles may conclude that Mr Hoagland is something of a “trekker” — although unlike this author, Mr Hoagland apparently knew Gene Roddenberry for some time. www.checktheevidence.co.uk CLAIMING THE PIONEER 10 PLAQUE Sagan, the Pioneer 10 plaque and its elegant message (right) have always to me epitomized his poetic genius. But Hoagland told the FTP audience on July 13 …