[Drammach]

Seems to me that this computer model's conclusions would be hard to prove..

First, it's a "simulation"..
Second, it's a "probability model"..

If we were talking Global Warming, we would dismiss it out of hand..

[expat_panama]

First, it's a "simulation"..
Second, it's a "probability model"..

As a civil engineer I can guarantee that every time you walk into a building you're staking your life on both. 

The math isn't too hard to follow.  We all had two parents, four grand parents, eight-- well, you get the picture.   Pat Paulsen said this proves the world population is obviously shrinking, but I think it shows that the world's common ancestry could be as recent as about 30 generations, or 600 years. 

Hopkin took this idea a step further and plugged in how much people travel and showed that our common grandpa shouldn't be farther back than 3500 years. 

It's "probably" true.