Scientists find evolution of life

EurekAlert ^ | 10/30/03

[Dales]

LIVERMORE, Calif. -- A trio of scientists including a researcher from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has found that humans may owe the relatively mild climate in which their ancestors evolved to tiny marine organisms with shells and skeletons made out of calcium carbonate.

In a paper titled "Carbonate Deposition, Climate Stability and Neoproterozoic Ice Ages" in the Oct. 31 edition of Science, UC Riverside researchers Andy Ridgwell and Martin Kennedy along with LLNL climate scientist Ken Caldeira, discovered that the increased stability in modern climate may be due in part to the evolution of marine plankton living in the open ocean with shells and skeletal material made out of calcium carbonate. They conclude that these marine organisms helped prevent the ice ages of the past few hundred thousand years from turning into a severe global deep freeze.

"The most recent ice ages were mild enough to allow and possibly even promote the evolution of modern humans," Caldeira said. "Without these tiny marine organisms, the ice sheets may have grown to cover the earth, like in the snowball glaciations of the ancient past, and our ancestors might not have survived."

The researchers used a computer model describing the ocean, atmosphere and land surface to look at how atmospheric carbon dioxide would change as a result of glacier growth. They found that, in the distant past, as glaciers started to grow, the oceans would suck the greenhouse gas -- carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere -- making the Earth colder, promoting an even deeper ice age. When marine plankton with carbonate shells and skeletons are added to the model, ocean chemistry is buffered and glacial growth does not cause the ocean to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

But in Precambrian times (which lasted up until 544 million years ago), marine organisms in the open ocean did not produce carbonate skeletons -- and ancient rocks from the end of the Precambrian geological age indicate that huge glaciers deposited layers of crushed rock debris thousands of meters thick near the equator. If the land was frozen near the equator, then most of the surface of the planet was likely covered in ice, making Earth look like a giant snowball, the researchers said.

Around 200 million years ago, calcium carbonate organisms became critical to helping prevent the earth from freezing over. When the organisms die, their carbonate shells and skeletons settle to the ocean floor, where some dissolve and some are buried in sediments. These deposits help regulate the chemistry of the ocean and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, in a related study published in Nature on Sept. 25, 2003, Caldeira and LLNL physicist Michael Wickett found that unrestrained release of fossil-fuel carbon dioxide to the atmosphere could threaten extinction for these climate-stabilizing marine organisms.

[xzins]

It happens on the religion forum, which has any number of topics, all the time. There are mainline, other religion, unbeliever, etc. topics.

In any case, by establishing who's the guest, one can have a basis by which to judge.

[Ogmios]

ROFLMAO!! Ain't it the truth.

Such genius should be recognized....LOL

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply! Indeed, I can see how the approach would keep peace among the denominations represented in the religion forum.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I can compare myself with Darwin, however. Both of us were misquoted by the same poster here on FR.

[bondserv]

I haven't read this thread through, so I may be mistaken... but I haven't seen anyone spouting liberalism on this thread. Is the theory of evolution in itself liberal, or were people arguing for the liberal side of other issues? Honestly wondering.

Evolution is a Liberal precept. It undercuts the foundation of what this nation was founded on. Unalienable rights granted by the head Creationist, the Creator.

Evolution breeds the socialism that has overtaken Europe. Elitism. No Creator, therefore those in power dictate rights.

Need I say more?

[xzins]

(and we could have the new "evo" denomination....which really is a religion in drag, anyway.)

[Ogmios]

Yep, and that gun just jumped right up and shot him in the head.

Guns are so evil....

[Skywalk]

This is why creationists get attacked. Rather than attack the facts/logic of the science involved you make vast claims about evolution as some kind of leftist plot to strip the world of freedom or that it's some kind of scripturally-based dogma.

It ain't either. These are equivalent to ad hominems, STOP DOING IT. Sheesh.

[bondserv]

Yep, and that gun just jumped right up and shot him in the head.

Guns are so evil....

Where do your rights derive from friend?

[xzins]

Actually I base it on Huston Smith's definition of what comprises a religion.

Therefore, it couldn't have been ad hominem....not to mention that I wasn't speaking to your hominemness, anyway, but to someone else.

[bondserv]

It always amazes me how some evolutionists try to reconcile evolution with the Bible.

There is nothing in the Bible to support evolution and the primary purpose of evolution, beginning with Darwin has been to discredit the Bible.

Evolution is a farce.

Well Said.

[Skywalk]

Yet again creationists(some) on this forum don't GET IT. You want to debate the facts or the philosophical views of science, specifically the implications of evolution? Fine.

But why the constant impugning of the motives of your opponents. I am a friend of liberty. I also tend to believe science provides the answers when it comes to DESCRIBING the physical reality of the universe. Religion may or may not have answers when it comes to the spiritual or metaphysical nature of the universe.

but evolution describes a process of change in organic life. I'm not sure how that equates to a satanic plot to undermine a book that is undermined by its own internal inconsistencies, immoralities and bad science.

[Aracelis]

The only problem I see you all have is that will-call is in the Creationist section of town.:-)

Er...ummm...not necessarily. It all depends on one's definition of "Creation". Personally I prefer the definition that includes God as a Master Planner, designing evolution to culminate in Homo sapiens...upon which He could confer a soul. ;^)

[Ogmios]

They come from my creator, where do yours come from?

I believe that my creator used evolution to bring us to this point, you happen to believe in the literalism of the bible.

You blame evolution for evils that have come about, but evolution is nothing more then a scientific tool.

Blaming a tool for the stupidity of human beings is nothing but an intellectually weak exercise that accomplishes nothing but making you like a liberal.

Blame the tool, not the person that misused the tool. This is a liberal tactic that does nothing but make things worse.

Evolution is not the problem, it is people that use that tool for something it was never meant to be used for.

Blame the tool, because the person can't be at fault for their actions. It has liberal written all over it.

[Alamo-Girl]

Actually, I do not see the theory of evolution as anything more or less than a theory – like general relativity. IOW, I do not see it as a religion.

However - and this is a big however - the politically active metaphysical naturalists (atheists) undeniably seize upon the theory to authenticate their ideology, which BTW has all the trappings of a belief system, i.e. a religion. And they abuse the theory to justify everything from infanticide to bizarre animal rights.

The scientists meanwhile generally try to adhere to a system of "scientific materialism" which is intended to keep them out of religion per se. IMHO, those boundaries are too rigid and will ultimately make it difficult for science to address things such as consciousness.

Just my two cents…

[xzins]

That's sort of like saying that "theism" isn't religion until it has a "denomination" advocating it.

Religion is better defined by the organizing of one's world that it grants to the adherent, and by the answers to the traditional "ultimate" questions that it posits.

[Ogmios]

I think that that is an excellent way to look at it.

Then again, I have found you to be reasonable and very thought provoking, as well as intelligent in your responses, so your post is not at all surprising.

Your openmindedness, as well as your religious convictions, and the way you put the 2 puzzles together to fit them both into your life is very encouraging.

[xzins]

Nite all.

[bondserv]

It ain't either. These are equivalent to ad hominems, STOP DOING IT. Sheesh.

If you prefer the European Union, something may be arranged.

They say France is nice in the summer.</sarcasm

I am aware of a scientific Theory of Intelligent Design that would be more consistent with our nations founding precepts as well as what we call reality.

Two men become stranded on a remote island. As they explore the island they come upon a sandcastle with towers, buttresses and a drawbridge. The design of the castle is amazingly intricate.

One man comments, "It is amazing what time and the ocean can create. The small rocks and seashells on the shore must have got caught in eddies and swirled around and chiseled out that castle. There were a few palm leaves floating by that scribed out the little lines that look like bricks. We are alone and there is no need to consider anything else."

The other man looked at him incredulously and said, "No, that castle was created by another intelligent being with a clear intent of design, we are not alone."

[Ogmios]

False analogy.... Yawn.....