Darwin's evolution ship 'found'

The Age ^ | February 15, 2004 | AAP

[yonif]

British archaeologists believed they have finally located the long-lost remnants of HMS Beagle, the ship which took Charles Darwin on the voyage during which he formulated the theory of evolution, a report says.

The fate of the Beagle, which carried Darwin for five years from 1851, has remained a mystery for more than a century.

However, according to The Observer, archaeologists using advanced ground-penetrating radar think they have found it buried under mud in a river estuary in Essex, south-east England.

"I am quietly confident we have found the Beagle," marine archaeologist Robert Prescott of Scotland's St Andrews University told the newspaper.

The radar image shows a ship similar in size to the Beagle - which was used as a customs boat after Darwin's voyage - lying under three metres of mud near a long-abandoned dock, Prescott said.

"Most of the upper part of the ship may have gone, but we have the lower part and hull, and who knows what remnants of Darwin's trip may still lie down there," he said.

"That is why this ship is so intriguing."

Darwin's voyage took him on a lengthy surveying trip of South America and the Galapagos Islands.

From notes he took about differences in birds and animal life, Darwin concluded that species change gradually over time through a process of natural selection, which benefits those best adapted to their environment.

His ideas were published in 1859 in On the Origin of Species, attracting vehement criticism from Christians before eventually becoming accepted as one of the most important scientific theories in history.

[RightWingNilla]

P.....i........n...........gggggggg

[RightWingNilla]

P.....i........n...........gggggggg

[cyborg]

excellent book...fascinating Voyage of the Beagle

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[js1138]

But it's not the Arc.

[VadeRetro]

It's on Mars. Something's screwed up here. I knew it was lost, but I didn't think it was that lost!

[zarf]

They'll probably find a bible on board.

[DeFault User]

Avast!

[PatrickHenry]

I wonder if they'll sell slivers to be used as relics for our ceremonies? And I hope they can move the hull to Darwin Central. Then we can institute the custom of a hajj.

[codyjacksmom]

I have read and heard that Darwin did indeed become a Christian before his death.

[PatrickHenry]

Arguments we think creationists should NOT use from Answers in Genesis.

[VadeRetro]

I have read and heard that Darwin did indeed become a Christian before his death.

You know better than that, Goodseed!

[PatrickHenry]

Is she back too?

[facedown]

bump

[Oztrich Boy]

Are those grapes sour?

Where's the Ark?

[VadeRetro]

You have freepmail!

[dead]

Millions of years before becoming the fine ship Darwin sailed, The Beagle started out as an abnormally buoyant stick.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

Oddly enough, scientists discovered that the frigate had become a schooner.

[PatrickHenry]

Where's the Ark?

It's been found, but we're bribing everyone so we can hush it up. Gotta keep the eee-vooo-louuuu-shun game going.