Racing Dinosaurs with Spoilers 60
PhilHibbs writes "The BBC is reporting a new theory - dinosaurs flapped their proto-wings to generate downforce for added traction when running up-hill. Another one to add to the many theories of the evolution of flight."
Insect flight (Score:4, Interesting)
It's an interesting theory, but I doubt a similar course could apply to birds. Their wings are covered with feathers, which are mostly just dead skin, and probably wouldn't absorb heat well. Plus birds are warm-blooded, and would have less need for sunning themselves.
Re:it's all lies (Score:3, Interesting)
There's more evidence towards evolution (cosmic and biologic) than towards creationism, that's for sure. So no, it's not as much of a religion.
If you need evidence about the hydrogen stuff, go do a degree in physics (at a decent university). I just did, and trust me that's not mere fantasy. As for the biological evolution, darwinian selection works fine in every other system... why shouldn't it work in biology?
Daniel
Re:it's all lies (Score:3, Interesting)
To you, perhaps. Unfortunately, both sides sometimes overlook the details of evolutionary theory. Evolution is best described, IMO, as two different things and they often get lumped together. First there is the phenomena of evolution, that offsprint inherit the traits of their parents (or parent in the case of asexual reproduction), and these traits have the ability to change over time, for better or worse. Secondly, there is the theory of evolution, which is the entire lump of theories/hypotheses that describe the path by which we came to be over 5 billion or so years.
The idea that organisms can "evolve", as described in the first case is well understood and generally taken as fact, since we now have a pretty good understanding for the molecular basis of this macroscopic observation (DNA->Protein, central dogma, etc). If creationists insist on condemning this as not fact (even the vatican has accepted it), they will only further hurt their arguments.
I'm not an expert on the second case, but I believe quite strongly that knowledge of the first case is compelling evidence for the second, especially in light of all the other piles of observational evidence and the historical record that is available.
-Sean
lift vs downforce, flapping vs climbing (Score:2, Interesting)
Maybe the important component was forward force rather than footward force, though by bending forward more a small component could be directed footward while most was directed in the direction of motion to get away from the predator.
The article also did not explain why it wouldn't be more efficient for the creature to use their front legs for additional ground contact, and evolve into a squirrel or lemur. If their arms were too short, they probably wouldn't provide significant force by flapping.
While arms are good for climbing stiff surfaces like trees, they might be less usful for climbing loose surfaces like sand dunes, or dead-leaf-covered hills in temperate climates, or mud swamps. (If it was dusty, maybe part of the strategy is to blow/flap dust rearward toward the predator?:) Any clues on what the environment was like where these creatures lived?
science without data. (Score:2, Interesting)
Thus is the beauty of doing science without data. Hypotheses are uncontrained.
At the far extreme:
Aliens planted diosaurs... disprove it?