What is the name of the effect, in evolutionary biology, whereby acquired behavioral characteristics that lead to reproductive fitness can result in the selection of predispositions toward acquiring these characteristics? [more inside]
posted by moorooka on Dec 7, 2009 - 6 answers

When current/recent SCIENCE challenges Darwin, what does it say? I'm a layman interested to hear what not-Creationist, not-ID, not-paranormal challengers (or boundary-pushers) to natural selection might be exploring these days, explained for general readers… [more inside]
posted by dpcoffin on Nov 6, 2009 - 18 answers

Unix mavens: is there a way for ls on a Mac OS X install to alphabetize its listing case-insensitively, while still preserving any other ls flags you may be using? If not, does another ls variant offered by anybody offer case-insensitivity, and if so, how can I supplant one with the other, without risk of any harm to anything else on my system? (If it matters, my shell of choice is tcsh.)
posted by WCityMike on Aug 16, 2009 - 17 answers

How can we make the most of our time in Kakadu National Park? We fly into Darwin on Friday July 10 around 3pm, and have an early flight out on the morning of July 15, so we'd need to be back in Darwin the night of the 14th. We'd like to spend as much of our time as possible seeing Kakadu. [more inside]
posted by Dasein on Jun 25, 2009 - 1 answer

AustraliaFilter: The hive mind helped me plan a very enjoyable trip to Australia in April 2008. I had such a good time I'd like to return this October/November for another few weeks and try some new places. Suggestions/advice please! [more inside]
posted by adamk on May 29, 2009 - 11 answers

I have an essay due. I have to write to what extent I agree or disagree with the following sentence: "In The Descent of Man, Darwin noted that human beings, for all their sensibilities and “god-like intellect”, still bear in their bodily frame the indelible stamp of their lowly origin." I'm having ESL problems, because I understand (I think) what each word means, but I don't understand what the sentence put together is saying. Can anyone explain it to me?
posted by shaka, when the walls fell on Apr 3, 2009 - 13 answers

I can't believe I'm wasting my question on this, but here goes: why do people ride those tall bikes? [more inside]
posted by elquien on Oct 1, 2007 - 15 answers

As I type this, my lovely cat is having kittens (literally). I am having a few myself (not literally). I'm a little worried because... [more inside]
posted by Optamystic on Apr 13, 2007 - 21 answers

SomewhatObscureGiftFilter: I'd like to buy a Darwin Fish bumper plaque/emblem, and I'd like to have it by December 24. I'm in Ontario (Niagara region). The online options I've found have slow or super-expensive shipping to Canada -- anyone know of a bricks-and-mortar source?
posted by ewiar on Dec 18, 2006 - 4 answers

Suppose it was possible to move between 2006 and thousands/millions of years ago. And suppose I snatched a baby from a 2006 maternity ward and swapped it with a baby born in the year 0006 as they lay in their maternity ward. [more inside]
posted by selton on Jun 17, 2006 - 16 answers