When British naturalist Charles Darwin sketched out his theory of evolution in the 1859 book 'On the Origin of Species' - proposing that biological species change over time through the acquisition of traits that favor survival and reproduction - it provoked a revolution in scientific thought.
pigeon bones are displayed in Charles Darwin's former home Down House, Kent, southern England February 12, 2009. REUTERS/Tal Cohen/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Oct 16 - When British naturalist Charles Darwin sketched out his theory of evolution in the 1859 book "On the Origin of Species" - proposing that biological species change over time through the acquisition of traits that favor survival and reproduction - it provoked a revolution in scientific thought.
"We see evolution as a universal process that applies to numerous systems, both living and nonliving, that increase in diversity and patterning through time," said Carnegie Institution for Science mineralogist and astrobiologist Robert Hazen, a co-author of the scientific paper describing the law in the journal
In stars, for instance, just two elements - hydrogen and helium - were the main ingredients in the first stellar generation following the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago that initiated the universe. "Imagine a system of atoms or molecules that can exist in countless trillions of different arrangements or configurations," Hazen said. "Only a small fraction of all possible configurations will 'work' - that is, they will have some useful degree of function. So, nature just prefers those functional configurations."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Coin Flips Aren't Actually 50-50, Scientists FindScience and Technology News and Videos
Read more »
Scientists finally identified the brain cells that make people uniqueScientists have mapped over 3,000 individual brain cell types, and they say the connections they make are what make us unique.
Read more »
Scientists Could Use Lenses to Make Roads on the MoonScientists found that humans could turn lunar dirt into smooth, clean roads on the moon - all with the help of a giant lens.
Read more »
Green Energy Breakthrough: Scientists Develop Catalyst With 7.9x Higher Activity for Hydrogen ProductionScience, Space and Technology News 2023
Read more »
Stanford Scientists Uncover New Indicators of Health, Disease, and AgingScience, Space and Technology News 2023
Read more »
Chinese scientists take a step closer to 6G with optical switchInteresting Engineering is a cutting edge, leading community designed for all lovers of engineering, technology and science.
Read more »