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Scientists Successfully Teach Monkey Theory of Evolution
Apr 19, 2014
Scientists at Harvard University have successfully taught a monkey to understand the theory of evolution.
According to a new paper published today inNature, a team of primatologists used basic sign language and symbols to teach an orangutan named “Pongo Pete” that humans and other primates shared a common ancestor.
The two-year experiment began by teaching Pete the difference between the evidence-based reasoning of science and non-evidence based reasoning. It concluded two months ago when Pete finally confirmed he understood that both he and his human friends had evolved through natural selection.
“Our goal was to prove that even a monkey can understand evolution,” says Dr. Ronaldi Artesti, the lead researcher on the project, “The idea came to us when one of my undergraduate students said she believed God created the Earth, humans and all other life on this planet simultaneously around 10,000 years ago.
“I thought to myself, ‘that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard. I bet even Pongo Pete is capable of understanding the idiocy of that comment!’ And sure enough, it seems that with a lot of hard work and patience, you can teach monkeys things you can’t teach Creationists.”
The theory of evolution states that all life on Earth evolved through a slow, gradual process of natural selection from a common ancestor that lived around 3.8 billion years ago. A theory only in the scientific sense of the word, evolution is seen as established fact by the vast majority of scientists.
Nevertheless arecentPew Center poll found that 33% of Americans do not believe in evolution at all, while another 26% believe God was behind the process. Only 32% believe in the scientific fact of evolution by natural selection.
Most of the opposition comes from white evangelical protestants, a whopping 64% of whom completely reject the idea evolution. There is also a 10 point gender gap, with women more likely to believe in science than men.
Denialism has been growing over time, as 54% of Republicans said they believed in evolution in 2009 and only 43% said the same in 2013.
When told that a large percentage of humans still have not accepted the reality of evolution, Pongo Pete reportedly responded by pointing to the symbol for “stupid.”
Happy Easter Everyone!
Scientists Successfully Teach Monkey Theory of Evolution
Apr 19, 2014
According to a new paper published today inNature, a team of primatologists used basic sign language and symbols to teach an orangutan named “Pongo Pete” that humans and other primates shared a common ancestor.
The two-year experiment began by teaching Pete the difference between the evidence-based reasoning of science and non-evidence based reasoning. It concluded two months ago when Pete finally confirmed he understood that both he and his human friends had evolved through natural selection.
“Our goal was to prove that even a monkey can understand evolution,” says Dr. Ronaldi Artesti, the lead researcher on the project, “The idea came to us when one of my undergraduate students said she believed God created the Earth, humans and all other life on this planet simultaneously around 10,000 years ago.
“I thought to myself, ‘that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard. I bet even Pongo Pete is capable of understanding the idiocy of that comment!’ And sure enough, it seems that with a lot of hard work and patience, you can teach monkeys things you can’t teach Creationists.”
The theory of evolution states that all life on Earth evolved through a slow, gradual process of natural selection from a common ancestor that lived around 3.8 billion years ago. A theory only in the scientific sense of the word, evolution is seen as established fact by the vast majority of scientists.
Nevertheless arecentPew Center poll found that 33% of Americans do not believe in evolution at all, while another 26% believe God was behind the process. Only 32% believe in the scientific fact of evolution by natural selection.
Most of the opposition comes from white evangelical protestants, a whopping 64% of whom completely reject the idea evolution. There is also a 10 point gender gap, with women more likely to believe in science than men.
Denialism has been growing over time, as 54% of Republicans said they believed in evolution in 2009 and only 43% said the same in 2013.
When told that a large percentage of humans still have not accepted the reality of evolution, Pongo Pete reportedly responded by pointing to the symbol for “stupid.”
Happy Easter Everyone!
