Past Present Future

The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Darwin w/Adam Rutherford

67 snips
Mar 30, 2025
Join geneticist and science writer Adam Rutherford as he explores the revolutionary impact of Darwin’s *On The Origin of Species*. Discover how Darwin’s concept of natural selection reshaped our understanding of evolution, contrasting it with earlier theories. Rutherford highlights Darwin's formative experiences in the Galapagos and the misconceptions surrounding his theory. The discussion also delves into the mixed reactions Darwin faced from both the scientific community and religious circles, revealing the ongoing legacy of his groundbreaking ideas.
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INSIGHT

Adaptation Before Darwin

  • Pre-Darwinian thinkers recognized adaptation in organisms.
  • They lacked a mechanism to explain how this adaptation arose naturally.
INSIGHT

The Role of Fossils and Deep Time

  • Fossils and the growing understanding of Earth's history challenged existing theories.
  • These discoveries raised questions about extinct species and their relation to current life.
ANECDOTE

Buffon's Earth Age Estimate

  • Buffon, an 18th-century scholar, proposed that Earth was much older than previously thought.
  • He theorized that planets formed from debris from the sun, estimating Earth to be at least 70,000 years old.
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