Re: The evolution of "evolution"

From: Derek Gatherer (d.gatherer@vir.gla.ac.uk)
Date: Mon 31 Oct 2005 - 16:11:21 GMT

  • Next message: Kenneth Van Oost: "Re: The evolution of "evolution""

    At 21:51 28/10/2005, Dace wrote:

    > Rather, a field effect seems to
    >be at work. To test this hypothesis, the naturalist Eugene Marais inserted
    >a steel plate through the middle of a termite mound, preventing any
    >communication between the separated termites. Nonetheless, termites were
    >able to build arches that met perfectly on opposite sides of the plate as if
    >it wasn't even there. Termites act more like particles in a field of
    >influence than separate actors.

    That was shown long ago to be due to vibration through the plate. The termites could hear each other.

    >More recently, Miroslav Hill demonstrated field effects among bacteria being
    >tested for resistance to a carcinogenic substance. He found that alongside
    >the exposed bacteria, related bacteria in physically isolated containers
    >also developed resistance. After repeating the experiment numerous times,
    >ensuring absolute separation of the bacterial colonies, he got the same
    >results. He concluded that the exposed bacteria shared information at a
    >distance with the unexposed bacteria. Interestingly, Hill chose to
    >interpret the results in terms of quantum entanglement or nonlocality rather
    >than the more traditional field theory.

    That one is almost certainly contamination.

    Your "scientific" examples are really lousy, Ted.

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