Evolution; we came from Asia? (Introduction)

by dhw, Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 12:27 (4554 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: New findings: We may be descended from Asian beginnings:-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120604155705.htm-
Let me ask a silly question. Why do the researchers assume that they have now exhausted the range of African fossils? Supposing tomorrow someone finds an African anthropoid fossil that's, say, 40 million years old, we might then deduce that African anthropoids made their way to Myanmar, and we'll be back to Africa as the starting-point. -"Groundbreaking research like this underscores the vitality of modern natural history museums," says Sam Taylor, director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. "Research like this can only be sustained by the irreplaceable collections, curatorial expertise, and scientific infrastructure that natural history museums provide. At the same time, cutting-edge science like this revitalizes our museum's educational programs and propels its mission."-So the director of a natural history museum is telling us how valuable natural history museums are, not to mention the people who run them. No agenda here, then. But yes, I do think it's fascinating to delve into the past and to make new discoveries. I just wish we weren't being bombarded with so many sensational discoveries that don't actually prove anything other than how successful our scientists are at making sensational discoveries. The latest promise that Higgs will be found this year may well come into the same category.