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In a thought-provoking composition by Stephen Jay Gould, the hypotheses of dinosaur extinction are intermingled with the all-consuming thoughts and dilemmas that plague much of the modern society: sex, drugs, and violence. Gould adds the public’s lust for outré, controversial statements with real, scientific inferences. As the world is plagued with questions, the explanation for the dinosaurs’ extinction is still unidentified, but Gould transforms unlikely conjectures into comprehensible, quirky proposals. Moreover, Gould explains that arguments beyond the ordinary “asteroid theory” thrive within the scientific community while slightly discrediting them. Banal theories are immersed into a new era of scientific discovery made for a dynamic culture.
An uncommon, peculiar approach to mundane extinction of the dinosaurs theories arose from Gould’s writing as he explained the sex theory (Gould 404). At first, the mere title
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Geological and paleontological laymen may have difficulties grasping more complex theories, but Gould’s work provides a fresh, vernacular insight into extinction hypotheses. Although two of the three theories are utterly absurd, according to Gould, reading something an average reader can understand and be entertained by thoroughly is refreshing. “Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” is not an average expository, scientific research essay. The writing provides necessary perception to the reader composed of facts, professional opinions, and tested hypotheses. An American phenomenon such as “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” was incorporated into scientific concepts to form a compelling, analytical piece of rejuvenating writing. The topics themselves were paired with excellent syntax and bizarre, yet entertaining, sideline quips. Such an enlightening tale of research should be enjoyed by the mass
In this paper Martin is arguing that late quaternary or near time extinctions where caused by human activity or as he calls it “overkill”. Martin recognizes that there have been many forces that have triggered extinctions in the planet on the past but disagrees with the idea that near time extinctions where caused by some commonly believed causes like climate change, disease or nutrient shortage. He argues that the arrival of humans to different continents, islands and the subsequent excessive hunting, the introduction of diseases and other competitors and predators was the cause of extinction of a great number of species “As our species spread to various continents we wiped out their large
“Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” is written by Stephen Jay Gould, professor of geology and zoology at Harvard. This essay is one of more than a hundred articles on evolution, zoology, and paleontology published by Gould in national magazines and journals. It tells about scientific proposals for the extinction of dinosaurs – a confusing but an exciting problem that humanity tries to solve. By analyzing and describing each of the claims for the reptiles’ demise – sex, drugs, and disasters – Gould differentiates bad science from good science and explains what makes some theories silly speculations, while the other, a testable hypothesis.
In order to better understand these "implications," it is necessary to define and explain the major theories regarding North American megafaunal extinction. The two most widely supported theories are those of environmental change and overkill. Two theories finding less support within the field are those of hyperdisease and "keystone herbivores."
The respective areas of science and religion always seem to be overlapping, or stepping on the other area’s toes. In his book, Stephen Jay Gould addresses the topic of Non-Overlapping Magesteria, or NOMA. Gould examines the principles of NOMA as a solution to the supposed false conflict between religion and science. (Pg. 6) He starts off his argument on NOMA by telling a story of “Two Thomas’s.” The first Thomas is from the bible, of which he makes three appearances in the Gospel of John. The second Thomas, is a Reverend Thomas Burnet. Thomas the Apostle defends the magesteria of science in the wrong magesteria of faith, while the Reverend Thomas proclaims religious ideas within the magesteria of science.
In the article, Debunking the Myths of American Corrections, Jeffery Ross discusses myths that have formed within the general population. Some may consider these myths contradictory, while others perceive them as factual. Ross presents and utilizes multiple sources in order to support his criticism in the categories of the predominant myths that have manifested in society.
Jurassic Park is the story of how one man’s idea puts many lives in danger. With lots of experimentation, scientists who worked for him were able to extract blood from prehistoric mosquitoes and other biting insects caught in amber then examine it for foreign blood cells. After that, they would extract them. Doing that, they could obtain DNA of extinct animals; dinosaurs who have been extinct for millions of years. Through a long process, they could recreate dinosaurs. Jurassic Park is a book full of suspense and horrifying murders. I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone, but just people who enjoy science fiction and suspense. I also recommend not read Dennis Nedry’s death multiple times because it’s gross and...just gross. But other than that, I would give this five dinosaurs out of five dinosaurs!
[1] This problem with the theory of evolution was addressed by Stephen Jay Gould and other evolutionists. They postulated the punctuated equilibrium theory of evolution, which does not predict the numerous fossils predicted by the orthodox theory of evolution.
Jurassic park is a novel presented about a group of scientists who visited an island and they were able to gather leftovers of DNA from an insect that was well kept in amber. The fossil DNA was “cloned” into selected amphibian DNA, and presto, replicated fossils were rejuvenated out of destruction on the island. Jurassic Park was printed in 1990, amid the passion of the information period when apparently the entire world was rapidly concerned with mechanizing. Corporations and entities wanted to mechanize their lives and jobs, although occasionally on a considerably smaller scale than that of Hammond's Park. This happened just a decade before the foretold ‘Turn of the Millennium’ super-computermal function that had computer mechanics and Information Technology specialists across the sphere revitalizing for disaster.
He explores the theories that a rise in temperature could have made the reptiles of old infertile, or that the dinosaurs ate flowering plants that acted as drugs, causing the beasts to overdose. He goes on to examine a third theory, that of an asteroid hitting the earth and causing a cloud of smoke and dust to cover the sun, dropping temperatures and killing not only the dinosaurs, but much of the life that was present on the Earth at the time. Gould himself leans toward the last theory, citing evidence and research to back his point. All of this, he delivers with an air of humor, saying things such as “How can we possibly decide whether the hypothesis of testicular frying is right or wrong?” (par 21). While the theory of infertility of dinosaurs comes from the idea of rising heat, Gould’s wording here brings to mind a funny image rather than a worldwide epidemic. Using humor again, Gould says “If you talk just about asteroids, dust, and darkness, you simply tell stories no better and no more entertaining than fried testicles or terminal trips” (par 26). Not only does he cast aside the first two theories as useless frivolities, he sets the stage for proving why the asteroid theory is better, using humorous language to do so. A humorous essay such as Gould’s is fun to read, while keeping a basis in
We use dinosaurs to represent the changes in nature that have occurred throughout time. Studies found that although the “oldest rock did not show evidence of life, the progression of plant and animal life that changed in recognizable intervals, from ancient life, age of reptiles to the age of mammals” (Dino Nature Metaphor, slide 6), measured the age of the earth. When we think of dinosaurs in relation to nature, we think of that very powerful force that controls the cycle of life. Nature was able to yield such magnificent ferocious creatures that walked the earth and then take them back when they served nature’s purpose. Dinosaurs fit perfectly in nature’s constant
The most significant event of the Cretaceous era came at its end. Nearly 65 million years ago, the second most severe mass extinction in earth’s history occurred. This resulted in the loss of around 80% of species living at the time. Though nowhere near as severe as the end-Permian mass extinction, the end-Cretaceous extinction is the most well known mass extinction event. This is due to the violent event that caused it the extinction, as well as the chapter of earth’s history that it closed: the Dinosaurs. The Cretaceous Event ( often shortened to K-T event) Of the animals that were killed off were the flying reptiles (pterosaurs) and the last few mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, both early marine reptiles. Many mollusks and species of microscopic plankton were killed. Terrestrial plants suffered mass extinction as well. Almost 60% of terrestrial plants were lost. This led to high extinction rates among insect populations, especially insects that were highly specialized to feed on just a few types of plants had it the worst. It took approximately 9 million years for the global insect populations to recover from the Cretaceous extinction. Immediately after the extinction, the earth saw an explosion of short term species who respond well to fire, or other external disturbance. Evidence of the catastrophe comes from a thin rock layer deposited worldwide just after the impact. It is dominated by fossil plants whose descendants recover quickly after fires of other disturbances, such as Fire Weed in Alaska. The causes of the Cretaceous extinction are still being debated by paleontologists. Scientists agree that the main cause of the extinction was a...
Sutter, John D. “Should scientists ‘Jurassic Park’ extinct species back to life”, www.cnn.com 5 May 2014, 22 May 2014
Several mass extinctions have occurred during the Earth’s history. The Cretaceous – Tertiary Boundary (K-T) Extinction caused the loss of at least three-quarters of all species known at that time including the dinosaurs. The cause of this mass extinction is a controversial subject among scientists but the fossil evidence of it’s occurrence is abundant.
The Jurassic Period of our earth’s history was one of great change. It began with a major extinction even, bounced back, and was yet again the victim of an extinction event. The Jurassic was a flourishing time of new species adapting, changing, and modernizing to suit the ever-changing world they
Gould, Stephen Jay. "Evolution as Fact and Theory." The Norton Mix. Editor Katie Hannah. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010. 110-119.