Klik på en miniature for at gå til Google Books
Indlæser... Future Evolution (udgave 2001)af Peter Ward (Forfatter)
Work InformationFuture Evolution: An Illuminated History of Life to Come af Peter Ward
Ingen Indlæser...
Bliv medlem af LibraryThing for at finde ud af, om du vil kunne lide denne bog. Der er ingen diskussionstråde på Snak om denne bog. The author provides a discussion of past, present, and future evolution. He covers a lot of territory in a fairly short book with some nice illustrations. He provides a well researched and intelligent overview and logical speculation on future types of evolution. I appreciate his knowledge of a broad spectrum of related topics and discussion of their impact on evolution. As is correct the logical end of evolution on Earth ends as the Sun overheats the Earth. From our present to that time many possible outcomes are possible related to asteroid impacts, global wars, disease, and global environmental and temperature changes. His discussion of the current mass extinctions and its impact is logical. He is optimist regarding the longevity of humans, which could be but is pessimistic of the future of humans spreading to other planets, which is also logical based on our current understandings. The author provides a discussion of related literature and research, which exemplifies his depth of knowledge. I think this is well done and recommend the book. ( ) The author's premise is that humans will survive as long as the earth does, but in an extremely unpleasant environment. My feelings are mixed. The writing is engaging and thought-provoking, although I don't agree with everything the author says. I like that the author also presented opposing views, without tearing them to shreds. One of my complaints about the book is that it is far more about extinction (past, present, and future) than about evolution. Yes, the two subjects are closely related, but the evolution aspect seems almost a sideline, rather than the main subject as indicated by the title and introduction. One other thing bothered me, way out of proportion to its significance to the book. There is one paragraph in which the author states that the bacteria causing smallpox, rabies, typhoid, rubella, and cholera have all been wiped out by antibiotics in the 20th century. There are two glaring errors in this: 1) three of those diseases are viral, therefore not affected by antibiotics; and 2) smallpox is the the only one of those diseases that has been eradicated (and by vaccination, not antibiotics). It was only a very minor point, but it is the sort of thing that makes you start to question the accuracy of the rest of the book. ingen anmeldelser | tilføj en anmeldelse
Everyone wonders what tomorrow holds, but what will the real future look like? Not decades or even hundreds of years from now, but thousands or millions of years into the future. Will our species change radically? Or will we become builders of the next dominant intelligence on Earth- the machine? These and other seemingly fantastic scenarios are the very possible realities explored in Peter Ward's Future Evolution, a penetrating look at what might come next in the history of the planet. Looking to the past for clues about the future, Ward describes how the main catalyst for evolutionary change has historically been mass extinction. While many scientist direly predict that humanity will eventually create such a situation, Ward argues that one is already well underway--the extinction of large mammals--and that a new Age of Humanity is coming that will radically revise the diversity of life on Earth. Finally, Ward examines the question of human extinction and reaches the startling conclusion that the likeliest scenario is not our imminent demise but long term survival--perhaps reaching as far as the death of the Sun! Full of Alexis Rockman's breathtaking color images of what animals, plants and other organisms might look like thousands and millions of years from now, Future Evolution takes readers on an incredible journey through time from the deep past into the far future. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsIngen
Google Books — Indlæser... GenrerMelvil Decimal System (DDC)576.8Natural sciences and mathematics Life Sciences, Biology Genetics and evolution EvolutionLC-klassificeringVurderingGennemsnit:
Er det dig?Bliv LibraryThing-forfatter. |