On the Theory of Evolution Versus the Concept of Evolution: Three Observations

Here we address three misconceptions stated by Rice et al. in their observations of our article Paz-y-Miño and Espinosa (Evo Edu Outreach 2:655–675, 2009), published in this journal. The five authors titled their note “The Theory of Evolution is Not an Explanation for the Origin of Life.” First, we argue that it is fallacious to believe that because the formulation of the theory of evolution, as conceived in the 1800s, did not include an explanation for the origin of life, nor of the universe, the concept of evolution would not allow us to hypothesize the possible beginnings of life and its connections to the cosmos. Not only Stanley Miller’s experiments of 1953 led scientists to envision a continuum from the inorganic world to the origin and diversification of life, but also Darwin’s own writings of 1871. Second, to dismiss the notion of Rice et al. that evolution does not provide explanations concerning the universe or the cosmos, we identify compelling scientific discussions on the topics: Zaikowski et al. (Evo Edu Outreach 1:65–73, 2008), Krauss (Evo Edu Outreach 3:193–197, 2010), Peretó et al. (Orig Life Evol Biosph 39:395–406, 2009) and Follmann and Brownson (Naturwissenschaften 96:1265–1292, 2009). Third, although we acknowledge that the term Darwinism may not be inclusive of all new discoveries in evolution, and also that creationists and Intelligent Designers hijack the term to portray evolution as ideology, we demonstrate that there is no statistical evidence suggesting that the word Darwinism interferes with public acceptance of evolution, nor does the inclusion of the origin of life or the universe within the concept of evolution. We examine the epistemological and empirical distinction between the theory of evolution and the concept of evolution and conclude that, although the distinction is important, it should not compromise scientific logic

Progress on Radiometric Dating of Wolfcamp Brines Using ⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar

ABSTRACTGround water samples (brines) from deep wells in the Palo Duro Basin, Texas are being analyzed for noble gases in an attempt to obtain radiometric ages for these brines. The brines contain radiogenic 4He and 40Ar produced from the radioactive decay of U, Th, and K. Consideration of hydrochemical data for the brines, various isotopic, chemical, and mineralogical data for the aquifer rocks and noble gas production rates allow estimating the age of the brines to be about 130 million years at two wells. At a third well interaquifer mixing has occurred and the age is presently indeterminate.</jats:p

On the Presence of Phyllosilicate Minerals in the Interstellar Grains

The composition of the interstellar silicate dust is investigated. Condensation or alteration of silicate grains at temperatures of a few hundred degrees, in the presence of H_2O, would result in hydrous or phyllosilicates, the silicate type most abundant in the type I carbonaceous chondrites. Infrared spectra of small particles (∼ 0.1 μ) of the high temperature condensates, olivine and pyroxene, at 300 K and 4 K do not give a good match to the interstellar absorption band near 9.8 μ. Laboratory spectra of several phyllosilicates give better agreement as does the spectrum of a carbonaceous chondrite. We propose that the silicates in the interstellar grains are predominantly phyllosilicates and suggest additional spectral tests for this hypothesis

On the Presence of Phyllosilicate Minerals in the Interstellar Grains

The composition of the interstellar silicate dust is investigated. Condensation or alteration of silicate grains at temperatures of a few hundred degrees, in the presence of H_2O, would result in hydrous or phyllosilicates, the silicate type most abundant in the type I carbonaceous chondrites. Infrared spectra of small particles (∼ 0.1 μ) of the high temperature condensates, olivine and pyroxene, at 300 K and 4 K do not give a good match to the interstellar absorption band near 9.8 μ. Laboratory spectra of several phyllosilicates give better agreement as does the spectrum of a carbonaceous chondrite. We propose that the silicates in the interstellar grains are predominantly phyllosilicates and suggest additional spectral tests for this hypothesis