James Island
Today we encountered new and exiting experiences on our expedition aboard the Polaris. We were mesmerized to see things that we sometimes overlooked on these “Enchanted Islands”. The invisible, “evolution”, a word that in itself is a controversial thought for more than 67% of people in this world. In biology, never the less, a complex process by which the characteristics of living organisms change over many generations as traits are passed from one generation to the next.
But, evidence of evolution is so obvious here in Galapagos. As our expedition goes on, from one island to the next, we see and feel what Charles Darwin, and other scientists and naturalists have seen. Lava lizards, giant tortoises, finches, marine & land iguanas, Opuntia cactus, etc. are adapting to their environment.
In 1827 Charles Darwin entered College at Cambridge (he studied Theology, how ironic). Darwin later had a position as naturalist on the HMS Beagle, which sailed for South America in December 1831 and returned to England in September 1835. Because of all that he had seen, collected and recorded Darwin had become enlightened with outstanding thoughts that he was inspired to write about.
One of the books he wrote was: "The Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection" or the "Preservation of Favored Races for the Struggle for Life"; such a long title but a revolutionary book. In the sixth edition of this book he wrote: “I WILL here give a brief sketch of the progress of opinion on the Origin of Species. Until recently the great majority of naturalists believed that species were immutable productions, and had been separately created.” Charles Darwin
Today the reality is that many people have changed their opinions, as we think scientifically. Scientists research species studying adaptations that could teach us how to survive in their environments. May be, we could find an alternative place to live, a source of food, medicine, etc. The answer is out there; it exists.
As the sun sets here in Puerto Egas, our guests come back aboard the Polaris after snorkeling and walking at different sites, observing, interacting and enjoying the expedition. Some of us wondered and realised that modern scientific thinking started here, in the Galapagos Islands.
Today we encountered new and exiting experiences on our expedition aboard the Polaris. We were mesmerized to see things that we sometimes overlooked on these “Enchanted Islands”. The invisible, “evolution”, a word that in itself is a controversial thought for more than 67% of people in this world. In biology, never the less, a complex process by which the characteristics of living organisms change over many generations as traits are passed from one generation to the next.
But, evidence of evolution is so obvious here in Galapagos. As our expedition goes on, from one island to the next, we see and feel what Charles Darwin, and other scientists and naturalists have seen. Lava lizards, giant tortoises, finches, marine & land iguanas, Opuntia cactus, etc. are adapting to their environment.
In 1827 Charles Darwin entered College at Cambridge (he studied Theology, how ironic). Darwin later had a position as naturalist on the HMS Beagle, which sailed for South America in December 1831 and returned to England in September 1835. Because of all that he had seen, collected and recorded Darwin had become enlightened with outstanding thoughts that he was inspired to write about.
One of the books he wrote was: "The Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection" or the "Preservation of Favored Races for the Struggle for Life"; such a long title but a revolutionary book. In the sixth edition of this book he wrote: “I WILL here give a brief sketch of the progress of opinion on the Origin of Species. Until recently the great majority of naturalists believed that species were immutable productions, and had been separately created.” Charles Darwin
Today the reality is that many people have changed their opinions, as we think scientifically. Scientists research species studying adaptations that could teach us how to survive in their environments. May be, we could find an alternative place to live, a source of food, medicine, etc. The answer is out there; it exists.
As the sun sets here in Puerto Egas, our guests come back aboard the Polaris after snorkeling and walking at different sites, observing, interacting and enjoying the expedition. Some of us wondered and realised that modern scientific thinking started here, in the Galapagos Islands.
