Science Is Constantly Evolving

Discover the latest in climate change and evolution education news.

Glyptodonts Weren’t Just Armadillo Cousins, They Were Armadillos
Well-established by now on this blog is my love for and obsession with xenarthrans. So let it be a sign of my devotion to getting the upcoming issue of RNCSE out on time and full of awesome that I allowed not one but two xenarthran stories in the news to pass without comment.…
Answer Monday
It looks like a fern, right? But it’s not a fern. It’s not even a plant. It’s Charnia, sometimes described as “Leicester’s fossil celebrity,” especially by people in Leicester—the genus was named after Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire. Charnia is especially important because…
What We’re Reading
What is actually going on in classrooms when it comes to climate change? I’m so glad you asked. This week, we recommend NCSE’s own latest report detailing the results of our national survey of middle and high school science teachers. Plus starfish, plus neanderthal sex, plus super clear climate…
The latest climate poll from Gallup
A record was broken in a new poll from Gallup, which found that 65% of Americans believe that increases in the earth's temperature over the last century are due more to "the effects of pollution from human activities" than to "natural causes in the environment that are not due to human…
Confusion, Indifference, and Compromise: How Do We Answer Surveys When We Don't Know the Answer?
Take a card deck (no jokers). Pull out a card. What’s the probability that you’ll see a spade? 25%, right? What would you do if I don’t show you the card, but just give you a piece of paper asking “Is the card a spade, heart, club, or diamond?” You might reasonably want to circle all four,…
Fossil Friday
Oh, the inexhaustible charms of the Ediacaran! The first person correctly to identify the specimen here in the comments below will find his or her name forever enshrined in the annals of Answer Monday. The first person to ask, “What are fronds for?” or to comment, “With fronds like these …” will…
For Teachers, Access To The Scientific Literature is Priceless
A high school teacher e-mailed @cenewman0 asking for a PDF for her class, “embarrassed she couldn’t afford $40”. :( pic.twitter.com/fEIW4ReP1h — Karen James (@kejames) February 26, 2016 A scientist on Twitter recently posted this request from a teacher, asking for a copy of a research paper…
Anti-Science Education Legislation
In recent years, most state-level legislative attacks on the integrity of science education have taken one of two forms: “academic freedom” bills and bills to block or to repeal the adoption of state science standards. “Academic freedom” bills would permit, but would not require, teachers to…
Wild(er-Smith) Fantasies about Huxley
“HUXLEY’S ARGUMENT FOR CHANCE EVOLUTION IS STILL CONSIDERED TO BE VALID IN MANY ACADEMIC CIRCLES TODAY. THE JOURNAL SCIENCE RECENTLY CITED IT AS SUCH. FEW HAVE RECOGNISED THE FATAL FLAW IN HIS REASONING.” That subheadline, in all its capitalized glory, caught my attention while I was looking…

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The National Center for Science Education is the only national organization that specializes in defending the teaching of controversial issues (such as evolution and climate change) in public schools. Because of our special expertise and experience, NCSE is often cotacted by members of the press who are writing about the evolution/creationism controversy, or about the teaching of global warming and other climate science issues that have come under political attack. Our staff can provide reliable information about creationism, evolution, climate change, and the state of science education in the United States.

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