Concurrent evolution

Electric cars have evolved twice so far.

 

Only twice? Seriously? How many times for real?

 

evolution being big oil. is that concurrent, or convergent?

 

I think that's actually an infection... Kinda like gang green from too much cold weather...

 

I believe there is an insect that gets free security and housing by hanging out in ant nests. If you look at it, it looks like two ants standing in line. Ants do a lot with smell, so it probably has no smell.

 

Not just ants, but the entire ecosystem works like this despite humans and theiry sill rugged individualism fanatasies. There's even mites on our face and nipples that come out at night to fornicate:

"The mites are passed on during birth and are carried by almost every human, with numbers peaking in adults as the pores grow bigger. They measure around 0.3mm long, are found in the hair follicles on the face and nipples, including the eyelashes, and eat the sebum naturally released by cells in the pores. They become active at night and move between follicles looking to mate. The first ever genome sequencing study of the D. folliculorum mite found that their isolated existence and resulting inbreeding is causing them to shed unnecessary genes and cells and move towards a transition from external parasites to internal symbionts. Dr. Alejandra Perotti, Associate Professor in Invertebrate Biology at the University of Reading, who co-led the research, said: “We found these mites have a different arrangement of body part genes to other similar species due to them adapting to a sheltered life inside pores. These changes to their DNA have resulted in some unusual body features and behaviors." Microscopic Mites That Mate on Our Faces at Night May Soon Become One With Humans

 

If I could only teach one thing here it would be that no organism (from single-celled to we zillion-celled writers) persists without assistance from others and without crafting adequate responses to parasites, disease and other trouble makers. Biology, beyond its miracle of existing in the first place, is a rugged negotiation for resources. This is overwhelmingly important for the human enterprise here, and for persistence of all other organisms we look upon fondly.

If I could teach a second thing here it would be that human expansion beyond Earth (eventually a necessary goal) will require exporting ecosystems, not just people and bags of food and water. Ready we are not and sci-fi does not inform us.

We might grow to that challenge in a few more centuries. Or not? I do not assume that every intellectual self-important civilization so grows. It sucks, OK? But biology happens on planets, and reaching beyond that is a big thing. Unclear if humans can become big.

 

As someone who has spent three decades trying to protect forest ecology in the courts, legislature, w/property owners and protest sites on earth's most productive soils/forests on the North American west coast I can assure you that the number one problem is the delusional beliefs of the human ego and how its been spoon-fed by a capitalists agenda to think we're an island unto ourself and we never-ever depend on anyone else & only problem is everyone else who interferes with our corrupt profiteering. In a word: Sociopath.

As you say, "no organism (from single-celled to we zillion-celled writers) persists without assistance from others and without crafting adequate responses to parasites, disease and other trouble makers." The best part about this massively destructive moment in human history on earth is that we're going to be humbled and humiliated in amazing ways if we don't check our ego and those who understand this and live this truth are already enjoying huge benefits from it.