" We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged." - Dissent from Darwin

Natural selection [is used] carelessly as a mantra, as in the evidence-free “just-so stories” concocted out of thin air by mentally lazy adaptationists. (Stephen Jay Gould)

In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence. (Isaac newton)

Monday, January 19, 2009

How NEANDERTHAL got his big nose

LONDON: Anthropologists have suggested that Neanderthals had big noses because of the degree to which their face used to jut forward, indicating that the odd feature was a fluke of evolution, not some grand adaptation. The Neanderthal nose has been a matter of befuddlement for anthropologists, who point out that modern cold-adapted humans have narrow noses to moisten and warm air as it enters the lung, and reduce water and heat loss during exhalation. Big noses tend to be found in people whose ancestors evolved in tropical climates
, where a large nasal opening helps cool the body. But Neanderthals go against this trend, according to Tim Weaver, a palaeoanthropologist at the University of California, Davis. "They were living in the glacial environment of Europe, colder than it is today, for most of the time," he said. "So, it's sort of been an anomaly. Why do they have these wide nasal apertures?," he wondered.

Storyteller: Tim Weaver, Palaeoanthropologist, University of California,
Source: Why Neanderthals had big noses

3 comments:

Lucas said...

hahahahahaha!!!!!!

I love this blog already.

Gonna link it to mine, if you don't mind..

God bless!

Shawn said...

I think the larger nose if for gathering more air for the sole purpose of scent.

Shawn

Anonymous said...

I seem to recall seeing something that said that larger noses helped to prevent sweating whilst hunting etc under heavy clothing. Sweat that would freeze... or something of that nature.