Ancient Enigmas « Backyard Phenomena

Genetic analysis has become a staple of evolutionary research. Determinations of evolutionary relationships between species often rely on molecular clocks, or the idea that we can backtrack genetic mutations to their time of origin like counting days backward on a calendar. The notion of molecular clocks assumes that mutations happen like, well, clockwork. B […]

Disease Genetics: A Bankrupt Idea? November 23, 2009

Last week DeCode Genetics, one of the top companies hunting for genetic keys to diseases, filed for bankruptcy. Despite years of studying Icelandic populations the company had failed to find any common genes for diseases such as cancer. This idea, known as common disease/common variant, has long held sway in the genetics community. Geneticists thought [...]

Have Scientists Understated Genetic Diversity? November 18, 2009

We’ve all heard that humans and chimpanzees share about 98% of our DNA. If we flip that around, then we differ by only 2%. Yet the tiniest differences can make all the difference, it turns out. Most animals and birds have the gene called FOXP2, often erroneously labeled the “language gene.” Humans and chimps both [...]

Exploring the Eonic Effect November 17, 2009

I recently had the chance to read World History and the Eonic Effect: Civilization, Darwinism, and Theories of Evolution by John Landon. In this book Landon proposes that cultural evolution advances in steps, much like the idea of punctuated equilibrium in biological evolution. Has human culture advanced in spurts, driven by nonrandom forces? Landon makes [. […]

Lisa’s Strange Michigan blog

Happy Thanksgiving November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving! Posted in Uncategorized

UFO Over Lake Superior: 56 Years Ago Today November 23, 2009

What happened to the jet codenamed Avenger Red, which disappeared 56 years ago today? More than five decades have passed since the incident occurred, yet the mystery of Avenger Red lingers. The events that transpired on the evening of November 23, 1953, have become a part of UFO lore. Nobody knows what [...]

No Ghost Hunting Allowed November 11, 2009

There will be no township-sanctioned “Ghostbusters” probe at the old Crouch Cemetery later this month. Monday night the Spring Arbor Township Board denied a Tekonsha man’s request to spend the night of Nov. 21-22 in the cemetery doing a paranormal investigation into the 1883 Crouch murders. Click here to read the rest of the story from [... […]

Cougars Confirmed in Upper Michigan November 4, 2009

I’ve seen one a few hundred feet from my house here on the Keweenaw Peninsula. I’ve talked to others who’ve seen them too, in various spots around the Upper Peninsula. Now the DNR has confirmed there are cougars in the UP, thanks to a game camera photos and some tracks. Click here to read the [...]

Smelling Bigfoot in Northern Michigan? November 3, 2009

“When Ron Kostrubiec visited Wilderness State Park with his family at the end of July, he got more than he bargained for.” Were his experiences Bigfoot related? Click here to read the rest of the story and decide for yourself. Posted in Bigfoot / Sasquatch, Cryptids Tagged: smelling Bigfoot

Backyard Phenomena

Subscribe

Contact Lisa

Related Sites

Buy Lisa's books

More info

Post Topics

Tags Cloud

Try These Sites

UFOs: The Forbidden Connections

From One to Many: The Birth of Complex Life

The Mysterious Origins of Life

Alien Evolution

Mystery of the First Europeans

Post Archives

Follow Lisa on Twitter

Lisa’s Evolution Conspiracy blog

Lisa’s Strange Michigan blog

Recent Comments