I guess you could push horizontal genetic flow with viruses in the higher organisms, like us. In general however, horizontal genetic flow occurs between plants and bacteria because they have the molecular mechanisims for it. If anything it would suggest horizontal genetic flow was the first stage of evolution, with classic evolution taking over more so as time moved forward since higher organisms have a higher need to maintain genetic continuity due to specific and more complicated form. For instance you have chromosomal ploidy in plants because they follow a different evolutionary strategy: stay in place, but grow as much as possible to aquire resources. In this case genetic diversity may help. In the ambultory mammal however, it wants to retain a very specific morphology to keep doing what it does, therefore it maintains a more rigid genetic control and linear evolution.

I'm hoping good old NASA research into these materials will also lead to better materials able to withstand extreme heat, making fusion reactors more possible.

So long as people have a right to say what they want to, I see no problem at all with government agencies stepping in and actively promoting their version of the truth as well, or ensuring that other versions get their fair share. It is incumbent upon us to sift through it all, that's the burden of freedom.

Poor comparison. In those 8 years Bush and co. had plenty of time to do things, Obama has had *1* strife filled year to fix the entire earth. I think those who expect change in a few months or a year are an idiot. Republican politicians are corrupt people who have lost their souls.

I for one have a slightly over active sympathatic nervous system. This means its harder for me to fall asleep, I have sweaty palms often and I sometimes feel 'wired' in general. If there was an implant that I could use to turn this all down a little bit, like a particular drug I happen to know of, I would seriously consider it. Please don't generalize about people's needs or drug use because that really hurts fringe people like me in the scheme of things. You have no idea the social stigma of matters like these, especially if you are in a science related industry like I am.

Actually I just wanted to point out that you can show some very direct evidence of global warming in the melting of the ice caps, glaciers and snow covered mountains which we have ice volume evidence for decades. There is a clear reduction in many key areas, and this can be proven with the simplest camera and your eyes, not esoteric data. Denialists see this and still deny, which makes their stance more religious than rational.

The Hubble has a tiny mirror. Imagine what we could see if it was 10m or 20m. We can do it easily! Well ok maybe not easy, but we should do it, no matter the cost.