While the Human Genome Project revealed much about our common humanity, recently scientists have begun to learn a lot about human evolution from the small genetic differences that set us apart.
"Fossil upends theories about evolution of human ancestors" "Fossil finds challenge view of man's place in evolution" "African fossils hailed as the 'Rosetta Stone of humanity'" "Scientists announce the discovery of a 47-million-year-old primate fossil that is set to revolutionize our understanding of human evolution".
The gulf in understanding is now not so much between the humanities and the scientists as between bewildered humanity and a global financial system that seems both utterly mysterious and highly unstable.
To the extent that global warming is caused by humanity, as many scientists believe, this is a serious problem because burning coal at a power plant releases more greenhouse gases than using oil or natural gas to generate the same amount of electricity.
The world's scientists have been warning the consequences for humanity can be very dangerous if we do not keep the global temperature rise below 2°CC.
I suspect we have a curious paradox where the people who make policy, themselves overwhelmingly arts, humanities and social scientists, are seen to be pushing our youngsters towards science subjects, to the annoyance of those in the said arts, humanities and social sciences.
"Too often in debates about climate change risk, the starting point is a presumption that only global warming in excess of 2°C represents a threat to humanity," says climate scientist Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, College Park.
Italy, a largely Roman Catholic nation, recognized the incredible contribution to humanity the Muslim scientist Dr. Salam offered -- even before he won the Nobel.
But scientists say humanity is now polluting the atmosphere with too much of a good thing.
Many of these articles became part of the collection "I Wish I'd Made You Angry Earlier: Essays on Science, Scientists and Humanity" (1998).
