Here's how the controversy got started. Othniel Charles Marsh, a paleontologist, (at the time involved in a fierce rivalry with fellow paleontologist, Edward Drinker Cope) discovered in 1877, a partial skeleton, which he named Apatosaurus ajax. In 1879, he looked at 6 different partial skeletons, including a skull, which he speculated to be from the same animal but of a different species and called it, Brontosaurus excelus.
Some 20 years later, it was realised that Brontosaurus excelus was in effect an adult Apatosaurus ajax, and since the genus, Apatosaurus was published first, it took precedence.
But the public imagination was captured, when in 1905, the fossils - at the time, the largest dinosaur species and nearly complete, except for a skull - went on display on the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale. The museum, funded by that great American philanthropist and uncle to Othniel Charles Marsh, George Peabody. The massive skeleton's missing skull was reconstructed by paleontologist, who believed it to have strong and thick skull features. And so, the composite skull was created out of, largely, remains of another dinosaur called Camarasaurus. Thus giving us that image of a large dinosaur so commonly found in popular culture and media.
But, that is just irrelevant trivia. In truth, we can scarcely be able to appreciate, the size of an Apatosaurus, or its larger cousins. Perhaps the image below can put some perspective on things.
Yet, some 65 million years ago, they disappeared. Perhaps, it was due to the hypothesised metorite impact at Chicxulub, or some yet unknown cause. Whatever, they are gone now. But those great pioneer entrepreneurs of America, like George Peabody, and perhaps the greatest of them all, Andrew Carnegie realised, the importance of scientific discovery and a science-based education. This spirit of discovery and innovation, brought America to its place today at the forefront of the world. And so, along this path both China and India seem to be heading. It will benefit both societies greatly.
Yet America today, seems to be heading backward. For every Smithsonian Institution and Carnegie Museum lies a most abhorrent sight - the image of the Creation Museum in Kentucky. Led by that mountebank - Ken Ham, this 'museum', should be a laughing stock. Its displays of a Triceratops complete with saddle and of a Tyrannosaur eating plants, border on insanity. How I wish we could laugh it all of. But this money-swindling scam of Ken Ham, stems from that breed of literal Protestant-Evangelical Christianity that like a virus spreads its nonsensical views all over the world.
Like a bad smell their interference on every issue is nauseating. From gay-rights, to abortion, to casinos to evolution, they can only promogulate their discriminatory and short-sighted views. In my country too, they are not quiet. Stealthily like a common thief, they spread their views and espouse so-called values to their parishes. A google search unveils these lying institutions. Let us hope, that despite their constant cacophony, people will still look for reason and evidence. Still, search for the proper and rational processes that run the universe. Still, look at their 'holy' books as a part of a historical narrative that is not inerrant (in fact, often erroneous).
Science has much to offer. The scientific revolution has led to the world as it is today. Not perfect, not by a long shot, but still searching and improving. And having enjoyed the fruits of science and technology, the religious priest dares to decry this 'age of materialism and post-modernism'. Lets us work together that these quacks go the way of the dinosaurs and we can move on with our lives.
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