Chapter 5 (Jalen Jones)

Starting off Chapter 5, two Harvard physiologist are conducting an experiment where they studied 24 undergraduates. The basis of this experiment was through the use of playing cards and how the undergraduates perceived them. Although most of the cards were completely normal, a couple were changed. Throughout the experiment many began to have trouble identifying the cards. In a paper entitled The Perception of Incongruity: A Paradigm, the results were shown informing readers about the struggle of identifying altered cards. Many arguments and points were made throughout the book and one can be shown through science historian, Thomas Kahun’s belief of humans adapting to changing environments. This is continued to be seen when author Elizabeth Kolbert meets Jan Zalasiewicz, a stratigrapher. Throughout their meeting Kolbert is shown 445 million year old rocks, during a time period of rapid sea life growth. Unfortunately most of those oceans became extinct, something specific would be Graptolite, which Zalasiewicz was currently studying. What once held a large abundance is now extinct, their adjustable ability to temperature and pressure led to their demise. This made me think, not all good qualities lead to a strong figure creatures must know not only how to develop but to use their strengths to help grow their population.