Every day brings a new story. And each day contributes to the art of story telling -- in prose and poetry, in music, on the stage, on the screen, and, of course, in books.
Today is the story of February 12th
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It is the 43rd day of the year, leaving 322 days remaining in 2022.
Darwin's groundbreaking book, On the Origin of the Species, proposed that species evolve over time through a course of natural selection to best fit in with their environment.
It was a revolutionary thoery, based on years of scientific study, including field research during the five-year expedition of the H.M.S. Beagle. It rejected the old beliefs that species were static, and that humans were unique and not related to other animals. Darwin's theory of natural selection explains that life evolved over millions of years from single-cell organisms to become all the plants, animals, and other living things that now populate the earth.
It was, and continues to be, controversial. But it is accepted within the scientific community as the explanation for biological diversity.
Darwin had postulated his theory between 1837-39, after returning from the trip on the Beagle. But it was not until 20 years later, in 1859, that he published his book, which caused a sensation.
It was accepted in the scientific community, in part because others were leaning in the same direction. And while religious people objected, the book was detailed and provided enough proof to appeal to a larger audience eager to understand their world through science.
Darwin, a private man, often let botantists, biologists, and other men of science debate and defend his book and his theories. In 1864, the scientific community put its stamp of approval on Darwin's work by awarding him the Royal Soceity's Copley Medal, its highest honor for scienctific work.
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