If any of the learned be inclined, from their natural temper, to haughtiness or obstinacy, a small tincture of Pyrrhonism might abate their pride, by showing them, that the few advantages, which they may have attained over their fellows, are but inconsiderable, if compared with the universal perplexity and confusion, which is inherent in human nature. (David Hume, An Enquiry concerning Human Un...

tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, in Martin County, Indiana. American Midland Naturalist 89:281–286. Sperry, J. S., N. M. Holbrook, M. H. Zimmerman, and M. T. Tyree. 1987. Spring filling of xylem vessels in wild grapevine. Plant Physiology 83:414–417. Stiles, E. W. 1982. Fruit flags: two hypotheses. American Naturalist 120:500–509. Walters, M. B., and P. B. Reich. 2000. Seed size, nitrogen s...

The Dutch merchant and naturalist Anton van Leeuwenhoek is considered to be the father of optic microscopy and the precursor of bacteriology. Among others, he discovered and studied the spermatozoon.

Nietz sche’s endorsement of a “morality of breeding” (Züchtung), which he opposes to the morality of “taming” or “domestication” (Zähmung), invites worry that his philosophy may be compatible with ethically dangerous forms of eugenics and, consequently, with the historically associated practices of discrimination, racism, and genocide.1 While there is a general consensus that Nietz sche does no...

Italy, true nurse of talents. .. I [now] can foresee no possible opportunity for performing dissection-here I cannot easily obtain even a skull." Vesalius' complaint underlines the decline and decadence-after a promising start-of Spanish science in the second half of the sixteenth century, a phenomenon often commented upon and usually attributed to social and cultural factors peculiar to Spain....