ufoSep 2024Recommends
The blog post recommended the TV show "inside nature's giants", and I second it. The bit about the recurrent laryngeal nerve of the giraffe is particulary memorable: ▶ this video
in “If I could dissect a sauropod” · View on HN
Richard Dawkins demonstrates laryngeal nerve of the giraffe
Richard Dawkins demonstrates laryngeal nerve of the giraffe on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2012–2024.
MysOxen
Open on YouTubedocumentary · evergreen
A clip from Channel 4's Inside Nature's Giants in which Richard Dawkins shows the recurrent laryngeal nerve of the giraffe during a dissection. The nerve takes a long detour down the neck and back up.
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN uses it as the canonical example that evolution is not optimal and can get stuck in local maxima.
- people recommended it
- 1
- separate months
- 1
- strong recommendations
- 0
- discussed on HN
- 2012–2024
“The bit about the recurrent laryngeal nerve of the giraffe is particulary memorable”
What HN commenters said
4 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
fhoffaMar 2017Cites it
Good catch. It seems like an artifact of working and editing a query until they got what they wanted - certainly not a BigQuery restriction. (like this ▶ this video ) Note that the published query scans 2.25 TB of data. While impressive, for a better workflow and cost management I would split it into a 2 step process: - First extract all the files I'm interested in to a separate table (all pom.xmls?). - Then run whatever analysis you want over those files.
in “Operation Rosehub – patching thousands of open-source projects” · View on HN
adevineJan 2016Cites it
Evolution most certainly DOES get stuck in local maxima: ▶ this video . Also, it's quite easy for me to imagine an animal like an angel, with arms and wings. Tetrapods only have 4 limbs to work with though. For bats to gain wings they had to lose their front legs.
in “New finding: 600M years ago, a single mutation changed everything” · View on HN
ChrisNorstromDec 2012Cites it
A rule of thumb is not a law. Form doesn't always follow function even in nature and evolution: ▶ this video Also styles and fads like "minimalism" and "flat design" are forms that do not follow function but are really forms that enforce function. Which is why they're fads and go away after enough people jump on the bandwagon and realize the fad's flaw and limitations.
in “Desktop App for All Your Email” · View on HN