Earthworms reveal an evolutionary mechanism that could defy Darwin
In 1859, Darwin imagined evolution as a slow, gradual progress, with species accumulating small changes over time. But even he was surprised to find the fossil record offered no missing links: the intermediate forms which should have told this story step by step were simply not there. His explanation was as uncomfortable as it was unavoidable: basically, the fossil record is an archive where most of the pages have been torn out.
In 1859, Darwin imagined evolution as a slow, gradual progress, with species accumulating small changes over time. But even he was surprised to find the fossil record offered no missing links: the intermediate forms which should have told this story step by step were simply not there. His explanation was as uncomfortable as it was unavoidable: basically, the fossil record is an archive where most of the pages have been torn out.
