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Notice: GeekPress is back up and running, thanks to Paul! It's still a not-so-serious tech news blog, but the format is significantly looser. Diana, having given up programming for philosophy, has her own philosophical blog NoodleFood. More of her work can be found at DianaHsieh.com.

 

Why humans don't look like elves

8:49:48 am mst / 10 February 2001 found by paul / filed in science / source UniSci 181 hits / 1 comment / 0 e-mails

Most of our current body layout is due to evolutionary factors "designed" to keep us alive long enough to reproduce and raise our young. However, we are not designed for much longevity beyond that. UIC Professor S. Jay Olshansky analyzes some of our "design flaws" and argues that if we were instead designed for longevity, our bodies would look more "like short, stout elves."

The descriptions in the article sound more like dwarves, not elves. I think he needs to read more Tolkien!

Comments

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Unless they are elfquest elves! by Leareth 3:16:20 pm mst / 12 February 2001 / # 1

www.elfquest.com About four feet tall, with a more endomorphic build then humans. Of course his articles also reminded me of the Beta Tegulse (I think) from Hrbert's Dune series.