There is a conversation about evolution that I’m apparently doomed to replay over and over with various family members, friends and acquaintances.

I tell a friend that the evidence for evolution is overwhelming - everywhere in biology you find the signature of evolution; in every little bizzare, unexpected nook of biology you find unmistakeable evidence that all life is related, descended from common ancestors that lived long ago and took forms that were very different from what we observe in today’s organisms. We swim in a deluge of evidence, and I’m baffled that anyone can disregard the pervasive stamp of evolution in nature.

Whoever I’m having this conversation with is equally baffled. How can I look around at the unparalleled complexity of nature, at the amazing adaptations possessed by millions of species, and think that this all came about through an unintelligent process?

Leading statistician Professor David Spiegelhalter claims today that the number of murders in London last year was not out of the ordinary and followed a predictable pattern. Spiegelhalter's report, published today in Significance, the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society, argues that shocking headline numbers are not as surprising as one might think.

Violence in London attracts headlines. After four people were murdered in separate incidents in London on July 10th, 2008, BBC correspondent Andy Tighe said "To have four fatal stabbings in one day could be a statistical freak." But could it? On July 28th thelondonpaper had the front-page headline: "London's murder count reaches 90". But Professor Spiegelhalter states that this number was predictable.

LONDON and NEW YORK, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Beats Google (Gdrive), Microsoft to Market With First Viable Online Storage Solution

UK-based Livedrive has today announced the launch of its revolutionary online storage service.

Livedrive allows customers to store all their files - including office documents, photos, videos and any other type of file online instead of on their computer's hard disk. Andrew Michael, CEO, commented:

60% of people now have more than one computer. With a growing number of people having more than one device - such as a desktop computer, a netbook and PDA - it no longer makes sense to store files individually on each device. People want all their files together in one place that is accessible from any device.

AMSTERDAM, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Gamers Take the Lead in Redesign MMO HUB

AMSTERDAM, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Today MMO Life Celebrates the Launch of the new Design of Their Flagship Portal, http://www.mmohub.org a Game Community Focusing on the Free- to-Play MMORPG and MMO Games.

In addition to the features and content from the original site, the new gamecommunity exhibits a new aesthetic and is built on an entirely new Bespoke Technical Framework. The design came to life thanks to valuable input of MMOhubs community and is tailored to gamers needs and desires.

Usability and features tailored to gamers needs

BUDAPEST, Hungary, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- Imagination, Digital Legends, Firemint, Nokia and Samsung deliver mobile 3D leadership

Imagination Technologies, a leading provider of System-on-Chip (SoC) silicon IP, is working with partners including Digital Legends, Firemint, Nokia and Samsung to bring the best in 3D tutorials, demonstrations and devices to Games Developers Conference 2009 (San Francisco, March 23-27).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090320/NY86704)

CALGARY, Canada, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Addax Petroleum Corporation (Addax Petroleum or the Corporation) (TSX: AXC and LSE: AXC) announces that Mr. Jean Claude Gandur, President and Chief Executive Officer, will be presenting at the UBS European Mid-Cap Oil Conference in London, U.K. on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at approximately 2:15 p.m. London U.K. Time (10:15 a.m. Eastern Time).

The presentation slides will be available on Addax Petroleum's website at http://www.addaxpetroleum.com.

About Addax Petroleum

Two guest writers on Olivia Judson's blog offer an interesting idea for spending stimulus money on research:

Instead of simply funding more grants, we suggest using some of the windfall to provide an opportunity for fresh college graduates to pursue two years of research in the nation’s service while the job market is bottoming out. Call it “Research for America.” Our proposal would put young Americans to work and support science — without setting off a later bust cycle in research support, as previous funding booms have done.

As part of the Darwin Bicentennial Lecture Series at Appalachian State University, Dr.