EvilEgg: Looking at that photo, it makes me think that Centaur's backs must have hurt. There has got to be a ton of force at that right angle bend.

Yeah really. You'd think a guy with his credentials would have some understanding of skeletal structure.

Well that's dumb.

This is the kind of bullshiat that is produced by morons who perpetuate the lie that "Once upon a time, mythology was science." Only a complete asswipe would conflate mythology with philosophy. And of course, this is the poop that comes out.

/disapproves, Herc, disapproves!

theorellior:
I always wonder about these shows and the complete lack of actual science that goes into them.

I suppose they could take the tack of "let's have a look at why this 'specimen' makes no sense". Referring back to actual developmental and evolutionary principles, and real-world animal physiology. I mean, centaurs fail those tests in all sorts of ways, and explaining those ways could be very educational to the public.

is both amused and not amused. It's sort of hard to tell with centaurs.

Wow, and just in time! The Tucson Gem and Mineral show starts next week (our display ships out on Saturday) and the entire city will be [packed for the next month with museum and crystal types. Smart move, they're going to make bank with that exhibit.

No Mortimer! They said they want a "more appealing" logo not a "more peeling" logo! Quick, sell short!

Would a centaur have two sets of internal organs ? One in the human body and one in the horse body ? Since it does seem to have two rib cages.

No Such Agency: theorellior:
I always wonder about these shows and the complete lack of actual science that goes into them.

I suppose they could take the tack of "let's have a look at why this 'specimen' makes no sense". Referring back to actual developmental and evolutionary principles, and real-world animal physiology. I mean, centaurs fail those tests in all sorts of ways, and explaining those ways could be very educational to the public.

Yeah I would love to pay for an exhibit like that BUT...and here's the telling quote:

FTA: "It's legitimate for museums to display mythological creatures to make people question what is real and what is science today."

I'm sorry but that doesn't parse as having the intention to explain how those could not be real...in fact there's a very real danger that the exhibits could be framed in such a way to give ammo to the "science doesn't have all the answers!!! so it COULD be true" morons vis a vis evolution and whatever pseudo science is in vogue this week.

LesserEvil: I guess even respectable museums can't resist those wads of carnival freak show cash.

They can rationalize it any way they want, but in the end, this is mostly just a grab for money.

Yeah, one thing we don't want is museums with money.

Bennie Crabtree: This is the kind of bullshiat that is produced by morons who perpetuate the lie that "Once upon a time, mythology was science." Only a complete asswipe would conflate mythology with philosophy. And of course, this is the poop that comes out.

Do you flap the same fit at "The Science of Star Trek" exhibits?

tcaptain: No Such Agency: theorellior:
I always wonder about these shows and the complete lack of actual science that goes into them.

I suppose they could take the tack of "let's have a look at why this 'specimen' makes no sense". Referring back to actual developmental and evolutionary principles, and real-world animal physiology. I mean, centaurs fail those tests in all sorts of ways, and explaining those ways could be very educational to the public.

Yeah I would love to pay for an exhibit like that BUT...and here's the telling quote:

FTA: "It's legitimate for museums to display mythological creatures to make people question what is real and what is science today."

I'm sorry but that doesn't parse as having the intention to explain how those could not be real...in fact there's a very real danger that the exhibits could be framed in such a way to give ammo to the "science doesn't have all the answers!!! so it COULD be true" morons vis a vis evolution and whatever pseudo science is in vogue this week.

We have exhibit signage in my museum that specifically addresses these sorts of things (Cyclops, griffin) in an attempt to explain how science is always changing, how we know more about our world today than we did a few hundred years ago. We even work the coelacanth (Latimeria) into it, describing its discovery and how we are able to revise our hypotheses based on new information.

There are always some people that will say "ZOMG I saw a griffin in a museum, they must be real", but trying to cater an educational experience to them is sort of a lost cause.

I recall even as a small child when first learning mythology wondering just how centaur's anatomy could work. Came up with some ways to make it work, even.

EvilEgg: Looking at that photo, it makes me think that Centaur's backs must have hurt. There has got to be a ton of force at that right angle bend.

Perhaps there is something like a hybrid between a human and horse pelvic girdle replacing the mid-shoulders with the spinal column proceeding out where the tail bone would be without extra structural pressure. It would come as a sacrifice in maneuverability, but offer better support for the extra weight in front.

Theropod76: Would a centaur have two sets of internal organs ? One in the human body and one in the horse body ? Since it does seem to have two rib cages.

One set of organs in the horses body only. The human-esque torso is mostly muscle like a horses neck with extra volume allowed for the larger esophagus to accommodate the needed increased intake of food and air. What extra bones are present partially resembling a rib cage are a cross between those offering support for the extra set of human-like arms and an oversized Adam's apple of the centaur's larynx providing dominant centaurs a resounding voice to command the herd.

The inordinately small mouth for the body size indicates that centaurs are potentially frugivorous, hence the extra pair of arms to aid in harvesting fruits from trees and shrubs. Though, most likely, their primary diet is of a carnivorous nature; the arms providing the means of killing prey, compensating for the undersized jaw and lack of prominent canines.

Diogenes Teufelsdrockh: I recall even as a small child when first learning mythology wondering just how centaur's anatomy could work. Came up with some ways to make it work, even.

EvilEgg: Looking at that photo, it makes me think that Centaur's backs must have hurt. There has got to be a ton of force at that right angle bend.

Perhaps there is something like a hybrid between a human and horse pelvic girdle replacing the mid-shoulders with the spinal column proceeding out where the tail bone would be without extra structural pressure. It would come as a sacrifice in maneuverability, but offer better support for the extra weight in front.

Theropod76: Would a centaur have two sets of internal organs ? One in the human body and one in the horse body ? Since it does seem to have two rib cages.

One set of organs in the horses body only. The human-esque torso is mostly muscle like a horses neck with extra volume allowed for the larger esophagus to accommodate the needed increased intake of food and air. What extra bones are present partially resembling a rib cage are a cross between those offering support for the extra set of human-like arms and an oversized Adam's apple of the centaur's larynx providing dominant centaurs a resounding voice to command the herd.

The inordinately small mouth for the body size indicates that centaurs are potentially frugivorous, hence the extra pair of arms to aid in harvesting fruits from trees and shrubs. Though, most likely, their primary diet is of a carnivorous nature; the arms providing the means of killing prey, compensating for the undersized jaw and lack of prominent canines.

Jack L. Chalker had some interesting things to say about this, too.

They had a picture of it in the back of our latest skeptics mag...

It insinuated that the point of the exhibit was to show how bad science can be used to confuse and disguise the truth. Dino bones were assumed to be the bones of giant humans killed in the great flood...

tcaptain: such a way to give ammo to the "science doesn't have all the answers!!! so it COULD be true" morons vis a vis evolution and whatever pseudo science is in vogue this week.

But its the anything could be true mentality that this piece makes people think about. Anything COULD be true -- but Everything is not true. -- there were no centaurs. But people thought there were at one time.

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE... -- it is only through good science that we weed out the false from the true. Its saying science has all the answers -- you just need to listen and be patient.

mikefinch: They had a picture of it in the back of our latest skeptics mag...

It insinuated that the point of the exhibit was to show how bad science can be used to confuse and disguise the truth. Dino bones were assumed to be the bones of giant humans killed in the great flood...

tcaptain: such a way to give ammo to the "science doesn't have all the answers!!! so it COULD be true" morons vis a vis evolution and whatever pseudo science is in vogue this week.

But its the anything could be true mentality that this piece makes people think about. Anything COULD be true -- but Everything is not true. -- there were no centaurs. But people thought there were at one time.

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE... -- it is only through good science that we weed out the false from the true. Its saying science has all the answers -- you just need to listen and be patient.

This.

Science is a process, not a product.

fake

Why stop at just mythical creatures?

Link (new window)

Theropod76: Would a centaur have two sets of internal organs ? One in the human body and one in the horse body ? Since it does seem to have two rib cages.

And can it be classified with insects because it has six extremities?

I'll ask Ken Ham.