Titan's Lakes of Methane and Ethane

Rob Carr writes "During the most recent Cassini fly-by, the surface-mapping radar spotted what appear to be lakes in the high northern latitudes of Titan. From the article: 'The channels have a shape that strongly implies they were carved by liquid. Some of the dark patches and connecting channels are completely black, that is, they reflect back essentially no radar signal, and hence must be extremely smooth. In some cases rims can be seen around the dark patches, suggesting deposits that might form as liquid evaporates.' At Titan's temperatures, water is a solid; the lakes would be comprised of methane and ethane. The fluids are different, as are the temperatures, but these lakes cement Titan's status in the solar system as the place with the most earth-like weather — except for Earth, of course."

Comments

we can have zero population growth

[r00t]

That's 2 or 3 surviving children, on average, where "surviving" really just means that they go onto reproduce and thus have families included in the average. Castration and death are equivalent.

So how is this:

At age 3, we execute the kids that can't walk and talk. At age 7, we execute the kids that can't read and do basic math. At age 11, we execute the kids who can't do algebra, geometry, 10 sit-ups, 2 pull-ups, 3 push-ups, a quarter-mile run, enough vision for safe driving, and able to carry out a phone conversation. At age 13, we execute the kids who are unable to do basic statistics, basic economics, reasonable analysis of common contracts (credit card agreement, DSL agreement, home lease, car loan...), or any of the age 11 requirements. Also, at any time prior to having children, we execute people for diabetes, blindness, significant asthma, etc.

Like that? It certainly pushes evolution in a nice direction. It changes out fitness evaluation function to once again strongly disfavor the sick and feebleminded, rather than favoring the welfare mom.