Creationists allege that creation ex nihilo took place 8,000 to 10,000 years ago and that the Book of Genesis supplies a scientific description of what followed. Mims tells us that he collects fossils. According to creationists, fossils are bones of animals that drowned in the Great Flood, with the best swimmers on top. Does Mims agree?
How could he write about dinosaurs if he has the creationist belief that they coexist with humans, and that Noah took dinosaurs on the Ark? Does he support the incessant creationist campaigns against teaching evolution? Is it possible that he might not feel at home as a member of the staff of Scientific American?
THOMAS H. JUKES
Space Sciences Laboratory
University of California
Berkeley, Calif.