Tag Archives: behavior

Exploring the Evolutionary Origins of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior in Primate Species

Posted on by
Reply

Same-sex sexual activity isn’t exclusive to humans; various primates engage in it too.

A recent study identified 59 non-human primate species, including bonobos, chimpanzees, and macaques, that exhibit same-sex behavior.

This extensive research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, is the most thorough review to date of same-sex behavior among primates (excluding humans). The findings challenge existing assumptions about the purpose of sexual activities within the animal kingdom and indicate that sex may serve a more complex social function.

The authors propose that same-sex behavior has evolved to assist primates in navigating complex social structures, reducing conflict, and strengthening bonds. They suggest that both genetic factors and external environmental stresses influence this behavior.

Vincent Savolainen, director of the Georgina Mace Center for the Living Planet at Imperial College London and lead author of the study, stated: “Our findings illustrate that homosexuality is not an anomaly; it’s widespread, beneficial, and essential.”

In their study, Savolainen and colleagues evaluated existing data from 491 primate species, focusing on documented instances of same-sex sexual activities.

“The behaviors observed included mounting, ventral-to-ventral, or ventral-to-dorsal contact, genital touching, and fellatio, encompassing both male-to-male and female-to-female interactions,” the study highlighted. Non-sexual same-sex interactions were excluded to maintain clarity.

Findings suggest that same-sex behavior is more prevalent among animals needing social cohesion to endure harsh environmental conditions, facing predation risks, or competing for resources. It is particularly common in social structures with rigid hierarchies, where sexual behaviors help individuals manage competition and foster alliances to reduce intergroup aggression.

“People often underestimate the significance of same-sex behavior in societal dynamics; it is as crucial as eating, fighting, parenting, and nurturing,” Savolainen remarked.

He likened same-sex sexual interactions to a form of “currency” that may enhance social standing, create opportunities, and facilitate resource sharing.

“In times of social strife, utilizing same-sex behavior can be advantageous,” Savolainen explained.

He noted that while this behavior is likely to be present in more than 23 primate species, limited data in the field and a lack of focused studies hinder comprehensive understanding.

Observing and interpreting same-sex sexual behavior can be challenging for scientists. Historically, many researchers viewed these behaviors as unusual and neglected documentation. Additionally, securing funding for studies on same-sex behavior in animals has been difficult, particularly from government sources.

“We have a plethora of species about which we lack knowledge. This knowledge gap is significant,” Savolainen warned. “Unless we incorporate same-sex behavior into our understanding of social dynamics, we can’t fully grasp how societies operate. We aim to gather more data in forthcoming studies.”

While the new research doesn’t directly relate its findings to contemporary human sexual behavior, it suggests that our ancestors experienced social and environmental pressures similar to those driving same-sex behavior in other primates.

Prior studies have indicated that widespread same-sex behavior exists in macaques and that certain traits are genetically inherited. Some behaviors can be linked to specific genetic lineages. Female bonobos often engage in genital rubbing during stressful situations, and same-sex behavior has also been documented in chimpanzees.

Marlene Zook, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Minnesota who studies same-sex behavior in animals, commented on the interesting breadth of the analysis.

“The extensive range of data collected in this study is particularly impressive,” she noted.

Zook expressed no surprise at the conclusion emphasizing the influence of environmental and social factors on same-sex behavior. The study prompts a reconsideration of widespread misconceptions regarding animal sexual conduct, emphasizing its complexity beyond mere reproduction.

“Sexual behavior often transcends reproduction, a fact evident in our species. However, many tend to overlook this reality in animals,” Zook observed. “People seem to assume that animals, unlike humans, conduct sexual activities purely for procreation purposes, which is quite inaccurate.”

Zook added that the scientific community has traditionally dismissed the concept of a “gay gene” that directly influences homosexual behavior.

“No single gene dictates homosexual behavior in humans or other animals. Instead, a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors shape nearly all behaviors and traits, whether they be physical or psychological,” she concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Exploring the Evolutionary Reasons Behind Same-Sex Sexual Behavior

Posted on by
Reply

Male Hamadryas baboon displaying dominance

Male baboon (Papio hamadryas) showcases dominance through mounting behavior.

Credit: Ger Bosma/Alamy

Same-sex sexual behavior in monkeys and apes may enhance social standing and increase reproductive success, particularly in harsh environments with predators or limited food resources.

This conclusion stems from a study exploring variations in same-sex behavior across primate species, suggesting that such behavior, contrary to popular belief, is an adaptive trait aiding survival.

Historically, same-sex behavior has been dismissed as “unnatural.” However, it has now been documented in at least 1,500 animal species, including insects, dolphins, bison, and bonobos.

This could be just the beginning of a larger understanding; many species remain understudied. Additionally, same-sex activities may often go unrecognized due to ambiguous gender identification. Even when recognized, they may not be reported.

In research covering around 20 mammalian species over extended periods, 80% exhibit same-sex behavior. In a detailed study of a rhesus macaque colony (Macaca mulatta) in Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, researchers found that three-quarters of males engage in homosexual behavior, according to findings by Vincent Savolainen from Imperial College London.

The prevalence of same-sex behavior poses the question: why is it so common?

This phenomenon is often referred to as “Darwin’s paradox,” arising from the assumption that homosexual behavior is maladaptive, offering no reproductive advantage.

Several theories have been proposed to explain the high occurrence of same-sex behavior, despite its perceived maladaptive nature. One theory suggests that such acts may occur due to the inability of individuals to distinguish between genders. While this idea holds for simpler animals, it likely does not apply to complex animals such as apes and dolphins.

Another explanation is that same-sex behavior could be a byproduct of natural selection for other traits. For instance, some traits enhancing reproductive success in females could be linked to the increased likelihood of homosexuality in males.

Importantly, same-sex behavior may hold adaptive value. One theory suggests it aids males in forming alliances, enhancing their access to females. “Same-sex behavior serves as a social currency within these societies,” Savolainen explains.

His team analyzed data on same-sex behavior in 59 primate species, correlating it with various environmental and social factors. Notably, they observed that same-sex interactions are more prevalent in complex societies and dryer habitats where food scarcity and predation pressure are heightened.

The increased frequency of such behavior in stressful environments suggests its adaptive nature. If same-sex acts were purely for enjoyment, we would expect them to be less frequent in these conditions.

“Same-sex behavior may foster cooperation and cohesion by strengthening social bonds, which is particularly vital in challenging environments,” notes team member Chloe Coxshall, also from Imperial.

However, to establish the adaptive value, this behavior must show a link to enhanced fitness and increased offspring. “This is precisely what I aim to examine in monkey populations,” Savolainen states.

While conclusive evidence identifying same-sex behavior as adaptive in certain primate species remains elusive, scientific inquiry may soon challenge outdated perceptions surrounding this behavior.

What implications does this research hold for understanding human homosexual behavior? If validated, these findings may clarify its commonality. Researchers emphasize that these insights do not dictate moral judgments about such actions, thereby avoiding the naturalistic fallacy—wherein human behavior is evaluated through the lens of animal behavior.

Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to consider that redefining “the fittest” may be necessary in the context of survival of the fittest.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

How Google’s DeepMind Tool Accelerates Hurricane Behavior Predictions

Posted on by
Reply

As Tropical Storm Melissa wreaked havoc south of Haiti, meteorologist Philippe Papin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) firmly believed it was on the verge of evolving into a formidable hurricane.

In his capacity as the lead forecaster, he forecasted that within a mere 24 hours, the storm would escalate to a Category 4 hurricane and shift its course toward Jamaica’s coastline. Up to that point, no NHC forecaster had made such an announcement. What a daring prediction for quick validation.

However, Mr. Papin had an ace up his sleeve: artificial intelligence, specifically Google’s newly released DeepMind hurricane model from June. As expected, Melissa transformed into an unbelievably strong storm that devastated Jamaica.

NHC forecasters are increasingly depending on Google DeepMind. On the morning of October 25th, Mr. Papin elaborated on this in a public forum. He also shared on social media that Google’s model was central to his confidence: “Approximately 40 out of 50 members of the Google DeepMind ensemble predict Melissa will reach Category 5. While we are cautious about predicting its intensity due to track uncertainty, it remains a strong possibility.”


“Rapid intensification is likely as the storm traverses very warm ocean waters, characterized by the highest ocean heat content in the entire Atlantic Basin.”

Google DeepMind’s first AI model specifically designed for hurricanes has now surpassed traditional weather forecasters at their own game. It has accurately predicted all 13 Atlantic storms so far this year, outperforming human forecasters in course prediction.

Ultimately, Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, marking one of the most powerful landfalls recorded in nearly two centuries across the Atlantic. Mr. Papin’s audacious forecasts could provide Jamaicans with critical time to brace for disasters, potentially safeguarding lives and property.

Google DeepMind is revolutionizing weather forecasts in recent years, and the parent forecasting system that the new hurricane model is based on has also excelled in identifying last year’s large-scale weather patterns.

Google’s models function by discovering patterns that traditional, slower, physics-based weather models may overlook.

“They operate much faster than their physics-based counterparts, with increased computational efficiency that saves both time and resources,” remarked former NHC forecaster Michael Rowley.

“This hurricane season has demonstrated that emerging AI weather models can be competitive, and in some instances, more accurate than the slower, traditional physics-based models that have long been our standard,” Rowley noted.

It’s important to note that Google DeepMind exemplifies machine learning—not generative AI like ChatGPT. Machine learning processes large data sets to identify patterns, allowing models to generate answers in minutes using standard computing resources. This stands in stark contrast to the flagship models employed by governments for decades, which take hours to compute using some of the world’s largest supercomputers.

Nevertheless, the fact that Google’s model has quickly surpassed traditional models is nothing short of remarkable for a meteorologist devoted to forecasting the planet’s most powerful storms.

Skip past newsletter promotions

Former NHC forecaster James Franklin expressed his admiration: “The sample size is now significant enough to conclude this isn’t merely beginner’s luck.”

Franklin indicated that Google DeepMind has eclipsed all other models in tracking hurricane paths globally this year. As with many AI models, high-end intensity predictions can sometimes miss the mark. Earlier this year, Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to Category 5 in the northern Caribbean, while Typhoon Karmaegi struck the Philippines on a recent Monday.

Looking ahead, Franklin mentioned his intention to engage with Google during the upcoming offseason to enhance DeepMind’s output by providing additional internal data for better assessment of its predictions.

“What concerns me is that while these predictions appear very accurate, the model’s output operates like a black box,” Franklin remarked.

No private or commercial entity has ever developed a leading weather model that allows researchers to scrutinize its methods. Unlike the majority of models built and maintained by the government, which are available to the public at no cost, Google has established high-level resources for DeepMind; published in real-time on a dedicated website, though its methodologies largely remain concealed.

Google is not alone in harnessing AI for challenging weather forecasting issues. Governments in the US and Europe are also working on their own AI weather models, demonstrating enhanced capabilities compared to previous non-AI versions.

The next frontier in AI weather forecasting seems to be for startups to address sub-seasonal forecasts and challenges that have so far proven difficult. To enhance advance warning of tornado outbreaks and flash floods—a goal supported by US government funding. Additionally, a company named WindBorne Systems is launching weather balloons to bridge gaps in the U.S. weather observation network, recently diminished by the Trump administration.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists Suggest Total Solar Eclipse May Prompt Dawn Behavior in Birds

Posted on by
Reply

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse interrupted the daylight cycles of North American birds as they prepared for spring breeding. Researchers at Indiana University, after analyzing over 10,000 community observations and utilizing artificial intelligence to examine nearly 100,000 bird calls, discovered that bird behavior was significantly impacted by the few minutes of unexpected afternoon darkness. More than half of the bird species altered their biological rhythms, leading many to produce dawn choruses in the aftermath of the eclipse.

Circles indicate individual observations from the SolarBird app submitted on April 8, 2024. Image courtesy of Aguilar et al., doi: 10.1126/science.adx3025.

The daily and seasonal rhythms of birds are closely regulated by variations in light and darkness.

What occurs when these cycles are abruptly disrupted, such as during a total solar eclipse?

Previous research has explored the effects of solar eclipses on animal behavior, yet many studies have only provided scattered or anecdotal insights regarding animal responses.

Indiana University researcher Liz Aguilar and her team viewed the total solar eclipse in April 2024 as a unique research opportunity, offering an unprecedented natural experiment to observe how birds react to sudden light changes.

In preparation for the solar eclipse that would cast nearly four minutes of darkness over large regions of the central and eastern United States, they developed a smartphone app called SolarBird, which allows users to document bird behaviors in real time during the eclipse.

The citizen scientists’ contributions resulted in almost 10,000 observations spanning 5,000 km along the eclipse’s path.

Simultaneously, researchers deployed autonomous recording devices across southern Indiana to capture the calls of about 100,000 birds before, during, and after the totality.

These recordings were analyzed using BirdNet, an AI system capable of identifying species calls and measuring vocal activity.

Findings revealed that 29 out of 52 species detected exhibited significant changes in their singing behavior at various points during the event, although the eclipse’s effects varied among species.

In the moments leading up to the eclipse, 11 species were found to sing more than usual as darkness approached.

During the four minutes of darkness, 12 species reacted—some becoming silent, while others increased their vocal activity.

The most notable responses were observed after the sun re-emerged, with 19 species adjusting their songs to mimic a false dawn chorus.

Notably, barred owls hooted four times more frequently than usual, while robins—renowned for their pre-dawn melodies—hooted six times more than normal.

“These patterns indicate that the solar eclipse temporarily reset the internal clocks of certain birds, causing them to act as if a new day had commenced,” the researchers stated.

Their paper was published in the October 9, 2025 edition of the journal Science.

_____

Liz A. Aguilar et al. 2025. Total solar eclipses trigger dawn behavior in birds: Insights from acoustic recordings and crowd science. Science 390 (6769): 152-155; doi: 10.1126/science.adx3025

Source: www.sci.news

Lead Exposure Could Have Shaped Human Brain Evolution, Behavior, and Language Development

Posted on by
Reply

Several hominid species — Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, early homo varieties, Gigantopithecus brachy, Pongo, papio, homo neanderthalensis, and homo sapiens — have undergone significant lead exposure over two million years, as revealed by a new analysis of fossilized teeth collected from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. This finding challenges the notion that lead exposure is merely a contemporary issue.

Lead exposure affecting modern humans and their ancestors. Image credit: J. Gregory/Mount Sinai Health System.

Professor Renaud Joannes Boyau from Southern Cross University remarked: “Our findings indicate that lead exposure has been integral to human evolution, not just a byproduct of the industrial revolution.”

“This suggests that our ancestors’ brain development was influenced by toxic metals, potentially shaping their social dynamics and cognitive functions over millennia.”

The team analyzed 51 fossil samples globally utilizing a carefully validated laser ablation microspatial sampling technique, encompassing species like Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, early homo variants, Gigantopithecus brachy, Pongo, papio, homo neanderthalensis, and homo sapiens.

Signs of transient lead exposure were evident in 73% of the specimens analyzed (compared to 71% in humans). This included findings on Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and homo species.

Some of the earliest geological samples from Gigantopithecus brachy, believed to be around 1.8 million years old from the early Pleistocene and 1 million years old from the mid-Pleistocene, displayed recurrent lead exposure events interspersed with periods of little to no lead uptake.

To further explore the impact of ancient lead exposure on brain development, researchers also conducted laboratory studies.

Australopithecus africanus. Image credit: JM Salas / CC BY-SA 3.0.” width=”580″ height=”627″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2015/01/image_2428-Australopithecus-africanus.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2015/01/image_2428-Australopithecus-africanus-277×300.jpg 277w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

Australopithecus africanus. Image credit: JM Salas / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Using human brain organoids (miniature brain models grown in the lab), researchers examined the effects of lead on a crucial developmental gene named NOVA1, recognized for modulating gene expression during neurodevelopment in response to lead exposure.

The modern iteration of NOVA1 has undergone changes distinct from those seen in Neanderthals and other extinct hominins, with the reasons for this evolution remaining unclear until now.

In organoids with ancestral versions of NOVA1, exposure to lead significantly altered neural activity in relation to Fox P2 — a gene involved in the functionality of brain regions critical for language and speech development.

This effect was less pronounced in modern organoids with NOVA1 mutations.

“These findings indicate that our variant of NOVA1 might have conferred a protective advantage against the detrimental neurological effects of lead,” stated Alison Muotri, a professor at the University of California, San Diego.

“This exemplifies how environmental pressures, such as lead toxicity, can drive genetic evolution, enhancing our capacity for survival and verbal communication while also affecting our susceptibility to contemporary lead exposure.”

Gigantopithecus blackii inhabiting the forests of southern China. Image credit: Garcia / Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross University.” width=”580″ height=”375″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2024/01/image_12599-Gigantopithecus-blacki.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2024/01/image_12599-Gigantopithecus-blacki-300×194.jpg 300w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2024/01/image_12599-Gigantopithecus-blacki-84×55.jpg 84w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

An artistic rendition of a Gigantopithecus brachy herd in the forests of southern China. Image credit: Garcia / Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross University.

Genetic and proteomic analyses in this study revealed that lead exposure in archaic variant organoids disrupts pathways vital for neurodevelopment, social behavior, and communication.

Alterations in Fox P2 activity indicate a possible correlation between ancient lead exposure and the advanced language abilities found in modern humans.

“This research highlights the role environmental exposures have played in human evolution,” stated Professor Manish Arora from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

“The insight that exposure to toxic substances may conjure survival advantages in the context of interspecific competition introduces a fresh perspective in environmental medicine, prompting investigations into the evolutionary origins of disorders linked to such exposures.”

For more information, refer to the study published in the journal Science Advances.

_____

Renaud Joannes Boyau et al. 2025. Effects of intermittent lead exposure on hominid brain evolution. Science Advances 11(42); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr1524

Source: www.sci.news

Analyzing Post-Riot Behavior: Tracking Far-Right Radicalization Through 51,000 Facebook Messages

Posted on by
Reply

Over 1,100 individuals have faced charges related to the summer 2024 riots, with a small fraction being prosecuted for crimes associated with their online conduct.

Sentences varied from 12 weeks to seven years, igniting a surge of online backlash. The individuals behind the posts were varied; one notable case is that of I defended, who emerged as a cause célèbre and was labeled a “political prisoner.” Their posts were minimized and mischaracterized; their prosecution was framed as an infringement on free speech, despite the majority of online-related charges involving allegations of inciting racial hatred.

The posts did not predominantly surface in mainstream social media platforms like X, Instagram, or Facebook, but rather in niche online spaces commonly linked to fringe ideologies like Telegram, Parler, GetTr, 4Chan, and 8Kun. While many of these posts were on personal profiles, some appeared in public group forums.

This raised questions: What online communities did these individuals engage with, and who were their advocates? What type of content was circulating in these environments? It seemed that within these circles, views were so normalized that individuals felt emboldened to share content that was considered criminal by British authorities and the judiciary.

As a starting point, we utilized publicly accessible resources (police records and news reports) to track Facebook accounts of those implicated in previous investigations. Out of approximately 20 individuals charged with online offenses related to the summer 2024 riots, we followed five to three public Facebook groups. We also discovered visually similar or replicated posts defending those referenced in these groups.

This led to the mapping of a broader network of other Facebook groups, connected through shared memberships and group moderators and administrators.

In this exploration, we uncovered vibrant ecosystems characterized by a profound distrust of government and its institutions, alongside online communities preoccupied with anti-immigrant sentiments, naturalism, conspiracy theories, and misinformation.

Additionally, we found individuals who expressed genuine concerns about the society they belong to, alongside those who are deeply disillusioned and believe their freedom of expression is at risk.

Identification of Groups

Why focus on these groups?

Three groups were selected for the primary analysis because they included one or more current or former members charged in connection with the summer 2024 riots, or individuals involved in the riots who made comments either in person or online.

We established links between these and 13 additional groups, with all but three being public. These groups play significant roles, as moderators can oversee memberships, approve requests, and issue bans, with the authority to delete posts and comments. Administrators have even broader permissions, including the ability to modify group settings, update descriptions, and appoint additional moderators or administrators.

Which posts were analyzed?

To understand the type of content shared within these groups, we aimed to capture all posts made by the three largest groups from their inception until mid-May 2025.

We collected links and text from a total of 123,000 posts. However, due to the classification process (outlined below), the analysis was ultimately focused on 51,000 text-based posts.

What was the group membership size?

We did not record the names of individual group members (aside from moderators, administrators, and prominent posters). Therefore, when discussing combined memberships across groups, it is likely that individuals who belong to multiple groups were counted more than once.

Classification

First, we verified that the posts contained far-right content using established academic methods and categorized them through specific keywords indicating radicalization. We supplemented this with an AI tool that became available to data teams due to recent changes in editorial policies surrounding its journalistic use, classifying content as anti-establishment, anti-immigrant, migrant demonization, naturalism, and far-right identity/denial.

For categorizing the 51,000 social media posts, we employed ChatGPT 4.1 via OpenAI’s API. The prompts underwent rigorous testing across a random sample of 12 iterations, ensuring that at least two reviewers concurred until a consensus of over 90% was reached between the model and three human reviewers.

We are confident in the model’s reliability in small batches, supporting our broader evaluation based on a statistically determined sample of posts which achieved 93% agreement between human reviewers and the AI model.

The final analysis involved a statistically validated number of posts reviewed by the same annotator.

Testing concluded that the model performed exceptionally well, matching or even exceeding human reviewer consistency across most categories.

  • Accuracy (Percentage of correctly classified instances): 94.7%.

  • Precision (Percentage of correctly assigned true label counts by GPT): 79.5%.

  • Recall (Percentage of instances classified as true by humans and also classified as true by GPT): 86.1%.

  • F1 Score (A single percentage combining accuracy and recall, with higher values indicating better classification): 82.6%.

The model’s performance was evaluated by an internal statistical analyst, concluding its results were strong, benchmarked against similar academic studies.

Despite the model’s impressive performance, misclassifications in the analysis are inevitable.

We believe the classification process employing OpenAI’s API is thorough, transparent, defensible, and bolsters rigorous journalism.

Quick Guide

Please contact us about this story



show

The best public interest journalism relies on direct accounts from people of knowledge.

If you have anything to share about this subject, please contact us confidentially using the following methods:

Secure Messaging in Guardian App

The Guardian app includes a tool for sending story tips. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and concealed within routine operations on the Guardian mobile app, preventing any observer from realizing the communication.

If you haven’t yet downloaded the Guardian app, do so here (iOS/Android) and navigate to ‘Secure Messaging’ in the menu.

SecureDrop, Instant Messengers, Email, Phone, and Mail

If you can safely access the TOR network without being detected, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian through our <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop\">SecureDrop platform</a>.

Finally, our guide at <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/tips\">theguardian.com/tips</a> details various secure contact methods, outlining the pros and cons for each.


Illustration: Guardian Design / Rich Cousins

Thank you for your feedback.


Source: www.theguardian.com

Why UK Readers Choose to Carry or Not Carry Wallets: Insights on Consumer Behavior

Posted on by
Reply

A recent survey reveals that 50% of British adults still carry physical wallets, while many opt for mobile phones and smartwatches to transport their payment cards.

Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay have become the go-to payment methods for Generation Z and Millennials. In contrast, many individuals over 44 continue to depend on traditional debit and credit cards.

Four readers have shared their insights about wallets.

‘Not needed’




Alosh K Jose suggests that the shift to online and contactless payments post-Covid means there’s no necessity for a wallet anymore.
Photo: Alosh K Jose/Guardian Community

“It used to overwhelm me,” shares Alosh K. Jose from Newcastle upon Tyne. “Bringing it everywhere has become increasingly unnecessary.”

Josue states that the shift to online and contactless payments post-Covid means he doesn’t need a wallet. “All my bank cards are on my phone,” says the 31-year-old, who operates a business that provides local cricket sessions.

Despite being caught on a Spanish train during a widespread blackout that hit parts of Europe last April, Jose felt financially okay without too much cash.

“My fiancé and I traveled from Barcelona to Madrid, waiting five hours on the train before disembarking. [£8.70] Luckily, a few people shared cash with us, allowing us to catch the bus,” he recounts.

“If something similar were to happen in Newcastle, I’d be fine. There’s no language barrier even without physical cash.”

“I don’t want to risk my sensitive information being misused.”




Still favoring a physical wallet, Roger feels exposed when pulling his phone out.
Photo: Roger/Guardian Community

In Buckinghamshire, Roger, a retired IT professional, maintains both a wallet and a coin pouch. “Putting all my cards on my smartphone feels like risking everything at once,” he mentions.

At 69 years old, he prefers having physical cards on hand and feels vulnerable when taking out his phone. “Using it to pay at a store feels risky, and I worry about dropping it too often.”

“Having worked in security, I’m aware of the risks associated with personal information. I don’t want that window of potential misuse to be left open by using a digital wallet.”

Among his wallet’s contents, Roger holds cash, payment cards, reward cards, and even a snippet of a Times article from the 1980s.




Snippets from an article in the Times from the 1980s.
Photo: Roger/Guardian Community

“I prefer using physical cards – it’s about control.”




Georgina, part of Gen Z, finds it surprising how few people have wallets.
Photo: Georgina/Guardian Community

At 26, Georgina is astonished that many don’t have a wallet. “I always carry mine because I prefer to possess physical items instead of just digital equivalents,” she explains.

Her wallet includes a debit card, driver’s license, train cards, supermarket loyalty cards, and even £20 in emergency cash, along with an “overused business card from a taxi service.”




Georgina stands against the trend by not adopting digital wallets.
Photo: Guardian Community

As a member of Gen Z, Georgina, living in Leeds and developing online technology training courses, resists the trend of digital wallets.

“Call me old-fashioned, but I despise that idea,” she remarks. “Most of my friends use their phones to pay, and while I acknowledge it’s convenient—

“I cherish tangible things like cards and even nostalgic items like paper concert tickets. I prefer not to be overly reliant on my phone; it’s about having control. I used to worry about carrying my card, but now I find myself asking if I have cash.”

‘My wallet is essentially a generous phone case.’




Before receiving her first smartphone during the pandemic, Sarah Hayward carried a wallet “twice the size” of her current phone case.
Photo: Sarahayward/Guardian Community

Sarah Hayward, a 61-year-old artist from Worcester, mentions that her wallet has become “a generous phone case.”

Before getting her first smartphone during the pandemic, Hayward carried a wallet that was “double the size” of her current phone case. As an artist, she has often carried a digital camera. Now, her phone case has become a combination of all of her essentials.




While Sarah Hayward keeps a physical card, it remains hidden in her phone case.
Photo: Sarahayward/Guardian Community

“I carry bank cards, taxi cards from the airport, supermarket loyalty cards, season tickets from a local majestic home garden, annual travel insurance details, GHIC cards, my polaroid snapshots, and memories of my children with their partners from a recent Moroccan wedding, along with self-employment receipts and emergency cash.

“My phone also contains a video of my mother from four years ago before she passed away. It’s like a living wallet that has her presence in it.”

Hayward avoids digital payments as she finds physical cards much more “secure.” However, she acknowledges a downside to her preferred method: “There’s no space for lipstick and tissues.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Long-term Studies Show That Small Particles Continue to Display Unexpected Behavior

Posted on by
Reply

Long-term conclusive results from US-based experiments have emerged. The latest release on Tuesday highlights a tiny particle behaving unexpectedly, which is still positive news for our understanding of Physics Laws.

“This experiment represents a remarkable achievement in precision,” noted Toba Holmes, an experimental physicist at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, who is not affiliated with the collaboration.

The enigmatic particles known as Muons are heavier than electrons. They exhibit a wobbling motion akin to a spinning top when subjected to a magnetic field, and scientists are scrutinizing this motion to determine its compliance with the well-established physics framework known as the standard model.

Findings from the 1960s and 1970s suggested everything was functioning as expected. However, investigations at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the late 1990s and early 2000s yielded unexpected results.

Decades later, an international coalition of scientists opted to revisit the experiment with enhanced accuracy. The team navigated Muons around magnetic, ring-shaped tracks akin to those used in the initial Brookhaven studies, and recorded the wobble signals at Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago.

The outcomes from the initial two sets published in 2021 and 2023 appear to affirm the odd behavior of Muons, encouraging theoretical physicists to reconsider the standard model alongside new metrics.

Recently, the team finalized the experiment and published Muon wobble measurements that align with their earlier findings, utilizing more than double the data collected in 2023.

Nevertheless, this does not finalize the fundamental understanding of what underpins the universe. As Muons travel along their paths, other researchers have devised methods to better harmonize standard models with observed behaviors, leveraging the power of supercomputers.

Further investigation is essential as researchers collaborate, and upcoming experiments will encourage future studies that assess Muon wobble. Scientists are also examining the latest Muon data for insights into other mysterious entities like dark matter.

“This measurement will serve as a benchmark for years to follow,” remarked Marco Incagli from the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics.

In their pursuit of Muons, scientists aim to unravel fundamental questions that have long intrigued physicists, as noted by Peter Winter from the Argonne National Laboratory.

“Isn’t it something we all wish to understand—how the universe operates?” Winter questioned.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Rare footage of a mother polar bear and her cubs emerging from their den shed light on their elusive behavior

Posted on by
Reply

It's published today International Polar Bear Daynew research will answer questions by showing the first combination of satellite tracking colors and remote camera traps Polar bear (Ursus Maritimus)) Denning is notoriously difficult to study as polar bear moms create dens under the snow in remote areas.

Shooter et al. It reveals the first detailed view of polar bear cults coming out of their burrows. Image credits: Jon Aars/Norwegian Polar Institute.

Turnip survival supports species survival, and denning is the most vulnerable period of life. Less than 50% of Cubs can become adults.

As industry expands in the Arctic, this study highlights the importance of uninterrupted Denning regions to protect polar bear populations.

“Polar bear mothers have increased difficulty replicating due to climate-based changes and could face additional challenges associated with expanding human footprints in the Arctic,” said Dr. Louise Archer, a researcher at the University of Toronto Scarborough University.

“We are excited to introduce new tools to monitor bears during this vulnerable period and gain insight into action across the Arctic.

“Every den we monitor has its own story, and every data point adds to this critical understanding of time and supports a more effective conservation strategy.”

In their study, the authors monitored the behavior of the polar bears in Den Emans held in Svalbad, Norway.

Female polar bears were equipped with GPS satellite collars recording their location, temperature and activity.

Researchers used these collar data to find burrows and traveled through the mountains of Svalbad to deploy time-lapse camera traps at 13 densites over six years.

They found that camera traps provide fine-scale insight into the behavior of the maternal Den, and that satellite collars are accurate and useful for monitoring bears in more remote locations for longer periods of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcf0fyq_e_i

The family appeared in Svalbarbad around March 9th and appeared to abandon the burrow earlier than previously recorded in this group, and further monitoring was needed to establish whether this was a continuing trend.

Changing the timing of denning can put a risk to the cubs' survival as they will less time to develop before they can proceed further towards the sea ice.

In some cases, the bears appeared from the burrow in less than a minute before returning inside, while other appearances lasted for several hours.

In terms of departing den forever, camera footage showed that polar bears remained near the burrow to stay on average for 12 days.

However, this ranged between 2-31 days and was very different among polar bear families.

Some moms switched dens – they were observed leaving their original dens and moving their families to new dens.

Cubs are heavily dependent on their mothers and rarely venture out in their dens alone. The Cubs were only seen in 5% without mothers. In Svalbad, they rely on their mothers for up to 2.5 years.

“This study gives us a total glimpse into one of the most vulnerable and important periods of polar bear life and provides insights that will help guide our collective conservation efforts.”

“Combining innovative technology and long-term research gives us a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by polar bear moms and cubs in the rapidly changing Arctic.”

“Conserving Denning's habitat is essential for population health, and this study provides invaluable insights that can help guide conservation management.”

“There were few studies that included observational data at polar bear burrow sites, and therefore this study contributes significantly to our knowledge of denning ecology,” said Dr. John Arles, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Polar Institute.

Furthermore, data from the satellite radio collar was available to all mothers, and observational data allowed us to communicate how recorded activity and temperature changes corresponded to behavior. ”

study It will be displayed in Journal of Wildlife Management.

____

Louise C. Archer et al. Monitoring the phenology and behavior of polar bears during the emergence of den using cameras and satellite telemetry. Journal of Wildlife ManagementPublished online on February 26th, 2025. doi: 10.1002/jwmg.22725

Source: www.sci.news

Evidence of Electrical Signaling and Coordinated Behavior Uncovered in Choanoflagellates by Biologists

Posted on by
Reply

Scientists of University of Bergen: The surprising diversity of behavior within the rosette-shaped colony has been revealed. Salpingoeca Rosetta is a rare species of choanoflagellates – the closest relatives of animals.

Artwork depicting calcium signaling in rosette colonies of choanoflagellates Salpingoeca Rosetta. Image credit: Davis Laundon & Kate Zvorykina, Ella MAR Studio, Inc.

“We discovered that communication takes place between the cells of the colony, which regulates the overall shape of the rosette and the beating of the ciliary body,” said Dr. Jeffrey Colgren, a researcher at the Michael Szasz Center at the University of Bergen. Ta.

“Before I put the cultures under the microscope, I didn’t really have any expectations of what I was going to see in the cultures, but once I saw them, I was really excited.”

Multicellularity is a defining feature of all animals, allowing animals to interact with their environment in unique ways by integrating input from highly specialized cell types such as neurons and muscle cells. make it possible.

In the case of choanoflagellates, flagellated bacterial organisms found in marine and aquatic environments around the world, the boundaries between unicellularity and multicellularity are less clear-cut.

including some species Salpingoeca Rosetta exhibiting a complex life cycle that includes a colonial period.

Colonies are formed by cell division, similar to the development of animal embryos, but they do not have specialized cell types and resemble groups of individual cells rather than cohesive organisms.

“Salpingoeca Rosetta “This is a powerful model to study the emergence of multicellularity in animal evolution,” said Dr. Pawel Burkhardt, also from the Michael Saas Center at the University of Bergen.

“Our study provides interesting insights into early sensorimotor systems, as it reveals that colonial flagellates coordinate their movements through a common signaling pathway.”

Using a newly developed genetic tool that can visualize calcium activity Salpingoeca Rosetta The authors found that the cells synchronize their behavior through voltage-gated calcium channels, the same type of channels used by neurons and muscle cells in animals.

“This evidence of how information flows between cells in a choanoflagellate colony points to cell-to-cell signaling at the apex of multicellularity,” Dr. Colgren said.

“Surprisingly, this discovery suggests that the ability to coordinate movement at the cellular level predates the first animals.”

The research team now plans to further investigate how signals are propagated between cells and whether similar mechanisms exist in other choanoflagellate species.

“The tools developed and the results of this study reveal many new and interesting questions,” said Dr. Colgren.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing what direction ourselves and others take this in the future.”

a paper A description of the discovery was published in a magazine scientific progress.

_____

Jeffrey Colgren and Pawel Burkhardt. 2025. Electrical signaling and cooperative behavior in animals’ closest relatives. scientific progress 11(2);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr7434

Source: www.sci.news

The New Rules for User Behavior on Meta Platform

Posted on by
Reply

MIta’s Rewritten policy on ‘hateful acts’ That means users will be able to say different kinds of things on that platform, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. After Mark Zuckerberg announced sweeping changes to how content is monitored on the platform, multiple edits were made to the policy.

Among them are:

  • Certain injunctions against referring to transgender and non-binary people as “it” have been removed. A new section has been added to clarify that “mental illness or abnormality claims are permitted if based on gender or sexual orientation.” It said this was a reflection of “political and religious discourse around transgender and homosexuality, as well as the common use of non-serious terms such as ‘queer'”. Additionally, this policy is aimed at “those who seek exclusion, [using] Derogatory language in the context of discussing political or religious topics, such as when discussing transgender rights, immigration, or homosexuality. ”

  • Meta’s policy is to target individuals and groups based on their protected characteristics or immigration status with dehumanizing language that users compare to animals, pathogens, and sub-life forms such as cockroaches and locusts. There is no change in the fact that content should not be posted. However, this shift suggests that it is now possible to compare women to household goods and possessions, and to compare people to feces, filth, bacteria, viruses, diseases, and primitive humans.

  • Mehta removed warnings against avowed racism, homophobia, and Islamophobia. It also removed warnings against expressions of hate, such as calling people “shitholes,” “sluts,” and “bastards.”

Skip past newsletter promotions

  • The change could also mean posts about the “China virus,” a term frequently used by President-elect Donald Trump in relation to the coronavirus, would be allowed.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why Do We Engage in Self-Destructive Behavior and How to Stop it: Insights from Psychologists

Posted on by
Reply

Self-sabotage (also called “self-handicapping” by psychologists) is intentionally doing something that can harm your chances of success. academic ability testperformance at work, sportsor relationships.

For example, let’s say you intentionally don’t rehearse your work presentation. Or let’s say you have a running race coming up and you decide not to train for it. In a relationship, you might start ignoring your partner’s texts, even if you’re happy with the relationship.

In all these cases, behaving this way may sound strange and self-defeating. However, research suggests that there is a logic to self-destruction. It’s something people often do as a way to protect their self-esteem and reduce their fear of failure or abandonment.

For example, let’s say you deliberately fail to prepare for a presentation at work, and as a result, your presentation goes very poorly. The reason for your failure may be that you didn’t prepare, rather than the presentation saying something fundamental about you as a person or your skills. Similarly, if you come in last in a running race, you can ignore your misfortune and attribute it to not training at all.

If you ignore your partner’s messages, and they decide to break up with you, you can take that rejection not as a sign that they don’t like you anymore, but as a sign that you’ve been ignoring them. You can blame the facts. Or choose to go out with someone else.

In other words, self-sabotage is a way to protect your ego by having the perfect excuse in case of failure or rejection.

People who fear failure or have low self-esteem are more likely to engage in this type of self-sabotage. In the short term, it may make you feel better about yourself, and it’s a way to protect your image in the eyes of others. However, this is not a recommended strategy. Because in the long run, of course, it’s going to be something like this. increase the likelihood of failure or rejection.

How to stop self-sabotage

If you really want to give a good presentation, you better prepare. I should have trained to win the race. And if you really want to be with your partner, you shouldn’t make them angry by ignoring their messages.

If you’re stuck in a habit of self-sabotage, it will take time to break it, but a healthier approach is within reach. One useful strategy is the so-called “Master Mindset”This includes viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as deep judgments about your unique skills and worth. If you give your best at a work presentation or a running race and it doesn’t go perfectly, think about how you can do it better next time.

Another helpful strategy is to practice. self-pityThis includes treating yourself with the same kindness you would treat a close friend or relative, and recognizing that your worth does not depend on any particular opinion or outcome of a relationship.

If you feel close to a romantic partner, get used to that feeling of vulnerability and know that even if the relationship ends someday, it doesn’t mean you are inherently broken or unlovable. Remind yourself.

read more:

  • Will being too kind hinder your life?
  • Why some people don’t feel shame, according to psychologists
  • The Ultimate Anxiety Guide: The 6 Biggest Questions About Anxiety Answered by Psychologists
  • Why do I always cry when I watch movies on a plane?

Asked by: Samantha Osborne via email

To submit a question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com (remember to include your name and location)

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Calls for Royal Society to Expel Elon Musk Due to Behavior Concerns

Posted on by
Reply

The Royal Society is facing pressure to remove technology mogul Elon Musk from its membership due to concerns about his behavior.

As reported by The Guardian, Musk, known for owning the social media platform X, was elected to the British Academy of Sciences in 2018. Some view him as a contemporary innovator comparable to Brunel for his contributions to the aerospace and electric vehicle sectors.

Musk, a co-founder of SpaceX and the CEO of Tesla, has been commended for advancing reusable rocket technology and promoting sustainable energy sources.

Nevertheless, concerns have been raised by several Royal Society fellows regarding Musk’s membership status, citing his provocative comments, particularly following recent riots in the UK.

Critics fear that Musk’s statements could tarnish the reputation of his companies. In response to inquiries, Musk’s companies, including X, provided comments.

Musk’s social media posts during the unrest were widely condemned, with Downing Street rebuking his remarks about civil war and false claims about UK authorities.

The concerns around potentially revoking Musk’s membership focus on his ability to promote his beliefs responsibly and not on his personal views.

The Royal Society’s Code of Conduct emphasizes that fellowship entails upholding certain standards of behavior, even in personal communications, to safeguard the organization’s reputation.

Skip Newsletter Promotions

The Code stipulates that breaching conduct rules may result in disciplinary measures, such as temporary or permanent suspension. Specific procedures are outlined if misconduct allegations are raised against a Fellow or Foreign Member.

Expelling a member from the Royal Society is rare, with no records of such action in over a century. Previous controversies included a dean resigning over remarks about teaching creationism in schools.

A Royal Society spokesperson assured that any concerns regarding individual Fellows would be handled confidentially.

Source: www.theguardian.com

What are the implications of a US judge’s ruling that Google has engaged in illegal monopolistic behavior?

Posted on by
Reply

Google was found to have created an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising by a federal court in a landmark antitrust lawsuit brought against it by the Department of Justice. This ruling will significantly impact Google’s operations and how people engage with the internet’s most popular websites.

The court specifically concluded that Google violated antitrust laws through exclusive agreements with device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, paying them billions to ensure that Google products were the default search engine on their devices. These agreements allowed Google to establish a search monopoly and stifle competition unfairly.

The implications of this ruling will depend on what actions are taken next. It could lead to substantial changes in how Google conducts its business or potentially be weakened through the appeals process. The outcome will also have broader implications for how regulators address big tech companies and alleged monopolies.


Here’s what to expect following this decision.

The U.S. v. Google ruling did not specify remedies for Google’s monopoly on internet search, and the Justice Department did not seek penalties in its lawsuit. A separate trial will determine the remedies the government may impose on Google, which could range from contractual adjustments to a potential breakup of the company.

Judge Mehta could rule that Google is prohibited from entering exclusive search agreements, allowing it to be the default search engine if chosen by device manufacturers without the need for costly payments. Apple and Samsung have yet to comment on the ruling. Mozilla, reliant on Google payments, could face significant financial impact.

Judge Mehta may also consider options like browser choice screens seen in Europe to enhance competition. A harsher ruling could mandate the separation of Google’s search service from the rest of its operations and impose fines on antitrust violations.

Google intends to appeal the decision

Google rejected the court’s ruling and plans to appeal, initiating a legal battle with the Justice Department that could delay any repercussions for the company. Throughout the trial, Google maintained its superior product argument.


Past legal precedent suggests that a large technology company like Google may challenge an antitrust ruling successfully. Microsoft, in a similar case, managed to overturn key aspects of an antitrust decision against it through appeals.

Google has not disclosed its appeal timeline or response strategy following the ruling.

New Antitrust Lawsuit Looms

In addition to the current case, Google faces a forthcoming antitrust lawsuit concerning its digital advertising practices, alleging monopolistic behavior and stifling competition in that area.

This second lawsuit targets Google’s dominant position in the digital advertising industry, threatening a substantial revenue stream for the company. Google refutes the allegations and views the legal action as an attempt to gain unfair advantages.

The lawsuit is set for trial in September 2023.

Source: www.theguardian.com

How AI’s Struggle with Human-Like Behavior Could Lead to Failure | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on by
Reply

IIn 2021, linguist Emily Bender and computer scientist Timnit Gebru Published a paper. The paper described language models, which were still in their infancy at the time, as a type of “probabilistic parrot.” A language model, they wrote, “is a system that haphazardly stitches together sequences of linguistic forms observed in large amounts of training data, based on probability information about how they combine, without any regard for meaning.”

The phrase stuck: AI can get better, even if it’s a probabilistic parrot; the more training data it has, the better it looks. But does something like ChatGPT actually exhibit anything resembling intelligence, reasoning, or thought? Or is it simply “haphazardly stringing together sequences of linguistic forms” as it scales?

In the AI world, such criticisms are often brushed aside. When I spoke to Sam Altman last year, he seemed almost surprised to hear such an outdated criticism. “Is that still a widely held view? I mean, it’s taken into consideration. Are there still a lot of people who take it seriously like that?” he asked.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images

“My understanding is that after GPT-4, most people stopped saying that and started saying, ‘OK, it works, but it’s too dangerous,'” he said, adding that GPT-4 did reason “to a certain extent.”

At times, this debate feels semantic: what does it matter whether an AI system is reasoning or simply parroting what we say, if it can tackle problems that were previously beyond the scope of computing? Of course, if we’re trying to create an autonomous moral agent, a general intelligence that can succeed humanity as the protagonist of the universe, we might want that agent to be able to think. But if we’re simply building a useful tool, even one that might well serve as a new general-purpose technology, does the distinction matter?

Tokens, not facts

In the end, that was the case. Lukas Berglund et al. Last year I wrote:

If a human knows the fact that “Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space,” then they can also correctly answer the question “Who was the first woman in space?” This seems trivial, since it’s a very basic form of generalization. However, autoregressive language models show that we cannot generalize in this way.

This is an example of an ordering effect that we call “the curse of inversions.”

Researchers have repeatedly found that they can “teach” large language models lots of false facts and then completely fail the basic task of inferring the opposite.But the problem doesn’t just exist in toy models or artificial situations.

When GPT-4 was tested on 1,000 celebrities and their parents with pairs of questions like “Who is Tom Cruise’s mother?” and “Who is Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son?”, the model was able to answer the first question (” The first one was answered correctly, but the second was not, presumably because the pre-training data contained few examples of the parent coming before the celebrity (e.g., “Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son is Tom Cruise”).

One way to explain this is that in a Master’s of Law you don’t learn the relationships between facts. tokena linguistic formalism explained by Bender. The token “Tom Cruise’s mother” is linked to the token “Mary Lee Pfeiffer”, but the reverse is not necessarily true. The model is not inferring, it is playing wordplay, and the fact that the words “Mary Lee Pfeiffer’s son” do not appear in the training data means that the model is useless.

But another way of explaining it is to understand that humans are similarly asymmetrical. inference It’s symmetrical. If you know that they are mother and son, you can discuss the relationship in both directions. However, Recall Not really. Remembering a fun fact about a celebrity is a lot easier than being given a barely recognizable snippet of information, without any context, and being asked to state precisely why you know it.

An extreme example makes this clear: Contrast being asked to list all 50 US states with being shown a list of the 50 states and asked to name the countries to which they belong. As a matter of reasoning, the facts are symmetric; as a matter of memory, the same is not true at all.

But sir, this man is my son.

Skip Newsletter Promotions
Cabbage. Not pictured are the man, the goat, and the boat. Photo: Chokchai Silarg/Getty Images

Source: www.theguardian.com

The behavior of small black holes within the Sun, Earth, and humans

Posted on by
Reply

Dead Planets Society is a podcast that explores wild ideas about manipulating the universe and tests them against the laws of physics, from splitting the moon to creating catastrophic events with gravitational waves. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Listen on Spotify or visit our podcast page.

In the early universe, there may have been tiny black holes as massive as mountains but smaller than atoms. If these primordial black holes exist, they could address major cosmological issues and offer endless opportunities for the Society of Dead Planets to explore.

In this episode, hosts Chelsea White and Leah Crane are joined by black hole experts like Alison Kirkpatrick. Researchers at the University of Kansas are investigating the effects of placing a primordial black hole inside different objects, such as the Sun, Earth, or even the human body, yielding surprising results.

A small black hole inside a star or planet would have minimal impact, either passing through or staying near the center depending on the object’s mass. However, a larger black hole the size of Earth but with the radius of a grape could drastically alter the fate of the Sun or consume a planet from within.

Despite the risks, a black hole of this size could potentially manipulate gravity to reshape the universe. For instance, a small black hole near the Moon’s surface could counteract its drift away from Earth.

Kirkpatrick explains that standing a few meters away from a small black hole is relatively safe, but closer proximity would result in gravitational forces tearing apart the nearest parts of the body. Introducing a black hole into the body, even through teleportation, is not advisable.

Kirkpatrick strongly advises against placing a primordial black hole inside the human body due to the immediate havoc it would wreak. The American Medical Association did not provide a response regarding the effects of black holes on humans.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Tiny nematodes develop large mouths and exhibit cannibalistic behavior

Posted on by
Reply

Huge mouth of a small nematode

Sarah Wiggard and Ralf Sommer / Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen

Tiny soil insects called nematodes usually feed on bacteria and algae and have small mouths to accommodate their diet. However, when baby nematodes are fed the fungus, their mouths double in size, giving them the ability to cannibalize their mates.

that’s what ralph sommer Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, Germany, made the discovery while studying the development of predatory soil nematodes. Allody Progaster Sudhouushi.when the larvae are raised Penicillium Some of them ate fungi and cheese and grew into cannibals with giant mouths. “We were shocked,” he says.

The researchers knew that the different mouth shapes seen in this species resulted from different feeding habits. Nematodes that feed on bacteria have narrow mouths, while nematodes that feed on much smaller nematode species have slightly wider mouths. But this extreme variant, which the researchers called “teratostomia,” or Te morphology, had not been previously documented.

Sommer and colleagues investigated the genetics underlying these different mouth shapes and found that all three were controlled by the same sulfatase gene. But that activity only seems to result in a giant, gaping mouth. A. Sudaushi. The species’ complete set of genetic instructions was duplicated only recently in its evolution, Sommer said, so the doubling of gene pairs may have facilitated the origin of the worm’s giant mouth. That’s what it means.

Because the fungi’s diet was low in nutrients and more Te forms were found in high-density conditions, the researchers found that Te forms and their associated cannibalistic habits may have evolved as a response to the stresses of starvation and crowding. That’s what I think.

Nicholas Levis Indiana University points out that a similar phenomenon is seen in several other species. For example, the tadpoles of spadefoot toads and some salamanders can develop into cannibalistic carnivores depending on environmental conditions, Levis says.

But even in such cases, animals often avoid eating their own kind. Te nematodes are nondiscriminatory and prey on genetically identical neighbors. Levis says this is a “surprising finding” that could indicate that the development strategy is “really hopeless.”

“This discovery…made me wonder how much more diverse there is in the natural world than what we see,” Levis says. “How many other hidden ‘monsters’ are there waiting to be discovered under the right environmental conditions?”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com