Considering how long our species has been roaming the Earth, one would expect our bodies to be well adapted to the environment. Unfortunately, most of us still come with flaws-- allergies, defects, and the like. Biologists would tell us that there is still more room for improvement, as humanity will continue to evolve in response to pressures in the environment. In Alex Bezzerides' Evolution Gone Wrong: The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work (or Don't), he tries to explain why we still experience defects regardless of our long history with evolution: 

Our eyes evolved originally in the ocean, where ancestral vertebrates dwelled and needed to see underwater. Around 375 million years ago, when they ventured to land, their eyes were already 100 million years old. Gradually, eyes in this lineage became land-adapted, but these organs have retained fluids and, as a result, never achieved the type of light refraction that would result in consistent sharpness of image on land. Light travels more slowly through water than it does through air, but to our advantage in modern times, even more slowly through glass. "Many of us take advantage of this fact by placing glass in front of our eyes to compensate for the imperfect job our corneas and lenses do in bending the light."

Bezzerides offers nifty evolutionary explanations too for why we can distinguish more shades of green than any other color, and why our night vision is poor. He clarifies that it's not only our evolution that makes for vision troubles today, but also our current behavior. Most of us spend way too much time in spaces that lack natural light. "Children who spend greater chunks of their day outside have a lesser risk of developing myopia than children who spend their days inside," he writes. Kids don't even have to be doing healthy things out there, it turns out, because it's the light and not the activity that makes the difference.

Back trouble, the leading cause of disability globally, is directly traceable to primates' leaving the trees for open areas more than 4 million years ago, Bezzerides notes. The move to the forest floor was "a pressure cooker" that caused human ancestors' center of gravity to shift. For the first time, a primate could balance on only two feet; the human spine is shaped quite differently from that of our ape cousins', with curves that cause a "precarious" structure. For example, "The inward, or lordotic, lumbar curve needs to be far enough inward to place the position of the spine under the head and to get the center of gravity above the hips," Bezzerides writes. Back pain, and even intervertebral disc pain, happens all too readily with slight misalignments.



Image via NPR 

Oxford researcher Toby Ord has remastered older Apollo mission photos of the Earth, to add to the collection of photographs that showcase the beauty of our planet. Ord’s remaster project started when he found the Saturn photos captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to be wonderful but couldn’t find comparable photographs of Earth, as PetaPixel details: 

“It wasn’t that Earth itself was any less beautiful, but that there were no photographs which did justice to that beauty,” Ord writes. “How could this be?”

He discovered that most Earth photos are either taken too close (e.g. from the ISS in low Earth orbit), or with unrealistic computer-aid compositing, or with the wrong cameras (by spacecraft on scientific rather than photographic missions).

The compositions Ord did like were the photographs shot by NASA astronauts on Apollo missions to the Moon.

“To find truly great photographs of the Earth — portraits of our planet — we have to go back to the 1960s and 70s,” Ord says. “The Apollo program, with its nine journeys to the Moon, is the only time humans have ever been beyond low Earth orbit; the only opportunity they have had to take photographs of the whole Earth. They did not waste it.”

Image via PetaPixel 

Big Cats is an exhibition by photojournalist Steve Winter that shows another side to the wild cats that roam around different jungles and grasslands. The exhibition, which will be featured in the Siena Awards Festival, aims to raise awareness of the plight of these critically endangered animals. In addition, consider: sleepy big cat photos! Digital Camera World has more details: 

From the mountaintops of the Himalayas, through India's jungles and grasslands, to the Rockies of the American West and to South America's Amazonian rivers, Steve Winter's amazing 'Big Cats' photos reveal some of the world's most elusive wild cats in their natural habitat.

Originally starting out as a photojournalist for Black Star Photo Agency, Steve has gone on to produce stories for GEO, Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Natural History, BusinessWeek and Scientific American, among other publications. He became a National Geographic photojournalist in 1991 and in 2013 National Geographic published his wildlife photography book Tigers Forever: Saving the World's Most Endangered Cat, co-sponsored by Panthera, the world's leader in Big Cat conservation.

Image via Digital Camera World 

So does that mean our current clocks aren’t accurate? They are, but there’s always room for more accuracy. Unfortunately, it comes at a price. According to scientists working on proving a relationship between time and entropy, the more accurate a clock runs, the more entropy it generates. Basically, we create more disorder to the universe as we increase the accuracy of our clocks: 

As we go forward in time, the second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a system must increase. Known as the "arrow of time," entropy is one of the few quantities in physics that sets time to go in a particular direction — from the past, where entropy was low, to the future, where it will be high. 

This tendency for disorder to grow in the universe explains many things, such as why it’s easier to mix ingredients together than separate them out, or why headphone wires get so intricately tangled together in pants pockets. It’s also through this growing disorder that entropy is wedded so intimately to our sense of time. A famous scene in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel "Slaughterhouse-Five" demonstrates how differently entropy makes one direction of time look to the other by playing World War II in reverse: Bullets are sucked from wounded men; fires are shrunk, gathered into bombs, stacked in neat rows, and separated into composite minerals; and the reversed arrow of time undoes the disorder and devastation of war.

This intimate connection between time and entropy has fascinated scientists for decades. Machines, such as clocks, also produce entropy in the form of heat dissipated to their surroundings. Physicists have been able to prove that a tiny quantum clock — a type of atomic clock that uses laser-cooled atoms that jump at highly regular intervals — creates more disorder the more accurately it measures time. But until now, it has been very difficult to prove that larger, more mechanically complex clocks create more entropy the more accurate they get, even if the idea sounds good in theory. 

Image via Live Science 

Fossil remains of a plant that seems to be an early example of cycads (or cycadales) has been discovered by scientists. The fossil came from the southern part of a rock layer known as the Irati Formation. Researchers named the preserved species Iratinia australis. While the discovered pieces were small, they were enough to prove the similarities between the remains and the current surviving cycads. Oh, and did you know that this particular fossil served as dinosaur food? The New York Times has more details: 

The surviving cycadales are often called “living fossils,” much like present-day coelacanth fish, which retain many of the same characteristics as ancestral fish from hundreds of millions of years ago.

This lineage endured a pair of cataclysms when most life was killed off the planet. The first occurred at the end of the Permian geological period 250 million years ago and is often called the Great Dying. It was the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history, opening the evolutionary door to the rise of dinosaurs. The other was the extinction 66 million years ago that brought the age of dinosaurs to an end.

“It’s a really long history on Earth,” said André Jasper, a biology professor at the University of Taquari Valley in Brazil and an author of the paper. “You can find it, this kind of plant, in Australia, in Asia, in Africa, in America. It spread all over the world.”

Cycadales never dominated the plant kingdom, although they have thrived in certain places. Their heyday was more than 120 million years ago before they, and even older plants like conifer trees, were overtaken by the advent of flowering plants, which were quicker to reproduce and adapt to changing ecological niches.

“These guys were dinosaur food,” said Dennis Stevenson, an emeritus senior curator at the New York Botanical Garden and an expert on cycadales who was not involved with the research.

Image via The New York Times 

Well, it looks like you can read fanfiction and play games on Archive Of Our Own! Not that I needed any more reasons to spend hours on that website, geez. In a feat of genius, Twitter user Andrew Sillers shared his creation of the world’s first-ever GIF-based port of Doom. You can actually visit the AO3 link and play the game here.

Image via Andrew Sillers on Twitter 

Now this is just amazing. Meet Derm Assist, a web-based app that can identify skin conditions  with just a photo! Developed by Google, it is targeted to be launched starting in the European Union by the end of the year. So, how does the application work? CNET has the details: 

You spot a rash, lesion or strange-looking mole on your skin, snap a few photos of it, upload those pictures to Derm Assist. Google's artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities analyze the photos and look for a match in a database of 288 skin conditions. It then presents a handful of possible skin conditions you might have with an accuracy rate of up to 97%, the company says.

Derm Assist only needs three photos to match you with a few possible skin conditions, but to get more precise results, you can fill out an optional questionnaire that goes into more detail about your skin condition.

Google makes it clear that this is not a diagnostic tool, but rather a way to help narrow down possible conditions so you can determine if you should see a doctor or just grab some cream from the drugstore.

Image via CNET 

Independent visual artist Aivaras Ligeika has created a piece that aims to explore the relationship between human and matter. Ligeika has done that through an abstract sculpture made from more than 350 cuts of paper! Thanks to the light from the environment surrounding the artwork, illusions can be seen from the sculpture, which in turn creates a unique experience for every observer. At the same time, the work is also ‘reminiscent of a mute symphony of dreams and ideas’, as Abduzeedo writes. Check more images of the art work here. 

Image via Behance

A new report reveals how aware people are when it comes to the state of our planet’s biodiversity. The report was created by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The report, titled ‘An Eco-wakening: Measuring global awareness, engagement and action for nature,’ attempted to measure how much people were aware of the planet’s issues or current state. According to the report, there is a huge amount of concern, as the number of nature-loss conversations online increased by 65% on Twitter: 

Those online conversations reflect people’s shifting attitudes. And the change doesn’t stop there. Policymakers and officials are reflecting those attitudes in the decisions they make, the report found.

[...]

There has also been action taken by major finance organizations. In June 2020, seven European funds threatened to withdraw $2 trillion-worth of investments from Brazil if steps weren’t taken to protect the Amazon rainforest.

India has seen concern about the loss of animal and plant species increase from 82% to 90%, and a whopping 190% jump in the number of Google searches relating to nature and biodiversity.

In October 2020, the report says, the “tireless advocacy work by activists, communities, students and Mumbai residents, as well as celebrity influencers who participated in a highly publicized social media campaign” paid off. A 329 hectare area of forest within Mumbai was granted reserved status by the Maharashtra State Government.

The US has also seen a rise in concern and awareness of biodiversity and sustainability. Between 2016 and 2018, there was a 450% increase in Google searches for sustainable products, reflecting the potential for consumer power to shape the decisions taken by private businesses. And on his first day in office, President Biden signed an order that saw the US rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

Image via Unsplash

Marc Pettersen’s Here’s Another Story lets spectators view street murals from a different perspective. Specifically, in the world of virtual reality (VR). The project uses a VR phone app to allow viewers to see the public art bloom into animation. Pettersen’s mix of outdoor and virtual events is part of the  International Festival of Arts and Ideas, as New Haven Independent details: 

“I’m always looking at new types of art and technology and seeing how it can work it together,” said Pettersen, a digital artist who works with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). He went to school for traditional, hand-drawn animation and has moved steadily into computer and VR animation ever since. He’s now a youth mentor at YOUmedia, a maker space at the Hartford Public Library, where he teaches students how to use VR, AR and 3D printing.

As his starting point, Pettersen used the existing public art in Ninth Square — much of it created just this year during the pandemic. Pettersen created his pieces using a VR headset and hand controllers, which allowed him to create, manipulate, and augment the images in the murals in front of him. Virtual reality and the creative tools used to work in it, he said, are inching ever closer to being fully immersive. “If I made a virtual sculpture, I could walk all the way around it.”

Image via New Haven Independent 

Don’t mistake them for artworks! Since I can’t really go outside to travel and relax, I find myself scrolling through endless Pinterest and Unsplash tags of different landscapes. If you’re in the mood to gawk at beautiful aerial photos, this Bored Panda compilation of Gábor Nagy’s pictures is not only pleasing to look at, but it also shows us a surreal perspective of nature. Check the full compilation here. 

Image via Bored Panda 

Ken Fritz spent 30 long years building the best stereo system in the world. The efforts Fritz made included adding a cavernous, veritable concert hall to his house to accommodate custom-made speaker towers.The new addition to his home was designed for the optimal dispersion of sound. Open Culture has more details:  

Much of Fritz’s system is custom-made, most elaborately notably its three-armed, 1,500-pound “Frankenstein turntable.” How much did it cost asks his son Scott? “I’ve seen turntables that sell for $100,00, $120,000, and they’re nowhere near as complicated and as involved as this,” he says. But to the true audiophile, every investment is worth it, whether of money, time, or effort. For “once it’s built, if you don’t like it, if doesn’t work, you’re stuck with it. You just lie to yourself: ‘It sounds good.'” Fritz’s music room stands as a testament to his determination not to lie to himself — as well as to his love of music and will to give that love a concrete form.

There is also a documentary on Fritz’ audiophilia journey, which you can watch here. 

image via Unsplash

The townsfolk are not so pleased about the change. The local council of Walsall in the British Midlands decided to bring a spice of life to the area by bringing a number of familiar-looking, oversized, bright-green plant pots. The resemblance of the pots to Super Mario’s warp pipes had the residents complaining that the new additions make their town look like it was part of the game: 

Birmingham Live reports that Walsall Council's decision to install the pots has put them under fire from locals. Fifteen of the planters are currently in place, but residents have called them an eyesore, and complained that they represent a waste of public money.

Local florist Andrea Loveridge is quoted as considering them "garish monstrosities", adding: "It beggars belief. It makes the place look more like something from Super Mario Brothers. They look like those warp pipes Mario jumps down." And yes, they do, a bit.

You can see the plant pots in, um, action I guess, in the video below (or watch on YouTube).

Another local interviewed by Birmingham Live calls the pots "a garish eyesore and a complete waste of taxpayer's money". But surely not everyone in Walsall is down on these green newcomers to the town's centre? If you're a local, why not let us know if you approve of these quite-pipe-like additions.

Image via the Gaming Bible

Dexter Kruger, at 111 years old (you read that right), is Australia's oldest living man. His advice for a long life? Eat chicken brains! The retired cattle rancher told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in an interview that the weekly poultry delicacy has contributed to his longevity:  

“Chicken brains. You know, chickens have a head. And in there, there’s a brain. And they are delicious little things,” Kruger said. “There’s only one little bite.”

Kruger’s 74-year-old son Greg credits his father’s simple Outback lifestyle for his long life.

Nursing home manger Melanie Calvert said Kruger, who is writing his autobiography, was “probably one of the sharpest residents here.”

“His memory is amazing for a 111-year-old,” Calvert said.

John Taylor, a founder of The Australian Book of Records, confirmed that Kruger had become the oldest-ever Australian man.

The oldest-ever verified Australian was Christina Cook, who died in 2002 aged 114 years and 148 days.

Image via AP News 

The Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a strain of a fungus that kills banana plants by choking them of water and nutrients. In addition, the Taiwanese pathogen is immune to pesticides. Yikes! Thankfully, the pathogen only affects one type of banana - the Cavendish. However, this particular banana variety makes up almost the entire export market, which accounts for 47 per cent of all global production of the fruit:  

But the Cavendish has no defence against TR4. When Ploetz first encountered the new pathogen, there had been just a handful of suspected infections reported. In 1992, Ploetz received packages containing TR4 from plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia. “At the time all we knew was that it was a new pathogen,” he says. “We didn’t know what to expect as far as its broader implications. The more samples we got from these export plantations, the more we began to realise that this was a bigger issue than we had ever anticipated,” he recalls. His prediction proved to be eerily accurate.

In 2013, TR4 was found for the first time in Mozambique. Ploetz thinks it had been carried on the boots and equipment of banana planters from southeast Asia. The pathogen has now travelled to Lebanon, Israel, India, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan and Australia. In 2018, it was found in Myanmar. “Then in southeast Asia,” Ploetz says. “It’s everywhere.”

When TR4 hits, the destruction is near-total. “It looks like somebody’s gone to the plantation with a herbicide,” [Randy] Ploetz says. “There are big areas that no longer have any plants at all.” The fungus, which can live undetected in the soil for decades, enters banana plants through their roots and spreads to the water- and nutrient-conducting tissue within, eventually starving the plant of nourishment. Two to nine months after being infected, the plant – hollowed out from the inside – collapses in on itself. The soil it grew in, now riddled with the fungus, is useless for growing bananas.

Image via Unsplash