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November 14, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: The ribbon-cutting is taking place today at the Port of Chancay — a Chinese-built megaport on Peru’s Pacific coast, that could tr...
From the BBC World Service: The ribbon-cutting is taking place today at the Port of Chancay — a Chinese-built megaport on Peru’s Pacific coast, that could tr...
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3 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 14, 2024\RAD-uld\ adjective
What It Means
Someone described as raddled is in a confused or befuddled state (as fro...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 14, 2024\RAD-uld\ adjective
What It Means
Someone described as raddled is in a confused or befuddled state (as fro...
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FREEEngineering Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
You don’t need to go out on a limb when saying that prosthetic devices have a long way to go, but what’s the hold up? Limb loss is a traumatic and life-changing experience, but despite decades of modern development, prosthetics aren’t as good of a replacement as many people hope. Recent advancements in technology, especially robotics, might make it seem like whipping up a bionic limb should be easy. In reality, though, making artificial limbs that can be controlled by biological brains is still an exceedingly difficult thing to do. Case in point: many amputees end up setting aside their prosthetic limbs, including bionic ones, due to them being too heavy, cumbersome, or difficult to use. One 2022 Austrian survey showed that 44 percent of upper-limb amputees eventually stop using their prosthetics. Some of the problems with bionic limbs, specifically, lie with the material and components themselves. Conventional motors, actuators, and heavy steel frames make for stiff, uncomfortable limbs that require a lot of concentration to use. Weight is a major factor in the usability of leg prosthetics because it can throw off a user’s balance and even cause injury over time. Some of these issues can be resolved by using softer, lighter, flexible materials that can mimic biological movement better than their old counterparts. When it comes to limbs that tie into a person’s nervous system, there’s one area of research that’s vitally important—sensory feedback. Bionic prosthetics can feel unnatural largely because they provide basically no tactile feedback, or sense of touch. To tackle the problem, researchers at the University of Chicago in Illinois and University of Technology in Gothenburg are working to create a neural interface via implants on nerves and in the brain. This interface could ensure good communication between a bionic limb and a person’s nervous system. While this technology is still being refined, it might not be long before a bionic hand can feel warmth, cold, pain, and texture. Here’s hoping that soon the line between technology and biology won’t be such a big hurdle.
You don’t need to go out on a limb when saying that prosthetic devices have a long way to go, but what’s the hold up? Limb loss is a traumatic and life-changing experience, but despite decades of modern development, prosthetics aren’t as good of a replacement as many people hope. Recent advancements in technology, especially robotics, might make it seem like whipping up a bionic limb should be easy. In reality, though, making artificial limbs that can be controlled by biological brains is still an exceedingly difficult thing to do. Case in point: many amputees end up setting aside their prosthetic limbs, including bionic ones, due to them being too heavy, cumbersome, or difficult to use. One 2022 Austrian survey showed that 44 percent of upper-limb amputees eventually stop using their prosthetics. Some of the problems with bionic limbs, specifically, lie with the material and components themselves. Conventional motors, actuators, and heavy steel frames make for stiff, uncomfortable limbs that require a lot of concentration to use. Weight is a major factor in the usability of leg prosthetics because it can throw off a user’s balance and even cause injury over time. Some of these issues can be resolved by using softer, lighter, flexible materials that can mimic biological movement better than their old counterparts. When it comes to limbs that tie into a person’s nervous system, there’s one area of research that’s vitally important—sensory feedback. Bionic prosthetics can feel unnatural largely because they provide basically no tactile feedback, or sense of touch. To tackle the problem, researchers at the University of Chicago in Illinois and University of Technology in Gothenburg are working to create a neural interface via implants on nerves and in the brain. This interface could ensure good communication between a bionic limb and a person’s nervous system. While this technology is still being refined, it might not be long before a bionic hand can feel warmth, cold, pain, and texture. Here’s hoping that soon the line between technology and biology won’t be such a big hurdle.
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2978Free1 CQ
It’s like Frankenstein’s monster, but it’s definitely not alive. An ancient burial site discovered in the 1970s contained what was thought to be the skeleton of an ancient Roman, but recent discoveries show that what looked like the skeleton of one person is actually composed of bones from eight individuals. Decades ago, archaeologists working in the town of Pommerœul (located near the border of Belgium and France) discovered a skeleton in a fetal position buried in a Roman graveyard. The remains were unique at the graveyard because the other 76 burial sites contained only cremated remains. A bone pin, commonly used in the Roman Empire, was found with the remains, so archeologists assumed that the skeleton belonged to a now-forgotten Roman citizen. However, when Barbara Veselka, an archaeologist at the Free University of Brussels, began reexamining the bones, she and her team made a shocking discovery: they came from multiple individuals of varying ages, sexes, and time periods. It’s not just a couple of mismatched pieces either. The spine contains vertebrae from adults and adolescents, while the skull appears to have belonged to a Roman woman from the 3rd or 4th century C.E.
According to radiocarbon dating analysis performed by Veselka’s team, many of the bones come from different generations of people from the Neolithic period, with the oldest appearing to be around 4,445 years old. The reason behind this strange amalgamation of remains is unknown, but researchers have some ideas. They wrote, “Whether the assembly of the bones occurred in the late Neolithic or in the Roman period, the presence of the ‘individual’ was clearly intentional. The bones were selected, a fitting location chosen, and the elements arranged carefully to mimic the correct anatomical order.” They add that the remains might have been disturbed by Romans inhabiting the area, prompting them to rearrange them to the best of their abilities. As for why they were arranged to look like a single skeleton, there’s no bones about it—we’ll never know for sure.It’s like Frankenstein’s monster, but it’s definitely not alive. An ancient burial site discovered in the 1970s contained what was thought to be the skeleton of an ancient Roman, but recent discoveries show that what looked like the skeleton of one person is actually composed of bones from eight individuals. Decades ago, archaeologists working in the town of Pommerœul (located near the border of Belgium and France) discovered a skeleton in a fetal position buried in a Roman graveyard. The remains were unique at the graveyard because the other 76 burial sites contained only cremated remains. A bone pin, commonly used in the Roman Empire, was found with the remains, so archeologists assumed that the skeleton belonged to a now-forgotten Roman citizen. However, when Barbara Veselka, an archaeologist at the Free University of Brussels, began reexamining the bones, she and her team made a shocking discovery: they came from multiple individuals of varying ages, sexes, and time periods. It’s not just a couple of mismatched pieces either. The spine contains vertebrae from adults and adolescents, while the skull appears to have belonged to a Roman woman from the 3rd or 4th century C.E.
According to radiocarbon dating analysis performed by Veselka’s team, many of the bones come from different generations of people from the Neolithic period, with the oldest appearing to be around 4,445 years old. The reason behind this strange amalgamation of remains is unknown, but researchers have some ideas. They wrote, “Whether the assembly of the bones occurred in the late Neolithic or in the Roman period, the presence of the ‘individual’ was clearly intentional. The bones were selected, a fitting location chosen, and the elements arranged carefully to mimic the correct anatomical order.” They add that the remains might have been disturbed by Romans inhabiting the area, prompting them to rearrange them to the best of their abilities. As for why they were arranged to look like a single skeleton, there’s no bones about it—we’ll never know for sure.
November 13, 2024
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9 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
From the BBC World Service: This year is on track to be the warmest on record according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization and extreme weather is ...
From the BBC World Service: This year is on track to be the warmest on record according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization and extreme weather is ...
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FREEBiology Nerdy CurioFree1 CQ
Move over Moo Deng, there’s another pudgy baby in town! If you’re on social media, you’re probably familiar with the adorable “feud” between fans of Moo Deng, the famous baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, and Pesto, the baby King penguin born at Australia’s Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium earlier this year. While Moo Deng is beloved for being small (she is a pygmy hippo, after all), Pesto garnered international headlines for his whopping size. By the time Pesto’s gender could be determined, in September, he already weighed around 46 pounds. That not only made him the largest penguin chick the aquarium had ever housed, but also made Pesto heavier than both of his parents combined. No one knows why Pesto is so big; adult King penguins usually weigh between 21 and 40 pounds. His keepers expect him to lose some weight after he molts, but while fans may be a bit disappointed when Pesto loses his fuzzy, brown baby feathers, he’ll still be part of an incredible species possessing adaptations that help them survive extreme sub-antarctic temperatures.
Unlike their close relatives the Emperor Penguins, King penguins don’t spend much time on the Antarctic continent itself. Instead, they live most of their lives on Antarctic islands and in the waters surrounding them. Though conditions on these islands aren’t as extreme as those on Antarctica, temperatures still drop to around -4 degrees on land starting in autumn, with waters being even colder. To survive, King penguins have developed layers of sleek, almost fur-like feathers that trap heat tightly against their bodies, insulating them from the cold. Beneath their skin, a thick layer of blubber also helps to trap heat. They also possess adaptations that all penguin species share, like streamlined bodies for swimming and wings that function as powerful flippers. It’s thought that these water adaptations occurred around 60 million years ago, when penguins’ ancestors lived on the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. These ancient seabirds traded their ability to fly for the ability to swim expertly, and today there are 18 penguin species all of which survive primarily on fish. Of course, King penguins still have to contend with plenty of fearsome predators, from large seabirds that can snatch their newborn chicks to leopard seals and orcas that are just as agile in the water as the penguins themselves. Luckily, King penguins utilize an adaptation called counter-shading to avoid detection by some ocean predators. Since the penguins’ backs are black and their bellies are white, they’re hard to see from below, when they’re floating on top of the water. Who needs to fly away when you can’t be spotted in the first place?
[Image description: A King penguin stands inside a zoo enclosure.] Credit & copyright: Adam Harangozó, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.Move over Moo Deng, there’s another pudgy baby in town! If you’re on social media, you’re probably familiar with the adorable “feud” between fans of Moo Deng, the famous baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, and Pesto, the baby King penguin born at Australia’s Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium earlier this year. While Moo Deng is beloved for being small (she is a pygmy hippo, after all), Pesto garnered international headlines for his whopping size. By the time Pesto’s gender could be determined, in September, he already weighed around 46 pounds. That not only made him the largest penguin chick the aquarium had ever housed, but also made Pesto heavier than both of his parents combined. No one knows why Pesto is so big; adult King penguins usually weigh between 21 and 40 pounds. His keepers expect him to lose some weight after he molts, but while fans may be a bit disappointed when Pesto loses his fuzzy, brown baby feathers, he’ll still be part of an incredible species possessing adaptations that help them survive extreme sub-antarctic temperatures.
Unlike their close relatives the Emperor Penguins, King penguins don’t spend much time on the Antarctic continent itself. Instead, they live most of their lives on Antarctic islands and in the waters surrounding them. Though conditions on these islands aren’t as extreme as those on Antarctica, temperatures still drop to around -4 degrees on land starting in autumn, with waters being even colder. To survive, King penguins have developed layers of sleek, almost fur-like feathers that trap heat tightly against their bodies, insulating them from the cold. Beneath their skin, a thick layer of blubber also helps to trap heat. They also possess adaptations that all penguin species share, like streamlined bodies for swimming and wings that function as powerful flippers. It’s thought that these water adaptations occurred around 60 million years ago, when penguins’ ancestors lived on the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. These ancient seabirds traded their ability to fly for the ability to swim expertly, and today there are 18 penguin species all of which survive primarily on fish. Of course, King penguins still have to contend with plenty of fearsome predators, from large seabirds that can snatch their newborn chicks to leopard seals and orcas that are just as agile in the water as the penguins themselves. Luckily, King penguins utilize an adaptation called counter-shading to avoid detection by some ocean predators. Since the penguins’ backs are black and their bellies are white, they’re hard to see from below, when they’re floating on top of the water. Who needs to fly away when you can’t be spotted in the first place?
[Image description: A King penguin stands inside a zoo enclosure.] Credit & copyright: Adam Harangozó, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. -
FREEScience Daily Curio #2977Free1 CQ
It’s so nice when the kids still call home after moving out. Voyager 1, the farthest man-made object from Earth, just dusted off a decades-old radio to say hello. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 was one of two unmanned spacecraft designed to collect data from the Solar System’s planets as they passed by. Voyager 1’s flight plan was only possible because of a rare alignment of the planets that occurs once every 175 years, and its trip into outer space was always intended to be one-way. However, the spacecraft has continued to send back data over the years, decades after its original mission ended in 1989. Far exceeding its original intended purpose and expected lifespan, Voyager 1 has been chugging along beyond the heliosphere, transmitting data back to Earth via radio all the while.
There have been a few issues, though. Last year, an error caused Voyager 1 to send back nonsensical data, a problem that took engineers five months to fix. More recently, the aging craft went radio silent, ceasing all communications. On October 16, at a distance of around 15 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 failed to send back data that was expected to arrive at that time. To reconnect with the craft, NASA sent a signal using an S-band transmitter on October 22, hoping to activate a backup radio transmitter on board that hadn’t been used since 1981. To their relief, they heard back from Voyager 1 on October 24, and now they’re trying to figure out what exactly caused the disconnection, which so far appears to be related to its voltage protection system. The system is only supposed to trigger for a certain number of reasons, and on activation, turns off all non-essential systems to conserve energy. Hopefully, they’ll be able to sort out the issue, but Voyager 1’s time may be coming to an end soon. John Casani, Voyager project manager from 1975 to 1977, said in a statement through NASA, “We didn’t design them to last 30 years or 40 years, we designed them not to fail.” After all this time, the craft will only begin to run out of energy for its scientific instruments next year, and communication will likely continue until at least 2030. They really don’t make them like they used to.
[Image description: A night sky filled with stars.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, PexelsIt’s so nice when the kids still call home after moving out. Voyager 1, the farthest man-made object from Earth, just dusted off a decades-old radio to say hello. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 was one of two unmanned spacecraft designed to collect data from the Solar System’s planets as they passed by. Voyager 1’s flight plan was only possible because of a rare alignment of the planets that occurs once every 175 years, and its trip into outer space was always intended to be one-way. However, the spacecraft has continued to send back data over the years, decades after its original mission ended in 1989. Far exceeding its original intended purpose and expected lifespan, Voyager 1 has been chugging along beyond the heliosphere, transmitting data back to Earth via radio all the while.
There have been a few issues, though. Last year, an error caused Voyager 1 to send back nonsensical data, a problem that took engineers five months to fix. More recently, the aging craft went radio silent, ceasing all communications. On October 16, at a distance of around 15 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 failed to send back data that was expected to arrive at that time. To reconnect with the craft, NASA sent a signal using an S-band transmitter on October 22, hoping to activate a backup radio transmitter on board that hadn’t been used since 1981. To their relief, they heard back from Voyager 1 on October 24, and now they’re trying to figure out what exactly caused the disconnection, which so far appears to be related to its voltage protection system. The system is only supposed to trigger for a certain number of reasons, and on activation, turns off all non-essential systems to conserve energy. Hopefully, they’ll be able to sort out the issue, but Voyager 1’s time may be coming to an end soon. John Casani, Voyager project manager from 1975 to 1977, said in a statement through NASA, “We didn’t design them to last 30 years or 40 years, we designed them not to fail.” After all this time, the craft will only begin to run out of energy for its scientific instruments next year, and communication will likely continue until at least 2030. They really don’t make them like they used to.
[Image description: A night sky filled with stars.] Credit & copyright: Felix Mittermeier, Pexels
November 12, 2024
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: Oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut its carbon emissio...
From the BBC World Service: Oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut its carbon emissio...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 12, 2024\LAY-byle\ adjective
What It Means
Someone or something described as labile is readily open to change. Lab...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 12, 2024\LAY-byle\ adjective
What It Means
Someone or something described as labile is readily open to change. Lab...
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FREESong CurioFree2 CQ
Oi, make way for some punk! On this day in 1977, British punk band Sex Pistols grabbed the number one spot on the UK albums chart with Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. The title, like everything about the Sex Pistols, was meant to be provocative. It succeeded, as the album was banned from plenty of stores and radio stations for being too crass. Yet, most of the album’s songs, including the well-remembered No Feelings, sound pretty tame compared with modern, mainstream music, let alone modern punk. With its surging guitar and rapid-fire vocals, No Feelings is a prime example of classic punk. Its lyrics focus on a self-centered man who proudly screams that he cares about himself and no one else—a glaring parody of how many in “polite society” saw punk artists at the time. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols ended up being the band’s only studio album, the rest of their discography being live albums, movie soundtracks, or compilations. If they were really as selfish as No Feelings made them seem, they probably would have taken up more studio time.
Oi, make way for some punk! On this day in 1977, British punk band Sex Pistols grabbed the number one spot on the UK albums chart with Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. The title, like everything about the Sex Pistols, was meant to be provocative. It succeeded, as the album was banned from plenty of stores and radio stations for being too crass. Yet, most of the album’s songs, including the well-remembered No Feelings, sound pretty tame compared with modern, mainstream music, let alone modern punk. With its surging guitar and rapid-fire vocals, No Feelings is a prime example of classic punk. Its lyrics focus on a self-centered man who proudly screams that he cares about himself and no one else—a glaring parody of how many in “polite society” saw punk artists at the time. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols ended up being the band’s only studio album, the rest of their discography being live albums, movie soundtracks, or compilations. If they were really as selfish as No Feelings made them seem, they probably would have taken up more studio time.
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FREEWorld History Daily Curio #2976Free1 CQ
It’s a sobering historical artifact…and a lovely place for a bike ride. The Berlin Wall, once a symbol of violence and oppression, now serves as a way for people to literally walk through history. Originally built in 1961 by the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic, the wall was meant to keep Germans from escaping to West Berlin, which was controlled by the Western Allies. Armed guards once stood upon the wall, violently ensuring that East and West Berlin remained separate. Even families were forcibly separated from one another.
Thankfully, things are very different these days. In the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg, a green space called Mauerpark now stands in an area that was once a wall-adjacent train station. It’s often filled with picnickers, there’s a weekly flea market, and a unique bike trail, the Berliner Mauerweg, or “Berlin Wall Trail”, is a cobblestone path running alongside where the Berlin Wall once stood. Portions of the wall still stand, though they’re now mostly covered in colorful art. Pedestrians and cyclists can now stroll past them and get an up-close look at history. The trail was the brainchild of Michael Cramer, an avid cyclist who was once a member of Berlin’s House of Representatives. Cramer biked alongside the wall’s Western side before it came down. After its collapse, some in Germany's government wanted to tear down the entire wall, but Cramer was insistent that keeping portions of the wall intact was more responsible. The wall, he argues, could serve as an important reminder to future generations about the temporary power and ultimate futility of division. Some portions of the wall were indeed preserved, and construction of the Berliner Mauerweg began in 2002. The trail was completed in 2006. Plaques with historical information now stand at various spots along the trail, which follows a 100-mile loop around Berlin. Who says you can’t learn history and get exercise at the same time?
[Image description: A portion of the Berlin wall as it exists today, with a sidewalk running nearby and a short, metal fence.] Credit & copyright: BindiS, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.It’s a sobering historical artifact…and a lovely place for a bike ride. The Berlin Wall, once a symbol of violence and oppression, now serves as a way for people to literally walk through history. Originally built in 1961 by the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic, the wall was meant to keep Germans from escaping to West Berlin, which was controlled by the Western Allies. Armed guards once stood upon the wall, violently ensuring that East and West Berlin remained separate. Even families were forcibly separated from one another.
Thankfully, things are very different these days. In the Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg, a green space called Mauerpark now stands in an area that was once a wall-adjacent train station. It’s often filled with picnickers, there’s a weekly flea market, and a unique bike trail, the Berliner Mauerweg, or “Berlin Wall Trail”, is a cobblestone path running alongside where the Berlin Wall once stood. Portions of the wall still stand, though they’re now mostly covered in colorful art. Pedestrians and cyclists can now stroll past them and get an up-close look at history. The trail was the brainchild of Michael Cramer, an avid cyclist who was once a member of Berlin’s House of Representatives. Cramer biked alongside the wall’s Western side before it came down. After its collapse, some in Germany's government wanted to tear down the entire wall, but Cramer was insistent that keeping portions of the wall intact was more responsible. The wall, he argues, could serve as an important reminder to future generations about the temporary power and ultimate futility of division. Some portions of the wall were indeed preserved, and construction of the Berliner Mauerweg began in 2002. The trail was completed in 2006. Plaques with historical information now stand at various spots along the trail, which follows a 100-mile loop around Berlin. Who says you can’t learn history and get exercise at the same time?
[Image description: A portion of the Berlin wall as it exists today, with a sidewalk running nearby and a short, metal fence.] Credit & copyright: BindiS, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
November 11, 2024
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 11, 2024\AHR-muh-stus\ noun
What It Means
An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting a war, or in other words, ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 11, 2024\AHR-muh-stus\ noun
What It Means
An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting a war, or in other words, ...
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FREEArt Appreciation Art CurioFree1 CQ
Have you ever burned old documents just to get rid of them? This story might make you think twice before doing that again. In England, the 1834 burning of parliament was so dramatic and intense that it inspired several works of art. And it all happened because of the improper disposal of tally sticks. The piece above, The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834, depicts a burning building across a river. The flames reach into the sky and are reflected on the water below. Painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner, the painting depicts the conflagration that destroyed most of the Palace of Westminster. The fire started because workers dumped massive quantities of tally sticks into a furnace to dispose of them. Used for centuries as a financial record-keeping tool, tally sticks were wooden sticks that were broken in two, with one piece for the debtor (the foil) and another for the creditor (the stock). Because stocks were valuable on their own, people began using them as improvised currency, so much that they eventually had to develop—you guessed it—a stock exchange. Seriously, though, just get a paper shredder—they’re much safer.
The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834, Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), 1835, Oil on canvas, 36.25 x 48.5 in. (92 x 123.2 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Joseph Mallord William Turner, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of John L. Severance 1942.647. Public domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation.Have you ever burned old documents just to get rid of them? This story might make you think twice before doing that again. In England, the 1834 burning of parliament was so dramatic and intense that it inspired several works of art. And it all happened because of the improper disposal of tally sticks. The piece above, The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834, depicts a burning building across a river. The flames reach into the sky and are reflected on the water below. Painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner, the painting depicts the conflagration that destroyed most of the Palace of Westminster. The fire started because workers dumped massive quantities of tally sticks into a furnace to dispose of them. Used for centuries as a financial record-keeping tool, tally sticks were wooden sticks that were broken in two, with one piece for the debtor (the foil) and another for the creditor (the stock). Because stocks were valuable on their own, people began using them as improvised currency, so much that they eventually had to develop—you guessed it—a stock exchange. Seriously, though, just get a paper shredder—they’re much safer.
The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834, Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), 1835, Oil on canvas, 36.25 x 48.5 in. (92 x 123.2 cm.), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
[Image credit & copyright: Joseph Mallord William Turner, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of John L. Severance 1942.647. Public domain, Creative Commons Zero (CC0) designation. -
FREEBiology Daily Curio #2975Free1 CQ
Is it all in the hips, or all in our heads? While birthing is rarely a pleasant process for mammals, it’s particularly dangerous for humans. For a long time, this difficulty was attributed to the size of human brains at birth, but new research on chimpanzees suggests otherwise. If there’s anything that sets humans apart from their great ape cousins, it’s that we have the largest, most complex brains among them. While the human brain is resource-hungry and the body it inhabits is frailer than many other mammals of comparable size, these shortcomings are more than made up for by the immense advantage of higher intelligence. It would seem natural, then, that such a brain would come to evolve despite the risk it poses during birth. Then there’s the matter of the shorter, narrower birth canals that humans have as a trade off for being able to walk upright. In order to give birth with these factors, human babies rotate as they exit the womb. One common complication that results from this is shoulder dystocia, or obstructed labor. Without medical intervention, this can be fatal to both mother and child. This combination of large brains and narrow birth canals has been referred to as the “obstetrical dilemma,” and it was thought to be unique to humans.
However, paleoanthropologists at the University of Zurich believe that difficulty in birthing might predate the large brains of humans. According to their research, chimpanzees also have difficult births, despite not having the same cranial capacity or the ability to walk upright as humans do. Therefore, the researchers believe that the anatomical features that make birthing so difficult could have existed long before humans developed their oversized brains, perhaps in the last common ancestor shared by chimps and humans. Researchers also pointed out that australopithecines, one of humanity’s ancestors, probably dealt with difficult births too. You’d think it would get easier after a few million years.
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration of a chimpanzee walking.] Credit & copyright: Albin Mesnel, Édouard Riou, Edward Blyth, Alphonse de Neuville, Mammalia. Their various orders and habits popularly illustrated by typical species, 1870, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929.Is it all in the hips, or all in our heads? While birthing is rarely a pleasant process for mammals, it’s particularly dangerous for humans. For a long time, this difficulty was attributed to the size of human brains at birth, but new research on chimpanzees suggests otherwise. If there’s anything that sets humans apart from their great ape cousins, it’s that we have the largest, most complex brains among them. While the human brain is resource-hungry and the body it inhabits is frailer than many other mammals of comparable size, these shortcomings are more than made up for by the immense advantage of higher intelligence. It would seem natural, then, that such a brain would come to evolve despite the risk it poses during birth. Then there’s the matter of the shorter, narrower birth canals that humans have as a trade off for being able to walk upright. In order to give birth with these factors, human babies rotate as they exit the womb. One common complication that results from this is shoulder dystocia, or obstructed labor. Without medical intervention, this can be fatal to both mother and child. This combination of large brains and narrow birth canals has been referred to as the “obstetrical dilemma,” and it was thought to be unique to humans.
However, paleoanthropologists at the University of Zurich believe that difficulty in birthing might predate the large brains of humans. According to their research, chimpanzees also have difficult births, despite not having the same cranial capacity or the ability to walk upright as humans do. Therefore, the researchers believe that the anatomical features that make birthing so difficult could have existed long before humans developed their oversized brains, perhaps in the last common ancestor shared by chimps and humans. Researchers also pointed out that australopithecines, one of humanity’s ancestors, probably dealt with difficult births too. You’d think it would get easier after a few million years.
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration of a chimpanzee walking.] Credit & copyright: Albin Mesnel, Édouard Riou, Edward Blyth, Alphonse de Neuville, Mammalia. Their various orders and habits popularly illustrated by typical species, 1870, Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. -
8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
Among the many promises President-elect Donald Trump laid out on the campaign trail: clawing back unspent money from the Inflation Reduction Act, which has p...
Among the many promises President-elect Donald Trump laid out on the campaign trail: clawing back unspent money from the Inflation Reduction Act, which has p...
November 10, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
This was a breakout moment for companies taking bets on the election’s outcome. Betting markets got attention for their early predictions of a victory by for...
This was a breakout moment for companies taking bets on the election’s outcome. Betting markets got attention for their early predictions of a victory by for...
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FREEEngineering PP&T CurioFree1 CQ
What’s a little rain while you’re driving? Terrifying. At least, it was at the beginning of the 20th century. American inventor Mary Anderson filed the first-ever patent for a windshield wiper on this day in 1903. Before then, people just had to make do with wet or muddy windshields. However, Anderson never got to reap the rewards for her world-changing invention.
Born in Alabama in 1866, Anderson wasn’t a career inventor. Little is known about her early life, but as an adult, she was a winemaker, rancher, and real estate developer. By all available accounts, her invention of the first windshield wiper was her one and only foray into the world of engineering or design. But her varied job titles implies that she likely had a keen eye for spotting opportunities, and the inspiration for her invention was no exception. The story goes that Anderson was visiting New York City during the winter and boarded a streetcar on one particularly wet and blustery day. Because of the inclement weather, the windshield of the streetcar kept getting splattered with water and debris, forcing the driver to open a window to manually wipe the windshield clean. Every time he did so, cold wind would blast through the opening, and this didn’t sit well with Anderson, who was used to the balmy Southern weather of her home state. Streetcar drivers weren’t the only ones who had to contend with this problem, of course. As automobiles became more common, the drivers of those vehicles resorted to similar measures or simply drove with their heads sticking out car windows. Inspired by the streetcar driver’s struggle, and perhaps frustrated by the cold ride, Anderson set out to come up with a better solution. In 1903, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Anderson with U.S. Patent No. 743,801, or Window-Cleaning Device.
Anderson’s invention, though groundbreaking for its time, doesn’t resemble the modern iteration much. Her version was still operated by hand (albeit from the inside) and consisted of a single rubber blade to clear the windshield. The device also included a counterweight to keep the blade firmly in contact with the glass, and though it was relatively primitive, it was still pretty effective. Unfortunately for Anderson, automakers were hesitant to embrace her invention early on. Despite several attempts, Anderson was never able to attract investors or have them manufactured for sale due to lack of interest. She may have simply been too ahead of her time. Automakers didn’t start making windshield wipers standard equipment in their vehicles until 1916. By then, Anderson’s patent had expired, keeping her from making any profit from her inventions through licensing. Then again, maybe automakers didn’t adopt her windshield wipers on purpose so as not to pay her any fees, though the actual reason is unclear.
Though her invention may not have earned her any money, Anderson has since been recognized for her contribution. In 2011, over 60 years after her death, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. These days, many improvements have been made to her original windshield wiper. In 1917, Charlotte Bridgewood invented the Electric Storm Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,274,983), the first to be powered by electricity. A few years later, in 1922, brothers William M. and Fred Folberth invented the simply-named Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,420,538) which was powered by redirected engine exhaust. However, the version that most windshield wipers are based on today was invented by Robert Kearns in the 1960s. Called Windshield Wiper System With Intermittent Operation (U.S. Patent No. 3,351,836), it was motorized and capable of variable speeds. Who knew there were so many ways to clean a windshield?
[Image description: raindrops on a windshield which has been partially wiped clean.] Credit & copyright: Valeriia Miller, PexelsWhat’s a little rain while you’re driving? Terrifying. At least, it was at the beginning of the 20th century. American inventor Mary Anderson filed the first-ever patent for a windshield wiper on this day in 1903. Before then, people just had to make do with wet or muddy windshields. However, Anderson never got to reap the rewards for her world-changing invention.
Born in Alabama in 1866, Anderson wasn’t a career inventor. Little is known about her early life, but as an adult, she was a winemaker, rancher, and real estate developer. By all available accounts, her invention of the first windshield wiper was her one and only foray into the world of engineering or design. But her varied job titles implies that she likely had a keen eye for spotting opportunities, and the inspiration for her invention was no exception. The story goes that Anderson was visiting New York City during the winter and boarded a streetcar on one particularly wet and blustery day. Because of the inclement weather, the windshield of the streetcar kept getting splattered with water and debris, forcing the driver to open a window to manually wipe the windshield clean. Every time he did so, cold wind would blast through the opening, and this didn’t sit well with Anderson, who was used to the balmy Southern weather of her home state. Streetcar drivers weren’t the only ones who had to contend with this problem, of course. As automobiles became more common, the drivers of those vehicles resorted to similar measures or simply drove with their heads sticking out car windows. Inspired by the streetcar driver’s struggle, and perhaps frustrated by the cold ride, Anderson set out to come up with a better solution. In 1903, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Anderson with U.S. Patent No. 743,801, or Window-Cleaning Device.
Anderson’s invention, though groundbreaking for its time, doesn’t resemble the modern iteration much. Her version was still operated by hand (albeit from the inside) and consisted of a single rubber blade to clear the windshield. The device also included a counterweight to keep the blade firmly in contact with the glass, and though it was relatively primitive, it was still pretty effective. Unfortunately for Anderson, automakers were hesitant to embrace her invention early on. Despite several attempts, Anderson was never able to attract investors or have them manufactured for sale due to lack of interest. She may have simply been too ahead of her time. Automakers didn’t start making windshield wipers standard equipment in their vehicles until 1916. By then, Anderson’s patent had expired, keeping her from making any profit from her inventions through licensing. Then again, maybe automakers didn’t adopt her windshield wipers on purpose so as not to pay her any fees, though the actual reason is unclear.
Though her invention may not have earned her any money, Anderson has since been recognized for her contribution. In 2011, over 60 years after her death, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. These days, many improvements have been made to her original windshield wiper. In 1917, Charlotte Bridgewood invented the Electric Storm Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,274,983), the first to be powered by electricity. A few years later, in 1922, brothers William M. and Fred Folberth invented the simply-named Windshield Cleaner (U.S. Patent No. 1,420,538) which was powered by redirected engine exhaust. However, the version that most windshield wipers are based on today was invented by Robert Kearns in the 1960s. Called Windshield Wiper System With Intermittent Operation (U.S. Patent No. 3,351,836), it was motorized and capable of variable speeds. Who knew there were so many ways to clean a windshield?
[Image description: raindrops on a windshield which has been partially wiped clean.] Credit & copyright: Valeriia Miller, Pexels
November 9, 2024
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 9, 2024\in-KOH-ut\ adjective
What It Means
Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes some...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 9, 2024\in-KOH-ut\ adjective
What It Means
Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes some...
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7 minFREEWork Business CurioFree4 CQ
From the BBC World Service: China has unveiled measures worth $1.4 trillion to tackle a mountain of local government debt, as Beijing steps up plans to suppo...
From the BBC World Service: China has unveiled measures worth $1.4 trillion to tackle a mountain of local government debt, as Beijing steps up plans to suppo...
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FREEBoxing Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Some people just can’t take it easy. American boxer Ray Charles Leonard, better known as Sugar Ray Leonard, retired for the first time on this day in 1982, but he couldn’t stay out of the ring for long. Born on May 17, 1956 in North Carolina, Leonard is widely considered the greatest professional boxer still alive today. As an amateur, he won gold in the light-welterweight class at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. As a professional, he won 36 out of 40 matches (25 by knockout), thanks in large part to his superior finesse and footwork. Leonard retired for the first time in 1982, but returned to the ring briefly in 1984 before retiring again. He came out of retirement yet again in 1986 to fight Marvelous Marvin Hagler the following year and emerged victorious with the WBC middleweight title. He retired for the penultimate time in 1991, but came out of retirement for the third and final time in 1997 for one last bout, which he lost. After retiring from boxing for good that same year, he continued to work as a commentator. Today, he continues to make TV appearances and focuses on his philanthropic efforts through the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Who says a boxer can’t help knock out societal problems?
[Image description: Boxing gloves against a gray background.] Credit & copyright: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels
Some people just can’t take it easy. American boxer Ray Charles Leonard, better known as Sugar Ray Leonard, retired for the first time on this day in 1982, but he couldn’t stay out of the ring for long. Born on May 17, 1956 in North Carolina, Leonard is widely considered the greatest professional boxer still alive today. As an amateur, he won gold in the light-welterweight class at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. As a professional, he won 36 out of 40 matches (25 by knockout), thanks in large part to his superior finesse and footwork. Leonard retired for the first time in 1982, but returned to the ring briefly in 1984 before retiring again. He came out of retirement yet again in 1986 to fight Marvelous Marvin Hagler the following year and emerged victorious with the WBC middleweight title. He retired for the penultimate time in 1991, but came out of retirement for the third and final time in 1997 for one last bout, which he lost. After retiring from boxing for good that same year, he continued to work as a commentator. Today, he continues to make TV appearances and focuses on his philanthropic efforts through the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Who says a boxer can’t help knock out societal problems?
[Image description: Boxing gloves against a gray background.] Credit & copyright: Mikhail Nilov, Pexels
November 8, 2024
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8 minFREEWork Business CurioFree5 CQ
The Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point yesterday. At his briefing, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stayed away from ...
The Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point yesterday. At his briefing, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stayed away from ...
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2 minFREEHumanities Word CurioFree2 CQ
Word of the Day
: November 8, 2024\FAYN\ verb
What It Means
To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel ...
with Merriam-WebsterWord of the Day
: November 8, 2024\FAYN\ verb
What It Means
To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel ...
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FREEMind + Body Daily CurioFree1 CQ
Tuesday might have passed, but who says there can't be a taco Friday? Tacos are a simple food with a surprisingly complicated (and contested) history. Were they created centuries ago by indigenous peoples before the Spanish even conquered the Aztec Empire? Or do they owe their invention to the more recent Mexican mining industry?
Tacos are folded tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings, and all of their ingredients can vary greatly. Tortillas can be made from flour or corn, and can be either soft or fried into a crispy shell. Fillings usually include at least one kind of meat, which can be anything from ground beef, shredded pork, fish, or shrimp. Other common fillings include shredded lettuce, onions, refried beans, black beans, peppers, cilantro, and salsa.
Some food historians believe that tacos were invented by indigenous peoples living in the Valley of Mexico’s lake region sometime in the 16th century. Some evidence suggests that the people there once ate tortillas stuffed with fish caught in nearby lakes. Aztec and Maya peoples might have also consumed tacos, or similar dishes. The origin of the word “taco” probably has its roots in Mexico’s 18th-century silver mining industry. To bust through rock, miners would wrap gunpowder in paper, which they stuck into walls and lit. These charges were called “tacos.” The food was likely named after them since, in the 19th century, one of the first written recipes for tacos refers to them as "tacos de minero", or “miner’s tacos.”
As industrialization took off and more people in Mexico moved to urban areas, food stands and carts known as taquerías began popping up in big cities. They became especially popular in Mexico City, where taquerías serving all sorts of regional taco variations were available side by side. In the early 1900s, refugees fleeing the Mexican revolution began arriving in the U.S., bringing their recipes with them. By the mid-20th century, tacos were a popular food in American cities, and they only continued to spread thanks to their easy-to-find, relatively inexpensive list of ingredients. Today, you can tacos just about anywhere, at just about any time of day or night. Pass the hot sauce!
[Image description: A close-up photo of shrimp tacos in tortillas, with veggies and lime wedges.] Credit & copyright: Los Muertos Crew, PexelsTuesday might have passed, but who says there can't be a taco Friday? Tacos are a simple food with a surprisingly complicated (and contested) history. Were they created centuries ago by indigenous peoples before the Spanish even conquered the Aztec Empire? Or do they owe their invention to the more recent Mexican mining industry?
Tacos are folded tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings, and all of their ingredients can vary greatly. Tortillas can be made from flour or corn, and can be either soft or fried into a crispy shell. Fillings usually include at least one kind of meat, which can be anything from ground beef, shredded pork, fish, or shrimp. Other common fillings include shredded lettuce, onions, refried beans, black beans, peppers, cilantro, and salsa.
Some food historians believe that tacos were invented by indigenous peoples living in the Valley of Mexico’s lake region sometime in the 16th century. Some evidence suggests that the people there once ate tortillas stuffed with fish caught in nearby lakes. Aztec and Maya peoples might have also consumed tacos, or similar dishes. The origin of the word “taco” probably has its roots in Mexico’s 18th-century silver mining industry. To bust through rock, miners would wrap gunpowder in paper, which they stuck into walls and lit. These charges were called “tacos.” The food was likely named after them since, in the 19th century, one of the first written recipes for tacos refers to them as "tacos de minero", or “miner’s tacos.”
As industrialization took off and more people in Mexico moved to urban areas, food stands and carts known as taquerías began popping up in big cities. They became especially popular in Mexico City, where taquerías serving all sorts of regional taco variations were available side by side. In the early 1900s, refugees fleeing the Mexican revolution began arriving in the U.S., bringing their recipes with them. By the mid-20th century, tacos were a popular food in American cities, and they only continued to spread thanks to their easy-to-find, relatively inexpensive list of ingredients. Today, you can tacos just about anywhere, at just about any time of day or night. Pass the hot sauce!
[Image description: A close-up photo of shrimp tacos in tortillas, with veggies and lime wedges.] Credit & copyright: Los Muertos Crew, Pexels