Futurist Thomas Frey: On Tuesday evening we had a packed audience at the DaVinci Institute to discuss the future of micro farming. Admittedly, we weren’t terribly well organized and the range of topics we touched on were far more than most of us could reasonably consider in a single setting. But for those who took part in the discussion groups, some amazing ideas came to light.
Once again, Congress is making plans to fix the tax code
“What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth? Judging from realistic simulations involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will be pretty bad.” – - Dave Berry
China is waging a prolonged and stringent fight against the illegal use of additives in food.
151 materials forbidden or abusable in food and feed over the past nine years have been blacklisted by China, according to figures released by the food safety committee under the State Council, or China’s Cabinet.
The New York Times has created a chart that illustrates changing meat eating habits among Americans over the past century. Chicken, as you can see, is steadily on the rise, whereas lamb (black) eating has dropped to almost nothing…
Sheep can remember faces and have long memories.
Sheep aren’t as stupid as previously thought, according to researchers. Never considered particularly intelligent, sheep are actually so smart they make ‘executive decisions’ and have long memories, remembering friends for two years.
You could get sick letting your pet sleep with you.
Letting sleeping dogs lie in your bed can make you sick, research suggests. Pet owners may increase the chances of contracting everything from worms to the bubonic plague. Of the 250 known diseases transmitted from animals to humans, more than 100 of them come from domestic animals, researchers say.
Tanner (L), a seven-year old bootlenose dolphin, is seen at the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida.
Even blindfolded, a 7-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Tanner was able to mimic another dolphin’s behavior — proof, according to Florida researchers, that dolphins are masters of imitation second only to humans.
Frog rides a snake to escape flood.
Sure, they’ve had their differences in the past, but when times are tough even frogs and snakes can share in a little cold-blooded solidarity. Amid the devastating floods in Queensland, Australia, computer technician Armin Gerlach spotted an unusual sight — a frog riding atop the surface of the water on the back of a snake as the pair sought out solid ground. It’s hard not to be inspired by the cooperative duo, particularly considering that snakes are quite fond of eating frogs, and vice versa.
Examples of the looking behavior. A, Subject looking at the middle. B, Subject looking at the left picture. C, Subject looking at the right picture. D, Projections of dog pictures.
New research has demonstrated that dogs can tell the size of another dog by listening to its growls. They are able to do this so accurately they can match the growl to a photograph of a dog of the same size.
Tufts students get therapy dogs to ease exam stress.
Tufts University is throwing stressed-out students a bone: therapy dogs to play with during their final exams.
Obesity risk raised despite diet.
Now this research concerns itself with non-human animals (mice specifically), but it does provide interesting insight into the non-diet factors which may be at play in soaring obesity rates and the way environmental pollution influences development: A new study shows that exposure to polluted air early in life, at levels that correspond to the amount of fine particulate pollution found in many US cities, can lead to increased accumulation of abdominal fat and insulin resistance, even if a healthy diet is followed.
SPF50… into the ocean you will go!
Whales exhibit skin damage consistent with acute sunburn in humans, and it seems to be getting worse over time, reveals research published this week in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Coyote in Chicago
Most of the time when a city has a rodent problem, they call in human exterminators. But Chicago seems to be testing out something slightly more… natural. After spotting a coyote running down State Street in Chicago, residents became aware of a project the city is testing out that includes allowing GPS-fitted coyotes to run free in the city specifically for them to gobble up problematic pests like rats, mice and rabbits. (Video)
Stranded dolphins in Australia
New research into the cause of dolphin “strandings” – incidents in which weakened or dead dolphins are found near shore – has shown that in some species, many stranded creatures share the same problem.
This is why I don’t have cats… I never want to come home to this!
Cat fanciers everywhere appreciate the gravity-defying grace and exquisite balance of their feline friends. But do they know those traits extend even to the way cats lap milk?
