Interesting Science Stuff Thread

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yep, and the time to start planning for it is now.  The next big Hurricane that hits New York will give them good reason to get off their fat behinds and haul their heads out of the sand or other improbable

place, and get going.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Are there Alligators in Singapore?  I would have thought it would be Crocodiles out there.  Never smile at a Crocodile.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

Never smile at a Crocodile.

Steve Irwin did it all the time.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yes but are they crocs (teeth showing closed mouth) or 'gators (no teeth showing).

[Cpt Johnny 57]

Yes but are they crocs (teeth showing closed mouth) or 'gators (no teeth showing).

I don't really get what you mean, but Singapore has very few wild crocs left due to thorough urbanisation of the whole island, although neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia do have those fearsome seven-metre-long buayas.

 

Anyone, if one wants to see alligators in Singapore, just head to the Mandai Zoo.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Photo has mouth open, so it is not easy to tell.  When a croc has its mouth closed, its teeth overlap the lips and can be seen.  'gators don't have this problem.  If you ever get to the Florida Everglades, there are both, and it is probably not wise to approach any of them, but it is curious to be able to tell them apart.  The crocs in Florida are an invasive species and not native to North America.  But then they are also having a serious problem with Burmese pythons eating the 'gators, too.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

I like to read the Discover magazine for these kinds of stuff.

 

Examples that I found today:

 

Choose your cutlery carefully: what you eat with changes how food tastes

 

Telescopic Contact Lens Lets You Zoom In to Improve Vision

 

Oldest Complete Genome Shows Evolution of Ancient Horses

 

In every issue, I never fail to come across something that is both nouveau and intriguing.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I always knew that cutlery and presentation affected food. Indeed that is one reason why I used to eat sushi a lot, because it looked well presented and civilised. 

 

But that's also why I prefer to drink rather than eat. Eating is never civilized even when you have silverware or a sculpture for dinner. 

 

I have always wondered how the first horses were tamed. Whether they were raised like pets or whether truly wild horses were trained?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

At least one-third and possibly two-thirds of the enjoyment of food lies in the presentation and appearance both of the food itself and its surroundings.  As an amateur chef, I've known that for many years.  Presentation of ice cream, for example, is more acceptable in a glass vessel than a ceramic bowl.  The eating accessories are also important.  The long ice-cream spoon is very important when presenting a sundae in a tall, conical glass footed compote, to say nothing of that single maraschino bravely sitting on the top.

 

Meanwhile, on another topic.

 

Fascinating.  Of course they are being assisted by the prevailing westerly winds.  This flight may be very important in the history of aviation.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

A beacon of hope for clean energy enthusiasts

 

I'm a staunch supporter of clean energy, solar energy having the most potential of all.

[timmie 988]

I have always wondered how the first horses were tamed. Whether they were raised like pets or whether truly wild horses were trained?

 

Probably not raised as pets. The keeping of pets is a rather recent phenomenon (since the 16th-17th century). Before that, animals were mostly used (and consumed) out of practical reasons. Plus there's an important cultural element in the relation between humans and animals. Before the 18th century, the prevailing attitude was an anthropocentric world view, which meant that most people saw animals merely as tools. Keith Thomas has written an important book about it, 'Man and the Natural World'.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I thought pets went way back. But what I meant was being raised and trained.

 

Hmm well naturally solar power is an important source... The size of an A380 but with room for one person. I see. Well maybe in a few years time they'll be able to carry a bit more somehow, or this won't be competing with BA anytime soon.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

And landed safely.

 

This is like the beginnings of aviation all over again.  The difference is no fossil fuel was used.

[Bipin 3,402]

Are there any people on other planets in the Milky way? Does convergent evolution allow there to be people with two arms and legs, and two eyes just like us? Maybe the intelligent inhabitants of other planets are little bit different due to gravity and air pressure but general body structure is the same?

 

I recall watching a program on what I believe was PBS which explained how advanced extraterrestrial organisms, given similar conditions to Earth, would appear quite similar to humans. At this stage in evolution, our attributes are quite well adapted to our environment, thus it is predicted that organisms in a similar environment would most likely look similar to us, in terms of number of/location of eyes, ears, arms, legs etc. They went on to explain how with greater gravity, organisms would be shorter. This concept also ties into the size modern-day of insects here on Earth.

 

 

 

I have always wondered how the first horses were tamed. Whether they were raised like pets or whether truly wild horses were trained?

 

Horses were originally domesticated as farm animals (relatively) soon after dogs were. Both dogs and horses were used in practical terms to aid humans, with the former being of hunter-gatherer societies and the latter primarily during humanity's agricultural revolution. This was also around the time maize and other grasses were being domesticated/selectively bred, which supports this theory. This whole process began most likely in what we now know as the Ukraine. That's the current theory, anyways, based largely upon archaeological evidence from the Eurasian Steppe region. It's also something I know a fair bit about, given I've done a few biological anthropology projects/essays on the matter. I've always had a soft spot for horses. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Were not the "horse people" from the far east the tamers of the horse?  I think it was farther east than the Ukraine.

 

Dogs were wolves up until about 12,000 years ago, and genetically they are still wolves.  But some of them found it was better to hang around the middens outside the human villages and scoff the garbage than go hunting all the time.  Eventually, the ones who hung around there would be selected because they survived when many others did not.  Eventually, a mutual benefit developed, and now we have all kinds of breeds from the super-giants (Irish Wolfhound) to the little toy breeds (Shih Tzu).

 

When I had dogs, I always had class one (gun) dogs.  Over some twenty years I had five setters (two red, a Gordon, and two red and whites) and a field strain Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  If I had room, I'd still have my last two setters, but I returned them to the breeder who placed them together in Cleveland, OH.

 

If you want the dog of all dogs and can find one from a reputable breeder with good genetics, I strongly recommend a Gordon Setter.  Best of the bunch, and very trainable either as a pet or as a gun dog or both.  If you want the most beautiful dog on the face of the earth, get an Irish Setter (red).  Glorious guys.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

Were not the "horse people" from the far east the tamers of the horse?  I think it was farther east than the Ukraine.

To be more specific, from Central Asia and what is now Mongolia.

[Bipin 3,402]

Dog (wolf) domestication did indeed begin during the hunter-gatherer stage of humanity's development. We formed a symbiotic relationship with wolves. Humans would use wolves to hunt and kill prey, which reduced the mortality rate amongst tribe members. In return for their "deeds", the wolves were given shelter and a share of the kill as food. Essentially as Nonny had said.

 

In the second era of human development; beginning with sustenance agriculture, horses were domesticated also with the goal of helping humans practically (e.g. pulling plows, transportation etc). This occurred in Eurasian steppe regions, and this is also where things get a bit confusing. For a while, the oldest archaeological remnants signifying the domestication of horses were indeed found around Mongolia. However, more recent research has recovered even older artifacts of this era in humanity, around Ukraine and also Kazakhstan. The latter location is what really ties in the previously theorized region of first-time horse domestication. To that end though, no one really knows where horses were first domesticated. As with anything in archaeology, just because x item was the oldest discovered, that does not mean even older artifacts don't exist.

 

There are a few recent studies pertaining to this matter. Here's one of them if you wish to read more:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/mystery-of-the-domestication-of-the-horse-solved

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Does it really matter to anyone except specialists?  The important thing is that they are both still with us.  Horses may have fallen away as power plants, but there are still some farmers around here who use them for plowing.  Of course, the plain people do not use mechanical anything, and will keep the horse going for a long time.  Draft horses are still kept for use in parades and shows, and the sports aspects of horsemanship are going strong.

 

I believe that people know that the Queen is one of the world's top horse breeders.  Recently won her own trophy at Ascot, and the presentation was made by her grandson.  She normally presents this cup to the winner.

 

Dogs are man's greatest help-mate.  From service dogs of all kinds to pets, they have won us over almost completely.  There are not very many countries around these days that have dog on the menu.  The horse is another matter, hien?

[AkemiAzula 280]

I see. So we had a symbiotic relationship with the smarter wolves then. That explains why a seemingly savage and antagonistic creature such as a dog (and dogs have barked or ran at me so I should know) would ever find itself in a domesticated condition. I daresay a few bites from one would pale in comparison with the risks of human hunting techniques with primitive tools.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Funny, I've never met a dog that didn't like me.  Some people must simply smell like prey.  Fear will produce a "chase the prey" reaction in most dogs.  I am never afraid of a dog.  Wolves, on the other hand, are another matter.

 

Ever notice that the yappiest of dogs seem to be the smallest ones?

[AkemiAzula 280]

Most animals, including people, tend to find my presence very disturbing and awkward, and seem to be very pleased to get past me, as I am them. Only those who know me seem unaffected by this weirdness. One assumes it is something similar, as it is more noticeable in girls (prey)

 

Dogs... Usually I stand still and let them sniff me and they carry on, but some act all tough as though defending their owner against me

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

^ Something strange in your body chemistry.  What do you eat normally?

 

Conservation effort succeeds.

 

Orcas are an endangered species.  It has been noted that they are moving north to the Arctic where they will eventually replace Polar Bears as the number 1 predator of Seals.

[Cpt Johnny 57]

^ Something strange in your body chemistry.  What do you eat normally?

meat.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I can't afford much meat and I don't think dogs are too keen on vegemite

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

^ Something strange in your body chemistry.  What do you eat normally?

meat.

 

And that's all?  You are suffering, then, from scurvy which is an affliction that Bonnie Prince Charley had in Scotland when he refused to eat anything but meat in 1745.  Dogs must see you either a prey or competitors.  If they bark at you they consider you a competitor.

[AkemiAzula 280]

Well I'm honoured they consider me a competitor, then. Seeing as I have human teeth and all.

 

I wish I only ate meat but its way too expensive. As to scurvy I doubt I would be affected by that sort of thing. I barely eat any greens and I'm fine. Mind you vegemite contains yeast extract

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Vegemite?  Well, I prefer peanut butter on my toast, or better yet, Seville orange marmalade.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I don't mind peanut butter. It's cheap enough. I sometimes have that.

 

I sometimes buy orange juice when its hot weather.

 

I suppose this is a touch off topic though so...

[timmie 988]

I suppose this is a touch off topic though so...

 

It is indeed