Imagine this: Youre enjoying a nice day at the park when you spot a woman sitting next to her baby stroller. Not strange‚ right? Well‚ now I want you to imagine that same scenario except‚ this time‚ the woman is sitting on nothing but the air‚ as if floating. Thats right everything about her seems like shes sitting on an object‚ but theres nothing underneath her. This is the exact magician inspired prank Lillian Olney pulled off.On social media‚ this content creator is known for making all sorts of silly videos. But one of her most viral has to be with this prank. In it‚ she captures the attention of other park-goers as they realize theres something not quite right about the way shes sitting. @juliette_electrique One guy fell off his bike #magic #magician #pranks #viral original sound Juliette_electrique While some try to be discreet‚ others dont hide how baffled they are over how Lillian is sitting. In fact‚ one man even falls off his bike! If youre just as curious as they are‚ it seems that lots of folks in the comments have figured out this mystery.Lillian appears to be using something people are calling a leg brace magic stool. Its portable‚ made of metal‚ and best of all‚ it can be easily hidden under clothes. How clever and sneaky!Curious Park-Goers Cant Get Over This Magician PrankId have to stop you or Id never stop thinking about this‚ one person admits in the comments. I would never have a second of peace.Quite a few folks have pointed out that it seems many of the park-goers are actors in on the trick. In any case‚ people are still very much enjoying this silly‚ viral prank.Am I a magician? No‚ another person writes. do I need a magic leg brace to trick strangers into thinking I can float. Yes.You can find the source of this storys featured image here!The post Magician Captures Hilarious Reactions When She Pranks Park-Goers appeared first on InspireMore.

Our partner Rob Brezsny‚ who has a new book out‚ Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle‚provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Robs Free Will Astrology‚ is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author ofPronoia Is the Antidote []The post Your Weekly Horoscope Free Will Astrology From Rob Brezsny appeared first on Good News Network.

Missed the other parts? Find them here:Check out Part 1Part 2 is here.Part 3Part 4Part 5And heres Part 6Dear Diary‚Its me‚ Jessica.It is official.We are out of toilet paper.Despite rationing starting about a month after the power went out‚ we could only make it go so far.Mom stood with the last empty cardboard roll held on her index finger. Dad and I stopped eating our breakfast as the news sunk in. The kitchen was suddenly very quiet. Dad broke the silence‚ suggesting we hold a service for the roll‚ he would give eulogy. I rolled my eyes. Mom said something about Dad jokes and threw the roll at him.We were fortunate to have gone this long as some of the neighbors ran out months ago. We have heard what they were doing in the meantime. Seems the best method was to use some kind of squirt bottle to rinse the dirty area well and then use a clean cloth to finish cleaning and dry. Then wash the cloths well with anything from bleach for those who still had some‚ to homemade soap made from lye. More than a few said it actually felt better and cleaner than the toilet paper only.Back when Jack and his team took out that gang‚ freeing Rae and the others‚ Rae‚ Kathy‚ Joanne‚ and Allison moved into the house a few doors down. Rae mentioned to Dad that the plumbing looked odd in the bathroom. Dad went over to see if there was an issue. After a moment‚ he said‚Oh‚ its a bidet. Rae‚ Kathy‚ Joan‚‚ and Allison just looked at him questioningly. When he explained‚ they seemed to understand but were also skeptical. It worked only off of the water pressure‚ not power. Dad thought he could get it to work.After a few days of rummaging through their garage‚ ours and asking around for some other parts and borrowed a manual hand drill‚ Dad was ready to try it. I helped him carry some of the parts and hand tools to Raes.Rae tried to tell Dad it was not necessary but Rae did not know Dad that well at the time. When Dad got an idea in his head‚ he was like a dog with a bone and would not let go till the job was done.Dad disconnected the water line from the regular house plumbing and connected the bidets water line to a canister he had drilled a hole in side near the bottom. He filled the canister half way up with a gallon of water and screwed on the lid. There was another connection on top of the lid he then connected another water line to and then connected that to a air hand pump he made. Lid up‚ seat down‚ he gave the air pump a few strokes‚ then lifted the lever on the side of the bidet. The toilet bowl made a few gurgling noises. Another few pumps and he tried again. This time a stream of water shot out of the toilet bowl and right into my chest.Diary‚ okay‚ it was my own fault standing there in the line of fire‚ but I did not know I was. I still yelled‚ Daddy!He muttered‚Might need some tweaking‚ eyeing the system he created‚ seemingly oblivious to me‚ as Joan handed me a towel.An hour later‚ he was confident it was working as designed and asked for a volunteer.No one spoke up.Rae then said‚ Fine‚ you scaredy cats! I will try it. Now‚ out! All of you.The rest of us stood outside the bathroom in the hallway. After a few minutes we heard‚Whoa! Chicken and biscuits!And then Rae let out one of her deep‚ rich‚ Southern laughs.Diary‚ all was good.Dad was then determined to find one for our own home no matter what Mom said‚ as she had a few squirt bottles and cloths already.Dad and his bone.Entry twoThe same day Dad was pondering his eulogy for the last toilet paper roll‚ we went to the Millers to continue work on the windmill.I politely asked Janet and Justin to tell us of their journey to the Millers. I was so glad when the story continued.In the barn‚ as they heard from a short distance the sounds of their home on fire‚ parts falling into the basement‚ Justin began to formulate a plan as he looked at the maps on the GPS device.What would have been about a seven-hour dive to the Millers before the power went out was five days by horseback‚ by the most direct route of a four-lane highway‚ with a lot of open spaces with little or no cover if they needed it. Neither Janet nor Justin liked that idea. They thought for a bit‚ discussing different strategies‚ when with the GPS maps‚ Justin found a very roundabout‚ back roads route that would take ten or eleven days. It was far from ideal to be on the road that long‚ but seemed safer than the open highway.By then‚ it was growing late and past their normal dinner time‚ as the sun had dropped below the horizon. Janet told Justin to get the propane camp stove going‚ and she would pick out dinner and the cookware‚ camp bowls‚ and camp utensils to go with it. She picked out three cans of Italian Wedding Soup with a loaf of bead she had made two days ago. They would make for a hearty meal.They were all exhausted‚ but Janet and Justin let David and Charlotte make their beds in sleeping bags. They fell asleep almost as soon as their heads hit their rolled-up sweater-filled pillows.Justin took the first watch as his mind was still going a hundred miles an hour‚ thinking about the upcoming journey. He would wake Janet around three a.m. to take her watch. The kids should not be bothered.It took them the better part of the next day to determine what was absolutely necessary to take with them‚ then pack and re-pack the saddlebags and the packs to get it all in. Then they saddled up the horses‚ the saddlebags‚ packs‚ and other means to lash gear to the horses. Janet noted they would likely have to repack a few miles down the road as the packs would shift. Justin looked around on the floor of the things they were going to have to leave behind. It could not be helped. He did not want to overload the horses and run the possibility of one of them going lame if it could be helped. They did pack some feed for the horses but would have to rely on mostly forage. Allowing them to feed would take up time.They left at first light the next day after a breakfast of bread‚ hot grits‚ and granola.As she noted‚ Janet was correct about having to re-pack some of the gear and cargo not far down the road. Thankfully‚ it was only a few packs and done.With his rifle across the saddle in front of him‚ Justin set them at a quick walk to eat up the miles. The territory was familiar to them but seemed strange at the same time. There was no one around. They past homes that appeared to be empty. Through a few small towns eerily quiet. They had to stop at one point as a herd of cows were calmly crossing the road. There was no one around driving them.It was late afternoon. Justin was checking the map when he said they would stop for the night. He nodded in one direction‚ there should be a creek off the road a ways‚ in the woods where they would set up camp.They found the creek‚ dismounted‚ unsaddled‚ and unpacked the horses. While Janet and Charlotte unpacked the camping gear‚ Justin and David set a picket line for the horses and strapped feed bags of oats onto them. Janet packed the camp stove‚ camping cookware‚ and utensils in a lidded 5-gallon bucket and some of the food in another. She handed the buckets to Justin and David so they could get water for the horses first. It took several trips to the creek and back as the horses took down a lot of water. Justin would be on the lookout for more buckets if they could find them. If they happened onto a source of water on their way‚ they would take the opportunity to water the horses when possible.While Janet and Charlotte were setting up the big family sized tent‚ when Janet noticed how quiet Charlotte was. She then realized David was more subdued than usual. Janet almost said something to Charlotte when she thought better of it and would talk to Justin later. They rolled out the self-inflating air mats and‚ on top of them‚ their sleeping bags.Janet asked Justin to build a fire‚ which she could use the one Dutch oven to cook over. He was about to say no when she firmly asked again. Sensing there was more to it than just a cooking fire‚ he asked the kids to help him gather up firewood.Janet opted for something different for dinner‚ as they had soup the previous two nights. Potato casserole‚ seasoned with a little salt and pepper‚ some dried herbs‚ and venison summer sausage Justin made.While the casserole was cooking‚ Janet gently brought up what had happened over the past few days. She then asked what the kids thought of it. They started slowly. Then‚ like a dam breaking‚ it all came out. How they felt about having to shoot people. They understood they had to. If they did not‚ those people would have hurt them or worse. The loss of their home. Having to leave. Charlotte was openly crying. David had tears streaming down his face and stared into the fire as he talked about what he felt. It was then Justin called them all together and they‚ as a family‚ hugged. Things seemed better‚ but they would watch the kids closely for the rest of the time they were on the road.They fell into a pattern. Up at first light‚ breakfast‚ broke camp‚ saddled and packed out the horses and then on the road. Lunch was in the saddle. They watered when they found it‚ if not as they rode‚ then they camped out near a water source. If they could‚ they would just lead the horses to the water. When they could not‚ Justin and David hauled the water. They tried to make dinner a hot meal. Everyone took a night watch shift. By the fourth day‚ they were operating like clock work without a word being said‚ they all turned to what needed to be done efficiently.On the seventh day‚ they came across a small town that seemed to have people present. It was a clear day‚ even warm in the sun. The road led them into what appeared to be the town square. There was a small‚ white church with a tall blacked-shingled steeple and bell tower. There were several bicycle racks out front in the parking lot‚ each nearly full. Several horses were tied up to wooden hitches on the side of the church.An old man with a hat‚ sat in a rocking chair‚ lever action rifle on his lap‚ off to the side of the the churchs doors on the landing. As he watched them approach‚ he continued to rock in the chair but did not lift the rifle. As they pulled up and stopped‚ he greeted them with a smile. They could hear singing coming from inside the church. The old man said his name was Bobby and he was standing watch over the cycles and horses while services were going on. He offered them to join the congregation. Janet said they were pressed to get to her brothers place. Bobby nodded‚ The only thing more important than community is family.Justin asked Bobby how things were down the road they were on. Bobby they would be safe to the county line. When Justin asked where that was‚ Bobby just said they would know. Not feeling confident about Bobbys response‚ Justin gave thanks and said they needed to be going. Bobby wished them well as he rocked.They smelled it before they reached it. Justin told Janet and the kids not to stop and to keep going while he checked it out. It was not far off the road. Crows‚ turkey vultures took off in flight as he got to the edge of what looked like a small depression in the field. His horse did not like the smell and let Justin know it snorting‚ ears back and prancing‚ eager to be off. It was hard to tell‚ but it looked like bodies in various stages of decomposition. Not just human either. He recognized a deer head‚ a cows head and something that could have been goat or a sheep. Justin let his horse take the lead and galloped away from the mass grave. This was the county line‚ he guessed.When Justin caught up to Janet and the kids‚ he then put them into a fast trot. There was a lake he wanted to reach for that nights camp. The far side of the lake had a state park with a campground and two boat launches. It looked good‚ but being on the far side‚ would add another hour at least to reach. Looking at the map‚ he thought there would be an area they could set up camp and a good-sized pasture for the horses to graze in not far from the road.They found what they thought would make for a good camp. They could lead the horses down to the edge of the lake to water themselves. Then Justin and David set a picket line for the horses to graze in the pasture. Janet and Charlotte just finished setting up the tent‚ laying out the sleeping bags and got everything they needed for dinner‚ when they heard the first sounds of thunder in the distance. Dark clouds on the horizon‚ suddenly the wind changed direction and the temperature dropped. Now they could actually smell rain on the wind. They hurried to get the horse coats out and on the horses to keep them warm and dry before the rain started. Then they pulled the rest of their gear into a pile‚ wrapped the whole thing with a tarp and secured with length of rope. The tent had a extended awning like on the front door that allowed them to still use their camp stove to cook without setting the tent on fire. As the first big drops of rain began to pelt the tent‚ Janet realized they had not gotten water for themselves for dinner‚ and washing up. Janet informed the rest of the need of water for dinner‚ then said‚One . . . two . . . three . . . NOT IT!Both the kid said‚ NOT IT! at the same time and Justin meekly said‚ Not it‚ last.The kids and Janet laughed as Justin gave out a loud sigh‚ set his leather cowboy hat lower on his head‚ took the dirty water filter bag and prepared to brave the cold rain to get water from the lake. He gave Janet a wink and a smile as he sat out the tents front door‚ under the awning‚ putting on his boots.When he returned‚ he hung the dirty water filter bag from the tents ceiling loop and connected it to the filter connected the clean bag sitting on the floor of the tent. Next to the dirty bag was a rechargeable LED lantern‚ illuminating the whole tent in a soft white light.Once filtered‚ Janet took some water‚ a good chunk of cured and smoked venison jerky and let it come up to a simmer. She then turned it off and let the jerky steep in the water. When it was cool enough to handle‚ she shredded the jerky and set it aside. She then mixed the jerky infused water with a pre-made biscuit mix. While the biscuits finished cooking off heat‚ Janet mixed the jerky into canned French onion soup and let it simmer. Justin and the kids played cards as she cooked.After dinner‚ Justin braved the rain again to check on the horses. They were warm and dry under their coats but Justin moved them into the same stand of trees where the tent was‚ to help shelter them from the rain and wind. The interval between lighting flash and thunder report was growing closer as the bulk of the storm got closer. Justin just got back into the tent when the steady rain became a down pour that they had to raise their voices to be heard. Justin decided not to keep a watch‚ as everything with two legs or more would be seeking shelter in the storm.The rain continued the next day. Neither Janet nor Justin liked losing another day staying in place but they liked the idea of spending a day in the saddle‚ cold and wet even less. Janet added the kids‚ the horses and even themselves needed a rest. The kids attitudes and morale seemed much improved‚ playing cards in their sleeping bags‚ laughing and chatting. The rain continued‚ ranging from a light‚ steady rain to a downpour. Justin and David did move the horses three times in the pasture during the day for them to graze. In the middle of the night‚ Janet got up to pee. The rain had finally stopped‚ and she could see stars in between the tree branches above. They would be back on the road tomorrow‚ thankfully.About 1stMarineJarHead1stMarineJarHead is not only a former Marine‚ but also a former EMT-B‚ Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS)‚ and volunteer firefighter.He currently resides in the great white (i.e. snowy) Northeast with his wife and dogs. He raises chickens‚ rabbits‚ goats‚ occasionally hogs‚ cows and sometimes ducks. He grows various veggies and has a weird fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys reading‚ writing‚ cooking from scratch‚ making charcuterie‚ target shooting‚ and is currently expanding his woodworking skills.The post Dear Diary‚ Its Me‚ Jessica: Part 7 appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

Dopamine its the thing that makes us feel good‚ right? Well‚ it turns out its a bit more complex than that. In fact‚ its quite the multitasker.What is dopamine?Dopamine is a neurotransmitter aka a chemical messenger released by a neuron that affects the activity of another. In dopamines case‚ thats actually a lot of neurons; there are multiple different pathways within the brain that use dopamine as a signaling molecule‚ reflecting the wide range of functions its involved in.It plays a big role in movement‚ for example the degradation of neurons related to dopamine is a hallmark of the movement disorder Parkinsons disease. Youve probably heard of dopamine as the pleasure chemical too‚ because its a major player in our brains reward pathways; when we do something nice‚ like listening to music or sniffing a babys head‚ we get a big ol hit of dopamine‚ which motivates us to do that behavior again (maybe dont do the latter too much though).But simply calling it the ";pleasure chemical";‚ while commonplace‚ is a little too simplisticand doesn';t capture everything dopamine does.For example‚ its also involved in love and desire‚ and as such has a starring role in quite possibly the saddest story ever involving prairie voles.There are some other conditions where scientists think dopamine could be important‚ but at present‚ its not entirely clear how. For example‚ its frequently been associated with ADHD‚ but some research suggests that its not necessarily a major player. Theres also a long-standing hypothesis that dopamine dysfunction is a cause of schizophrenia‚ though not everyone agrees with this theory.Dopamine consists of what';s known as catechol (a benzene ring with two hydroxyl groups attached) and an amine (a nitrogen with two hydrogen atoms) attached by an ethyl chain.Image credit: bogdandimages/Shutterstock.comFor the chemistry fans‚ dopamine is the smallest member of a wider family of neurotransmitters called the catecholamines‚ which also includes everyones favorite hormonal siblings‚ epinephrine and norepinephrine.Its involved in breast milk productionWeve covered some of the perhaps better-known roles of dopamine‚ but did you know that its involved in regulating lactation too? It does this through one of the four major dopamine pathways in the brain‚ the gloriously named tuberoinfundibular pathway‚ which helps to connect the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.The pituitary gland‚ a little pea-sized gland at the base of the brain‚ secretes prolactin‚ a hormone that stimulates the mammary glands in breasts to produce milk. However‚ to keep this system nice and balanced babies arent feeding all the time‚ after all there needs to be some regulation. Thats where dopamine comes in as part of a nice little negative feedback loop.Prolactin doesnt seem to be one for self-preservation‚ as its secretion actually ends up stimulating dopamine to be released in the hypothalamus. This provides dopamine to the pituitary gland and tells it to stop making prolactin.This pathway is one of the reasons why some medications that specifically block dopamine signaling can cause some people to produce milk when theyre not pregnant or breastfeeding this side effect is known as galactorrhea.It helps to wake you upNot to be the bearer of bad news‚ but the so-called pleasure chemical plays a part in one of the least pleasurable parts of the day bringing an end to a delicious night of sleep.This takes place in the pineal gland‚ the pea-sized part of the brain that plays a part in the sleep-wake cycle through its production of the big cheese of sleep regulation‚ melatonin. According to a 2012 study‚ towards the end of the night‚ receptors for dopamine in this gland buddy up with those for fellow catecholamine norepinephrine‚ in a process known as heteromerization.In this newfound relationship‚ dopamine definitely wears the pants; when it interacts with the receptor duos‚ it stops norepinephrine signaling. As norepinephrine helps to regulate melatonin production‚ this means that theres a decrease in the synthesis and release of melatonin‚ and so the process of waking up begins.It has a dark sidePeople say you can have too much of a good thing‚ and thats certainly the case for dopamine when it comes to substance addiction.Rather than providing a regular dose of dopamine to the brains reward pathway‚ some drugs instead flood it. Like any other thing that gives us a dopamine hit‚ the brain remembers this and associates taking the drug (and elements like where and when it was taken) with how it makes us feel.This creates connections between neurons that motivate the brain to seek out the substance again. Over time‚ the brain tries to adapt‚ altering the reward-motivation pathway to become less sensitive to dopamine. Thats why people then end up craving more and more of a psychoactive substance to get the same level of high the brain has become tolerant.The decrease in sensitivity also means that people get even less pleasure out of naturally rewarding experiences‚ decreasing motivation to seek out those behaviors‚ but increasing the need to continue taking drugs in order to get that rewarding feeling‚ creating a vicious cycle.All explainer articles are confirmed byfact checkersto be correct attime of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

With only 75 individuals remaining in the wild‚ Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are among the most high-profile species currently facing the threat of extinction. Highlighting the urgency of the situation‚ a new study has revealed that this risk is accelerating‚ with the SRKW population declining at a rate of around one percent per year.Occupying the waters off the coast of North Americas Pacific coast‚ spanning from California to Alaska‚ the endangered orca feeds almost exclusively on the chinook salmon with which it shares its habitat. However‚ historical overfishing of these salmon has drastically reduced the availability of prey‚ leading to a catastrophic drop-off in SRKW numbers.Our analyses reveal that the population shows lower recovery potential than previously estimated‚ due to reduced leverage of prey availability on SRKW demography‚ write the study authors. Worryingly‚ this primary threat has been bolstered by other confounding factors‚ including a low number of female orcas being born in recent years as well as deaths caused by accidental boat strikes.To make matters worse‚ the researchers explain that Southern Resident killer whales are known to be among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world‚ with dangerously high levels of the industrial chemical polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compromising the animals growth‚ immune function and sexual health. Despite their phase-out under the terms of the international Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)‚ the persistence of PCBs in the marine environment and resistance to metabolic elimination means that it will take decades before this population is considered to be safe from PCB and other legacy contaminant-related health effects‚ write the authors.A lack of viable males is also likely to increase the level of inbreeding‚ all of which means that the baseline population of one percent per year is expected to increase in the future. Protecting the species will therefore require aggressive actions‚ which the researchers say should be focused on boosting chinook salmon populations while simultaneously restoring the orcas habitat.This will need to include efforts to reduce shipping noise in the region‚ as the unwelcome racket has been shown to significantly reduce the whales ability to forage. It may be necessary to consider ocean noise budgets‚ caps‚ or limits that allow killer whales to hunt scarce prey efficiently‚ explain the study authors.Sadly‚ it looks like weve already left it too late to expect any major rebound in SRKW numbers‚ with no single action plan projected to achieve the recovery objective of 2.3 percent sustained growth over 28 years. However‚ the researchers do say that concerted conservation efforts might at least reverse the decline‚ and could potentially bring about a recovery rate of one percent per year.Hope is therefore not lost‚ although the study authors warn that time is running out to save this iconic species. Preventing extinction is still possible but will require greater sacrifices on regional ocean use‚ urban development‚ and land use practices‚ than would have been the case had threats been mitigated even a decade earlier‚ they write.The study has been published in the journal Communications Earth &;amp; Environment.

This week astronomers have spotted evidence of the rare rainbow-like effect known as a glory on another planet‚ a prehistoric sand sculpture of a stingray might be the world';s oldest animal art‚ and a series of ancient engravings found on volcanic boulders in southern Peru might represent music that was performed during shamanic rituals involving hallucinogenic plants 2‚000 years ago. Finally‚ we ask what';s the longest a bird can fly without flapping its wings?Subscribe to the IFLScience newsletterfor all the biggest science news delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday and Saturday.We May Have Just Seen The First Rainbow-Like Glory On A World Outside Our Solar SystemAstronomers have spotted evidence of the rainbow-like meteorological phenomenon known as glory on another planet. If this were Mars or Jupiter it would be remarkable enough‚ but the planet in question is WASP-76b‚ which is millions of times further away than either of them‚ outside the Solar System. Read the full story hereA 130‚000-Year-Old ";Stingray Sand Sculpture"; May Be World';s Oldest Animal ArtAt first glance‚ this might just look like strangely symmetrical rock. However‚ researchers have recently taken a deeper look at the object and speculate that it may be a prehistoric sand sculpture of a stingray. If thats true‚ it would make the relic the oldest known artwork of another animal. Read the full story hereThis 2‚000-Year-Old Peruvian Rock Art May Depict Psychedelic MusicA series of ancient engravings found on volcanic boulders in southern Peru might represent music performed during shamanic rituals involving hallucinogenic plants 2‚000 years ago. Consisting of what appears to be dancing human figures surrounded by zigzagging lines and other geometric forms‚ the enigmatic art eludes concrete interpretation‚ although a new analysis suggests that these abstract shapes may depict the songs that transported participants to other dimensions during their psychedelic trips. Read the full story hereWorlds Largest Ever Digital Camera Is CompletedThe Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Camera is now complete. It will soon travel to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory where it will provide an incredible new eye on the southern sky and help us better answer fundamental questions about the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Read the full story hereYes‚ This Adorable Toad Really Has Heart-Shaped PupilsThe yellow-bellied toad is sure to win the hearts of even the most hesitant of anuran appreciators‚ being an adorable little amphibian with heart-shaped pupils. Exactly what the pupil shape means in terms of the toads vision isnt known for certain‚ but the staggering diversity of anuran pupil shape has taught us that previously held associations of pupil shape with lifestyle might not apply to amphibians. Read the full story hereTWIS is published weekly on our Linkedin page‚ join us there for even more content.Feature of the week:Whats The Longest A Bird Can Fly Without Flapping Its Wings?Birds might not be able to get a driving license (boo)‚ but as it happens‚ some of them have found another way to get about while doing minimal exercise: soaring. At one point or another‚ they do have to flap their wings but which one can go the longest without doing so? Read the full story hereMore content:Have you seen our e-magazine‚ CURIOUS? Issue 21 April 2024 is out now. Check it out for exclusive interviews‚ book excerpts‚ long reads‚ and more.PLUS‚ the entire season 3 of IFLScience';s The Big Questions Podcast is available now.

Why did humans take over the world while our closest relatives‚ the Neanderthals‚ became extinct? Its possible we were just smarter‚ but theres surprisingly little evidence thats true.Neanderthals had big brains‚ language and sophisticated tools. They made art and jewellery. They were smart‚ suggesting a curious possibility. Maybe the crucial differences werent at the individual level‚ but in our societies.Two hundred and fifty thousand years ago‚ Europe and western Asia were Neanderthal lands. Homo sapiens inhabited southern Africa. Estimates vary but perhaps 100‚000 years ago‚ modern humans migrated out of Africa.Forty thousand years ago Neanderthals disappeared from Asia and Europe‚ replaced by humans. Their slow‚ inevitable replacement suggests humans had some advantage‚ but not what it was.Anthropologists once saw Neanderthals as dull-witted brutes. But recent archaeological finds show they rivalled us in intelligence.Neanderthals mastered fire before we did. They were deadly hunters‚ taking big game like mammoths and woolly rhinos‚ and small animals like rabbits and birds.They gathered plants‚ seeds and shellfish. Hunting and foraging all those species demanded deep understanding of nature.Neanderthals also had a sense of beauty‚ making beads and cave paintings. They were spiritual people‚ burying their dead with flowers.Stone circles found inside caves may be Neanderthal shrines. Like modern hunter-gatherers‚ Neanderthal lives were probably steeped in superstition and magic; their skies full of gods‚ the caves inhabited by ancestor-spirits.Then theres the fact Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had children together. We werent that different. But we met Neanderthals many times‚ over many millennia‚ always with the same result. They disappeared. We remained.The hunter-gatherer societyIt may be that the key differences were less at the individual level than at the societal level. Its impossible to understand humans in isolation‚ any more than you can understand a honeybee without considering its colony. We prize our individuality‚ but our survival is tied to larger social groups‚ like a bees fate depends on the colonys survival.Neanderthals lived in smaller groups. Esteban De Armas/ShutterstockModern hunter-gatherers provide our best guess at how early humans and Neanderthals lived. People like the Namibias Khoisan and Tanzanias Hadzabe gather families into wandering bands of ten to 60 people. The bands combine into a loosely organised tribe of a thousand people or more.These tribes lack hierachical structures‚ but theyre linked by shared language and religion‚ marriages‚ kinships and friendships. Neanderthal societies may have been similar but with one crucial difference: smaller social groups.Tight-knit tribesWhat points to this is evidence that Neanderthals had lower genetic diversity.In small populations‚ genes are easily lost. If one person in ten carries a gene for curly hair‚ then in a ten-person band‚ one death could remove the gene from the population. In a band of fifty‚ five people would carry the gene multiple backup copies. So over time‚ small groups tend to lose genetic variation‚ ending up with fewer genes.In 2022‚ DNA was recovered from bones and teeth of 11 Neanderthals found in a cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Several individuals were related‚ including a father and a daughter they were from a single band. And they showed low genetic diversity.Because we inherit two sets of chromosomes one from our mother‚ one from our father we carry two copies of each gene. Often‚ we have two different versions of a gene. You might get a gene for blue eyes from your mother‚ and one for brown eyes from your father.But the Altai Neanderthals often had one version of each gene. As the study reports‚ that low diversity suggests they lived in small bands probably averaging just 20 people.Its possible Neanderthal anatomy favoured small groups. Being robust and muscular‚ Neanderthals were heavier than us. So each Neanderthal needed more food‚ meaning the land could support fewer Neanderthals than Homo sapiens.And Neanderthals may have mainly eaten meat. Meat-eaters would get fewer calories from the land than people who ate meat and plants‚ again leading to smaller populations.Group size mattersIf humans lived in bigger groups than Neanderthals it could have given us advantages.Neanderthals‚ strong and skilled with spears were likely good fighters. Lightly built humans probably countered by using bows to attack at range.But even if Neanderthals and humans were equally dangerous in battle‚ if humans also had a numeric advantage they could bring more fighters and absorb more losses.Big societies have other‚ subtler advantages. Larger bands have more brains. More brains to solve problems‚ remember lore about animals and plants‚ and techniques for crafting tools and sewing clothing. Just as big groups have higher genetic diversity‚ theyll have higher diversity of ideas.And more people means more connections. Network connections increase exponentially with network size‚ following Metcalfes Law. A 20-person band has 190 possible connections between members‚ while 60 people have 1770 possible connections.Information flows through these connections: news about people and movements of animals; toolmaking techniques; and words‚ songs and myths. Plus the groups behaviour becomes increasingly complex.Consider ants. Individually‚ ants arent smart. But interactions between millions of ants lets colonies make elaborate nests‚ forage for food and kill animals many times an ants size. Likewise‚ human groups do things no one person can design buildings and cars‚ write elaborate computer programmes‚ fight wars‚ run companies and countries.Humans arent unique in having big brains (whales and elephants have these) or in having huge social groups (zebras and wildebeest form huge herds). But were unique in combining them.To paraphrase poet John Dunne‚ no man and no Neanderthal is an island. Were all part of something larger. And throughout history‚ humans formed larger and larger social groups: bands‚ tribes‚ cities‚ nation states‚ international alliances.It may be then that an ability to build large social structures gave Homo sapiens the edge‚ against nature‚ and other hominin species.Nicholas R. Longrich‚ Senior Lecturer in Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology‚ Life Sciences at the University of Bath‚ University of BathThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Sometimes it really is your lucky day‚ and for Christopher Columbus that day came on February 29‚ 1504. As well as being a leap day‚ this peculiar date also saw a total lunar eclipse occur in the Caribbean night sky‚ allegedly allowing the famous navigator to trick his native hosts into treating him and his crew like royalty.According to reports attributed to Columbuss son Ferdinand‚ the sneaky move came at a time when tensions between the sailors and the local Arawak people of Jamaica were dangerously fraught. Having been stranded on the island since mid-1503 thanks to an infestation of marine worms eating chunks out of their ships‚ Columbus and his men were initially well-received by the natives‚ yet after more than half a year of supplying their guests with food‚ the Arawaks patience and hospitality were beginning to wear thin.Supposedly‚ things took a sour turn when half of the crew mutinied‚ going on a rampage that saw some Arawak killed and others robbed. Faced with the prospect of famine as their supply of complementary food was subsequently held‚ Columbus is said to have hatched an ingenious plan to save his skin.Fortunately for him‚ all European sailors at the time were equipped with an almanac containing astronomical tables for the period 1475 to 1506. Compiled by the great German mathematicianJohannes Mller von Knigsberg - also known as Regiomontanus - the document provided vital information about the movements of the sun‚ moon‚ planets and stars.A quick glance at the almanac in late February 1504 told Columbus that a total lunar eclipse was imminent. Approaching the Arawak chief‚ Columbus said that his Christian god had become enraged at the locals unwillingness to feed their guests‚ and would obliterate the full moon as a sign of his displeasure.Legend has it that when the lunar eclipse occurred at the exact time specified by Columbus‚ the panic-stricken Arawak begged forgiveness and promised to appease the Christian god by keeping the sailors well-fed. The story goes that from that moment onwards‚ Columbus and his crew wanted for nothing as they continued to wait for a rescue ship‚ which eventually arrived in June 1504.In truth‚ the historical veracity of this legend is difficult to ascertain‚ although we do know that a total lunar eclipse occurred over Jamaica on this date. Typically referred to as the Columbus Eclipse‚ this famous astronomical event has inspired numerous fictional episodes‚ including one incident in Mark Twains 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur';s Court‚ in which the lead character weasels his way out of being burned at the stake by foretelling a solar eclipse.With a total solar eclipse set to occur over North America on April 8‚ this old trick might come in handy for anyone who finds themself in mortal peril at this time.

Robbie Williams‚ the iconic British singer who rose to fame in the 90s with the pop group Take That‚ has long attracted audiences with his chart-topping hits. However‚ beyond his music career‚ Williams harbors a profound interest in the mysterious and unexplained‚ particularly in unidentified flying objects (UFOs).Williams fascination isnt a recent development; it has been a significant aspect of his life for years. His encounters with the unknown have not only piqued his curiosity but have also influenced his work‚ reports dailystar.co.uk.In 2020‚ it was revealed that his hit song Angels was inspired by his childhood experiences with paranormal entities.His interest in the paranormal led him to consider purchasing Skinwalker Ranch in Utah‚ a location infamous for its paranormal activity and UFO sightings. Williams recounted a particularly striking experience in 2008 when a luminous orb appeared outside his studio while he played his song Arizona‚ which lyrically explores the theme of alien contact. This orbs appearance seemed to be synchronized with the song‚ vanishing when the music stopped‚ only to reappear when it played again.Id just written a song called Arizona‚ and its all about alien contact and I was playing that‚ he recalled. I stood on the balcony and there was this big ball of gold light that turned up we thought it was Venus or Mars or something.Then the song stops playing and it disappears.But then we put Arizona on again and the ball turned back up. It happened four times.Williams has openly pondered the purpose behind his experiences‚ speculating whether his celebrity status is meant to serve as a platform for bringing attention to these otherworldly encounters. I sometimes think and I try to separate narcissism and ego‚ unsuccessfully a lot of the time but theres lots of different theories that we all have to do with this stuff but I often wonder if Im supposed to see it because of my public platform‚ he said.Am I supposed to see this so I can talk about it?The post Robbie Williams thinks aliens are targeting him because hes famous appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Ive warned the readers of my books and columns many times to steer clear of any involvement with the upturned wine glass a way of contacting spirits and the deceased that is also known as the Ouija for no good will ever come of it.Most spirits that do come through are out for mischief and will provide wrong information and terrify the sitters of the Ouija session by sometimes telling them that their days are numbered and someone will die.The Ouija also occasionally opens up the premises where the session is being held to all manner of dark forces and doors to evil presences may be opened that can never be shut again.A case in point is the Ouija session that was held one stormy afternoon in 1952 at the Farmers Arms pub in Frankby.The dangerous game was initiated by two women in their thirties who were bored and there were seven sitters in the pub that gathered around a table and placed their index fingers on the base of the upturned glass.One of those present asked the spirits to speak via the glass and then the said glass began to slide around‚ touching some of the 36 paper squares with the letters of the alphabet and the numerals zero to nine scrawled upon them.The glass repeatedly spelt out the name HENRY and everybody laughed; they had expected some dramatic name or message to come through‚ but the laughter quickly ended when the glass flew off the table and smashed itself to smithereens in the coals of the fireplace.There was a noticeable drop in temperature in the pub‚ and as the skies outside darkened‚ the two women who had suggested the Ouija session Janet and June both said they had felt something brush past them.They left the pub and walked towards their respective homes via Montgomery Hill and to their horror‚ the two ladies saw they were being followed by something it looked like a tall man in a long black cape and a hat of the type the Quakers of old used to wear.A violent thunderstorm broke out over Frankby to heighten the suspenseful atmosphere as the sinister figure closed in on the two women and they both started to run and gasp with fear.June said it could be just someone from the Farmers Arms messing about‚ trying to put the frights up them after that glass-dabbling‚ but Janet disagreed she could see that the figure seemed to move along smoothly as if it was on wheels.The shadowy pursuer suddenly picked up speed and the women ran screaming down a lane known as Birch Heys.At this point the terrified women‚ and a man coming out of a cottage on the lane could hear the figure laughing hysterically. The man gave a bemused look at the fleeing women‚ thinking there was just a bit of tomfoolery going on and that the man in black was a prankster known to Janet and June.The women tried to take a short cut to their homes by rushing up the stone steps to a stile to get to the public pathway‚ but here‚ as the heavens exploded with a burst of Biblical thunder‚ the thing seemed to leap onto the women‚ its cloak billowing in the wind.The man from the cottage heard their screams and decided this was not young people fooling about those women sounded as if they were being attacked. He ran to the stile and found the women lying on their backs and the cloaked man in the strange hat had gone.The man could get no sense out of June she was staring wild-eyed at the oppressive low thunderclouds‚ but Janet was in tears. She held her hands to her slender neck which looked red and bruised.She said a ghost had tried to strangle her and June. June had the same bruise marks on her neck. June ended up in a psychiatric hospital and took six months to recover from her ordeal‚ and Janet was plagued with nightmares about the grinning phantom strangler and his glowing evil eyes for many years.An old and much-respected local at the Farmers Arms named George subsequently claimed that Henry the name from the glass had been what we would now call a serial killer he had been responsible for many unsolved murders in the 1900s down the west coast of Wirral and he had made a lot of the killings look like suicides.George claimed that Henry was hanged by the father of a girl who had died at the murderers hands and had been buried at night in a shallow grave not far from the Farmers Arms.The body had been buried face down with a crucifix chained to it to stop the spirit of the evil Henry from rising. Occasionally‚ people walking up Montgomery Hill the lane facing the Farmers Arms have either seen a man in a black cloak following them or heard footsteps of someone close behind them.In a small but beautiful semi on St Andrews Road‚ so called because it is located close to St Andrews Church‚ Bebington‚ there was another visitor from the upturned glass in the summer of 2009. It was July‚ and the elderly couple who owned the semi were visited by their 21-year-old nephew Ryan and his girlfriend Beth both from Heswall.Ryan parked his Volkswagen camper van outside the dwelling and told his uncle he was having trouble finding a place to live since hed left home and was currently looking for a job.Ryans uncle and aunt were due to fly to Spain for a fortnights holiday and let the young couple stay at the house until they returned‚ hoping Ryan would have found employment by then. As soon as the couple were off on their hols‚ Ryan held a party at the semi‚ and during the drinking‚ someone suggested having a go at the Ouija board and claimed they were good at getting messages from spirits.Six people dabbled with the upturned wine glass that night and at one point the glass was seen to move along a table top on its own.Most of the words produced were nonsensical‚ but one of them appeared twice‚ and it was: MATHOLWCH which one of the people at the party a lad from Rhyl who would not get involved in the Ouija session claimed to be a Welsh name.By four in the morning the party was over‚ but many wouldnt stay over at the house because they said there was a sinister presence.Ryan dozed off in a drunken stupor on the sofa with Beth in his arms‚ and he was awakened by Beth screaming at around 4:30am.She said she had awakened to see a man in old fashioned clothes with a terrifying decomposing face leaning over her. His icy kisses had awakened her. She had heard him say to her‚ My dearest‚ I shall draw off your vitality‚ steal but a fraction of your life so I may live again and love you.His accent had a Welsh lilt to it‚ said Beth‚ and as soon as she had awakened and screamed he had vanished as he smiled. Ryan knew his girlfriend was a down-to-earth straight-talking person who never lied and had no interest in the supernatural‚ so he just knew his girlfriend was telling the truth.Two days after this‚ Ryan was standing at the top of the stairs at 10pm‚ looking down to the hall‚ waiting for Beth to come up to bed‚ when he saw a tall grotesque-looking man with a skeletal face in what looked like Victorian attire come to the foot of the stairs.It put its bony fingers on the handrail and the lights went out. They flickered back on the menacing ghoul was about five steps further up the stairs‚ and Ryan swore in terror.The lights went out again‚ throwing the hall into pitch blackness and when they came on again after a few seconds‚ the solid-looking ghost was standing right in front of Ryan‚ who turned and ran into his bedroom.He then heard Beth scream downstairs‚ and so he left the room and saw the ghost had gone‚ and the young man ran down to the kitchen were Beth was hysterical.She said the ghastly-looking ghost had thrown its arms around her and had tried to waltz about with her. She had struck it with a wine bottle and it had vanished.That night‚ the couple left the house on St Andrews Road and have still not returned there.The post Ghosts of the Ouija: How a Simple Game Altered Lives Forever appeared first on Anomalien.com.