Physicists have long struggled to explain why the universe started out with conditions suitable for life to evolve. Why do the physical laws and constants take the very specific values that allow stars‚ planets and ultimately life to develop? The expansive force of the universe‚ dark energy‚ for example‚ is much weaker than theory suggests it should be – allowing matter to clump together rather than being ripped apart.A common answer is that we live in an infinite multiverse of universes‚ so we shouldn’t be surprised that at least one universe has turned out as ours. But another is that our universe is a computer simulation‚ with someone (perhaps an advanced alien species) fine-tuning the conditions.The latter option is supported by a branch of science called information physics‚ which suggests that space-time and matter are not fundamental phenomena. Instead‚ the physical reality is fundamentally made up of bits of information‚ from which our experience of space-time emerges. By comparison‚ temperature “emerges” from the collective movement of atoms. No single atom fundamentally has temperature.This leads to the extraordinary possibility that our entire universe might in fact be a computer simulation. The idea is not that new. In 1989‚ the legendary physicist‚ John Archibald Wheeler‚ suggested that the universe is fundamentally mathematical and it can be seen as emerging from information. He coined the famous aphorism “it from bit”.In 2003‚ philosopher Nick Bostrom from Oxford University in the UK formulated his simulation hypothesis. This argues that it is actually highly probable that we live in a simulation. That’s because an advanced civilisation should reach a point where their technology is so sophisticated that simulations would be indistinguishable from reality‚ and the participants would not be aware that they were in a simulation.  Physicist Seth Lloyd from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US took the simulation hypothesis to the next level by suggesting that the entire universe could be a giant quantum computer.And in 2016‚ business magnate Elon Musk concluded “We’re most likely in a simulation” (see video above).Empirical evidenceThere is some evidence suggesting that our physical reality could be a simulated virtual reality rather than an objective world that exists independently of the observer.Any virtual reality world will be based on information processing. That means everything is ultimately digitised or pixelated down to a minimum size that cannot be subdivided further: bits. This appears to mimic our reality according to the theory of quantum mechanics‚ which rules the world of atoms and particles. It states there is a smallest‚ discrete unit of energy‚ length and time. Similarly‚ elementary particles‚ which make up all the visible matter in the universe‚ are the smallest units of matter. To put it simply‚ our world is pixelated.The laws of physics that govern everything in the universe also resemble computer code lines that a simulation would follow in the execution of the program. Moreover‚ mathematical equations‚ numbers and geometric patterns are present everywhere – the world appears to be entirely mathematical.Another curiosity in physics supporting the simulation hypothesis is the maximum speed limit in our universe‚ which is the speed of light. In a virtual reality‚ this limit would correspond to the speed limit of the processor‚ or the processing power limit. We know that an overloaded processor slows down computer processing in a simulation. Similarly‚ Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity shows that time slows in the vicinity of a black hole.Perhaps the most supportive evidence of the simulation hypothesis comes from quantum mechanics. This suggest nature isn’t “real”: particles in determined states‚ such as specific locations‚ don’t seem to exist unless you actually observe or measure them. Instead‚ they are in a mix of different states simultaneously. Similarly‚ virtual reality needs an observer or programmer for things to happen.Quantum “entanglement” also allows two particles to be spookily connected so that if you manipulate one‚ you automatically and immediately also manipulate the other‚ no matter how far apart they are – with the effect being seemingly faster than the speed of light‚ which should be impossible.This could‚ however‚ also be explained by the fact that within a virtual reality code‚ all “locations” (points) should be roughly equally far from a central processor. So while we may think two particles are millions of light years apart‚ they wouldn’t be if they were created in a simulation.Possible experimentsAssuming that the universe is indeed a simulation‚ then what sort of experiments could we deploy from within the simulation to prove this?It is reasonable to assume that a simulated universe would contain a lot of information bits everywhere around us. These information bits represent the code itself. Hence‚ detecting these information bits will prove the simulation hypothesis. The recently proposed mass-energy-information (M/E/I) equivalence principle – suggesting mass can be expressed as energy or information‚ or vice versa – states that information bits must have a small mass. This gives us something to search for.I have postulated that information is in fact a fifth form of matter in the universe. I’ve even calculated the expected information content per elementary particle. These studies led to the publication‚ in 2022‚ of an experimental protocol to test these predictions. The experiment involves erasing the information contained inside elementary particles by letting them and their antiparticles (all particles have “anti” versions of themselves which are identical but have opposite charge) annihilate in a flash of energy – emitting “photons”‚ or light particles.I have predicted the exact range of expected frequencies of the resulting photons based on information physics. The experiment is highly achievable with our existing tools‚ and we have launched a crowdfunding site) to achieve it.There are other approaches too. The late physicist John Barrow has argued that a simulation would build up minor computational errors which the programmer would need to fix in order to keep it going. He suggested we might experience such fixing as contradictory experimental results appearing suddenly‚ such as the constants of nature changing. So monitoring the values of these constants is another option.The nature of our reality is one of the greatest mysteries out there. The more we take the simulation hypothesis seriously‚ the greater the chances we may one day prove or disprove it.Melvin M. Vopson‚ Senior Lecturer in Physics‚ University of PortsmouthThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Do you ever wake up after a night on the booze‚ heart pounding‚ with the feeling that the world is ending and everyone hates you? If you’re someone who experiences hangover-related anxiety (often nicknamed hangxiety or beer fear)‚ you’re probably keen to know why this happens. So‚ let’s break down the science.How alcohol affects the brainConsuming alcohol affects various systems of neurotransmitters‚ which are chemicals that neurons use to communicate with each other. The ones we’re focusing on today are gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate.“The balance of the tone of glutamate and GABA activity within the brain is the primary regulator of the balance of excitation and inhibition in brain circuits‚” John H. Krystal‚ MD‚ chair of psychiatry at Yale and co-director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol‚ told IFLScience.First off‚ let’s talk about GABA. This is an inhibitory neurotransmitter‚ reducing a neuron’s response to stimuli (aka lowering its excitability) when it binds to GABA receptors. It is “the main inhibitory chemical messenger in the cerebral cortex‚ primarily responsible for providing inhibitory tuning of the activity of glutamate neurons‚” Dr Krystal explained.GABA signaling in the brain is thought to have a role in reducing fear and anxiety. Some drugs used to treat anxiety disorders‚ such as benzodiazepines‚ act on GABA receptors. GABA is produced when glutamate is converted into it via an enzyme – and glutamate is our next topic.Unlike GABA‚ glutamate increases the excitability of neurons. “Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter for the cerebral cortex‚ accounting for about 90 percent of the synaptic communication between nerve cells. In many ways‚ glutamate is the main ‘information highway’ of the brain‚” said Dr Krystal. It binds to a range of receptors‚ including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.Glutamate plays a key role in many functions such as pain signaling‚ as well as memory and learning. Dr Krystal told IFLScience that panic attacks and increased anxiety can result from too much activation from glutamate.So how does alcohol affect these neurotransmitters?“Alcohol intoxication at low levels produces a mix of pro-GABA and pro-glutamate effects. With higher levels of intoxication‚ the pro-GABA effects start to be combined with the ability of alcohol to block the NMDA type of receptor‚” Dr Krystal explained. “Together‚ these effects contribute to the mood effects and cognitive impairments associated with alcohol intoxication. At still higher doses the inhibition of excitation dominates producing sleep and‚ at toxic doses‚ potentially life-threatening coma.”Why might you feel anxious while hungover?“Alcohol may reduce anxiety by inhibiting responding to anxiety provoking stimuli‚” write the authors of a 2019 study. “The anxiolytic [anxiety-reducing] effect of alcohol may influence the SAD-AUD [social anxiety disorder-alcohol use disorder] link and is thought to mediate coping-motivated drinking.”Dr Krystal told IFLScience that although having too much GABA activation when you’re drunk can alleviate anxiety‚ it “may also create a form of fearlessness that inappropriately disinhibits behavior‚” which you have probably witnessed if you’ve spent any significant amount of time around drunk people (or even experienced yourself).So if alcohol can reduce anxiety while you’re intoxicated‚ why might you feel so horrendous mentally the next morning?After a period of having more GABA signaling and less glutamate signaling than usual‚ the brain has to rectify this imbalance somehow‚ adapting neurotransmitter systems accordingly and changing the populations of their receptors.As Dr Krystal described‚ tolerance to alcohol and physical dependence on it can develop after long-term heavy drinking due to these neurological changes that the brain is making to try to restore equilibrium. When someone stops drinking after this has happened‚ some unpleasant effects can happen while the brain tries to get back on balance.       “When alcohol is withdrawn‚ the GABA receptors are less functional‚ producing less inhibition‚ resulting in increased excitation. Similarly‚ the NMDA glutamate receptors adapt to their chronic blockade by alcohol by increasing their numbers‚ reducing the sensitivity of the population of NMDA receptors to alcohol‚” Dr Krystal explained.“When alcohol is withdrawn and more glutamate is being released due to reduced GABA inhibition‚ the glutamate that is released is seeing higher numbers of NMDA receptors and that glutamate is‚ as a result‚ even more effective in producing anxiety and‚ in severe cases‚ seizures and damage to nerve cells.”Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) occurs when someone who has been regularly drinking heavily suddenly stops or decreases their alcohol intake‚ with symptoms starting around eight to 24 hours after their last drink. The likelihood of experiencing symptoms – which include anxiety‚ a rapid heart rate‚ shakiness‚ mood swings‚ irritability‚ and nightmares‚ as well as more dangerous ones such as seizures and delirium tremens – increases the more you regularly drink.“A person who is not a regular drinker‚ but who has a big alcohol binge‚ experiences a very mild form of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome on top of the other consequences of alcohol intoxication‚ such as dehydration‚ irritation of the lining of the stomach and intestines‚ and impaired sleep‚” said Dr Krystal. On top of this‚ alcohol metabolites like acetone and acetaldehyde can also make you feel rather bad.“The appearance of mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms following a binge may contribute symptoms including increased anxiety‚ consistent with increased excitability of the amygdala‚ and a heightening of responses to sensory stimuli‚ consistent with increased cortical excitability‚” he continued. “These signs and symptoms of hangover are consistent with the notion that some mild forms of GABA and glutamate adaptations to alcohol can occur in a single bout of heavy drinking.”Dr Krystal explained that some heavy drinkers “have been self-medicating pre-existing anxiety problems with alcohol. Further‚ heavier drinkers are more likely to experience more significant withdrawal symptoms within a day or two of the end of a binge‚” and that his clinical impression is that hangxiety is more common in those that already have anxiety.How can you prevent hangxiety?For people for whom alcohol has a regular and/or severe negative effect on their mental health‚ it can be a good idea to take a step back and reassess their drinking habits.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that although around 90 percent of excessive drinkers aren’t expected to meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD)‚ some signs of AUD include the inability to limit drinking and continuing to drink despite it causing professional or personal issues.As the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) explains‚ reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is the best way to reduce your risk of hangxiety.The World Health Organization notes that there is no amount of alcohol consumption that is safe for your health. To reduce harms associated with alcohol‚ the UK’s National Health Service recommends not drinking over 14 units per week‚ preferably all spread over three or more days (one shot of 40 percent ABV spirit = one unit). Australian guidelines suggest no more than four standard drinks a day‚ or 10 a week. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends either not drinking at all or keeping it to two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.But what can you do if the drinks (perhaps a couple too many) are already in your system‚ the anxiety is kicking in‚ and it’s too late to follow that advice?It's suggested to avoid stimulants and‚ importantly‚ further alcohol consumption. Although taking in more alcohol can ease some symptoms‚ it can contribute to continuing dependence. “I see a lot of patients with hangxiety. Some people will try to ‘relieve’ the unpleasant symptoms of their drinking by drinking more but this can lead to more panic attacks‚ even seizures‚” Dr Niall Campbell‚ a consultant at UK independent mental healthcare provider Priory‚ told their website.The ADF recommends the classic hangover activities of resting‚ eating‚ and getting some hydration‚ alongside mindfulness‚ talking to a friend‚ and distracting yourself if you can. However‚ as the NIAAA explains on their website: “There is no way to speed up the brain’s recovery from alcohol use‚” and you will probably just have to wait until the symptoms of the night before subside.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 conditionsAll “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

There’s a reason that President Biden’s advisers keep his access to the press as minimal as they can. They don’t trust him to answer reporters in a way that helps his standing in the polls. It’s likely that he’ll lose his temper‚ or he’ll lie preposterously. On December 6‚ on the cusp of a Republican presidential debate‚ Biden somehow allowed a question from Steven Nelson of the New York Post. This is probably why Joe mumbles about a list he’s been given of acceptable reporters to call on. This time – oops -- he stumbled into a serious questioner. Until recently‚ Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had refused to call on Nelson since May. Nelson announced: “There's polling by the Associated Press that shows that almost 70 percent of Americans‚ including 40 percent of Democrats‚ believe that you acted either illegally or unethically in regards to your family's business interests. Can you explain to the Americans‚ amid this impeachment inquiry‚ why you interacted with so many of your son and brother’s foreign business associates?” Biden lied preposterously. He denied there had been any contacts‚ when the contacts are an undeniable fact‚ even if the pro-Biden media studiously pretend they don’t exist. “I’m not going to comment on that. I did not‚” said the president. “And it’s just a bunch of lies.” Nelson began to respond: “You didn’t interact with?” Biden said: “They’re lies!” Nelson finished: “…any of their business associates?” Biden repeated: “I did not. They’re lies!” This stunning denial of reality was typically ignored by the evening “news” programs of ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC‚ and PBS. The only mention of Biden on PBS NewsHour that night came from Hollywood leftist Rob Reiner. In an interview celebrating Norman Lear‚ Reiner asserted‚ “Norman would want me to be saying this...if you want fascism‚ you vote for Trump. If you want democracy‚ you will vote for Biden. It's that simple‚ and it's that real.” It’s this hyperbolic paranoia that inspires ignoring Biden’s ridiculous denials. Let’s guess in their newsrooms‚ they tell each other‚ “We can’t blur Biden with Trump on the lying‚ so let’s ignore all of this! Democracy itself is in the balance!” New York Post columnist Miranda Devine quoted from former Biden business associate Tony Bobulinski‚ who told the Post‚ “Why is Joe Biden blatantly lying to the American people and the world by claiming that he did not meet with me face to face?  He should call his son Hunter and brother Jim as they can remind him of the facts. The American people deserve the truth." The liberal networks also pretend Bobulinski doesn’t exist. None of them have interviewed him on camera. A Nexis search of PBS transcripts came up with zero. CBS mentioned him briefly in a September 2022 story on Hunter's laptop. What about the pro-Biden newspapers? New York Times reporter Peter Baker just repeated the lie without correcting it! His colleague Luke Broadwater did the same: ”When questioned by a reporter at the White House on Wednesday about why he ’interacted’ with his son’s and brother’s business associates‚ President Biden replied tersely‚ ‘I did not‚ and it’s just a bunch of lies.’” In The Washington Post‚ White House reporter Matt Viser just ended his story with Biden’s lie‚ uncorrected. The Post also had an AP story by Lindsay Whitehurst‚ which altered the context of Nelson’s question: “President Biden on Wednesday dismissed as ‘lies’ claims that he behaved illegally or unethically regarding the business dealings of his son.” Biden has zero fear of Biden-voting reporters or “independent fact-checkers.” They’re like a journalistic Secret Service.

Lykoi cats‚ also known as “wolf cats” or “werewolf cats‚” are extraordinarily rare‚ with unique coats derived from a natural mutation. Despite their “werewolf-like” appearance‚ they are friendly‚ intelligent‚ and sociable. These cats have been around for roughly 20 years and are a relatively new cat breed. Not only do they have unusual coats‚ but they also have other traits that may surprise you. Read on to learn 13 surprising facts about the Lykoi cat. The 13 Facts About Lykoi Cats 1. Lykoi Means “Wolf” Lykoi is a Greek word that means wolf. Lykoi cats have interesting sparse coats derived from a natural mutation‚ giving them a werewolf-like appearance‚ so the name is fitting. However‚ people are under the misconception that these cats hail from Greece when‚ in fact‚ there have been many sightings in the United States. Image Credit: danilobiancalana‚ Shutterstock 2. They Are an Experimental Cat Breed The Lykoi cat has an interesting background. Now that we’ve mentioned they are not from Greece and have been spotted in the United States over the years‚ how did they come about? These cats originated from the domestic shorthaired cat through natural mutation. Originally‚ it was believed they mutated from the Sphynx/Devon Rex cats‚ but this was proven incorrect through DNA testing. In 2011‚ two unrelated litters were discovered in Tennessee and Virginia‚ which sparked scientists to conduct extensive testing and start a breeding program. 3. They Are Almost Entirely Hairless Some Lykoi cats are not completely hairless but have very thin patches of hair on top of their bodies. On the contrary‚ some may have dense coats. They have no undercoat‚ and the thin patches of topcoat give them a wolf-like appearance. Despite the coarse‚ shabby look‚ the hair is quite soft. Image Credit: Nynke van Holten‚ Shutterstock 4. They Shed Excessively You wouldn’t think these cats shed since they have hardly any hair‚ but it’s quite the contrary. Lykoi cats are heavy shedders and shed more than the typical domestic shorthair. They molt two to three times a year‚ and some even shed their entire coat. Interestingly‚ the hair can come back thicker or thinner each time they molt. 5. They Are Not Considered Hypoallergenic Speaking of shedding excessively‚ the Lykoi cat is not considered hypoallergenic. However‚ given they have patchy hair spots‚ they don’t shed as much dander as other cats‚ which is an allergy trigger. Still‚ don’t let the sparse hair fool you. In short‚ if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic cat (there are no truly hypoallergenic cats)‚ you’ll need to consider a different cat. Image Credit: Jaroslaw Kurek‚ Shutterstock 6. Lykoi Kittens Are Born with a Full Coat That’s right—Lykoi kittens are born with a full coat of hair‚ but they lose it around 1 to 2 weeks of age‚ at which time they go almost completely bald. Then‚ the fur starts growing back in patches. 7. They Are Rare If you’re in the market for a Lykoi‚ you’ll have trouble finding one. It’s estimated there are only 100 show-standard Lykoi cats in the world‚ and if you find one from a breeder‚ expect to pay anywhere from $1‚500 to $2‚500‚ depending on the breeder’s location. Image Credit: Eric Isselee‚ Shutterstock 8. They Have Excellent Temperaments The Lykoi is friendly‚ intelligent‚ social‚ and energetic. These cats are active and love to play. They also have a strong prey drive due to their feral background‚ and they may even pounce on you in a playful way. They are constantly on the move and are not lap cats by any means. The Lykoi is always up for fetching‚ exploring‚ hunting‚ and anything else he can get into. They can learn tricks‚ given their strong intelligence‚ but they may be somewhat aloof with strangers at first. 9. They’re Naturally Slender The Lykoi is a medium-sized cat with a slender body and weighs less than the average shorthair. The average height of a Lykoi is 8 to 10 inches‚ and the weight averages 6 to 12 pounds‚ with males weighing more than females. Image Credit: Cicafotos‚ Shutterstock 10. Training a Lykoi Is Easy Dogs are obviously easier to train than most cats‚ but the Lykoi cat is among the few breeds that are intelligent enough to learn tricks. They have never-ending energy and don’t lay around much‚ so they are usually up for any activity. However‚ they can be independent and do things on their own terms‚ but they also love to show off. These cats are quite adaptable and can learn to get along with other pets with early socialization. Take precautions around small pets‚ like hamsters or guinea pigs‚ as the Lykoi cat has a strong prey drive. 11. They Need Frequent Baths Even though some have little hair‚ they require frequent baths. These cats are prone to skin problems due to their sparse coat and oily skin and will benefit from a bath once or twice a week to prevent blackheads. They are also susceptible to skin infections‚ making bathing these cats a vital part of their care. Image Credit: Jaroslaw Kurek‚ Shutetrstock 12. They Are Recognized by The International Cat Association The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized these cats in 2017‚ making the Lykoi cat one of the newest breeds to be recognized by the association. However‚ in order to be recognized‚ the coat color must be black; the coat colors vary between white‚ gray‚ and black‚ but black is the standard. 13. The Skin Changes Color These cats are rare gems‚ but a completely rare trait they possess is the skin changing colors. Typically‚ the skin is pink‚ but when exposed to sunlight‚ the skin changes to a darker color. Conclusion The Lykoi cat is undoubtedly one of the most interesting cats out there‚ and their unique appearance comes from a naturally occurring gene discovered not too long ago. A downfall is they are rare and hard to find‚ but if you do find one‚ you’ll have one of the most intelligent and interesting-looking wolf cats on the block. If you are looking for one‚ ensure you check your local shelters‚ as some people may mistake their appearance for a feral cat. Sources https://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/lykoi-werewolf-cat https://a-z-animals.com/animals/lykoi-cat/ https://thediscerningcat.com/lykoi/ https://lykoikitten.com/history/ https://www.catological.com/lykoi-cat-facts/ https://catingtonpost.com/werewolf-cats-10-facts-about-the-lykoi/ https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/what-to-know-about-a-lykoi https://basepaws.com/a/cat-breeds/lykoi https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-breeds/lykoi Featured Image Credit: danilobiancalana‚ Shutterstock The post 13 Surprising Lykoi Facts: Origin‚ Appearance &; More appeared first on Pet Keen.

Click to Skip Ahead Where Samoyeds Rank What Dogs Are Smarter? Samoyed Intelligence Are Samoyeds Smarter Than Average Dogs? Samoyeds are usually considered to be decently smart dogs. However‚ measuring canine intelligence is challenging‚ if not impossible. While some dogs are great at hunting‚ others may be great at police work. How do you compare the two? Often‚ when someone asks how smart a dog is‚ they’re asking how easy that breed is to train. However‚ there are many smart breeds that don’t train easily due to a lack of obedience. In other words‚ they know exactly what you’re saying‚ but don’t feel like doing it. The Samoyed falls into this category. Are Samoyeds Easy to Train? Because they are so stubborn‚ these dogs don’t train easily. That doesn’t mean they can’t be trained. You just have to be consistent and provide plenty of positive reinforcement. It’s important to teach them commands inside your regular training time and also provide plenty of real-world practice. That said‚ their training difficulties don’t mean that they aren’t smart. They just use their intelligence for different things. Furthermore‚ while this breed is often considered pretty smart‚ some breeds surpass them. For instance‚ Border Collies are some of the most intelligent dogs around and far surpass the Samoyed when it comes to intelligence. It’s also important to keep in mind that all dogs are individuals‚ and their intelligence will vary at least somewhat. Image Credit: yurakrasil‚ Shutterstock Where Do Samoyeds Rank? As we’ve stated‚ it is incredibly challenging to rank canine intelligence. It can even be challenging to figure out exactly what “intelligence” is when it comes to canines and other species. However‚ there have been several attempts to rank dogs in terms of intelligence. Usually‚ these tests rank dog breeds based on how long it takes them to learn a new command. Therefore‚ dogs that are not great at training tend to get the short end of the stick. The Samoyed is often one of these. What Dogs Are Smarter? While the Samoyed is pretty smart‚ there are plenty of other breeds that are smarter. For instance‚ the Golden Retriever and Border Collie are all smarter by quite a bit‚ along with 30—40 other breeds. Breeds that are very obedient‚ like the German Shepherd‚ tend to do very well in obedience trials. After all‚ they were literally bred to listen to commands‚ so they tend to do very good at it. Once again‚ there are lots of variances in the same breed. However‚ intelligence is at least partially genetic‚ especially in dog breeds. Therefore‚ purebred dogs tend to have about the same intelligence as other members of their breed. You may find some outliers‚ but they are rare and usually don’t fall too far from the tree. How Are Samoyeds Smart? As we’ve touched on a little bit‚ all dog breeds are bred to do different things. A hunting breed will be much better at hunting than following commands. Obedience simply wasn’t what the dog was bred for. Samoyeds are known for being very versatile. They were bred to herd livestock in colder regions by themselves. Unlike Border Collies‚ they weren’t bred to work closely with people so‚ they don’t respond as readily to training and tend to be very independent. Of course‚ this independence does well when they need to make decisions by themselves‚ whether they’re herding livestock or just hanging out at home. However‚ that also means that they’re likely to come to their own conclusions instead of just listening to whatever you say. They may ignore a command because they don’t think they should do it‚ for one reason or another. This trait makes them hard to train and is why they are often not recommended for first-time owners. It doesn’t mean they aren’t intelligent‚ though. In fact‚ this breed can be incredibly intelligent in some cases‚ such as when they need to problem-solve. Image Credit: Monika Hodanova‚ Shutterstock Are Samoyeds Smarter Than the Average Dog? The Samoyed is more intelligent than average. According to most tests‚ this breed can outperform two-thirds of all dog breeds. Therefore‚ they would be somewhere in the 70% percentile in terms of intelligence. Keep in mind‚ this is just looking at breeds as a whole. There is no way to test every dog’s intelligence in the world and then take an average from that. However‚ studies have found an average intelligence for a range of dog breeds‚ and we can use those averages to figure out an average for all dogs. While dogs do vary within their breed‚ they don’t vary that much. The point of a purebred dog breed is for all the dog’s traits to be predictable‚ including their intelligence. Final Thoughts More intelligent dogs are better at picking up on new commands. This trait is great for those training service dogs or competing in obedience competitions. However‚ very intelligent dogs can also be very overwhelming and high-maintenance. They require tons of mental stimulation‚ or they may become bored and destructive. They may also figure out things that you don’t want them to‚ such as how to open doors. Therefore‚ just because Samoyeds aren’t the most intelligent breed doesn’t mean you should write them off. They’re still great dogs‚ and they require less mental stimulation than the smartest breeds. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-smiling-Samoyed https://thesmartcanine.com/are-Samoyeds-smart/ Featured Image Credit: Evgeniia Shikhaleeva‚ Shuttestock The post How Smart Is a Samoyed? Canine Intelligence Facts &; FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.

12/08/2023 Updated the LoL Arena tier list to show the current top ten team comps. What are the best team comps in the League of Legends Arena mode? Arena is a 2v2v2v2 competition‚ pitting four teams of two champions against each other in increasingly deadly rounds until only one remains. It’s all-action‚ and frankly‚ a ton of fun‚ but it can be extremely tough if you don’t know what team compositions work well‚ as what works on the Rift doesn’t necessarily work in the Arena. The free PC game doesn’t add new game modes very often‚ and what they did have (Twisted Treeline) was removed a long time ago to consolidate the playlists. Arena mode‚ however‚ gained huge support with its initial limited release‚ with peons like us‚ creators‚ and even pros testing their combat prowess in League of Legends’ frenetic mode. If you plan on stepping into the Arena‚ you’re going to want to know what kind of team composition works best‚ as choosing ineffectual champions will mean an early exit for you and your partner. Here’s our opinion on what League of Legends team comps work best in Arena‚ as well as an exclusive from the devs at Riot. Continue reading LoL Arena tier list – best team comps according to Riot and us MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends Season 14‚ League of Legends patch 13.23‚ League of Legends tier list

Payday 3 hasn't had a smooth launch‚ with the previous game in the series Payday 2 still going strong and the brand-new Den of Wolves‚ announced at The Game Awards by former series developers‚ looking to rival it with a sci-fi twist. So PCGamesN had the chance to ask one of the Den of Wolves team‚ Simon Viklund‚ what they thought of Payday 3's launch‚ and how they want to rival it once Starbreeze gets its groove back. Continue reading Payday 3 rival Den of Wolves dev says Starbreeze “played it very safe” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best co-op games on PC‚ The best crime games on PC‚ The best FPS games

The Day Before Steam reviews are scathing‚ blunt‚ and enough to condemn the Fntastic zombie game - which was billed as an MMO‚ but plays more like an extraction shooter - to the all-time bottom ten on Valve’s storefront. After launching into early access on Thursday‚ December 7‚ following a lengthy hype period that catapulted The Day Before to number two on the Steam wishlist chart‚ Fntastic’s proposed sandbox survival sim now bears an ‘overwhelmingly negative’ rating‚ as players criticize everything from inaccessible servers‚ buggy maps‚ lack of other players and enemies‚ and a broken inventory system. The Day Before Discord server was previously locked down as bug reports and feedback flooded in. Now‚ Fntastic shares a new statement‚ describe the early access release as “quite challenging.” Continue reading The Day Before is officially one of the worst-rated Steam games ever MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC survival games‚ Best PC zombie games‚ The Day Before release date

What are the Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion system requirements? Another Final Fantasy remake is set for release soon‚ and we now know exactly what it'll take to run it. Thankfully‚ Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is going to be a breeze for most gaming PCs and laptops to run. Part of the Final Fantasy VII universe - a prequel‚ to be exact - Crisis Core Reunion is a remake of the original game‚ with a complete overhaul in line with that of the FF7 update. You won't need one of the best graphics cards to run it‚ and frankly‚ the system requirements as a whole are a very low bar to clear. Continue reading Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Final Fantasy games‚ Best RPG games ‚ Final Fantasy 7: Remake review

When is the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League release date? The upcoming Suicide Squad game is the follow-up to Rocksteady’s iconic Batman: Arkham series. Promising a roster of heroes gone bad‚ intriguing cooperative combat‚ and plenty of self-aware‚ irreverent humor‚ there’s a lot to be excited about‚ and we've compiled all the information about it right here. Set in a chaos-covered Metropolis‚ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League flips the script on who’s good and evil in the DC universe. In a twist on the usual superhero game format‚ we're tasked with bringing down the corrupt versions of the iconic heroes from the Justice League. It seems the only group capable and vaguely willing to stop them is a new ragtag Suicide Squad‚ assembled by the ruthless Amanda Waller. After the brilliant Arkham series‚ we're expecting big things from what could be one of the best PC games of next year. Here’s everything we know so far about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League‚ including the release date‚ trailers‚ gameplay‚ and more. Continue reading Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League release date‚ gameplay‚ trailers MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Upcoming PC games‚ Kill the Justice League release date‚ Best PC games