Well the headline is cheeky, but highlights the similarity between humans and other primates. Findings, published in Current Biology, suggest we may have under-estimated the intelligence of our closest living relatives. Research suggests chimpanzees have an extraordinary photographic memory that is far superior to ours. Young chimps outperformed university students in memory tests devised by …
Continue reading Humans not as smart as monkeys …
Category:7 Holonics and Life
Another euthanasia for love
A 77-year-old Italian man shot dead his wife as she lay in hospital because he could not stand to see her suffer. The man shot his 82-year-old wife, who had Alzheimer’s disease, three times in full view of medical staff. His wife had been diagnosed eight years ago with the degenerative and irreversible brain disorder, …
Continue reading Another euthanasia for love
International education study released: PIRLS and TIMSS
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study was just released. It is a wide survey focusing on primary school reading standards, conducted every five years. It also surveys aspects such as how safe children feel. At right is a summary table extracted from the press release pack (zip). The executive summary is here. Other links …
Continue reading International education study released: PIRLS and TIMSS
Literacy is declining rapidly in developed economies.
The following extract from PPI Trade Fact of the Week makes sobering reading. While the data is for the US, I am sure that it reflects similar trends in other wealthy nations, certainly anglophone ones. The culprits of declining literacy are presumably attractive TV, movies and video games combined with lowering of scholarship standards by …
Continue reading Literacy is declining rapidly in developed economies.
Nature’s Investment Bank – marine habitats
The Nature Conservancy has published a report Nature’s Investment Bank, which examines four marine protection areas in Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines and the Solomon Islands, to assess what constitutes a successful community conservation scheme that provides sustainable economics. Research into four successful schemes showed that getting villagers involved in protection projects reduced harmful overfishing and protected …
Continue reading Nature’s Investment Bank – marine habitats
Addicted
I’m addicted, you’re addicted, we’re all addicted. But not addicted to love, sadly. We might like to think that we’re immune, but facing the truth, we must own up that our addictions are open secrets. Let’s touch a few bases to see where addiction might be in our lives. From personal to popular, from body …
Continue reading Addicted
Oxfam report urges pragmatic drug pricing in emerging economies
A new report by Oxfam, Investing for life: Meeting poor people’s needs for access to medicines through responsible business practices, urges pharmaceutical companies to lower retail prices for drug in emerging economies. At current levels, the drugs are not affordable by 85% of people who could benefit from them, and whose alternative is often death. …
Continue reading Oxfam report urges pragmatic drug pricing in emerging economies
Lower stress and lower calories to live longer, again
New research again supports the notion that eating less and having lower stress are significant factors in extending longevity. In a study detailed in the journal Nature, US scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, exposed nematode worms were exposed to 88,000 chemicals in turn and mianserin, an antidepressant drug, extended lifespan by …
Continue reading Lower stress and lower calories to live longer, again
Weight influences self-esteem in young children because of social pressure
A study Girls shout out! Under ten and under pressure, published by Girlguiding UK and eating disorders charity beat, found girls associated being overweight with being bullied and sad, while families and friends make them feel happy and good about themselves. Girls as young as seven believe being slim and attractive will mean you are …
Continue reading Weight influences self-esteem in young children because of social pressure
Education should provide more support for experiential learning over academics in early years
Dr Lilian Katz, a professor of education at the University of Illinois, USA who addressed an international conference on foundation-stage learning at the University of Oxford, spoke out against plans to teach reading at pre-school and said there is a danger that children could be put off reading for life. She said: “The evidence we …
Continue reading Education should provide more support for experiential learning over academics in early years