The science news of the week: These female figurines belong to the end of the Stone Age and are considered to be among the oldest works of art. They have been found in large numbers in various parts of Europe and Asia – more than 200 are known in total, and their ages vary from 38 to 14 thousand years, but the majority were carved between 21 and 26 thousand years ago. The figures are commonly referred to as Venus, in honor of the Greek goddess of beauty, and there is a big catch, because all of them are, to put it mildly, far from the modern or even ancient Greek ideal. There is no consensus in the academic community as to what exactly they embody. Some believe that all these breasts, stomachs, thighs, and buttocks symbolize fertility, sexuality, motherhood, and yes, beauty. Others believe that this is pure realism and that our ancestors suffered from severe obesity. But researcher Richard Johnson and his colleagues at the University of Colorado decided to take a fresh look at Upper Paleolithic art. “These mysterious figures were created during the time of Ice Age hunter-gatherers, so what kind of obesity are we talking about?” says Johnson. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. Episodes The end of the story: Promotional Podcasts. In fact, many of these figures were carved during a period known as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). This was a period of maximum cold during the last Ice Age when global temperatures dropped significantly and large areas were covered by glaciers. During this period, humans faced a sharp drop in temperatures and advancing glaciers, the researchers write. They faced starvation, a sharp decline in population and, in some places, total extinction. Scientists measured the body parts of Venus figurines and then determined how far certain statues were found from ancient glaciers, and an amazing correlation was revealed. “The further away from the glacier, the more sunburned the figures looked as the glaciers advanced, the fuller the forms became as the climate became milder and the glaciers retreated, the Venus figures lost weight again,” write the authors of a new study (it’s actually kind of offensive that it was published in the journal Obesity). Based on these data, scientists have suggested that figures with such abundant forms became a symbol of survival in difficult times, when an extra layer of fat was a good protection against cold and hunger. “These figures represented the ideal of a woman who could conceive, carry, deliver, and breastfeed a child,” the study authors wrote. And if they are right, then these well known figures, handed down from generation to generation (you can tell by the wear on the hands), played a much more important symbolic role, guiding people through the most difficult times.
The departing year 2020 will, unfortunately, be remembered by most for the illnesses (and sometimes deaths) of loved ones, lockdowns, job losses, isolation, and a sense of loneliness. Humans are largely tactile beings. But at the same time, they often don’t have the opportunity to hug someone, cry on someone’s shoulder, or simply caress their head. And here, in millions of homes, cats have become successful substitutes for much-needed human interaction. As researchers from the University of South Australia write in the Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy (JBEP), in the pre-pandemic era, when social interaction was not an issue, the opportunity to cuddle and pet a pet was often taken for granted. But under conditions of sometimes complete isolation, such an opportunity has become almost the only salvation. “To overcome loneliness and reduce stress, people around the world have been actively adopting dogs and cats from shelters during the shutdown,” said research leader Dr. Janet Young. According to some estimates, more than half of the world’s inhabitants share their homes with one or more pets. Much is known about the beneficial effects of this coexistence, but one aspect has been little studied. We are talking about the same tactics. “Tactile sensation has not been thoroughly researched, Dr. Young admits, but from what we do know, it is clear that touch plays a vital role in human growth, development and health, as well as in reducing levels of cortisol – a stress hormone. It is also believed that touch plays an increasingly important role in the elderly as their other senses diminish. In surveys conducted by researchers, the overwhelming majority of respondents said that the presence of pets made them feel more relaxed and comfortable. And by the way, this is a two-way process, as many people have reported that cats and dogs will approach them, cuddle with them, jump on their laps, and give them all kinds of attention when they sense that their owners are nervous, uncomfortable, or upset. “It seems that animals themselves derive no less pleasure from tactile communication than their owners,” Yang notes. This applies not only to dogs and cats, but also to birds, sheep, horses, and even reptiles. “Animals, like people, are living, breathing creatures with their own interests, characteristics, and preferences,” the researcher continues. “And in the era of coronavirus, with its social distancing, unexpected lockdowns, and other social upheavals, pets may be the only living beings that people can touch,” Dr. Young continues. “People have an inner need to connect with others, and in the absence of that connection, animals fill the void.” According to the Australian scientists, the results of their research could be used primarily by hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes to provide their residents and patients with the opportunity to communicate with pets during isolation, thus significantly improving their psychological state.
Climate change activists have long argued that meat consumption is linked to deforestation and the release of vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading directly to ecological disaster. Animal rights activists are eager to join them. Not surprisingly, the demand for alternatives is growing rapidly, but meat is mostly being replaced by plant-based products. However, the American startup Eat Just took a different route. The company created artificial chicken schnitzels based on animal cells, and it seems they made the right choice. “Our food-grade artificial meat will be the first in Singapore, and perhaps the world,” said Josh Tetrick, the company’s founder and CEO. Until now, one of the main drawbacks of lab-grown meat has been its high cost: after all, how many people are willing to overpay for an artificial product, and no company can afford to produce such meat at a loss, nor would they want to. However, Eat Just claims to have made significant progress in reducing production costs. “From the beginning, our price has been comparable to the price of premium chicken in a good restaurant,” company officials say, without revealing the truth about how much their chops will cost when they appear on the menu of a Singaporean restaurant. At the same time, Eat Just management hopes to make lab-grown meat cheaper than natural meat in the coming years. The path to the artificial chicken has been a long one, with the company creating more than 20 trial batches in a 1200-liter bioreactor to ensure that the product grown from animal cells meets all necessary food industry standards. And Singapore was chosen because, due to limited space, there is virtually no agriculture and 90% of products are imported from abroad. But as a result, Singapore has become one of the world’s centers for experimental production, from lab-grown seafood to dumplings made with tropical fruits instead of pork.