Curiosity, Horses and Hypochondria | Scientific American

Curiosity, Horses and Hypochondria

By Laura Helmuth

Did you develop up round horses? If not, your mother and father or grandparents or greats most likely did. Till very just lately, horses had been our fundamental technique of transportation and labor. People have been looking horses since round 300,000 years in the past, however when did our relationship with them change from predator-prey to companion? New ar­­chaeological and genetic discoveries have modified the understanding of horse domestication. Quite than a gradual course of that started round 6,000 years in the past, domestication appears to have occurred shortly, round 4,000 years in the past, and it abruptly modified commerce routes, know-how and conquest. Archaeozoologist William T. Taylor shares his personal analysis and pulls collectively proof from burial websites, bits, genes and human historical past to point out how horses made the trendy world.

Don’t you find it irresistible when mathematicians work out an issue after which understand nature beat them to it? In a enjoyable and superbly illustrated story, science author Elise Cutts reveals how three-dimensional shapes with minimal corners can match collectively to fill an area. It’s one other new perception from the sphere of tessellation, which has been on a tear just lately. (You could keep in mind our story within the January 2024 concern about newfound Einstein tiles, shapes that may match collectively infinitely with out repeating a sample.) The iridescent wash on our illustrations might remind you of nautilus shells, which comprise the newly outlined shapes.

The ocean has absorbed about 25 p.c of the carbon dioxide launched by fossil-fuel burning for the reason that industrial revolution started. This has slowed the tempo of worldwide warming—giving us sufficient time to repair it, we hope. Scientists have speculated for many years that it may very well be attainable to extend the speed of absorption, and now marine carbon dioxide elimination efforts are starting at scale. Oceanographer Jaime B. Palter describes methods being examined or applied now to soak up extra of the CO₂ within the ocean so it will probably pull extra CO₂ from our environment, with useful, elegant graphics.

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Hypochondria is a severe well being situation that’s beginning to get extra respectful, insightful and efficient remedies. The time period can discuss with extreme fears about getting an sickness or anxiousness that some symptom is an indication of a catastrophic well being situation. Folks affected by a brand new kind of hypochondria referred to as cyberchondria spend inordinate quantities of time learning medical circumstances on-line or visiting a number of medical doctors. Like different anxiousness issues, hypochondria might be disruptive and tormenting. It may possibly frustrate physicians who can’t discover a “real” situation to diagnose and deal with. Well being reporter Joanne Silberner covers the newest findings on the best way to diagnose and deal with hypochondria, together with recommendation for individuals who wish to assist somebody with the situation.

Offshore oil rigs have turn out to be havens for fish, shrimp, mussels, anemones, and extra, serving as synthetic reefs in in any other case open water. Within the Gulf of Mexico, they’ve allowed purple snapper and different species to develop their ranges and populations. When it’s time to decommission an oil rig, the platform and higher a part of its help construction might be eliminated, leaving the underside half to the fishes. California now faces a troublesome choice over whether or not to “rig-to-reef” a few of its growing old offshore rigs. Freelance author Asher Radziner explains the stakes, the science and the controversy.

Curiosity has been difficult to check as a result of it’s exhausting to outline precisely what it’s. It’s a need to realize data and cut back uncertainty, certain, however it’s additionally one thing scrumptious and stimulating and enjoyable. I think all of you’ll rating excessive on any curiosity scale—studying in regards to the world by way of science is without doubt one of the greatest methods to fulfill curiosity … and encourage much more of it. Scientific American Science of Well being columnist Lydia Denworth explores how curiosity influences reminiscence and studying, what mind states underlie it, and the best way to assist younger individuals develop it.