I would respectfully disagree that politics is a driver of intelligence!
Quote from: eric z on 10/20/2017 07:46 pm I would respectfully disagree that politics is a driver of intelligence! I know you say it in jest, but it was a good point ... something I hadn't considered before. Politics could well be a driver of evolution. Intelligence is extremely expensive, a bit like a peacock's feathers. In many species power is the main driver of sexual selection, and we even see that today, where physically old and unfit politicians in positions of power still have sexual relations with young, fit, and healthy members of the opposite sex who are attracted to them solely through power.That's not a commentary on life, just an analysis on how intelligence could be sexually selected for, and how politics could potentially exaggerate that.
Quote from: Dao Angkan on 10/20/2017 08:41 pmQuote from: eric z on 10/20/2017 07:46 pm I would respectfully disagree that politics is a driver of intelligence! I know you say it in jest, but it was a good point ... something I hadn't considered before. Politics could well be a driver of evolution. Intelligence is extremely expensive, a bit like a peacock's feathers. In many species power is the main driver of sexual selection, and we even see that today, where physically old and unfit politicians in positions of power still have sexual relations with young, fit, and healthy members of the opposite sex who are attracted to them solely through power.That's not a commentary on life, just an analysis on how intelligence could be sexually selected for, and how politics could potentially exaggerate that.It isn't really my idea, just something I keep hearing. "Politics" might not be exactly the right word. I think for a while there was an almost-assumption that the evolution of intelligence was all about tool-making but I think that has gone out of favour.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_human_intelligence#Models
Hollywood films and science fiction literature fuel the belief that aliens are monster-like beings, who are very different to humans. But new research suggests that we could have more in common with our extra-terrestrial neighbours, than initially thought.In a new study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology scientists from the University of Oxford show for the first time how evolutionary theory can be used to support alien predictions and better understand their behaviour. They show that aliens are potentially shaped by the same processes and mechanisms that shaped humans, such as natural selection.The theory supports the argument that foreign life forms undergo natural selection, and are like us, evolving to be fitter and stronger over time.Sam Levin, a researcher in Oxford’s Department of Zoology, said: ‘A fundamental task for astrobiologists (those who study life in the cosmos) is thinking about what extra-terrestrial life might be like. But making predictions about aliens is hard. We only have one example of life - life on Earth -- to extrapolate from. Past approaches in the field of astrobiology have been largely mechanistic, taking what we see on Earth, and what we know about chemistry, geology, and physics to make predictions about aliens.
If an emissary from an extraterrestrial civilization came to Earth and wanted to remain incognito while observing our progress towards the stars, what cover would it choose?Running a website dedicated to exploration of outer space would not be the worst way to collect intelligence, for evaluation and scheduled reports to send "home".
Doesn't matter, all the aliens I've seen speak English.
Quote from: Alpha_Centauri on 11/09/2017 12:16 amDoesn't matter, all the aliens I've seen speak English.Except for the ones in Arrival (2106), they speak in circles.
Quote from: cosmicvoid on 11/10/2017 11:37 pmQuote from: Alpha_Centauri on 11/09/2017 12:16 amDoesn't matter, all the aliens I've seen speak English.Except for the ones in Arrival (2106), they speak in circles.Yeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.
Quote from: Star One on 11/11/2017 07:52 pmYeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.Seriously?
Yeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.
I watched that last week. If someone pays you to watch that movie, you're being ripped off.
Quote from: Lar on 11/12/2017 12:10 amQuote from: Star One on 11/11/2017 07:52 pmYeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.Seriously?You're history's greatest monster.
Quote from: QuantumG on 11/12/2017 12:17 amQuote from: Lar on 11/12/2017 12:10 amQuote from: Star One on 11/11/2017 07:52 pmYeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.Seriously?You're history's greatest monster.Just for the sake of clarity not everyone can see a film straightaway as it usually takes a while for a film to get onto terrestrial TV over here in the UK. I do have Netflix but it’s not on the UK schedule and I also have SKY satellite but not the film channels due to cost. But that said it was a bit of a silly comment I suppose by me.
Quote from: Star One on 11/12/2017 08:35 amQuote from: QuantumG on 11/12/2017 12:17 amQuote from: Lar on 11/12/2017 12:10 amQuote from: Star One on 11/11/2017 07:52 pmYeah thanks for ruining the film for me with your inconsiderate post.Seriously?You're history's greatest monster.Just for the sake of clarity not everyone can see a film straightaway as it usually takes a while for a film to get onto terrestrial TV over here in the UK. I do have Netflix but it’s not on the UK schedule and I also have SKY satellite but not the film channels due to cost. But that said it was a bit of a silly comment I suppose by me.You probably didn't notice the typo (since trimmed) in the original post. Unless you're a time-travelling alien.