Olmec Era Feline Monolith in Chalcatzingo, Mexico

“Spectacular” Three-Cat Monolith Unearthed in Mexico Giant carving may have been part of a monumental wall crawling with felines. The “Triad of Felines” carved rock found in Chalcatzingo, Mexico. Photograph from INAH via AP, Ker Than, for National Geographic News, Published August 1, 2011 With a little help from archaeologists, three giant cats have slunk into view after spending [...]

Are Males Really Necessary? Good News for the Future of the Y-Chromosome

Men Can Rest Easy: Sex Chromosomes Are Here to Stay ScienceDaily (May 8, 2012) — Fears that sex-linked chromosomes, such as the male Y chromosome, are doomed to extinction have been refuted in a new genetic study which examines the sex chromosomes of chickens. The study, published May 12 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy [...]

Portuguese Women’s Skulls Differ North to South

Significant Skull Differences Between Closely Linked Groups ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2012) — In order to accurately identify skulls as male or female, forensic anthropologists need to have a good understanding of how the characteristics of male and female skulls differ between populations. A new study from North Carolina State University shows that these differences can be [...]

Drugs, Athletics, College Students, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Stimulants vs Steroids  Many college students over the last 50 years (at the very  least) have resorted to one or another stimulant to increase their wakefulness while studying for tests.  There is little argument that these substances increase alertness.  The military uses amphetamine-like substances for long flights and other missions where alertness is critical.   [...]

The Origin of Marriage (And the Evolution of Divorce)

While observing a course at a community college, the professor assigned some preparatory survey questions to students on their attitudes toward marriage, divorce, fidelity and their expectations for the future.   The purpose of the discussion, seemingly innocent, served to illuminate the difference between the perceptions of (mostly) unmarried students to the realities of a 50% [...]

Ashaninka: A People in Transition Adapting to the Internet

There are many stories documenting the sad story of the indigenous people of Brazil and Peru moving into a soft focus of the past as the economics and culture of the 21st century renders them redundant.  This is not such a story.  Although the bell of change and time cannot be unrung, the people can use their [...]

Preserving the Mayan Languages and Culture

Guatemala: The Maya In Guatemala, a country ravaged by civil war for most of the past 50 years, the Mayans make up around half of the population. But the fields of education, politics and the media all belong exclusively to the Spanish language, while smiling white faces and messages in Spanish look down on the [...]

Question: Is Free Will Free?

I’ve read Scientific American for over xx years.  Long enough to remember when it was a hard read for a 13 year old.  SciAm has become a lot more accessible over the years and so it should.  I also remember when the news was news  - and not an entertainment profit center.   Back on [...]

Trayvon Martin's Death and What it Says About Race, Privilege, and Homicide

Reblogged from CrimeDime: Trayvon Martin’s death is inextricably bound up in his age, his hoodie, and his race. An older white woman, even in a hoodie, would not have been a likely target for George Zimmerman. But Trayvon, in his youth, his masculinity, and his racial identity as an African-American, fulfilled the stereotype of the [...]

Pot Smoking in America: 1960s

Long Ago and Far Away I recall the method to smuggle pot back East in the mid 60′s was to find a preppy-looking couple, some clothes (Ivy league), a set of matching luggage, a pound of baby powder, and put them on a plane from LAX to NY, Philly, or Boston. (Pot was $10/lid [oz] in [...]