fall – Shamskm: A site to exchange knowledge and solutions

Does it pay to be a lover or a fighter? It depends on how you woo females

As mating season approaches, male animals are faced with a question that can make or break their chances at reproducing: does it pay to be a lover or a fighter? Or both?

Researchers from The University of Manchester and Syracuse University in New York working with the University of Western Australia, found that where animals fall on the lover/fighter scale depends on how much they are able to ensure continued mating rights with females.

In species where fighting for the right to mate means greater control of females, such as in the elephant seal, males invest more in weapons and less in testes size. (more…)

Maths predicts rise and fall of empires

By Guest PostOctober 5, 2013General, Scienceafrica, americas, ancient empires, asia, cavalry, chariots, computer model, empires, Europe, evolution, evolutionary driver, fall, grid cell, human history, math, mathematical model, mathematical simulation, military innovation, old world, predict, predict the future, quantitative accuracy, rise, sergey gavrilets, simulate warfare, socio cultural evolution, tom currie, university of connecticut, university of exeter

Researchers have developed a new mathematical model that accurately describes the evolution of ancient empires.

The computer model can predict with 65% accuracy where and when the largest complex societies arose in human history.

The research, which suggests that intense warfare is the evolutionary driver of large complex societies, is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It was carried out by researchers from the University of Exeter in collaboration with University of Connecticut and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) in the US. (more…)

Tag Archives: fall

Does it pay to be a lover or a fighter? It depends on how you woo females

Maths predicts rise and fall of empires