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Evolution of monogamy in humans the result of infanticide risk

By Guest PostJuly 31, 2013Nature, Sciencebayesian methods, big brain, evolution, evolution of monogamy, females, hypotheses, infanticide risk, kit opie, monogamy in humans, monogamy in primates, offspring, rival males, susanne shultz, ucl, ucl anthropology, university of auckland, university of manchester, university of oxford

The threat of infants being killed by unrelated males is the key driver of monogamy in humans and other primates.

The study by academics from UCL, University of Manchester, University of Oxford and University of Auckland, is the first to reveal this evolutionary pathway for the emergence of pair living.

The team also found that following the emergence of monogamy males are more likely to care for their offspring. Where fathers care for young, not only can they protect infants from other males, but they can also share the burden of childcare. (more…)

NASA Satellite Finds Earth’s Clouds are Getting Lower

By Guest PostFebruary 23, 2012Environmentadvanced radar, cloud climate feedback, cloud height, clouds, cloudsat, global climate, global cloud, global temperature, global warming, height measurement, indian ocean, misr, NASA, negative feedback, new zealand, roger davies, satellite data, terra spacecraft, university of auckland

Earth’s clouds got a little lower — about one percent on average — during the first decade of this century, finds a new NASA-funded university study based on NASA satellite data. The results have potential implications for future global climate.

Scientists at the University of Auckland in New Zealand analyzed the first 10 years of global cloud-top height measurements (from March 2000 to February 2010) from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA’s Terra spacecraft. The study, published recently in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, revealed an overall trend of decreasing cloud height. Global average cloud height declined by around one percent over the decade, or by around 100 to 130 feet (30 to 40 meters). Most of the reduction was due to fewer clouds occurring at very high altitudes. (more…)

Names, Not Social Networks, Bind Us to Global Cultural and Ethnic Communities

By Guest PostSeptember 12, 2011Culture, Sciencecultural baggage, electoral registers, ethnic and linguistic communities, ethnic segregation, geographical factors, global networks, linguistic population, migrant integration, name dictionary, pablo mateos, research in population genetics, social science, social stratification, surnames and forenames, telephone directories, ucl, university of auckland

Links between hundreds of millions of names belonging to people all around the world have been analysed by geographers from UCL and the University of Auckland. The results reveal how our forenames and surnames are connected in distinct global networks of cultural, ethnic and linguistic communities.

The researchers’ methods could be of use to social scientists and health researchers investigating migration, identity and integration. (more…)

Microsoft Helps Imagine Cup Competitors Turn Golden Ideas into Golden Opportunities

By Guest PostJune 23, 2011Technologyasthma, azmo the dragon, bizspark, boon sheng ooi, chase sandmann, cy khormaee, digital spirometer, dream spark, gps technology, hotel palomar, imagine cup, imagine cup 2011 worldwide finals, malaria, malaysia, measure lung capacity, Microsoft, new york city, noela evans, one beep, radha basu, rice university students, san francisco, santa clara university, silicon valley, smart phone game, team dragon, team lifelens, team spirit, Technology, university of auckland, vinny lohan, windows phone, xilnex

*Some of the brightest young technologists in the nation visited San Francisco on Wednesday to share their ideas with venture capitalists, academics and media.*

SAN FRANCISCO – June 23, 2011 – A collection of students who want to change the world with technology pitched their ideas to Silicon Valley industry experts, academics, and media on Wednesday.

Several teams of students who will participate in the July Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City got to first showcase their projects to people who could help them refine their concepts, find markets for their ideas, and eventually find investors to provide the money they will need to turn their ideas turn into viable businesses. (more…)

Tag Archives: university of auckland

Evolution of monogamy in humans the result of infanticide risk

NASA Satellite Finds Earth’s Clouds are Getting Lower

Names, Not Social Networks, Bind Us to Global Cultural and Ethnic Communities

Microsoft Helps Imagine Cup Competitors Turn Golden Ideas into Golden Opportunities