Evolution

Hunting is considered a key human adaptation and is thought to have influenced our anatomy, physiology and behavior over time. This symposium explores the evidence pertaining to the origins of hominin hunting. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33575]

Across the tree of life, we can trace cancer vulnerabilities back to the origins of multicellularity. Cancer is observed in almost all multicellular phyla, including lineages leading to plants, fungi, and animals. However, species vary remarkably in their susceptibility to cancer. Amy Boddy (UCSB Integrated Anthropological Sciences Unit) discusses how this variation in cancer susceptibility is characterized by life history trade-offs, as cancer defense mechanisms are a major component of a body's maintenance. She also looks at how understanding these trade-offs in the context of evolution may help explain the variability we see in cancer susceptibility across human populations. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 34028]

Over hundreds if not thousands of years, a group of Southeast Asian sea nomads known for their deep-diving prowess has evolved a solution to increasing their underwater time: larger spleens. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Science] [Show ID: 34023]

Hunting is considered a key human adaptation and is thought to have influenced our anatomy, physiology and behavior over time. This symposium explores the evidence pertaining to the origins of hominin hunting. Chimpanzees living at the Fongoli, Senegal site are the only nonhuman apes thus far that routinely hunt vertebrate prey with tools. Jill Pruetz, Texas State University. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33574]

How it is possible for imagination to have practical social effects? The great potential size of human societies, in contrast to those of other primates, is due to a kind of shared imagination of which kinship and religion are important examples, says Maurice Bloch, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics. Bloch says that the shared imaginary emerges in normal life at certain moments yet is still governed by the potential of imagination. The lecture is illustrated by Bloch’s experience of an isolated village in Madagascar. [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 33941]

By measuring patterns of species diversity in ecosystems that differ in age and human impact, insect ecologist Rosemary Gillespie says we can start to understand what features of a natural community provide stability in the face of intrusions driven by climate change and other threats from our own species. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Science] [Show ID: 33075]

A fascinating look at how the Kennis brothers combine science and imagination to reconstruct ancient hominins.

Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33814]

Alysson Muotri of UC San Diego's Stem Cell Program discusses his work creating cortical organoids from modern humans as well as organoids with genetic characteristics similar to Neanderthal to compare differences in neural development. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33815]

This symposium explores the evolutionary origins of human imagination, its impact on the sciences and arts, the consequences of imagination impairment, and the fundamental genetic and neurological basis of human imagination. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33820]

This symposium explores the evolutionary origins of human imagination, its impact on the sciences and arts, the consequences of imagination impairment, and the fundamental genetic and neurological basis of human imagination. Pauline Wiessner, Arizona State University, compares day and night conversations and activities of the Kalahari Bushmen to better understand what transpires at during firelit hours and how the atmosphere of the night around hearths draws people into the domain of the imagination Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 33813]