​Has the Earth naturally moved toward global cooling or warming? Nobody knows ● Humans don’t hibernate, but they need more sleep in winter ● Why do chimpanzees hold hands?

Was the earth naturally headed for global cooling or warming? No one knows

There is no doubt that global temperatures have risen since the Industrial Revolution. We know this because measurements have been taken. And over the last century, the global temperature has risen on average by about 1 degree Celsius. Well, what happened before that? It turns out that the answer is more complicated than it seems.

Until the 70s of the last century, there was talk of global cooling, climatic fluctuations that were supposed to bring us closer to a new ice age, because also on average warm interglacial periods, such as the Holocene, in which we are now. living, they lasted an average of about 10,000 years. Hypothetically, human actions have accelerated the process of global warming, changing the natural course of things. But was it really so?

To find out the answer, two researchers from the University of Arizona put on paper in the journal Nature almost everything that is known about the climate from 11,700 years ago (the beginning of the Holocene) to the present day. Obviously, in the absence of specific measurements, they had to rely on two different methods for most of this range.

First, there are natural indicators: tree rings, marine sediments, foraminifera, glacier samples, stalagmites, etc., all of which contain evidence of past climate fluctuations. The second method is climate models, computer and mathematical simulations that take into account phenomena occurring in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and other spheres to present the overall picture of temperature fluctuations.

The result did not enlighten anyone. In the sense that we have two different answers, even diametrically opposed. Natural indicators show that the peak of warming occurred about 6,000-2,000 years ago, followed by a gradual, slow cooling until the 19th century. In short, 6000 years ago it was 0.7 degrees Celsius warmer than today.

On the other hand, climate models show a small but steady warming around 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the advent of agriculture. Which one is the best? We’ll have to wait until we find out.

People do not hibernate, but in winter they need more sleep

About two years ago, a controversial study signed by several Greek and Spanish researchers (among other things, one of them is even a big name in the world of prehistorians, Jean-Louis Arzuaga), caused a stir, causing discussion of the possibility that Neanderthals, in their primitive versions , could fall into hibernation.

This hypothesis is unlikely, but it remains. Regarding Homo sapiens, both past and especially modern, we know for sure that no one hibernates. Some are still sleeping, you can swear that they have fallen into hibernation, but, no, you should not give such scientific verdicts.

However, the conclusion of some German professors from the Medical University in Berlin was interesting, and in a study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, they claim that people’s sleep patterns change depending on the season. More precisely, we sleep more in winter. Or at least we need more sleep.

For this, the researchers analyzed a sample of 188 people with sleep disorders. They found that despite insomnia, all participants in the analysis tended to sleep an hour more during the winter.

It does not resemble winter hibernation, but it is also unclear. We’d say it’s about the circadian rhythm and that the nights are longer in winter, but no, we’re not experts in that field. Experts say that it is necessary to repeat the experiment on a new sample, this time with people without sleep disorders. Who knows what surprises there might be?

Why do chimpanzees hold hands?

An international group of primate behavior specialists from the Netherlands and Great Britain analyzed the behavior of chimpanzees, which they consider somewhat strange. More precisely, what they are clapping, holding hands, having no evolutionary roots or advantage in it.

After more than 10 years of observation and hard work, the researchers came to the conclusion that such gestures represent a culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Chickens, for example, have no idea what gestures mean. But they learn them from their mothers or by imitating other chimpanzees, and then also pass them on to their young or others.

It’s just social interaction if it does absolutely nothing to help them in their struggle for survival. That’s why there are different ways to do it, and gestures vary from group to group or even within the same community.

Interestingly, despite being conservative in this regard, the chimpanzees showed no signs of excitement when they saw other ways of clapping or clapping than what I knew. They just love to do it. It is also observed in humans.

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