Did the Dutch find a more effective method of detecting lies? ● Was it healthier in the pre-industrial era? ● What would a culture look like that would feed everyone but save the planet?

Did the Dutch find a more effective method of detecting lies?

At least that’s what they say, that is, a team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam, as well as from Maastricht and Tilburg. On a more serious note, their paper also appeared in the journal Nature. But it is true, appearance in nature has not been a standard of correctness for some time.

As for the Dutch researchers, they claim to have conducted at least nine tests with two groups of students and more than 1,445 volunteers. Specifically, a group of students were asked to spend half an hour on campus and perform certain predetermined actions: go to the library, call a colleague, and drink coffee. Another group had a mission not to carry out these actions.

Then all students had to say that they had completed the task of the first group. They gave it, including in writing, in video interviews and even in live meetings with those who asked them. In the end, 1,445 volunteers had to identify as many people as possible who were lying.

Most of them used classic signs, namely body language (dilated pupils, rapid heart rate, sweaty palms, nervousness, hesitation, trembling voice, etc.). However, the results were not conclusive. In contrast, many interviewers did well when they started asking students about the details of their actions. As it turned out, it’s all in the details, because the liars quickly began to confuse their own statements.

I personally don’t know what the Dutch discovered, but these things have been known since the beginning of time. In addition, they are the basis of any investigation in which statements are taken from suspects. The first case that comes to mind is the Pietroasa treasure and the investigation of Anastas Tarpa, one of those who tried to appropriate the treasure. When he said that he gave it to the cartman, 19th-century researchers asked him a number of key questions: what color the horses were, what color the cartman’s clothes were, in which direction the cart was turned.

In conclusion, we can say that either through the countries of Romania there has been an incredible progress in forensic technology since the 19th century, or nature has given it another chance. By the way, about lies.

Was it healthier in the pre-industrial era?

To answer this question, several researchers from the University of California tested no fewer than 1,165 people from two indigenous communities in Bolivia, the Tsimane and Moseten, whose lifestyles remained, for the most part, similar to what they had been up to that time. industrial period.

Subjects were selected from the age group of 40-49 years, then they were transported to the nearest hospital, where they underwent several general tests: blood pressure, cholesterol, general health, etc. It is not surprising to find that these people have much lower rates of brain disease and cardiovascular disease than populations of the same age in North America or Europe.

The idea is that the indigenous people of Mozeten were introduced to modern technology and its benefits. In fact, they can be considered a transitional stage between the conservative lifestyle of the Tsimane community and modern people. And this is also clearly visible from the results of medical tests.

The conclusion of the study was that, yes, the modern world has brought a number of advantages: more varied diets, much better medical services, and so on. On the other hand, these benefits also have another side of the coin: sedentary lifestyle, stress, obesity and a host of related diseases. And hence the paradox. In particular, in the past, access to more food sources and minimal effort to obtain them led to better health, evolutionary success, longer lives, etc.

Over time, according to American researchers, people have crossed the “red line”. And this manifests itself in the occurrence of cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Essentially, they need to get back to that balance, which means not a lot of nutrients, but also physical effort to keep them in shape.

In conclusion, even this study published in PNAS does not bring us much discovery. We knew about it too. But if you also give clear examples, it works better with the native population and looks even more convincing, right?

What would a culture look like that would feed everyone but save the planet?

To restore forests at the expense of agricultural crops, but at the same time manage to feed many more people may seem like a paradox. And yet, it seems, there is a way out. At least this is what a group of researchers from the University of Stirling say in a study published in the journal PNAS.

And what would be the solution that eluded farmers everywhere? Forest mushrooms, say the Scots. And they’re not just saying that, they’re planning to convince the authorities in Scotland to plant as many trees as possible to get their project off the ground.

Lactarius indigo mushrooms would be among the best candidates for such crops of the future, according to the study. All that needs to be done is to sow them with the spores of the seedlings that will be planted. From there, nature will do its thing.

Cultivated in large quantities, mushrooms can provide water for millions of people and save the planet by significantly reducing carbon emissions. All good, at least on paper.

The fact is that not everyone agrees with the proposals of Scottish researchers. How such crops will accumulate large amounts of carbon is not yet fully understood. Then monocultures in forestry are not really the most recommended in the long run. In a word, these researchers may have been carried away by a wave of optimism.

But judgment has no death. They certainly won’t save the entire planet, but it’s important to start somewhere. Especially since there is very little time left.

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