Evolution, future cities and human "superpowers"
#312 Outriders Magazine
Evolution based on collaboration and human superpowers
Scientists from the University of California have discovered that some individuals possess abilities that go beyond the norm and can be considered "superpowers". For instance, sherpas living in the Himalayas can survive in an atmosphere with 40% less oxygen than sea-level regions. They have evolved to maintain low levels of red blood cells in their blood. Meanwhile, Bajau from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia can dive underwater longer than most without diving equipment. Studies indicate that they can stay submerged for up to 13 minutes and dive to a depth of up to 70 meters, probably due to their larger spleen, which stores a reserve of oxygenated red blood cells.
Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Silvertown suggests that many phenomena in the natural world, including certain types of predation and parasitism, are based on cooperation. The fact that humans, animals, and even single-celled organisms work together to survive indicates that there is more to life than competition and natural selection. Cooperation occurs because, from a biological standpoint, mutual benefits are better than working alone, as demonstrated by the example of humpback whales grazing herring and other fish before feeding on them.
Research conducted at the Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands indicates that genes involved in early brain development can influence brain asymmetry and mental health. Individuals with schizophrenia are almost twice as likely to be left- or ambidextrous, and they are about three times more likely to develop autism.
Cities of the future in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian government plans to build a new city called "The Line," a long, linear city made of glass in the desert. Initially planned to be 170 km long, but by 2030, it will only be 2.4 km long. The city will ultimately be home to about 9 million people and will cover almost 34 km2. However, there have been some issues with the project, including at least one contractor laying off workers and ongoing turnover in decision-making positions. Additionally, the project's cost, estimated to be $1.5 trillion, may require more funding.
Egypt is also building a new city and tourist resort on the Ras el-Hekma peninsula on the Mediterranean coast. The city will be 170 km2, including an airport, and can accommodate up to 8 million tourists annually. The United Arab Emirates' ADQ sovereign wealth fund is financing the project. Egypt also plans to construct 38 "smart cities" by 2050, including The New Administrative Capital (NAC), which will feature the tallest skyscrapers in Africa and a Ministry of Defense building seven times larger than the US Pentagon.
British design studio Layer Joyn has developed a project for the future of urban transportation: an autonomous ridesharing platform for ridesharing companies. The vehicle features eight S-shaped seats that divide the car into two rows facing different directions. The headrests serve as privacy screens, and the app allocates free space.
Student integration in Senegal and corruption in Indian education
In Maharashtra, India's most prosperous state, cheating during exams for lower government jobs prevents candidates from escaping the agricultural crisis. It happens that over a million people apply for a job, and just over 850,000 candidates take the exam for 4,600 vacancies. Some pass dozens of exams but are cheated and robbed by the private companies organizing them. According to official estimates, over 26,000 cases of farmer suicides were recorded in the region in 2013–2022 - an average of seven a day - mainly due to the crisis in agriculture and sometimes due to helplessness in the face of fraud and corruption in education.
According to a new method used in Senegal, a small number of students who are hard of hearing and with significant or profound hearing impairment attend classes with normally hearing students. The latter quickly learn sign language to communicate with their friends. The United Nations Children's Fund claims that approximately 60% of Senegalese children with disabilities do not go to school, which is also related to the stigma with which they are associated.
According to American scientists], children aged two to five who live near forests, parks, and gardens may suffer less from anxiety, loneliness, and depression than children who do not live near green areas. That association persisted even after considering factors such as the socioeconomic status of the neighbourhood and the parents' education and age at the time of the children's birth.
Unmanned aerial vehicles in armed conflicts
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has more than doubled the production of unique systems to deter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Over the last year, the demand for such systems has quadrupled. As a consequence, private companies, particularly those in the oil and gas sector, are seeking to protect themselves from increasing drone attacks by the Ukrainian army. The main targets of these attacks are oil refineries.
Military drones have significantly changed the way warfare is conducted in Africa. In recent years, African governments have acquired a more significant number of unmanned aircraft. However, the number of civilian casualties has also increased, from 149 people in 2020 to 1,418 last year. The drone models used by most African governments are much cheaper than fighter jets, such as the Iranian Shaheds (costing several hundred thousand dollars), Chinese Wing Loong II ($1-2 million) or Turkish TB2 Bayraktar (up to $6 million). However, the cost to citizens is much higher.
Due to the high prices and insufficient effectiveness of American drones, Ukraine is increasingly choosing unmanned aerial vehicles from China. Despite China's close alliance with Russia, Kyiv has found a way to import tens of thousands of drones and the necessary parts from there. Many American commercial drones are much more expensive than the Chinese model and are too easily detected by Russian defences.
Bird populations in the world and the impact of human activities
A group of experts from Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, and Spain have researched bird species and their vulnerability to human-dominated habitats. The study examined around 6,000 bird species worldwide and found that 80% are at risk of being negatively impacted by urbanization, air pollution, and climate change. While some species can adapt, many others are vulnerable to these factors, and even those that are currently thriving may become endangered or extinct due to increasing human pressure.
Another study conducted in the USA has found that flame retardants previously added to furniture and withdrawn from use ten years ago still accumulate in the organisms and eggs of birds, such as peregrine falcons. The study revealed that the most common flame retardant found in falcon eggs was polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), indicating that these chemicals continue accumulating in marine and terrestrial food chains.
Though the challenges are significant, there is positive news from the UK. The hen harrier population is recovering, but the illegal hunting of these predators threatens this recovery. Hen harriers are hunted since they eat red grouse chicks, which hunters target during the shooting season. The RSPB Birdcrime report shows that 71% of confirmed cases of hunting birds of prey occurred in areas intended for shooting game birds. The Scottish government has taken a step towards conservation by introducing licensing for shooting black grouse in the country. The RSPB and conservationists are advocating for similar legislation to be introduced in England.
How climate change affects agriculture and grapes
Farmers in India are adopting natural farming methods to mitigate the impact of extreme weather conditions. The state of Andhra Pradesh is a prime example of the benefits of such solutions. Organic matter is used as fertilizers and pesticides, making crops more resilient to unfavourable weather. This method results in soil absorbing more water and more robust roots that help plants withstand strong winds. A mixture of cow urine, unrefined sugar (jaggery), and other organic materials is used to protect crops such as corn, rice, and vegetables.
Over the past 18 months, British farmers have experienced exceptionally wet weather conditions, significantly damaging crops and livestock. The Met Office reports that from October 2022 to March 2024, an unprecedented 1,696 mm of rain fell, marking the highest recorded rainfall in 1.5 years. This weather pattern has forced the UK to rely on wheat imports, and farmers have warned of the potential for food shortages.
Warmer and drier conditions have led to a decrease in areas suitable for growing grapes. According to specialists from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, if the world does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, up to 90% of traditional wine-growing regions in Spain, Italy, Greece, and southern California could be at risk due to extreme warming scenarios. However, grapevines are highly adaptable and can grow in various climates and conditions.
Strikes and doctor shortages in Italy, Kenya and South Korea
Around 100 Argentine doctors have moved to Sicily due to the problems facing local hospitals and healthcare in Italy and the economic collapse in Argentina. For many of these doctors, it is a return to their roots. It marks the completion of the migration circle, as their ancestors left Italy and immigrated to Argentina years ago. The arrival of these doctors has prevented the closure of hospitals in places like Mussomeli, ensuring that around 75,000 people have access to healthcare. Recent data shows a shortage of approximately 30,000 doctors in Italy in 2023.
In mid-March this year, Kenyan doctors went on a nationwide strike to demand better pay and working conditions. However, the country's authorities claimed they lacked the financial resources to meet their demands. As a result, Kenyatta University Referral Hospital in Nairobi dismissed 100 doctors who participated in the strike and replaced them with new staff.
In South Korea, several thousand doctors and interns are protesting against the government's plan to increase the number of places in medical schools in Seoul. These strikes are worsening healthcare, as the country has been facing a shortage of medical professionals for years. It is estimated that since 2017, around 3,750 patients have died because hospitals refused to provide care, as the doctor-to-population ratio in South Korea is one of the worst among developed countries. Interestingly, South Korea has kept the number of medical students the same for the past 20 years despite the booming medical tourism industry and the country's plastic surgery and cosmetics industries.
Persecution of Sunnis in Iran, racism and dementia and Hindus in the USA
During Eid al-Fitr, which ends Ramadan and is the most important Muslim holiday, Sunnis, who constitute 10% of Iran's population, emphasise that they have few rights in the country. They face discrimination; they have limited chances to practise their religion, they do not have a mosque in Tehran, and they are not allowed to hold significant political offices, establish political parties or publish their newspapers. Shiite Islam dominates in Iran, as in Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain. In other countries, the most numerous are Sunnis, who constitute approximately 85-90% of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.
A series of deaths and murders in the Indian community in the United States, mainly among students, are explained, among others, by racism and prejudice. The number of fatalities this year is estimated at six to 10 people. According to Indian student Jaswant Singh, racism against Indians has been increasing in the US over the last few years. "Somehow, there is a lot of prejudice against Indians because the locals think we are taking their jobs, and they don't always like our culture," says Singh.
According to American scientists, racial discrimination and the stress associated with it may increase the risk of dementia among black Americans. Meanwhile, in England, black women are six times more likely to suffer the most severe birth complications than white women, and black and Asian people who notice symptoms of cancer take twice as long to be diagnosed as white people.