Evolution is a fascinating and perplexing phenomenon. The idea that all mammals, including humans, are somehow connected is interesting. One that can be difficult to grasp: where do we locate evidence of evolution? There is significant evidence of our evolutionary past, which may be traced back to early primates, Neanderthals, and finally to the present Homo sapiens we have become…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
A spectacular spot to see evidence of evolution? Our own bodies!
Many of our internal and external qualities are simply inherited from our forefathers. Many of these characteristics no longer serve a useful role in our daily lives. Even while many people no longer forage for food or wander as nomads, we nevertheless retain these nearly useless traits. They were passed down to us from a time when they were necessary for survival.
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Take, for example, the unusual sensation of goosebumps. It is not a random event. When our mammalian ancestors encountered freezing temperatures, they had a well-known strategy for dealing with the situation. Goosebumps acted as a method for increasing surface area and retaining heat. When we are chilly, a muscle associated to our arm hairs contracts, forcing the hairs to stand upright and leaving bumps on the skin.
This physiological response serves no useful purpose in our current lifestyles. Aside from telling us that we should have packed a coat, modern mammals continue to exhibit this inherent tendency. For example, when faced with cold weather. You may have seen a pigeon puff up on a cold winter day, stretching out its feathers to be warm. If that’s not evidence of evolution, what is?
Furthermore, when an animal feels threatened, such as when you startle a cat, their fur puffs out. This defense mechanism is an old adaptation designed to deceive potential attackers by creating the illusion of increased size.
However, there is one characteristic that unequivocally demonstrates signs of evolution.
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One particularly astounding piece of evolutionary evidence is found in our arms, notably our tendons. A tendon has been evolutionarily phased out in over 10-15% of the human population, indicating that we are still far from the end of evolution. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
This tendon is linked to an ancient muscle called the palmaris longus, which was primarily employed by arboreal primates like lemurs and monkeys to move from branch to branch. As humans and ground-dwelling apes, such as gorillas, no longer rely on this muscle or tendon, both species have gradually lost internal function.
Image Credit: Vox / YouTube
Nonetheless, evolution moves at its own pace – slowly – and approximately 90% of humans still have this vestige trait passed down from our primate progenitor. To determine whether you have this tendon, place your forearm on a table with your palm facing upward. Place your pinky finger next to your thumb and elevate your hand slightly off the surface. If you notice a raised band in the middle of your wrist, you have a tendon attached to the still-existing palmaris longus.
If you do not detect this tendon, you are demonstrating an evolutionary change!
The existence or absence of this tendon does, in fact, provide a fascinating connection to our ancient heritage, with individuals who possess it carrying a visible link to our evolutionary past. Individuals without this tendon also provide tangible evidence of continuous human evolution.
The ways in which our bodies preserve evidence of our evolutionary history continue to astound us. It’s interesting how our physical characteristics, even those that appear unimportant or outmoded, may give profound insights into our evolutionary history.
The post If a Tendon Raises Up When You Touch Your Pinky to Your Thumb, Here’s What It Could Mean appeared first on Timeless Life.
China is telling the United States to stop acting like it’s being treated unfairly by the rest of the world. In a recent article from China Daily, they pushed back strongly against Donald Trump’s claims that other countries are cheating the US in global trade. China is saying that the US is not a victim at all, and the real problem lies within the US itself.
According to the article, the US has been living a lifestyle it can’t really afford. It buys more things than it produces, borrows money to keep its economy going, and has moved a lot of its manufacturing jobs to other countries. China argues that the US is now blaming other nations for problems it created on its own. For example, when the US sees a trade deficit — which means it buys more from a country than it sells — it assumes it’s being cheated. But China says this is a misunderstanding of how trade works.
They explain that just because the US buys more goods from other countries doesn’t mean it’s being taken advantage of. In fact, the US makes a lot of money by selling services, like tech, finance, and media, to the rest of the world. So overall, the US actually benefits from global trade more than it wants to admit…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
The article also criticizes the US for starting a trade war based on this false belief. Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods, making it more expensive for American businesses and shoppers to buy them. China responded by raising tariffs on US goods too. Instead of helping the situation, this back-and-forth has only made things worse for both sides. China describes these tariffs as reckless and harmful, saying they don’t solve anything and only create more problems. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
China is also frustrated because while the US complains about unfair treatment, it still expects to have the biggest say in how global trade is run. China believes the US wants to make all the rules, but doesn’t want to play by them. That kind of attitude, they say, is not helpful.
The article finishes by saying that instead of complaining and making threats, the US should work together with other countries to build a fair and modern trade system. One that benefits everyone, not just a few powerful countries. China’s message is clear: stop blaming others, take responsibility, and start acting like a real partner in the global economy.
On April 22, a report from the Financial Times, shared by Reuters, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to stop the war in Ukraine but only if the front lines stay where they are right now. This idea was brought up as part of talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is trying to play a role in negotiating peace.
According to the report, Putin had this conversation in St. Petersburg earlier this month with Steve Witkoff, who is known to be close to Trump and is acting as his special representative in the talks. During their meeting, Putin reportedly said that Russia might be willing to give up its claims to certain parts of Ukraine specifically, areas within four regions that are only partially controlled by Russian forces and still have Ukrainian troops in them…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
What Putin seems to be suggesting is a deal where Russia would stop advancing, and the war would basically freeze in place. That means the land Russia already controls would stay under its control, but they wouldn’t push further into Ukraine. In exchange, Russia would no longer demand the rest of the territories they originally wanted.
This is a big shift, if true, because until now, Russia has been fighting to take over more of Ukraine. Freezing the war could be seen as a way to stop the bloodshed without either side officially “winning.” But it’s important to note that neither side—Russia or Ukraine—has officially agreed to this yet, and Ukraine has said many times that they want all of their land back, including Crimea, which Russia took in 2014. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Trump’s involvement in the talks is also a major detail, since he isn’t currently president. However, with the U.S. elections coming up, it shows that behind-the-scenes discussions are already happening about what the future of the war could look like depending on who’s in charge.
So far, there hasn’t been an official confirmation from the Russian or U.S. governments about the offer, and Ukraine hasn’t made a public comment on this specific report. But if these talks are real, they could be an early sign that both sides are looking for a way to end the war—even if it means making big compromises.
Twelve U.S. states have taken legal action against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully raising taxes on Americans through tariffs. These tariffs were put in place using a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president special powers during national emergencies. But the lawsuit argues that this law was never meant to be used to create tariffs and that Trump has gone beyond what the law allows.
The states claim that in the 50 years since the law was created, no president has used it to put tariffs in place, even during times when the country faced serious drug-related issues or major trade deficits. They believe Congress never intended for the law to be used in this way…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
This group of states joins others who have already sued the Trump administration over the same issue. A group of small businesses and a civil rights organization have also filed lawsuits saying the administration doesn’t have the legal authority to impose these tariffs.
The Trump administration argues that the U.S. trade deficit is a national emergency, which gives the president the right to act under the IEEPA. But the states disagree, saying the tariffs will actually hurt Americans by making everyday goods more expensive, increasing inflation, and costing people their jobs. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
The attorneys general from New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade. They’re asking the court to block the tariffs and stop other global tariffs that had been paused earlier this month from going into effect.
New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, said Trump had promised to reduce costs for Americans, but his tariffs are doing the opposite and could seriously damage the economy.
California also filed its own separate lawsuit, saying the tariffs have already caused serious harm to the state and its residents.