| Lies, Damned Lies, and Blessed Lies |
|
Did hear that if you forward this email to 20 people, this really cool animation will pop up on your screen? And there are alligators living in the sewers of New York City? And cavepeople only lived until about age 30...? Urban legends, all.
At about age 29, our ancestors were making plans for their funerals. Right? Nope, says psychologist Christopher Ryan. It's science's version of an urban legend. |
|
|
Today's
Most
Popular
Oldest House Remains in Britain
While early humans lived in Europe for tens of thousands of years, they did not start to build dwellings until about 11,000 years ago.
While early humans lived in Europe for tens of thousands of years, they did not start to build dwellings until about 11,000 years ago.
The Human Family Tree
This isn't your father's genealogy project.
This isn't your father's genealogy project.
Sex I.D.: Find Out How Your Mind Works
Do you think more like a man or like a woman?
Do you think more like a man or like a woman?
The Evolution of Money, and Us
The different means that we use to buy things are as old as humankind itself. How "what's in your wallet" says a lot about where we're going as a species.
The different means that we use to buy things are as old as humankind itself. How "what's in your wallet" says a lot about where we're going as a species.
Why We Look the Way We Do
Do we look the way we do, just because our genes drifted a little, not because of the harsh forces of natural selection?
Do we look the way we do, just because our genes drifted a little, not because of the harsh forces of natural selection?
How Old Is Your Brain?
Forget the candles on your cake, and test your speed memorizing skills instead. They might be a better indicator of how old your brain really is!
Forget the candles on your cake, and test your speed memorizing skills instead. They might be a better indicator of how old your brain really is!
The Miracle in the Human Brain
Watch a simulated demonstration of how the human brain operates by creating an intricate pathway of connections between billions of neuron cells.
Watch a simulated demonstration of how the human brain operates by creating an intricate pathway of connections between billions of neuron cells.
Caring for Your Introvert
ATH's most popular article asks: Is hell other people at breakfast for you?
ATH's most popular article asks: Is hell other people at breakfast for you?
The Evolution of Mickey Mouse
Happy 81st Birthday Mickey! In celebration, enjoy Stephen Jay Gould's classic essay on the evolution of Mickey ... who seems to grow better looking every day.
Happy 81st Birthday Mickey! In celebration, enjoy Stephen Jay Gould's classic essay on the evolution of Mickey ... who seems to grow better looking every day.
Why Do We Have Bad Dreams?
Bad dreams may help us to modulate strong emotions.
Bad dreams may help us to modulate strong emotions.
Evolution of Empathy
How did we come by the remarkable ability to feel the feelings of others?
How did we come by the remarkable ability to feel the feelings of others?
Britain's Best Brain Flash Game
Most games test one aspect of brain fitness. This one tests five. Are you up for the challenge?
Most games test one aspect of brain fitness. This one tests five. Are you up for the challenge?
Evolution and Creativity: Why Humans Triumphed
Evolution may be a biological theory, but a new idea borrowed from the field of economics can help explain how humans did more than survive - we flourished.
Evolution may be a biological theory, but a new idea borrowed from the field of economics can help explain how humans did more than survive - we flourished.
The Pleasures of Imagination
Play is normal and natural for children - but adults do it just as much, if not more. Why do we waste so much time pretending?
Play is normal and natural for children - but adults do it just as much, if not more. Why do we waste so much time pretending?
Want to Be More Articulate?
As part of Classics Week, here's our most popular game.
As part of Classics Week, here's our most popular game.
lauriemann made this comment
Thursday, 28 January 2010
more women died in childbirth in the old days, which means life expectancy for women was lower (and stayed lower until about a hundred years ago. Now, women outlive men in the modern world)
there were certainly diseases or treatments for diseases that killed people then. Granted, you didn't have densely packed populations, so you didn't tend to have epidemics. But unclean water, viruses, cancer, heart attacks...the list goes on, and those killers have been around for millions of years too