Evolution
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Humans, Version 3.0
February 23, 2011
The next giant leap in human evolution may not come from new fields like genetic engineering or artificial intelligence, but rather from appreciating our ancient brains.
enhancement, evolution, neuroscience, psychology, technology
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The Human Animal
December 01, 2010
The special bond that often forms between people and both domesticated and wild animals may be, paradoxically, part of what makes us human.
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600 Million Years of Jet Lag
October 13, 2010
Although the common ancestor of sea anemones and humans would look nothing like us, it still shares one of our basic traits: the capacity to experience jet lag.
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The Forgotten Domain
September 29, 2010
New research shows the importance of Archaea, one of three domains into which all living things are classified, for understanding all of biology.
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The Evolution of Cooperation
July 14, 2010
Insects that survive on plant sap alone offer insights into the likely origin and evolution of all multicellular life.
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Sexy Beasts
June 29, 2010
From vibrator sales to troubles with monogamy, evidence aboundsthat Homo sapiens is an exceedingly sexual species. A new book argues that understanding how this sexuality evolved helps to explain our unique creativity inside — as well as outside — the conjugal bedroom.
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On Pleasure
June 22, 2010
In How Pleasure Works, Paul Bloom argues that understanding why we like what we do—from food and sex to art, science, and religion—is critical to comprehending the human experience.
art, books, evolution, food, neuroscience, psychology, sex
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Pandora’s Seed
June 07, 2010
From obesity to chronique fatigue syndrome, jihadism to urban ennui, the costs of civilization are becoming ever more apparent. Spencer Wells explores adapting to a world where accelerating change is the new status quo.
agriculture, diplomacy, evolution, health, innovation, scale
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Why We Haven’t Met Any Aliens
April 13, 2010
Last week marked the 50th anniversary of the first radio-based search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). In that half-century, SETI found no signs of aliens. In 2006, the evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller gave Seed his theory for why we haven’t heard anything.
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Sentient Slime?
February 24, 2010
Slime molds form patterns similar to rail and road networks, and bacteria organize slimy scouting parties and move in groups. Is there such a thing as microbial intelligence?
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Why We Haven’t Met Any Aliens
April 30, 2006
A radical explanation for a conundrum about extraterrestrial life, and what it means for the future of humanity.
Now on SEEDMAGAZINE.COM
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Ideas
I Tried Almost Everything Else
John Rinn, snowboarder, skateboarder, and “genomic origamist,” on why we should dumpster-dive in our genomes and the inspiration of a middle-distance runner.
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Ideas
Going, Going, Gone
The second most common element in the universe is increasingly rare on Earth—except, for now, in America.
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Ideas
Earth-like Planets Aren’t Rare
Renowned planetary scientist James Kasting on the odds of finding another Earth-like planet and the power of science fiction.