Are Humans Just Big Blobs of Bacteria?
Filed under: Bacteria Intelligence, Bacterial Invasion, Biology, Discoveries, Human Intelligence, Intelligence, Psychology, Science, Science Fiction
A recent article at Seed Magazine shows that individuality is at a crossroads.
The report explores mankind’s complex relationship with the millions of microbes living inside us. New research shows that we are nothing without these little critters running around our intestines, hearts, and brains. The findings are significant enough that the International Human Microbiome Consortium came into being in October. Their goal will be to further characterize and understand our microbial allies and enemies.
Bacterial Microbes Living Inside Our Bodies (NIH)
According to psychologists, the new importance placed on the ecosystems within our bodies could damage our sense of self.
“Are we unique singular beings? Or simply communities of organisms working together, producing the illusion of an individual? Are we really in control, or is a crew of microbes inside our body piloting us along for their own needs? These are the sort of psyche shattering questions this science raises,” says Dr. Caroline McDeegalan, a psychologist working for the Fragile Egos & Humans Consortium.
When these concepts are combined with studies proving bacteria are smarter than we thought (read here), a scary picture of reality begins to open before us. The idea of ‘self’ could be replaced by the idea of ‘we’ – the ‘we’ being us and the millions of bacteria living in our bodies. Who’s in control?
What do you think? Are we humans? Or are we eco-systems?
Read our article Bacteria With Brains and the Mysterious Death of Pirates.
Is Viral Power the Solution to the Energy Crisis?
Filed under: Biology, Conspiracies, Discoveries, Genetic Engineering, Science, Viral Intelligence
Viruses suck. They’ve killed millions of people. They make us sick. We have to get shots of their dead bodies to build up our immune systems. They are just nasty little life forms that endlessly replicate and harm. Despite all this, researchers at MIT think they’ve found a redeeming purpose for viruses. That purpose is battery power. Read here.
In short, scientists genetically engineered viruses to mimic the properties of the positively and negatively charged ends of a battery through which power flows. These new virus built batteries allegedly have the same power capacity and performance of as cutting edge batteries developed to power things like electric cars.
But many are skeptical of depending on viruses for one of our most valuable commodities, energy. Anti-Viral Anything (AVA) president Vlad Soresh had the following to say: “Given the history of our relationship with viruses, can we really depend on them for our energy? I think they’ve proven time and time again that they want to cause nothing but harm to mankind.”
Despite criticisms like those, the genetically engineered technology is a major breakthrough in battery research.
What do you think? Can we trust viruses to supply us with energy?
Santino: Chimp Warrior
Filed under: Animal, Animal Intelligence, Biology, Discoveries, Homo Sapiens Against Animal Intelligence, Science, The Apocalypse
Cool video regarding Santino the Chimp. Read our post about him here.
The Face of the Chimp Apocalypse
Filed under: Animal, Animal Intelligence, Biology, Homo Sapiens Against Animal Intelligence, Intelligence, Science Fiction, The Apocalypse, The Future
Is this the face of the chimp apocalypse so chillingly predicted in the classic film Planet of the Apes?
Santino the Chimp
His name is Santino and he lives at the Swedish Furuvik Zoo. Santino likes throwing things at the zoo visitors that gawk at him everyday, and his keepers do eveything they can to stop the violent behavior. But recently, the zoo staff discovered stockpiles of ammunition (mostly rocks) all over Santino’s enclosure, as if he were preparing for battle. The discovery has excited researchers studying animal intelligence since it suggests premeditation and forward thinking on Santino’s part, activities that require high intelligence and that are hard to prove in our animal neighbors. But if Santino has planned this little rebellion in his cage, what could other animals we’ve angered or annoyed be planning? If these disgruntled creatures need a leader, they might look to Santino. The idea frightens organization like Homo Sapiens Against Animal Intelligence, which was created by its founder Jerry Bombadil in large part because of his concerns of the Planet of the Apes becoming a reality.
Read more about Santino here and here.
What do you think? Could Santino be the face of the chimp apocalypse?
Check out our Chimp Apocalypse shirts and gear at The Loki Store.
The Cow Fart Conspiracy
Filed under: Animal Intelligence, Biology, Discoveries, Homo Sapiens Against Animal Intelligence, Science
“Cows. They look so innocent, with their big eyes, and their soft moos, and their swishy tails. Don’t let them fool you.” Jerry Bombadil, founder and president of the extremist group Homo Sapiens Against Animal Intelligence, said at a press conference Monday.
“They want you to think they are helping us,” Bombadil stated emphatically. “They want you to think they are doing their domestic duty by preventing osteoporosis, and helping small children grow strong bones. But they’re not! They can’t lie to us anymore! We have found out their true purpose.”
Bombadil spoke at a press conference he quickly organized after the British Society for General Microbiology released findings that one of the leading causes of global warming was the methane gas produced in cow flatulence.
According to the EPA, an estimated 28 percent of all methane emissions related to human activity come from methane-producing bacteria in the rumens of domestic cattle, sheep and goats and other livestock known as ruminants, which eat plants that are mostly indigestible by other creatures.
“All this time, [the cows] have been planning, banding together, and farting for who knows how long,” says Bombadil. “We don’t know how long this is been going on. But, my friends, there may be hope on the horizon.”
According to a new study, fish oil could be the cow fart kryptonite. Feeding cattle a diet of 2 percent fish oil reduced the toots, due to the omega 3 fatty acids in the oil. The technique cut methane output of three cows by 21 percent, said Lorraine Lillis of the University College Dublin.
“The fish oil affects the methane-producing bacteria in the rumen part of the cow’s gut, leading to reduced emissions,” Lillis said. “Understanding which microbial species are particularly influenced by changes in diet and relating them to methane production could bring about a more targeted approach to reducing methane emissions in animals.”
Asked about the overall potential benefits fish-oil, Lillis told LiveScience she didn’t know yet what effect it might have on a larger group of cattle.
Bombadil says his organization HSAAI is in the process of planning a cookie drive to defray the costs of supplying fish oil to the cattle.
“The girlscouts have done it for years,” says Bombadil. “ We applaud them. But now a graver task is at hand.”
