Bonobos Demonstrate Imaginative Ability in New Experiments
Science & Technology

Bonobos Demonstrate Imaginative Ability in New Experiments

The consistent performance of Kanzi the bonobo in pretend play experiments suggests that the mental capacity to imagine nonexistent objects may trace back 6 to 9 million years, rewriting assumptions about the uniqueness of human imagination.Kanzi the bonobo. Image credit: Ape Initiative.“It really is game-changing that their mental lives go beyond the here and now,” said Dr. Christopher Krupenye, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University. “Imagination has long been seen as a critical element of what it is to be human but the idea that it may not be exclusive to our species is really transformative.” “Jane Goodall discovered that chimps make tools and that led to a change in the definition of what it means to be human and this, too, really invites us to reconsider what makes us special and what mental life is out...
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Why the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines need a ‘mulligan’ – and how to fix them
Science & Technology

Why the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines need a ‘mulligan’ – and how to fix them

Criticism of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is less about specific food categories such as red meat, dairy or plant-based products, and more about structure and governance, according to Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Rather than focusing on whether the government is promoting the “right” or “wrong” foods, Barnard argues that the guidelines no longer function as a coherent framework grounded in nutrition science. Instead, he describes the DGA as a negotiated policy document shaped by scientific evidence, industry influence and political compromise simultaneously. As a result, the guidelines operate less as a unified health model and more as a layered policy framework that attempts to balance competing priorities, Barnard said. This structure, he argues, creates internal contradictions and produces mixed signals for consumers, institutions and policymakers who rely on...
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Research, innovation and South-South cooperation: the main axes of the debates
Science & Technology

Research, innovation and South-South cooperation: the main axes of the debates

The work of the 41st National Congress of the Moroccan Society of Medical Sciences (SMSM), organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, ended last Saturday in Casablanca. The closing conference, focused on “South-South Relations: African Academy of Sciences and Health: a strategic lever for research, innovation and training on the continent”, marked the end of this event which brought together a host of medical professionals including doctors, researchers and experts from various disciplines. For two days, wide-ranging exchanges and debates enriched the participants, under the honorary presidency of Professor Lahcen Belyamani. Opening on Friday, February 6, the 41st National Congress of the SMSM proposed several activities promoting the sharing of expertise and the emergence of concrete avenues for improving...
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