Eye on Faith

Monday, October 28, 2019

It's tough to herd monkeys

(USDA photo)

Monkeys seem quite agile while swinging from branch to branch. But their most flexible moments might be cognitive ones.

In fact, Georgia State University researchers found that “monkeys exhibit more cognitive flexibility than humans.” Whereas humans tend to rely upon rote learning, monkeys are quick to try new strategies.

In this regard, people might more resemble sheep than primates. This could be why shepherding imagery so often pertains to humans.

Resources

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191015115356.htm

What a Web

Zygiella Web (Photo by Laura Bassett)

Whiskey has had its uses throughout the ages: medieval monks distilled it for medicinal purposes.

But too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Whiskey has also been known to hurt more than heal. This brings to mind Sir Walter Scott’s famous words: “O, what a tangled web we weave…”

Researchers are now finding that American whiskey forms a webbed pattern “when it evaporates on a flat surface.” This could remind drinkers to proceed with caution, lest they get trapped within that tangled maze.

Resources

https://phys.org/news/2019-10-american-whiskey-distinctive-fingerprint-evaporates.html