This report is part of FPRI’s collaboration with Eastern Europe Studies Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania and can also be viewed here
— Read on www.fpri.org/article/2021/07/reconceptualizing-lithuanias-importance-for-u-s-foreign-policy/
Tag: education
Biden Meets Exiled Belarusian Opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya – Bloomberg
President Joe Biden met the exiled opposition leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, at the White House Wednesday as the post-Soviet nation is swept by a new round of crackdowns against the opposition, media and civil society.
— Read on www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-28/biden-meets-exiled-belarusian-opposition-leader-to-show-support
The Indigenous Archaeologist Looking for Residential School Graves in Canada – The New York Times
Kisha Supernant has brought radar technology to the search for burial sites in Canada while she works to reshape her profession’s relationship with Indigenous communities.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2021/07/30/world/canada/indigenous-archaeologist-graves-school-children.html
Neanderthals Hunted with Leaf-Shaped Spears, Archaeologists Say | Archaeology, Paleoanthropology | Sci-News.com
The artifact is 7.6 cm (3 inches) long, 4.1 cm (1.6 inches) wide, 0.9 cm (0.35 inches) thick, and has a mass of 28 grams.
“Our results document how the tool was made, used and why it was discarded,” Professor Conard said.
“Thanks to a series of four ESR-dates the find is securely dated to over 65,000 years ago.”
“Until now finds of leaf points were interpreted as belonging to the period between 45,000 and 55,000 years ago — the last cultural phase of Neanderthals in Central Europe,” he added.
“The new results demonstrate that our assumptions about the dating of the cultural groups of the late Neanderthals were wrong and need revision.”
Using detailed microscopic analyses, the researchers found that the leaf point was mounted on a wooden shaft.
“Damage to the tip indicates that the artifact was used as a hafted spear point, and that the spear was likely thrust into prey rather than being thrown,” they said.
“Neanderthals used plant-based glue and bindings made from plant fibers, sinew, or leather, to secure the leaf point to the spear.”
“They clearly used the spear for hunting. While they re-sharpened the tool it broke, leading to its discard.”
— Read on www.sci-news.com/archaeology/hohle-fels-leaf-point-09905.html
Eunice Foote was the first to chart climate change physics
Eunice Foote discovered that carbon dioxide absorbs heat, and theorized that if the Earth’s air filled with more CO2, the planet’s temperature would rise.
Swimming gives your brain a boost – but scientists don’t know yet why it’s better than other aerobic activities
Mounting research shows that going for a swim can preserve memories, reduce mood disorders and increase mental acuity in all age groups.
— Read on theconversation.com/swimming-gives-your-brain-a-boost-but-scientists-dont-know-yet-why-its-better-than-other-aerobic-activities-164297
Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around is the Best Use of Your Time – People I (Mostly) Admire – Omny.fm
He’s a professor of computation and behavioral science at the University of Chicago, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and author. Steve and Sendhil laugh their way through a conversation about the importance of play, the benefits of change, and why we remember so little about the books we’ve read — and how Sendhil’s new app solves this problem.
— Read on omny.fm/shows/people-i-mostly-admire/sendhil-mullainathan-thinks-messing-around-is-the
Algal blooms an emerging threat to clear lakes worldwide | NSF – National Science Foundation
Many of the world’s most iconic clear lakes are degrading at an alarming rate — shallow, nearshore lake bottoms are being carpeted by bright green fronds of slimy algae, especially during the summer. These filamentous algal blooms, known as FABs, need lots of light, so they occur at the same lake edges where people want to swim and play.
Researchers are unsure why FABs are suddenly showing up in remote mountain lakes — as well as in some large lakes such as Lake Tahoe in the U.S., Lake Baikal in Russia and Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand — but an international team of lake scientists is tackling the problem. In a recent paper, they explore how nutrient pollution, climate change, loss of aquatic animals that eat algae, and invasive species are contributing to the increased occurrence of green bottoms.
— Read on www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp
NFTs Seem Like a Frivolous Fad, But They Should Be the Future of Music – Rolling Stone
The wild boom and bust of art NFTs made many onlookers wary of blockchain-based technology — but new developments in gaming, ticketing, and music royalties reveal NFTs’ true power
— Read on www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/crypto-nft-gaming-ticketing-royalties-1197979/
Japan signals a ‘sense of crisis’ over Taiwan — this is why it is worried about China’s military aims
Japan is showing increased support for Taiwan in the face of relentless pressure from China. Here’s why Taiwan matters so much to Tokyo and what it’s prepared to do about it.
— Read on theconversation.com/japan-signals-a-sense-of-crisis-over-taiwan-this-is-why-it-is-worried-about-chinas-military-aims-164562