Daily Archives: June 27, 2021

The discovery of a huge fossilised skull that was wrapped up and hidden in a Chinese well nearly 90 years ago has forced scientists to rewrite the story of human evolution.

Analysis of the remains has revealed a new branch of the human family tree that points to a previously unknown sister group more closely related to modern humans than the Neanderthals.

The extraordinary fossil has been named a new human species, Homo longi or Dragon man, by Chinese researchers, although other experts are more cautious about the designation.

I think this is one of the most important finds of the past 50 years, said Prof Chris Stringer, research leader at the Natural History Museum in London, who worked on the project. Its a wonderfully preserved fossil.

The skull appears to have a remarkable backstory. According to the researchers, it was originally found in 1933 by Chinese labourers building a bridge over the Songhua River in Harbin, in Chinas northernmost province, Heilongjiang, during the Japanese occupation. To keep the skull from falling into Japanese hands it was wrapped and hidden in an abandoned well, resurfacing only in 2018 after the man who hid it told his grandson about it shortly before he died.

An international team led by Prof Qiang Ji at the Hebei Geo University in China drew on geochemical techniques to narrow down when the skull came to rest in Harbin, dating the bones to at least 146,000 years old. The skull has a unique combination of primitive and more modern features, with the face, in particular, more closely resembling Homo sapiens. One huge molar remains.

The skull, which is 23cm long and more than 15cm wide, is substantially larger than a modern humans and has ample room, at 1,420ml, for a modern human brain. Beneath the thick brow ridge, the face has large square eye sockets, but is delicate despite its size. This guy had a huge head, said Stringer.

The researchers believe the skull belonged to a male, about 50 years old, who would have been an impressive physical specimen. His wide, bulbous nose allowed him to breathe huge volumes of air, indicating a high-energy lifestyle, while sheer size would have helped him withstand the brutally cold winters in the region. Homo longi is heavily built, very robust, said Prof Xijun Ni, a paleoanthropologist at Hebei. It is hard to estimate the height, but the massive head should match a height higher than the average of modern humans.

To work out where the Harbin individual fitted into human history, the scientists fed measurements from the fossil and 95 other skulls into software that compiled the most likely family tree. To their surprise, the Harbin skull and a handful of others from China formed a new branch closer to modern humans than Neanderthals.

The Chinese researchers believe the Harbin skull is distinct enough to make it a new species, but Stringer is not convinced. He believes it is similar to another found in Dali county in China in 1978.

I prefer to call it Homo daliensis, but its not a big deal, he said. The important thing is the third lineage of later humans that are separate from Neanderthals and separate from Homo sapiens. Details are published in three papers in The Innovation.

Whatever the name, one possibility is that the Harbin skull is Denisovan, a mysterious group of extinct humans known largely from DNA and bone fragments recovered from Siberia. Certainly this specimen could be Denisovan but we have to be cautious. What we need is much more complete skeletal material of the Denisovans alongside DNA, Stringer said.

Prof John Hawks, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the idea of a new lineage of humans was a provocative claim, because skulls can look similar even among distant relatives. The skull being Denisovan was a good hypothesis, he added, though he was less keen on a new species name. I think its a bad moment in science to be naming new species among these large-brained humans that all interbred with each other, he said. What we are repeatedly finding is that the differences in looks didnt mean much to these ancient people when it comes to breeding.

Mark Maslin, a professor of earth system science at UCL and the author of The Cradle of Humanity, said: The beautifully preserved Chinese Harbin archaic human skull adds even more evidence that human evolution was not a simple evolutionary tree but a dense intertwined bush. We now know that there were as many as 10 different species of hominins at the same time as our own species emerged.

Genetic analysis shows that these species interacted and interbred our own genetics contain the legacy of many of these ghost species. But what is a sobering thought, is that despite all this diversity, a new version of Homo sapiens emerged from Africa about 60,000 years ago which clearly out-competed, out-bred, and even out-fought these other closely related species, causing their extinction. It is only by painstaking searching and analysis of their fossils, such as the Harbin skull, do we know of their existence.

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Massive human head in Chinese well forces scientists to rethink evolution - The Guardian

It has been 14 years since the first iPhone was introduced by Steve Jobs, and a lot has changed since then. Each generation of the iPhone has brought unique advances that are sometimes hard to notice, but that have made a difference when we look back at the past. And thats what I did with GRID frames.

I have always loved understanding how things are made behind what we see and use every day, like the code and hardware that makes it all work. Earlier this year I discovered GRID, a company that sells disassembled electronics in frames. I even wrote about GRID 4S here on 9to5Mac:

As someone who really likes technology (and Apple, of course), I was looking for some related decorations for my home and then I met GRID 4S, which is literally a piece with a disassembled iPhone 4s that you can put anywhere you want.

GRIDis a company that has been selling framed electronic products for some time, and they all seem pretty cool. For Apple fans, they have pieces with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and the second-generation iPod touch.

After getting the iPhone 4s frame, I had to complete my collection with other models. Seeing how the iPhone has evolved over all these years was nice, but being able to look at all the hardware evolution right in front of me is even more amazing which is why I wanted to share this gallery with our readers.

Who doesnt remember the moment when Jobs first unveiled the iPhone in January 2007? That was an iconic moment that changed everything. And although I never had the iPhone 2G (also known as the iPhone Classic), that product made me want to go all in on the Apple ecosystem (and I ended up getting the first iPod touch that year).

The construction of this iPhone may seem simple by todays standards, but it was far more sophisticated than other smartphones of the time. The iPhone 2G body was made almost entirely of aluminum, but with a plastic bottom part to enable cellular and Wi-Fi signals.

This iPhone already had a built-in rear camera, but the quality was really low. Its sensor with a really low aperture captures 2MP photos, and it cannot shoot video. Also, it has no focus adjustment.

The logic board was split into two parts and it relies on a Samsung ARM processor, since Apple hadnt yet developed its own Apple Silicon at that time. Although the CPU has a single 620MHz core, Apple has lowered the clock to 412MHz in order to save battery life. There are also other things to note, such as the simplicity of components like the speakers and vibration motor.

As a gift, GRID included the 9to5Mac logo on a metal plate that made my unit even more unique.

A year later, Apple completely redesigned the iPhone with iPhone 3G. It was the first model to support 3G networks, but there werent many other changes to its hardware (it even uses the same CPU as the iPhone 2G). However, iPhone 3GS came in 2009 keeping the same design but with more hardware improvements.

iPhone 3GS was announced at WWDC 2009 by Phil Schiller, as Steve Jobs had to leave Apple for a few months that year for a liver transplant. During the keynote, Schiller mentioned that the letter S stood for speed, since the iPhone 3GS was the first to have an upgraded processor and graphics. Also made by Samsung, this ARM processor is 600MHz.

Besides the shiny plastic back, we can notice that the iPhone 3GS camera is slightly different when compared to previous generations. Unlike its predecessors, iPhone 3GS had a 3MP sensor with adjustable focus that shoots 480p video.

Its also cool to see how Apple brands its components, even the smaller ones like flex cables.

iPhone 4 in 2010 was the first major change to the iPhone since the original product. After a massive leak, iPhone 4 was introduced with a new glass design, Retina display, the first Apple-made A4 chip, and significant upgrades to the cameras.

In 2011, exactly a day before Steve Jobs passed away, iPhone 4S was announced at an event presented by Tim Cook, who had recently taken over as Apples CEO. The iPhone 4S followed the iPhone 3GS strategy of keeping the same design as the previous generation, but with more in-depth hardware improvements.

One of the main highlights was the A5 chip, the second version of Apples own ARM chip that was also the first dual-core chip in an iPhone. The performance of the iPhone 4S was noticeably better when compared to every other iPhone.

By looking at the camera module, its easy to guess that its much better than the cameras seen on previous iPhones. The sensor looks more advanced, as it now captures 8MP photos and, for the first time, 1080p video. It also has a small LED flash, which was introduced with iPhone 4.

The front camera was only 0.3MP, just like on the iPhone 4 (which was the first model to have one), but even so it certainly provided amazing moments for many people on their first FaceTime calls or selfies taken with an iPhone. Look how small the front sensor is.

Overall, the internal design of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is much more robust and most components such as the buttons and flex cables seem more refined.

Following the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s, which both got a slightly larger screen, theres the iPhone 6. I remember watching the Apple event in September 2014 and being super excited about the new iPhones, as they were much bigger than their predecessors.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus had an all-new, more rounded design made entirely of aluminum, with the antennas embedded as plastic strips on their back. With a more compact logic board and more internal space, Apple was able to add bigger batteries to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (they still werent perfect, but much better than those in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5).

The rear camera sensor was still 8MP, but it has more tricks. It was the first iPhone to be able to capture 1080p video at 60 frames per second, or 720p at 240 frames per second which enabled super slow-motion. Users could capture photos while recording videos and the autofocus became faster and more accurate. You can also see the True Tone LED flash in the photos.

Here the front camera was already 1.3MP with the ability to shoot video in 720p. In terms of performance, the A8 chip was still a dual-core processor, but now with 64-bit architecture (first introduced with the A7 chip in the iPhone 5s). The iPhone 6 still had a mechanical Home button, which was also the biometric reader.

Finally, we get to the iPhone 7, which I consider the last iteration of the original iPhone form-factor before the iPhone X (excluding the iPhone 8 and iPhone SE). iPhone 7 was quite an upgrade with a refreshed look (including this gorgeous matte black version) and important enhancements.

Unlike the other iPhones, the Home button on the iPhone 7 is somewhat virtual. It is there, but its not a mechanical part since it works based on pressure sensors.

The four-core A10 Fusion chip was way ahead of the competition at the time, and it is still considered a great chip today. The Fusion name is due to the fact that this chip was the first with different cores for full performance and power efficiency.

The cameras on the iPhone 7 were quite advanced, with optical stabilization on all models for the first time. The larger 12MP sensor has an aperture of f/1.8 for capturing better photos in the dark and it can record videos in 4K resolution. The front camera also had a giant leap with a 7MP sensor.

Components such as the Lightning port and the speakers have rubber protection, as the iPhone 7 was the first water-resistant iPhone. Speaking of speakers, look how much bigger the iPhone 7 earpiece is thats because it was also the first iPhone with stereo speakers. And I couldnt forget Taptic Feedback, which is really cool to see that it looks exactly like Apple shows in its videos.

Nowadays we have very different iPhones with no Home button, much smaller chips, and advanced sensors for facial recognition. These, however, Ill leave for another article in the future when we get to the next iteration of iPhone design.

If you also want to take a closer look at iPhone hardware or simply decorate your home with technology, check out GRIDs store to get these and other frames. GRID is now selling the frames with the iPhone 5 and iPhone X, and the company will soon have more units of the iPhone 2G frame which are expected to be available on June 29 at 7AM PT.

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A look back at the evolution of iPhone hardware with GRID frames [Gallery] - 9to5Mac

Joyner Lucas is returning to his hometown for a show at Worcesters Palladium, promising fans the biggest outside party Massachusetts has ever seen.

Cant wait to perform ADHD & EVOLUTION LIVE for my hometown for the first time, the Grammy-nominated rapper wrote on his Facebook page. This will be a SOLD OUT event and the BIGGEST outside party Massachusetts Ever seen. ALL AGES, Food, games, and giveaways.

The show, called Joyner Fest 2021 and presented by Jamn 94.5, is on Sunday, Sept. 5 and doors open at 5 p.m.

Joyner wrote on his Facebook page that VIP tickets are already sold out.

Earlier this year, Lucas received a key to the city of Worcester as a horde of people gathered outside City Hall, hoping to get an autograph or photo with the musician.

All these people outside, they come from where I come from, Lucas said at the time. To see them look up to someone like me, its a blessing. What I see when I look at them, I see greatness too.

Lucas, whose full name is Gary Maurice Lucas Jr., was born in Worcester in 1988. He attended South High Community School. Worcester is the backdrop for several of Lucas music videos.

Meanwhile, the soundtrack for the highly-anticipated Space Jam: A New Legacy, will include Lucas song Shoot my Shot.

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Joyner Lucas films at Worcester YMCA

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Worcester native Joyner Lucas to perform ADHD and Evolution in outdoor show at citys Palladium - MassLive.com

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk.

When "RuPaul's Drag Race" debuted back in 2009, did anyone realize how much impact it would have on the LGBTQIA+ community and popular culture? Over the past decade, it has entertained mainstream audiences and has arguably brought drag queens into the zeitgeist.

In honor of Pride Month, national and local drag queens are here to share their insights and experiences.

Guests:

Cynthia Lee Fontaine

Kofi

Regina Thorne-DuBois

Violet SArbleu

Then, moments after Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years for the murder of George Floyd, experts weigh in on the public response and the legal implications of the decision.

Guests:

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

Audio from todays show will be available after 5 p.m. CT. We also offer a free podcast here, on iTunes, and other apps.

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The Evolution Of Drag In The Age Of Social Media - Houston Public Media

The first Jurassic World Evolution did a fantastic job bringing the dinosaurs of the film series to digital life, but it wasnt quite able to measure up to the gameplay of other management games. Developer Frontier has promised that the core business of running the park will be heavily improved for Jurassic World Evolution 2, and a new dev blog explains how some of the original games most annoying busywork is going away.

Hatcheries are getting streamlined so that you can create multiple dinosaurs at once. The synthesis portion of the process will still let you apply genetic modifications to your animals, while the incubation process will still have you waiting for your dinos to reach adulthood before releasing them into the park. (In keeping with the post-Fallen Kingdom plot, youll also be able to capture wild dinosaurs for your park.)

You can now release dinosaurs in groups into the park, and you can choose to do remote releases, too meaning you can directly transport newly-grown dinosaurs from your hatchery to other enclosures. No more finding space in your enclosures to attach hatcheries, if you dont want to.

Instead of busywork, it seems that were getting deeper systems elsewhere. For example, dinosaurs will now develop their own territories within enclosures, depending on how the environments are meeting their needs. Theyll also form herds and packs to move more dynamically around that environment, which means you have to pay even closer attention to where you place your viewing areas.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is due to launch sometime later this year.

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Link:

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is cutting back on the annoying busywork - PCGamesN