Afroscientist

jtotheizzoe:

Even Monkeys Can Sense a Raw Deal

Are animals moral? It’s an ongoing debate, and one that is prone to anthropomorphizing animal behaviors. But scientists have been able to track down cases of moral judgment in certain species. Here’s a pretty hilarious example.

Capuchin monkeys love grapes. But they’ll also eat cucumbers if you give them one. They just really prefer grapes. This team had the monkeys complete a task, simply putting a stone in the handler’s palm, and then they got their food reward. Only they could see what the other monkey was getting. The first round goes fine, and one gets a grape while the other is given only cucumber. Next round? Well, that’s in the video :)

The researchers concluded that the monkeys were, in fact, weighing the deal they got, and responding with feelings of envy and frustration. Even more, when both get cucumbers, they are perfectly happy with that snack! It seems to be all about fairness and cooperation for them. It fits with the social nature of primates, as cooperating groups would be biologically rewarded.

While pretty funny, it definitely shows signs that some of our core emotions may have very basic neurological roots! 

Here’s a link to the full videotaped talk on monkeynomics and moral behavior in animals by Frans de Waal.

thedailywhat:

Inspirational Motivational of the Day: Arthur Boorman, a paratrooper in the Gulf War, made so many jumps that he blew out his back and knees. He grew depressed and packed on the pounds, ultimately requiring crutches to get around; doctors told the veteran he’d never be able to walk unassisted again. For 15 years, Boorman accepted that he was disabled.

Then he discovered yoga.

[vvv]

I don’t cry about anything.

Watching this…I cried.

stfuconservatives:

face-down-asgard-up:

renamok:

lalalunascope:

bakedstitches:

soundlyawake:

tyleroakley:

barackobama:

idrownideas:

The best campaign counter-attack video I HAVE EVER SEEN. Obama 2012 

”So we’re going to call their BS when we see it and we need your help to call them on it too and set the record straight. So share this, tweet it, facebook it, I keep hearing about tumblr and whatever that is…please use that too. Thank you.”

-Stephanie Cutter / Deputy Campaign Manager at Obama for America. 

And a Tumblr shout-out. 

Using that Tumblr thing.

Obama is the coolest politician ever! I just wish he was ruling the UK! Fuq da queen

Dear GOD I HAVE WANTED VIDEOS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. I’m so fucking tired of smear campaigns. 

‘Cuz if they want to get down and dirty, they fuckin’ with the right ones.

I feel like this campaign is gonna get exciting simply because it looks like the Obama campaign is just not going to put up with any bullshit, nonsense, and outright lies.

Obama’s reelection team is amazeballs.

Well, damn…

jtotheizzoe:

The Higgs Boson Explained with Animation

Can’t tell your “God Particle” from your “Dog Particle”? Too many quarks making you quack? Feel like a Higgs Bozo? Here’s what CERN is looking for, and what it might mean, via an awesome animation.

A PhD Comics animation, that is.

(↬ Open Culture)