- Evolution 2
- Prehistory 2
- Sabertooth 2
- Associative Learning 1
- Cognition 1
- Extinction 1
- Research 1
- Zebra Fish 1
Evolution
The Unlikely Sabers of the Saber-Toothed Tiger
The Smilodon or saber-toothed tiger is a genus of extinct carnivorous mammals that belonged to the family Felidae or cats. There were multiple saber wielding fiends in evolutionary history, to the extent that there are “true” and “false” saber tooth cats, but more on that later. For now, consider Smilodon populator, the largest saber-toothed tiger, weighing as much as 400 kg and standing 4 feet at the shoulder, with two long, curved 11-inch canines capable of ripping out your jugular in a bite. Most of us can only wish for such a quick journey to death’s sweet release during finals week, but we have to make do with the lesser cats on campus with their heads in our dustbins.
Modern Analysis Reveals Saber Tooth Tiger 2.0
The Smilodon (saber tooth tiger) was built robustly compared to extant cats. It had a muscular neck, broad shoulders and strong forearms. It was comparable in size to a modern-day lion but was almost twice as heavy owing to its stocky build. It had a short tail for its size when compared to modern cats. This couldn’t help balance it while running like the tails of lions and, especially, cheetahs. Its limb proportions are also similar to those of modern day forest dwelling cats, suggesting it might have needed to traverse dense vegetation. Thus, the general consensus is that it was an ambush predator like tigers today. To clarify, the Smilodon is called the saber-toothed tiger due to its similarity with the tiger in hunting technique and predatory role, and it is not very closely related to the tiger in physiology or on the evolutionary tree.
Prehistory
The Unlikely Sabers of the Saber-Toothed Tiger
The Smilodon or saber-toothed tiger is a genus of extinct carnivorous mammals that belonged to the family Felidae or cats. There were multiple saber wielding fiends in evolutionary history, to the extent that there are “true” and “false” saber tooth cats, but more on that later. For now, consider Smilodon populator, the largest saber-toothed tiger, weighing as much as 400 kg and standing 4 feet at the shoulder, with two long, curved 11-inch canines capable of ripping out your jugular in a bite. Most of us can only wish for such a quick journey to death’s sweet release during finals week, but we have to make do with the lesser cats on campus with their heads in our dustbins.
Modern Analysis Reveals Saber Tooth Tiger 2.0
The Smilodon (saber tooth tiger) was built robustly compared to extant cats. It had a muscular neck, broad shoulders and strong forearms. It was comparable in size to a modern-day lion but was almost twice as heavy owing to its stocky build. It had a short tail for its size when compared to modern cats. This couldn’t help balance it while running like the tails of lions and, especially, cheetahs. Its limb proportions are also similar to those of modern day forest dwelling cats, suggesting it might have needed to traverse dense vegetation. Thus, the general consensus is that it was an ambush predator like tigers today. To clarify, the Smilodon is called the saber-toothed tiger due to its similarity with the tiger in hunting technique and predatory role, and it is not very closely related to the tiger in physiology or on the evolutionary tree.
Sabertooth
The Unlikely Sabers of the Saber-Toothed Tiger
The Smilodon or saber-toothed tiger is a genus of extinct carnivorous mammals that belonged to the family Felidae or cats. There were multiple saber wielding fiends in evolutionary history, to the extent that there are “true” and “false” saber tooth cats, but more on that later. For now, consider Smilodon populator, the largest saber-toothed tiger, weighing as much as 400 kg and standing 4 feet at the shoulder, with two long, curved 11-inch canines capable of ripping out your jugular in a bite. Most of us can only wish for such a quick journey to death’s sweet release during finals week, but we have to make do with the lesser cats on campus with their heads in our dustbins.
Modern Analysis Reveals Saber Tooth Tiger 2.0
The Smilodon (saber tooth tiger) was built robustly compared to extant cats. It had a muscular neck, broad shoulders and strong forearms. It was comparable in size to a modern-day lion but was almost twice as heavy owing to its stocky build. It had a short tail for its size when compared to modern cats. This couldn’t help balance it while running like the tails of lions and, especially, cheetahs. Its limb proportions are also similar to those of modern day forest dwelling cats, suggesting it might have needed to traverse dense vegetation. Thus, the general consensus is that it was an ambush predator like tigers today. To clarify, the Smilodon is called the saber-toothed tiger due to its similarity with the tiger in hunting technique and predatory role, and it is not very closely related to the tiger in physiology or on the evolutionary tree.
Associative Learning
Can Fish Do Math?
This article was first posted on the Edict on the 10th of March, 2018.
The recent introduction of Biology in the Ashokan curriculum might indicate that it’s the new kid in the playground, but that’s not exactly true. Research in bio-psychology or more commonly, cognition, is already a part of Ashoka’s research culture. For his research proposal, Dhairyya Singh, a fourth-year psychology major, has dared to ask the question — Can zebrafish do math?
His thesis proposal asks, “Do zebrafish have the ability to learn how to count small numbers based on associative learning?” Put in simple language, his experiment attempts to explore the possibility of zebrafish being able to count small quantities (viz 1, 2, 3, 4) using a technique that teaches the subject that if two things occur together, they are associated.
Cognition
Can Fish Do Math?
This article was first posted on the Edict on the 10th of March, 2018.
The recent introduction of Biology in the Ashokan curriculum might indicate that it’s the new kid in the playground, but that’s not exactly true. Research in bio-psychology or more commonly, cognition, is already a part of Ashoka’s research culture. For his research proposal, Dhairyya Singh, a fourth-year psychology major, has dared to ask the question — Can zebrafish do math?
His thesis proposal asks, “Do zebrafish have the ability to learn how to count small numbers based on associative learning?” Put in simple language, his experiment attempts to explore the possibility of zebrafish being able to count small quantities (viz 1, 2, 3, 4) using a technique that teaches the subject that if two things occur together, they are associated.
Extinction
The Sixth Mass Extinction
Extinction can be seen as a method that nature employs to curb out species that will not evolve or are redundant in its eyes. By definition, it is a state where no member of a species is alive to carry forward the generation. However, a mass extinction is a phenomenon where 90 to 95 % of all species, which means most life on the planet, would disappear in a very short period of time! These are times when the Earth undergoes immense turmoil; it metamorphoses from the life-giving mother to the life-devouring devil. The destruction helps to create newer species that adapt better, life springs forth again, and the earth finds a way to continue. There have already been five of these cataclysmic events, that is, if we do not count the numerous minor level ones.
Research
Can Fish Do Math?
This article was first posted on the Edict on the 10th of March, 2018.
The recent introduction of Biology in the Ashokan curriculum might indicate that it’s the new kid in the playground, but that’s not exactly true. Research in bio-psychology or more commonly, cognition, is already a part of Ashoka’s research culture. For his research proposal, Dhairyya Singh, a fourth-year psychology major, has dared to ask the question — Can zebrafish do math?
His thesis proposal asks, “Do zebrafish have the ability to learn how to count small numbers based on associative learning?” Put in simple language, his experiment attempts to explore the possibility of zebrafish being able to count small quantities (viz 1, 2, 3, 4) using a technique that teaches the subject that if two things occur together, they are associated.
Zebra Fish
Can Fish Do Math?
This article was first posted on the Edict on the 10th of March, 2018.
The recent introduction of Biology in the Ashokan curriculum might indicate that it’s the new kid in the playground, but that’s not exactly true. Research in bio-psychology or more commonly, cognition, is already a part of Ashoka’s research culture. For his research proposal, Dhairyya Singh, a fourth-year psychology major, has dared to ask the question — Can zebrafish do math?
His thesis proposal asks, “Do zebrafish have the ability to learn how to count small numbers based on associative learning?” Put in simple language, his experiment attempts to explore the possibility of zebrafish being able to count small quantities (viz 1, 2, 3, 4) using a technique that teaches the subject that if two things occur together, they are associated.