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Insect diet helped early humans build bigger brains, study suggests
PhysOrg ^

Posted on 11/03/2017 5:16:41 PM PDT by ameribbean expat

"Challenges associated with finding food have long been recognized as important in shaping evolution of the brain and cognition in primates, including humans," said Amanda D. Melin, PhD, assistant professor of anthropology in Arts & Sciences and lead author of the study.

"Our work suggests that digging for insects when food was scarce may have contributed to hominid cognitive evolution and set the stage for advanced tool use."

(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
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I'm calling for an immediate modification of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
1 posted on 11/03/2017 5:16:41 PM PDT by ameribbean expat
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To: ameribbean expat

Crickets.


2 posted on 11/03/2017 5:20:30 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: ameribbean expat

3 posted on 11/03/2017 5:20:47 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: ameribbean expat

Oh No the bug eaters are back again with another reason to make us eat Bugs


4 posted on 11/03/2017 5:21:21 PM PDT by butlerweave
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To: ameribbean expat

I didn’t climb to the top of the food chain ...


5 posted on 11/03/2017 5:23:31 PM PDT by Slyfox (Are you tired of winning yet?)
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To: EEGator

The hominids including humans that are still eating bugs don’t quite seem to be the most advanced members of the species, just saying.


6 posted on 11/03/2017 5:25:05 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Cicero

The best theory I have read is that the rise of the Isthmus of Panama and the periodic opening and closing of the Strait of Gibraltar caused the climate in Africa to experience wild swings from jungle to savannah. The stress of having to adjust from trees to savannah and back to trees favored the development of intelligence and tool use. Animals that didn’t have the potential perished in large numbers. Those that could handle the swing evolved.


7 posted on 11/03/2017 5:25:42 PM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: ameribbean expat

“Our work suggests that digging for insects when food was scarce may have contributed to hominid cognitive evolution and set the stage for advanced tool use.”

Well, what about trying to figure out how to get a cork out of a wine bottle when it breaks apart? What about trying to find the edge of the plastic wrap? What about trying to fix a zip lock bag when you’ve accidentally pulled the little slider off? What about trying to get a vending machine to accept a wrinkled dollar? We have all kinds of problems to solve. We should all be incredible geniuses.


8 posted on 11/03/2017 5:26:33 PM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: ameribbean expat

Many predators, such as my cats, eat the brains and intestines of their prey. That’s where the essential vitamins and minerals are.


9 posted on 11/03/2017 5:26:39 PM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: neverevergiveup

That’s a great post.


10 posted on 11/03/2017 5:27:19 PM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: ameribbean expat

And when their brains got bigger, they decided to have steak instead....


11 posted on 11/03/2017 5:27:53 PM PDT by proxy_user
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To: Gen.Blather

I hold that hominids who eat WATER insects - crab, shrimp, lobster, etc. - have the biggest brain HP.


12 posted on 11/03/2017 5:30:34 PM PDT by txhurl
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To: ameribbean expat

Probably explains why liberals love to eat rocks and twigs. while we eat meat!


13 posted on 11/03/2017 5:30:35 PM PDT by CodeToad (CWII is coming. Arm Up! They Are!)
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To: ameribbean expat
Imagine how much better things would have been if they had access to prime rib!
14 posted on 11/03/2017 5:30:39 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Tax-chick

LOL!! Thanks..


15 posted on 11/03/2017 5:30:59 PM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: Cicero

I ate huevos rancheros con chiliquiles. I did not know what a chiliquile was. I thought it was some type of vegetable cut into small rectangular pieces. They tasted good. I later found out that I ate fileted crickets in scrambled eggs. It was not bad.


16 posted on 11/03/2017 5:31:29 PM PDT by forgotten man
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To: forgotten man

Chilaquiles means corn tortillas cut in strips. If your server added bugs, oh well, but the chilaquiles are the bread.


17 posted on 11/03/2017 5:38:04 PM PDT by Tax-chick (The bigger the problem, the less likely a solution can be politically feasible.)
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To: Gen.Blather

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/06/the-oldest-known-human-fossils-have-been-found-in-an-unusual-place/529452/


18 posted on 11/03/2017 5:39:04 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools. Go Trump!)
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To: ameribbean expat

Yeah, brain needs protein.


19 posted on 11/03/2017 5:39:39 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: RegulatorCountry

I am in complete agreement.


20 posted on 11/03/2017 5:40:54 PM PDT by EEGator
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