Scientists decode when and how kissing evolved in humans – and it’s gross

Science and Health

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreCloseKissing in humans evolved as a symbolic expression of love from grooming behaviours seen in ancestral great apes, a comprehensive new study says.The kiss has been a versatile way by which humans across civilisations and societies have shown affection, intimacy, or social bonding, most often in a way that is regulated by cultural conventions.A study published last year points to Mesopotamia around 4,500 years ago as one of the earliest known places where kissing was a “well-established practice”.Thousands of clay tablets recovered from early human cultures that lived between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in modern-day Iraq and Syria reveal that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy during these times.However, how exactly our species began communicating affection this way remains a topic of debate.Babylonian clay model showing couple on couch engaged in sex and kissing

Singham Again Box Office: Film is Ajay Devgn’s highest opener, overtakes Singham Returns

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, the third film in the Singham franchise, was one of the most keenly awaited films of the year. On top of that, when the film’s lengthy and explosive trailer was out, the excitement reached even higher. This was also seen in the advance booking leading up to the film. All this ensured that the movie has opened to a huge number of Rs. 43.70 crores, despite a clash with another biggie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.This is also the highest opener for the film’s leading man Ajay Devgn. Interestingly, before Singham Again, his highest opener was the second film in the Singham franchise titled Singham Returns (2014), which opened at Rs. 32.09 crores.The third film in the list is Golmaal Again with Rs. 30.14 crores. Interestingly, all the top three highest openers of his have been Rohit Shetty movies. This speaks volumes about the successful pair the actor and director share.Filmmaker Indra Kumar’s Total Dhamaal is the fourth film in the list with Rs. 16.50 crores. There is a major gap between the opening day numbers of Golmaal Again and Total Dhamaal. The fifth position is held by his superhit crime thriller Drishyam 2 (Rs. 15.38 crores).With positive word-of-mouth pouring in for Singham Again, the film is expected to rake in even more money today (Saturday) and Sunday.Ajay Devgn’s highest openers at a glance:Singham Again – Rs. 43.70 croresSingham Returns – Rs. 32.09 croresGolmaal Again – Rs. 30.14 croresTotal Dhamaal – Rs. 16.50 croresDrishyam 2 – Rs. 15.38 crores More Pages: Singham Again Box Office Collection , Singham Again Movie ReviewTags : Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Kapoor, Box-Office, Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff, Jio Studios, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty, Rohit Shetty Productions, Singham Again, Tiger Shroff

Sale of Paramount Theater brings excitement to business community in Springfield

Business News

The Paramount Theater and Massasoit House Hotel block in Springfield has sold for $750,000 to Sachdev Real Estate Development Inc., a Connecticut corporation based in Suffield. The previous owners were the New England Farm Workers’ Council (NEFWC), an organization that misused over $1 million dollars in real estate funds. The theater sold for auction in late September 2024.Xiomara DeLobato is the vice president and chief of staff for the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. She noted that incoming developments will create positive outcomes for the community. This includes things such as travelers, an increase in customers to restaurants and local business and positive community engagement, she said. The former theater and hotel are located in the city’s downtown sector and are an surrounded by several existing restaurants, stores and apartments buildings.“Many new owners especially who have come to the city to redevelop spaces, have been really mindful and really thoughtful on any type of negative impact,” DeLobato said. “So, I’m going to have to believe that these new owners will be really thoughtful and considerate of what those implications could be to… the businesses that are currently there.”The theater was built in 1926, but the hotel had already been established prior when it first opened in 1843. It is located at 1676-1708 Main Street.“The new owners have said they really want to preserve the history behind the Paramount Theater and the hotel. And I think that all of that is wonderful for our city,” DeLobato said. The development company did not respond to a request for comment.Tim Sheehan, the chief development officer for Springfield, said the city has not spoken with the developer yet. “It is our intent to give them a chance to actually pull an informed concept plan for the redevelopment of the building together which takes time,” he said. “What they have made public with regards to their general development concept… I understand to be mixed use, incorporating both residential and commercial uses.”DeLobato also said the idea of both residential and commercial uses for the space is a good one.”When you have folks that are actively engaged in the region or in the space, or in the neighborhood, they’re living here, they’re eating at the restaurants, they’re going to the local grocery stores, all of that funnels a lot of positive activity,” she said.

Tamu Besar attracts tourists, promotes local culture – Hajiji

Travel

Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor ride a high-powered motorcycle after the opening ceremony of the Tamu Besar Kota Belud today. – Bernama photo
KOTA BELUD (Nov 2): The Tamu Besar Kota Belud not only attracts tourists but also highlights the beauty and uniqueness of the diverse local cultures in this state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He said the state government would continue to support and develop the potential of each district in Sabah, including advancing the socioeconomic, tourism and cultural aspects of its unique communities.
“The annual organization of this tamu besar plays a major role in attracting tourists, as well as promoting the beauty of local culture. It also symbolizes unity, as it serves as a social gathering space for people of various ethnicities and religions, such as the Bajau, Kadazandusun, Iranun, and Chinese communities, who have preserved this tradition to this day.
“I hope the people will continue to support every development agenda implemented by the government,” he said at the Kota Belud Tamu Besar 2024 today.
Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin officiated the opening ceremony of the Kota Belud Tamu Besar 2024 which has various activities such as cultural performances, traditional sports, exhibitions, and sales of crafts, community, and traditional products.
Hajiji pointed out that the state government remains committed to enhancing the implementation of various inclusive tourism initiatives and programs, especially in expanding tourism promotion networks and developing air route connections to the state.
He added that this move aims to increase Sabah’s accessibility as a destination that offers the most appealing tourism experiences for both domestic and international travellers.
“According to statistics from the Sabah Tourism Board, the number of tourist arrivals in the state from January to August is approximately 2.1 million, with 867,231 international tourists and 1.2 million domestic tourists.
“This demonstrates Sabah’s great potential as a tourism destination, and I am confident that with the strategic plans in place, the number of tourist arrivals to Sabah will continue to show encouraging growth.
“Kota Belud is among the destinations offering a variety of tourism experiences, including adventure, recreation, culture and nature, with more than 30 fascinating tourist spots to explore, including islands and rivers,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Kota Belud tamu is one of the oldest markets in Sabah, with a history spanning over 100 years.
“The Kota Belud tamu is not only a trade center but also a place for the production and sale of various local products, such as agricultural produce, traditional foods, handicrafts, machetes, musical instruments and traditional attire. Here, visitors can find quality goods at reasonable prices,” he said.
The three-day Tamu Besar Kota Belud, set to wrap up on Sunday, has a rich 100-year history. Originally a marketplace for locals, it now draws tourists eager to experience and purchase local specialties, including traditional foods, handicrafts and clothing, making it one of Sabah’s most popular cultural attractions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan who was also in attendance, highlighted the event’s potential to shine on the global tourism stage as a cultural gem of the Land Below the Wind.
“Tamu Besar Kota Belud has everything – a deep cultural heritage, unique handicrafts and vibrant local experiences. It has the potential to attract visitors from around the world,” he said.
Visitors to the Tamu Besar Kota Belud, can find distinct local handicrafts that stand apart from those found elsewhere in Sabah, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich culture and craftsmanship.
“For the first time, the festival is being promoted as a signature event, allowing the ministry to showcase it globally as a unique experience in Sabah’s cultural tourism landscape,” he added.

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Scientists have called the shells of Black Sea mollusks a potential source of rare earth metals

Science and Health

AK&M 02 November 2024 14:55

Specialists of the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the South Seas (InBUM) of the Russian Academy of Sciences assessed the content of rare earth elements (REE) in the shells of mollusks common in the coastal zone of the Black Sea. It turned out that the shells of marine life have the ability to accumulate REE.

Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, rare earth metals are extremely in demand in modern industry. They are indispensable in the production of smartphones, liquid crystal displays, wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, powerful permanent magnets, LEDs, lasers and other high-tech products. At the same time, unlike heavy metals, the impact of which on the environment is well studied, information on the forms of REE in marine ecosystems is practically absent.

Crimean scientists have studied the shells of bivalve mollusks — anadara, Black Sea scallop, Mediterranean mussel, giant oyster, and gastropod mollusk rapana. These are typical and the most numerous species of Black Sea mollusks, with mussel, oyster and rapana being popular and commercially valuable seafood, and scallop and anadara have great potential for Black Sea aquaculture.

“We collected samples of shellfish in 2023-2024, mainly at the locations of the oyster farm in the coast of Sevastopol. The REE analysis was performed at the Center for Collective Use “Spectrometry and Chromatography”. As a result of this extensive work, we have revealed that the shells of the Black Sea mollusks are good accumulators of rare earth elements,” said the head of the study, Doctor of Biological Sciences Vitaly Ryabushko.

The shells of the studied specimens are abnormally enriched with scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, europium and terbium. The highest total REE concentrations were recorded in mussels and anadara — up to 1.9 mg per 1 kg of shell. This is almost twice the REE content in algae of the Crimean coast.

According to scientists, the shells of edible shellfish, which are traditionally considered waste, can serve as valuable biogeochemical indicators and potential sources of scarce metals.

“It is possible that over time, a technology will be developed that allows the extraction of REE from shellfish shells, as well as from seaweed emissions,” said the first author of the article, a leading researcher at the Department of Aquaculture and Marine Pharmacology FITZ InBUM, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Sergey Kapranov.

The work is supported by an RNF grant.
Please note that this press release is based on materials provided by the company. AK&M Information Agency shall not be held liable for its contents, nor for the legal and other consequences of its publication.

Scientists have called the shells of Black Sea mollusks a potential source of rare earth metals

Science and Health

AK&M 02 November 2024 14:55

Specialists of the A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the South Seas (InBUM) of the Russian Academy of Sciences assessed the content of rare earth elements (REE) in the shells of mollusks common in the coastal zone of the Black Sea. It turned out that the shells of marine life have the ability to accumulate REE.

Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, rare earth metals are extremely in demand in modern industry. They are indispensable in the production of smartphones, liquid crystal displays, wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, powerful permanent magnets, LEDs, lasers and other high-tech products. At the same time, unlike heavy metals, the impact of which on the environment is well studied, information on the forms of REE in marine ecosystems is practically absent.

Crimean scientists have studied the shells of bivalve mollusks — anadara, Black Sea scallop, Mediterranean mussel, giant oyster, and gastropod mollusk rapana. These are typical and the most numerous species of Black Sea mollusks, with mussel, oyster and rapana being popular and commercially valuable seafood, and scallop and anadara have great potential for Black Sea aquaculture.

“We collected samples of shellfish in 2023-2024, mainly at the locations of the oyster farm in the coast of Sevastopol. The REE analysis was performed at the Center for Collective Use “Spectrometry and Chromatography”. As a result of this extensive work, we have revealed that the shells of the Black Sea mollusks are good accumulators of rare earth elements,” said the head of the study, Doctor of Biological Sciences Vitaly Ryabushko.

The shells of the studied specimens are abnormally enriched with scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, europium and terbium. The highest total REE concentrations were recorded in mussels and anadara — up to 1.9 mg per 1 kg of shell. This is almost twice the REE content in algae of the Crimean coast.

According to scientists, the shells of edible shellfish, which are traditionally considered waste, can serve as valuable biogeochemical indicators and potential sources of scarce metals.

“It is possible that over time, a technology will be developed that allows the extraction of REE from shellfish shells, as well as from seaweed emissions,” said the first author of the article, a leading researcher at the Department of Aquaculture and Marine Pharmacology FITZ InBUM, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Sergey Kapranov.

The work is supported by an RNF grant.
Please note that this press release is based on materials provided by the company. AK&M Information Agency shall not be held liable for its contents, nor for the legal and other consequences of its publication.

TPU scientists have developed reusable hydrogen storage devices based on the domestic raw material base

Science and Health

AK&M 02 November 2024 15:10

Tomsk Polytechnic University scientists have developed metal hydride hydrogen storage devices made of an alloy of titanium and iron. The cost of their production is three times lower than that of imported analogues. The accumulators are capable of sorbing and desorbing hydrogen for several thousand cycles with a loss of efficiency of no more than 5-10%.

By far the most common method of storing hydrogen is cylinders at a pressure of 150 or 350 atmospheres. However, the use of high pressure requires increased safety measures. In this regard, scientists consider the use of metal hydrides as an alternative way to accumulate and release hydrogen.

There are a large number of metal hydrides, some of them are capable of accumulating and releasing hydrogen once, others are suitable for repeated use. A team of scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University is working towards the creation of hydrogen storage systems for reusable stationary use based on lanthanum-nickel and titanium-iron.

“The lanthanum-nickel alloy (LaNi5) is one of the most studied metal hydrides in the world for hydrogen accumulation, widely used, and, at the same time, one of the most expensive. With it, we managed to create a safe hydrogen storage system that does not require high temperatures and pressure. However, some of the raw materials for the alloy have to be purchased abroad, so TPU scientists faced the task of synthesizing metal hydrides from the domestic raw material base, — says associate professor of the Department of Experimental Physics Viktor Kudiyarov. — We have developed a laboratory hydrogen storage facility with storage devices made of titanium and iron alloy, and also created the alloy itself. The cost of such a drive is about three times lower than lanthanum and nickel-based drives.”

With the support of the federal program of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation “Priority 2030”, equipment was purchased that allows for a full cycle of creating a storage material – from obtaining an ingot to studying the characteristics of hydrogen sorption and desorption in a laboratory installation.

Currently, scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University are working on improving metal hydride-based storage devices. Now the drives are used in the form of fine powders, instead it is planned to create compact drives with additives to increase thermal conductivity.

“Our goal is to develop large hydrogen storage systems based on domestic raw materials, suitable for mass production,” says Andrey Leader, head of the Experimental Physics Department.

The results of the TPU scientists’ project were presented at the V All-Russian conference “Hydrogen. Technologies. The Future” in Perm.
Please note that this press release is based on materials provided by the company. AK&M Information Agency shall not be held liable for its contents, nor for the legal and other consequences of its publication.

TPU scientists have developed reusable hydrogen storage devices based on the domestic raw material base

Science and Health

AK&M 02 November 2024 15:10

Tomsk Polytechnic University scientists have developed metal hydride hydrogen storage devices made of an alloy of titanium and iron. The cost of their production is three times lower than that of imported analogues. The accumulators are capable of sorbing and desorbing hydrogen for several thousand cycles with a loss of efficiency of no more than 5-10%.

By far the most common method of storing hydrogen is cylinders at a pressure of 150 or 350 atmospheres. However, the use of high pressure requires increased safety measures. In this regard, scientists consider the use of metal hydrides as an alternative way to accumulate and release hydrogen.

There are a large number of metal hydrides, some of them are capable of accumulating and releasing hydrogen once, others are suitable for repeated use. A team of scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University is working towards the creation of hydrogen storage systems for reusable stationary use based on lanthanum-nickel and titanium-iron.

“The lanthanum-nickel alloy (LaNi5) is one of the most studied metal hydrides in the world for hydrogen accumulation, widely used, and, at the same time, one of the most expensive. With it, we managed to create a safe hydrogen storage system that does not require high temperatures and pressure. However, some of the raw materials for the alloy have to be purchased abroad, so TPU scientists faced the task of synthesizing metal hydrides from the domestic raw material base, — says associate professor of the Department of Experimental Physics Viktor Kudiyarov. — We have developed a laboratory hydrogen storage facility with storage devices made of titanium and iron alloy, and also created the alloy itself. The cost of such a drive is about three times lower than lanthanum and nickel-based drives.”

With the support of the federal program of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation “Priority 2030”, equipment was purchased that allows for a full cycle of creating a storage material – from obtaining an ingot to studying the characteristics of hydrogen sorption and desorption in a laboratory installation.

Currently, scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University are working on improving metal hydride-based storage devices. Now the drives are used in the form of fine powders, instead it is planned to create compact drives with additives to increase thermal conductivity.

“Our goal is to develop large hydrogen storage systems based on domestic raw materials, suitable for mass production,” says Andrey Leader, head of the Experimental Physics Department.

The results of the TPU scientists’ project were presented at the V All-Russian conference “Hydrogen. Technologies. The Future” in Perm.
Please note that this press release is based on materials provided by the company. AK&M Information Agency shall not be held liable for its contents, nor for the legal and other consequences of its publication.

20 Years Ago, The Biggest Original Superhero Movie Ever Saved The Box Office

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

“The Incredibles” centers on Bob Parr, his wife Helen, and their three children. Before starting a family, Bob and Helen were among the world’s greatest crime fighters, known as Mr. Incredible and Elastagril. 15 years later, they are merely civilians as the world has turned on superheroes. So, they try to live a normal life with their kids Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. Everything changes, however, when Bob, restless with his daily grind, gets the chance to suit back up as a mysterious message summons him to a remote island for a secret mission.

At the time, Bird was coming off of the disappointing commercial failure of “The Iron Giant,” which served as his feature directorial debut. The good news for him was that his previous movie had been very well received by critics and the moviegoers who saw it, despite having underperformed. As for “The Incredibles,” Bird had come up with the idea for the film years before he pitched it to Pixar after being encouraged by John Lasseter (the former head of Pixar and, as it happened, a friend of Bird’s from college). Bird ended up signing a multi-film deal with the studio and it was off to the races.
When it came to crafting his heroes, Bird wanted to focus more on the characters, rather than just what would look the coolest on screen. In that same chat with Michael Barrier, Bird recalled:

“The part that I’m interested in is all the personal stuff. I tried to base the powers on family archetypes. The father is always expected to be strong, so I had him have strength. Moms are always pulled in a million different directions, so I had her be elastic. Teenagers are insecure and defensive, so I had her be invisible and have protective shields. 10-year-old boys are hyperactive energy balls, so I had him be speed. And babies are unknown — they may have great powers, they may have none.”

He couldn’t do everything himself, but Bird generally has a very specific vision for his films. When it came to translating his vision for “The Incredibles,” he had interesting ways of getting his ideas across. Teddy Newton, who drew many of the characters in the film, explained in the production notes how Bird described them to him:

“Brad would simply describe the characters to me — he wouldn’t use too many adjectives, but he would often do an impression or a voice for them. Sometimes the voice alone would put enough pictures and ideas in my head. It’s like when you listen to the radio and you start to imagine what the person would look like. You get inspired and everything starts to take shape.”

Sandra Bullock’s Two Best Movies According To Rotten Tomatoes Are Action Spectacles

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Static Media

Sandra Bullock has had a long and varied film career, with plenty of hits (like 1995’s “While You Were Sleeping”) and plenty of flops (like 1997’s “Speed 2: Cruise Control”). According to Rotten Tomatoes, her two best films are also some of her most action-centric; at 95% fresh is 1994’s “Speed,” where she and Keanu Reeves are stuck on a bus that will explode if it ever goes below 50 miles per hour. At 96% fresh is 2013’s “Gravity,” where she and George Clooney are stuck in space and trying not to get hit by high-speed space debris. For whatever reason, Bullock is always getting stuck in places, and critics really seem to like it when that happens.

It’s worth noting that the Rotten Tomatoes’ tomatometer is often misunderstood. Getting a 95% rating on RT is not like getting an A on a school assignment; all it means is that 95% of critics gave it a positive review, with “positive” ranging anywhere from “Eh, I guess it was fine” to “This is the greatest movie I’ve ever seen.” A movie rated 9 out of 10 on IMDb can often get the same tomatometer rating as a movie given a 7 out of 10 on IMDb. Rotten Tomatoes is based on the question, “Is this movie worth watching?” and it divides all the reviews into simple yes or no responses.
In other words, when it comes to figuring out which movie is the best of Bullock’s career, that one percent difference on the tomatometer means pretty much nothing. So, between “Speed” and “Gravity,” which of Bullock’s top movies deserves the most praise?

Why Speed might be Sandra Bullock’s best movie

20th Century Studios

The case for “Speed” being Bullock’s best movie is that it’s the one that made her an A-lister. When she introduces herself to Reeves’ character in the film, she’s basically introducing herself to the world, and she makes an amazing first impression. Her character is instantly sympathetic as a random bus-rider suddenly forced to drive the rigged vehicle through a dozen different obstacles, and her chemistry with Reeves is off the charts. She was arguably more of the main star of this film than Reeves was, to the point where “Speed 2” prioritized bringing her back most of all, not Reeves. (Granted, the creatives behind the movie did try to get Reeves back, but he correctly saw the script for the “Speed” sequel wasn’t up to par.)

The best part of “Speed” is the way it fittingly never slows down; the tension is always ramping up, throwing the characters through one deadly obstacle after another. There is one brief period of calm near the end, where Annie and Jack finally escape the bus and get a moment to catch their breath, but the movie quickly switches over to a whole new action set-piece — one where Jack has to save Annie from a subway train that also can’t slow down. At just under two hours, “Speed” is a massive adrenaline rush of a film that never overstays its welcome. Plus, it’s a much-needed argument in favor of giving a raise to bus drivers everywhere.

Why Gravity might be Sandra Bullock’s best movie

Warner Bros.

In 2013’s “Gravity,” Bullock’s character Ryan finds herself stuck in the cold vacuum of space with no way to contact the people at home. (And even if she could, they’d hardly be able to reach her in time.) The first act briefly seems like it’s giving her and Clooney’s character a similar dynamic to Annie and Jack in “Speed,” but Clooney exits the film surprisingly fast, leaving Bullock to carry the rest of it.

“Gravity” doesn’t quite have the same non-stop excitement of “Speed,” going for a slightly more melancholy tone overall, but it’s still a fun, fast-paced movie that lets Bullock show off her acting chops yet again. The most impressive part here are the visuals, as acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón brings his signature long takes into space. A big sequence in the first act where Ryan is left drifting off to nowhere, further and further away from Earth with no apparent way to turn around, is easily one of the best action scenes in the entire sci-fi genre.
Sure, “Gravity” caught flak for its scientific inaccuracies, but “Speed” was never perfect either. (Remember when the bus had to jump that gap? The internet would’ve complained for weeks over that scene.) As long as you’re not too much of a stickler for space accuracy, “Gravity” is a remarkable, atmospheric gem. I still prefer “Speed” overall, but ranking “Gravity” at the top is perfectly reasonable.