1. The dwarfing of Mount Everest!
While a section of scientists claim that the snow cap atop Mount Everest is thinning because of
changing climate, bringing down the peak's "net altitude", others are of the opinion that there has
not been enough study and it is highly unlikely that Everest will be denuded of its snow/ice cover
in the foreseeable future. The height of Mount Everest is 8,848 mts(29,029 ft) which includes the
depth of the snow cap atop the peak. The thickness of the snow has been decreasing and as a
result, the net altitude of Everest is changing.according to glaciologist, Anil Kulkarni of Divecha
Centre for Climate Change., Indian Institute of Science. During the driest/warmest period of the
year, the peak has lost up to a metre in the past one and a half decades. Here are certain other
interesting factors:-
(a) Some scientists claim the area's plate tectonics are adding to the height and moving the
summit north-eastwards.
(b) India's northward movement compresses the Himalayas and raises Everest by 3-4 mm/year.
(c) Earthquakes lower the height a little, say geologists.
(d) The 2015 earthquake decreased the peak's height by about 1 cm, according to geologist,
Roger Bilham.
(e) Errors occur while assessing mean sea level.
A remeasured altitude of Mount Everest is likely to be announced by May '20. A team from
Nepal has reached the summit to measure its height.
2. Monkeys outperform human beings!
Monkeys exhibit more cognitive flexibility than humans when it comes to exploring more efficient
options to solving problems, according to a study. It illustrates how humans can suffer from
learned biases that can lead us to make inefficient decisions and miss opportunities.
Through trial and error using a computer, monkeys and humans had to follow a pattern by pushing
a striped square then a dotted square and then, when it appeared, a triangle to achieve to achieve
the goal and receive a reward. Wrong results got a time out and no reward. After the strategy was
learned, subsequent trials presented the triangle option immediately without having to push the
patterned squares in sequence. The monkeys quickly used the shortcut while 61% of the humans
didn't. About 70% of the monkeys used the shortcut the first time it was available compared to
only one human.
Tailpiece.
It was like any other Saturday with plenty of power interruptions. Wonder whether it's due to the
work being undertaken in the new house under construction? It's restored rather quickly, that's why!
Padmakumar and Rema arrived a trifle after 1700 hrs from Palakkad and so, it was an active evening subsequently.
While a section of scientists claim that the snow cap atop Mount Everest is thinning because of
changing climate, bringing down the peak's "net altitude", others are of the opinion that there has
not been enough study and it is highly unlikely that Everest will be denuded of its snow/ice cover
in the foreseeable future. The height of Mount Everest is 8,848 mts(29,029 ft) which includes the
depth of the snow cap atop the peak. The thickness of the snow has been decreasing and as a
result, the net altitude of Everest is changing.according to glaciologist, Anil Kulkarni of Divecha
Centre for Climate Change., Indian Institute of Science. During the driest/warmest period of the
year, the peak has lost up to a metre in the past one and a half decades. Here are certain other
interesting factors:-
(a) Some scientists claim the area's plate tectonics are adding to the height and moving the
summit north-eastwards.
(b) India's northward movement compresses the Himalayas and raises Everest by 3-4 mm/year.
(c) Earthquakes lower the height a little, say geologists.
(d) The 2015 earthquake decreased the peak's height by about 1 cm, according to geologist,
Roger Bilham.
(e) Errors occur while assessing mean sea level.
A remeasured altitude of Mount Everest is likely to be announced by May '20. A team from
Nepal has reached the summit to measure its height.
2. Monkeys outperform human beings!
Monkeys exhibit more cognitive flexibility than humans when it comes to exploring more efficient
options to solving problems, according to a study. It illustrates how humans can suffer from
learned biases that can lead us to make inefficient decisions and miss opportunities.
Through trial and error using a computer, monkeys and humans had to follow a pattern by pushing
a striped square then a dotted square and then, when it appeared, a triangle to achieve to achieve
the goal and receive a reward. Wrong results got a time out and no reward. After the strategy was
learned, subsequent trials presented the triangle option immediately without having to push the
patterned squares in sequence. The monkeys quickly used the shortcut while 61% of the humans
didn't. About 70% of the monkeys used the shortcut the first time it was available compared to
only one human.
Tailpiece.
It was like any other Saturday with plenty of power interruptions. Wonder whether it's due to the
work being undertaken in the new house under construction? It's restored rather quickly, that's why!
Padmakumar and Rema arrived a trifle after 1700 hrs from Palakkad and so, it was an active evening subsequently.
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