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[philosof1e]

the number of times i think about the full body viking skeleton i saw in the museum is ridiculous like when i say it haunts me i mean it actually haunts me

[philosof1e]

[philosof1e]

[philosof1e]

Reposted from @science_unboxed (@get_regrann) - One way that AI can realistically cause harm to us is when algorithms reflect our human biases in the datasets that organizations collect such as Facebook, banks, hospitals, etc. Let’s imagine, for example, that a bank wants to predict whether it should give someone a loan. Let’s also imagine that in the past, this particular bank hasn’t given as many loans to women or people from certain minorities. These features will be present in that bank’s dataset- Since the Ai uses datasets to learn it will process data through human biases. This could lead to the Ai to conclusions that women or people from minority groups are more likely to be at credit risks and should therefore not be given loans. So blame human biases not some tool we made. A post by @H3xa subscribe to yutani.studio - posted on Instagram - https://ift.tt/2LDGXdK

[philosof1e]

Mermaids: In Theory

The scenario that a group of humans have evolved to aquatic creatures, has always been fascinating to some. While the first [known] mermaid tales appeared around 1000 B.C., the topic has been interpreted many times over in the form of literature, paintings, oral tales, etc. But there is one very specific reason for these creatures belonging to myth, and that is what I will explain bellow.

The possibility of these creatures existing, wherever, is scientifically possible.  If we choose to believe in God, magic, or whatever else, it also is possible. After all, God supposedly made woman from the rib of man, so who’s to say if he sexually coerced man and fish to breed, and whipped up a whole new species from man’s severed head?

But this piece is written with a single postulate which is: refer to science.

Without further ado, let’s talk about mermaids.

Okay, so for starters, they would have no hair; it is pretty much useless to have underwater (it would get in your eyes, increase friction, and so on). Most marine mammals depend on what’s called blubber layer, with the small exception of otters (’cause they are bad bitches who just don’t care) who have a thick water-resistant fur for insulation, and probably some other marine mammals I can’t think of right now. Of course, there also is the exception of sexual selection, but either way, blubber layer or smooth-as-shit skin, they would look pretty stupid, yea?

A chemical change would probably take place; our human skin would no longer react poorly to being in water for an extended period of time, no scales. However, I imagine humans would not somehow develop gills, in order to breathe under water. If anything, we would probably be like all other marine mammals; breathing air through our lungs.

They would swim like cetaceans due to the way our hips move and so our centerbody and legs would grow stronger to prioritize swimming.

However, their arms as well as their shoulders would become shorter and more vestigial. Mostly to decrease friction, but also, there really is no reason to have long stupid looking arms when aquatic, unless of course you expect to eat with a knife and fork and not just go with the flow and munch seaweed and herring.

Hate to say it, but there are no necks underwater. Your head would just kind of melt into your body; once again, to decrease resistance.

Their legs will probably change length to adapt to be a better swimmer. 

Humans really aren’t designed to swim but the most efficient way to do it would be horizontally, but then our eyes would point downwards and there really is no need to roam oceans only to look at stupid sand. It would mean we would not be able to see predators and other ocean shit, so it is with all regret that I deduce our eyes would move upward so that it would be possible to look in the direction we’re swimming, ‘cause, you know, you can’t just turn your head ‘cause no neck ed. Also they would likely move further from each other given us a better angle.

Also, while we’re at the leg-subject, it is unclear whether our legs would fuse together to a tail. Perhaps it would be our back growing longer, and legs shrinking ‘cause let me tell you we will not have evolved as a species only to walk on the ocean floor. There’s really no need. It would take a long time to, literally, grow a spine (hah) so that we could use it for swimming, as opposed to flapping our comically short leg(s).

And last but not least: sorry, but there will be no breathing underwater. Gills belong to fish, not mammals, and even if we were to turn into fish at some very, very, very distant point in the future, it would be long after you yourself get these gills, and who has that kind of patience tbh.

But if you insist on “breathing” underwater, I suggest you look into the Aquaman Crystal. Not to flex, but it’s pretty cool.