logo
Caught on camera, capuchin monkeys kidnap howler monkey babies

Caught on camera, capuchin monkeys kidnap howler monkey babies

Washington Post19-05-2025

WASHINGTON — A baby howler monkey clung to the back of an older male monkey, its tiny fingers grasping fur. But they're not related and not even the same species.
Scientists spotted surprising evidence of what they describe as monkey kidnappings while reviewing video footage from a small island of Panama. The capuchin monkeys were seen carrying at least 11 howler babies between 2022 and 2023.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How Children Are Exposed To Brain-Harming Chemicals From Mattresses
How Children Are Exposed To Brain-Harming Chemicals From Mattresses

Forbes

time2 hours ago

  • Forbes

How Children Are Exposed To Brain-Harming Chemicals From Mattresses

Babies and young children may breathe and absorb phthalates, flame retardants, and other harmful ... More chemicals from their mattresses while they sleep, according to recent research from the University of Toronto. Every parent wants their child to sleep safely and soundly. Yet, recent research led by the University of Toronto and co-authored by the Green Science Policy Institute has uncovered a disturbing reality: the very mattresses our babies and young children sleep on may be exposing them to a cocktail of harmful chemicals, including phthalates and flame retardants, night after night. The first study detected concerning levels of more than two dozen phthalates, flame retardants, and UV-filters in the air of young children's bedrooms, with the highest levels lurking around the beds. A companion study testing 16 newly purchased children's mattresses confirmed that they are likely the major source of these chemicals in children's sleeping environments. When the researchers simulated a child's body temperature and weight on the mattresses, chemical emissions surged. The phthalates and organophosphate ester flame retardants measured in this study are hormone disruptors and linked to neurological harms, including learning disorders, reduced IQ scores, behavioral problems, and impaired memory. Some are also linked to childhood asthma and cancer. Several UV-filters are hormone disruptors. Young children are not just 'little adults.' Their developing bodies and brains, higher breathing rates, and hand-to-mouth behaviors make them especially susceptible to the harms of these chemicals. Babies can spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping, meaning their contact with mattresses is prolonged and intimate. Their skin is more permeable, and their surface area relative to body weight is three times that of adults, further increasing their risk. Critically, once a child's brain development is disrupted, the consequences can be permanent and lifelong. The mattresses were purchased in Canada, but most contained materials originating from other countries including the U.S. and Mexico. Because of integrated mattress markets and supply chains, the results are likely to apply to mattresses purchased throughout North America. The high levels of flame retardants in most of the mattresses tested were therefore puzzling, given these chemicals are not necessary to pass neither Canadian nor U.S. mattress flammability standards. Both countries' updated regulations allow mattresses to pass safety tests without the use of added flame retardants. Flame retardants are linked to neurological, reproductive, and hormonal harm as well as cancer, and also have no proven fire-safety benefit as used in mattresses. It was unclear whether the chemicals were intentionally added or present due to supply chain contamination. Several mattresses had chemicals that are banned or restricted in Canada, suggesting that manufacturers are not currently testing children's mattresses for these chemicals and other unnecessary chemicals before putting them on the market. While the burden should not fall on parents to ensure chemical safety of mattresses, there are immediate steps families can take to reduce exposure: · Declutter the sleeping area: Limit the number of pillows, blankets, and toys, as these can also harbor or emit chemicals. · Wash bedding frequently: Bedding and pajamas act as a barrier between your child and the mattress. Regular washing helps remove any chemicals that may accumulate. · Opt for undyed or neutral-colored bedding: Brightly colored fabrics may require additional chemical additives, including UV-filters and plasticizers. · Advocate for change: Write to manufacturers to demand transparency and safer products, and support policies that restrict harmful chemicals in children's products. The findings from these studies are a wake-up call for mattress manufacturers and policymakers. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that manufacturers must test their products for these substances and take other precautions to ensure clean supply chains before the products reach the market. For example, the UK's mattress trade association reacted to the study by issuing guidance for its members. The group calls on manufacturers to work with their supply chains to ascertain the presence of certain chemicals in raw materials as it is already possible to produce a specification for mattresses where they are not present. Governments must also prioritize children's environmental health by implementing more stringent regulations on chemical use in mattresses and other children's products, requiring transparency from manufacturers, and investing in research that further clarifies these connections between environmental exposures and health harms. Every child deserves the right to a safe sleep environment free from invisible chemical hazards that threaten their development, their potential, and ultimately their future.

Intelligence Illusion: What Apple's AI Study Reveals About Reasoning
Intelligence Illusion: What Apple's AI Study Reveals About Reasoning

Forbes

time9 hours ago

  • Forbes

Intelligence Illusion: What Apple's AI Study Reveals About Reasoning

Concept of the diversity of talents and know-how, with profiles of male and female characters ... More associated with different brains. The gleaming veneer of artificial intelligence has captivated the world, with large language models producing eloquent responses that often seem indistinguishable from human thought. Yet beneath this polished surface lies a troubling reality that Apple's latest research has brought into sharp focus: eloquence is not intelligence, and imitation is not understanding. Apple's new study, titled "The Illusion of Thinking," has sent shockwaves through the AI community by demonstrating that even the most sophisticated reasoning models fundamentally lack genuine cognitive abilities. This revelation validates what prominent researchers like Meta's Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun have been arguing for years—that current AI systems are sophisticated pattern-matching machines rather than thinking entities. The Apple research team's findings are both methodical and damning. By creating controlled puzzle environments that could precisely manipulate complexity while maintaining logical consistency, they revealed three distinct performance regimes in Large Reasoning Models . In low-complexity tasks, standard models actually outperformed their supposedly superior reasoning counterparts. Medium-complexity problems showed marginal benefits from additional "thinking" processes. But most tellingly, both model types experienced complete collapse when faced with high-complexity tasks. What makes these findings particularly striking is the counter-intuitive scaling behavior the researchers observed. Rather than improving with increased complexity as genuine intelligence would, these models showed a peculiar pattern: their reasoning effort would increase up to a certain point, then decline dramatically despite having adequate computational resources. This suggests that the models weren't actually reasoning at all— they were following learned patterns that broke down when confronted with novel challenges. The study exposed fundamental limitations in exact computation, revealing that these systems fail to use explicit algorithms and reason inconsistently across similar puzzles. When the veneer of sophisticated language is stripped away, what remains is a sophisticated but ultimately hollow mimicry of thought. These findings align perfectly with warnings that Yann LeCun and other leading AI researchers have been voicing for years. LeCun has consistently argued that current LLMs will be largely obsolete within five years, not because they'll be replaced by better versions of the same technology, but because they represent a fundamentally flawed approach to artificial intelligence. The core issue isn't technical prowess — it's conceptual. These systems don't understand; they pattern-match. They don't reason; they interpolate from training data. They don't think; they generate statistically probable responses based on massive datasets. The sophistication of their output masks the absence of genuine comprehension, creating what researchers now recognize as an elaborate illusion of intelligence. This disconnect between appearance and reality has profound implications for how we evaluate and deploy AI systems. When we mistake fluency for understanding, we risk making critical decisions based on fundamentally flawed reasoning processes. The danger isn't just technological—it's epistemological. Perhaps most unsettling is how closely this AI limitation mirrors a persistent human cognitive bias. Just as we've been deceived by AI's articulate responses, we consistently overvalue human confidence and extroversion, often mistaking verbal facility for intellectual depth. The overconfidence bias represents one of the most pervasive flaws in human judgment, where individuals' subjective confidence in their abilities far exceeds their objective accuracy. This bias becomes particularly pronounced in social and professional settings, where confident, extroverted individuals often command disproportionate attention and credibility. Research consistently shows that we tend to equate confidence with competence, volume with value, and articulateness with intelligence. The extroverted individual who speaks first and most frequently in meetings often shapes group decisions, regardless of the quality of their ideas. The confident presenter who delivers polished but superficial analysis frequently receives more positive evaluation than the thoughtful introvert who offers deeper insights with less theatrical flair. This psychological tendency creates a dangerous feedback loop. People with low ability often overestimate their competence (the Dunning-Kruger effect), while those with genuine expertise may express appropriate uncertainty about complex issues. The result is a systematic inversion of credibility, where those who know the least speak with the greatest confidence, while those who understand the most communicate with appropriate nuance and qualification. The parallel between AI's eloquent emptiness and our bias toward confident communication reveals something profound about the nature of intelligence itself. Both phenomena demonstrate how easily we conflate the appearance of understanding with its substance. Both show how sophisticated communication can mask fundamental limitations in reasoning and comprehension. Consider the implications for organizational decision-making, educational assessment, and social dynamics. If we consistently overvalue confident presentation over careful analysis—whether from AI systems or human colleagues—we systematically degrade the quality of our collective reasoning. We create environments where performance theater takes precedence over genuine problem-solving. The Apple study's revelation that AI reasoning models fail when faced with true complexity mirrors how overconfident individuals often struggle with genuinely challenging problems while maintaining their persuasive veneer. Both represent sophisticated forms of intellectual imposture that can persist precisely because they're so convincing on the surface. Understanding these limitations—both artificial and human—opens the door to more authentic evaluation of intelligence and reasoning. True intelligence isn't characterized by unwavering confidence or eloquent presentation. Instead, it manifests in several key ways: Genuine intelligence embraces uncertainty when dealing with complex problems. It acknowledges limitations rather than concealing them. It demonstrates consistent reasoning across different contexts rather than breaking down when patterns become unfamiliar. Most importantly, it shows genuine understanding through the ability to adapt principles to novel situations. In human contexts, this means looking beyond charismatic presentation to evaluate the underlying quality of reasoning. It means creating space for thoughtful, measured responses rather than rewarding only quick, confident answers. It means recognizing that the most profound insights often come wrapped in appropriate humility rather than absolute certainty. For AI systems, it means developing more rigorous evaluation frameworks that test genuine understanding rather than pattern matching. It means acknowledging current limitations rather than anthropomorphizing sophisticated text generation. It means building systems that can genuinely reason rather than simply appearing to do so. The convergence of Apple's AI findings with psychological research on human biases offers valuable guidance for navigating our increasingly complex world. Whether evaluating AI systems or human colleagues, we must learn to distinguish between performance and competence, between eloquence and understanding. This requires cultivating intellectual humility – the recognition that genuine intelligence often comes with appropriate uncertainty, that the most confident voices aren't necessarily the most credible, and that true understanding can be distinguished from sophisticated mimicry through careful observation and testing. To distinguish intelligence from imitation in an AI-infused environment we need to invest in hybrid intelligence, which arises from the complementarity of natural and artificial intelligences – anchored in the strength and limitations of both.

2 Ways Real Friendships Help You Survive Tough Times, By A Psychologist
2 Ways Real Friendships Help You Survive Tough Times, By A Psychologist

Forbes

time17 hours ago

  • Forbes

2 Ways Real Friendships Help You Survive Tough Times, By A Psychologist

What if leaning on others made you stronger, not weaker? Here is what research says about the ... More importance of social support in your life. As a society today, we are increasingly shifting toward an individualistic culture where personal achievement and independence are often prioritized over community and collective connection. A 2017 global study analyzing 51 years of data across 78 countries found that individualism is on the rise worldwide and is largely influenced by socioeconomic development. The rapid advancement of the digital world and social media is, unsurprisingly, a major contributing factor. For instance, many young people today consider sending memes or quick messages as an ideal way of communicating and staying connected. While these digital connections can feel comforting, they often fall short of fulfilling deeper social needs, leading to increased feelings of isolation. This shift can be seen in the alarming rise of loneliness. A recent survey by Gallup reveals that 52 million people in the U.S. struggle with loneliness, with around 20% of U.S. adults reporting that they feel lonely daily. As found in the survey, adults who experience daily loneliness are nearly five times more likely to rate their current life poorly compared to those who aren't lonely. Despite evidently feeling the impact of this shift, the power of connection and social support is still undervalued. Leaning on others can feel like a weakness to many. Whether it's emotional encouragement or simply knowing someone is by your side, having real friends who care for you can quite literally change how you experience challenges both mentally and physically. Here are two ways, based on research, friendships can support you through difficult times. For many people, when something feels overwhelming or too difficult, it's possible that they would try to avoid it or experience higher stress while trying to cope with it. On the other hand, when the same challenge appears less threatening, people are more likely to stay engaged and perform better. Friendships, in this case, act as a powerful tool in shaping how you feel and also in influencing how you perceive the challenge itself. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology explored the impact of social support on how people perceive physical challenges. They focused on a simple question: Does having support make a steep hill look less steep? This was done through two experiments. Researchers highlight that the quality of the relationship mattered in this experiment. It wasn't just about having anyone around. It was about feeling close, supported and emotionally connected. People who had known their friend for a longer time or felt closer to them saw the hill as significantly less steep. So, closeness was the key factor influencing perception. The study supports the larger idea that the social resources you have, such as strong and supportive relationships, change the way you perceive the world. People with strong support systems see their world as less threatening, less overwhelming and more manageable. Those without them may see the world as more demanding and stressful. In tough times, when the instinct might be to withdraw or isolate yourself, remember that reaching out to those who truly care for you can shift everything. You don't have to face it all alone, and you're not meant to. While the desire to be independent and grow on your own is valid, it's just as important to nurture your community and prioritize meaningful friendships, not out of self-interest, but because mutual support has a real ability to lighten life's load for everyone involved. A 2021 study published in Physiology and Behavior looked at how even imagining social support affects physical performance and how hard a task feels. This was tested by making the participants perform a handgrip exercise while looking at photos of either someone supportive (like a close friend) or a stranger. The findings revealed that when participants saw the supportive person's photo, they were able to squeeze harder, especially when the task was more difficult. Even though they exerted more effort, the participants reported feeling that the task was easier compared to when they saw a stranger's photo. This suggests that friendships that support you can act like an energy resource and a motivating factor, ultimately enhancing your performance. They can help you perform better physically while also making the effort feel less taxing. So, feeling supported can have a significant impact on how well you handle the situation and your performance in the face of a challenging event. This explains why working out with a friend, for instance, might often feel easier and more energizing than doing it alone. It's the psychological lift their presence provides. Friendships, in this way, can fuel your stamina and make hard things feel more doable. The next time you're pushing through something tough, remember that you don't have to go through it alone. Sometimes, just having someone by your side can change how far you're able to go. It is imperative that we realize the power of a supportive circle. That said, another important reminder is that a supportive circle is built through consistent effort and showing up for each other in both the everyday, ordinary moments as well as in hard or challenging times. Real connection calls for intention. Try not to focus on quantity but rather on the quality of connections you build and finding the few real ones who will stick by you through thick and thin. If you are lucky enough to have people who have been with you for a long time, learn how to embrace those connections and not take them for granted, because even the strongest bonds need nurturing. Let that understanding remind you to keep investing time and care into these relationships so you continue to grow together. If you haven't yet found your people, that's okay, too. There's no deadline for finding a real connection and you are not 'too old' to make new friends. What matters is that you keep showing up and trying to build connections in the best way you can. Whether you want to deepen the bonds you already have or cultivate new friendships, these few simple habits can help you nurture your social support system in everyday life. ​​​While independence is valuable, it's connection that sustains you. It's not just resilience that gets you through challenges, but also the relationships that remind you that you're not alone. How connected have you been feeling lately to those around you? Take this science-backed test to find out: Social Connectedness Scale

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store