Latest news with #Hominidae
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First Post
14-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
Viral debate pits 100 men against one Gorilla. Who will win?
The internet's latest bizarre obsession: Who would win a no-rules fight between 100 average men and one adult male gorilla? The debate has exploded across Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Some say that if humans once hunted mammoths, we would surely win. Others argue that a silverback gorilla, capable of lifting nearly 1,000kg, could toss a grown man like a rag doll. So, who will win this fight? read more The internet's latest absurd obsession is: who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? This hypothetical and strange question has taken over Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Some argue that humans once hunted mammoths so, clearly, we would win. Others point out that a silverback gorilla can lift close to 1,000kg and could throw a grown man like a rag doll. To be honest, it's not really a question we need to answer – and yet, as usual on the internet, everyone has an opinion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But, beyond the jokes and memes, this silly debate provides an opportunity to reflect on human evolution. What are the real strengths of our species? What have we sacrificed? And what can a gorilla, our majestic, powerful and endangered distant cousin, teach us about our own nature and evolution? Gorillas and humans Gorillas are one of our closest living relatives. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, they belong to the great apes or Hominidae family. Chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA with us, while gorillas come a close second, sharing around 98.4%. The last common ancestor between humans and gorillas lived roughly 10 million years ago, and it is also the same ancestor for chimpanzees. Gorillas have mastered forest power. Pixabay/Representational Image Since the evolutionary split, humans and gorillas have followed very different paths. Gorillas have adapted to dense forests and mountainous terrains, while humans have evolved to live in the open, but realistically to multiple and various environments. Despite the substantial difference in ecological niches, humans and gorillas share many traits, such as opposable thumbs, facial expressions, complex social behaviours and emotional intelligence. 'Forest power' In the recent Dune saga, to win, Duke Leto Atreides wanted to develop ' desert power'. Well, gorillas have mastered forest power. And let's be clear – in terms of raw power, the gorilla wins every time. An adult male silverback can weigh more than 160kg and lift about a tonne without going to the gym every day. Their upper-body strength is shocking. And that's no evolutionary accident – it's the result of intense competition between males, where dominance determines mating. Additionally, gorillas are extremely tough and resilient, yet gentle and calm most of the time. Gorillas, like many primates, have a strong social intelligence. They use a variety of vocalisations, gestures and even chest drumming to communicate across distances. They have shown the ability to use sign language, mourn their dead, and demonstrate empathy, attesting to sophisticated cognitive skills. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 100 men vs 1 gorilla A fight between 100 men and one gorilla might lead to a lot of dead men, but we all know that men will come with weapons, strategies, drones, fire and other clever tricks. Humans are not physically strong in comparison to many other mammals. Our strength as a species is our adaptability and our ability to collaborate in very large groups. Our brains are, on average, three times larger proportionally than those of gorillas. This fantastic evolutionary adaptation has allowed us to develop abstract thinking and symbolic language, but most of all, to pass and build on complex knowledge across generations. And this is our greatest superpower, our ability to cooperate across vast groups, far beyond the average gorilla social unit, which usually ranges from a few family members up to a group of 30 individuals. Humans are not physically strong in comparison to many other mammals. Pixabay/Representational Image Humans' evolutionary history has led to trading brute force for social, cultural and technological complexity, making us Earth's most versatile and dangerous species. Who will win? In a one-on-one brawl, the gorilla can make 'human-mash' with one hand. There is no contest when discussing brute force and bare hands. But humans fight dirty. Judging by our evolutionary success, humans would likely lose many battles but ultimately win the fight. Mountain gorillas were not on the brink of extinction in the 1980s without our help. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our species has spread across all continents, all terrains, and all climates. We have reshaped ecosystems, walked on the Moon, and developed advanced technologies. But gorillas are another kind of success rooted in harmony with their environment, physical grace, and quiet strength. Perhaps the real takeaway message isn't who wins in a fight, but to realise that two very different and yet very close cousins have walked two separate evolutionary roads, each in their own distinct way. And both are nature's triumph and accomplishment. Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Professor in Geochronology and Geochemistry, Southern Cross University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
That's bananas! Incredible videos show chimps using medicinal leaves to perform first aid
Chimpanzees are among our closest living relatives, but they may be even more like us than we realised. In fact, in the animal kingdom, it seems chimps perform crucial first aid too. Scientists have observed chimps in Uganda cleaning and treating not only their own wounds, but those of other chimps. In a fascinating video, a young chimpanzee cares for a wound on his left knee with chewed stem bark and fresh leaves. In another clip, a young female licks her fingers and applies them to her mother's wound after an attack. Chimps helping others with their injuries – known as 'prosocial wound care' – has been documented before at other sites. But Dr Elodie Freymann, a primate researcher at the University of Oxford who led the observations in Uganda, said it is 'very rare' behaviour. 'The presence of prosocial care at this site demonstrates that this kind of prosocial healthcare is more widespread than we previously thought,' she told MailOnline. She continued: 'Our research helps illuminate the evolutionary roots of human medicine and healthcare systems. 'By documenting how chimpanzees identify and utilize medicinal plants and provide care to others, we gain insight into the cognitive and social foundations of human healthcare behaviours.' Humans and chimpanzees are both great apes (Hominidae) and chimps are our closest animal cousins, along with bonobos. Dr Freymann and colleagues studied two communities of chimps in the Budongo Forest that are known as Sonso and Waibira. Like all chimps, members of these communities are vulnerable to injuries, whether caused by fights and accidents, or as a result of human traps. About 40 per cent of individuals in Sonso have been seen with injuries from 'snares' – essentially a noose made of wire or rope that catch animals around the neck or body. After four months of observing each community, the scientists recorded 12 injuries in Sonso (all of which were likely caused by within-group conflicts) and five in Waibira (one female injured by a snare, and four males injured in fights). Overall, researchers documented 41 cases of care: seven cases of care for others (known as prosocial care) and 34 cases of self-care. Of the seven instances of prosocial care, the researchers found four cases of wound treatment, two cases of snare removal assistance, and one case where a chimp helped another with hygiene. Care wasn't preferentially given by, or provided to, one sex or age group, suggesting it's widespread among the species. On four occasions, care was given to genetically unrelated individuals – suggesting that there's no direct genetic advantage to it, but rather a social one. According to Dr Freymann, methods of applying the so-called 'first aid' can vary depending on the individual and their injury. 'Chimpanzee wound care encompasses several techniques – direct wound licking, which removes debris and potentially applies antimicrobial compounds in saliva; finger licking followed by wound pressing; leaf-dabbing; and chewing plant materials and applying them directly to wounds,' she said. 'All chimpanzees mentioned in our tables showed recovery from wounds, though of course we don't know what the outcome would have been had they not done anything about their injuries. 'We also documented hygiene behaviours, including the cleaning of genitals with leaves after mating and wiping the anus with leaves after defecation – practices that may help prevent infections. 'These behaviours add to the evidence from other sites that chimpanzees appear to recognize need or suffering in others and take deliberate action to alleviate it, even when there's no direct genetic advantage.' Dr Freymann and colleagues have already shown that sick and injured chimpanzees 'self-medicate' by eating medicinal plants at Budongo Forest. Chimps elsewhere have been observed helping other community members with medical problems – for example, the application of insects to wounds in Loango National Park, Gabon. But persistent presence of this behaviour in Budongo suggests medical care among chimps is much more widespread than we realised, and not confined to care for close relatives. The scientists call for more research into the social and ecological contexts in which care takes place, and which individuals give and receive care. One possibility is high risk of injury and death which Budongo chimps all face from snares could increase the likelihood that these chimps care for each other's wounds. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, follows other demonstrations of altruistic behaviour in other animals. Anecdotal observations of various animal species in the wild including dolphins and elephants have documented helpful actions towards peers that have collapsed as a result of sickness, injury or death, including touching, grooming and nudging. Earlier in the year, another team of researchers published video of a mouse giving 'first aid' to an unconscious companion. In the adorable lab footage, one of the rodents opens an unconscious partner's mouth and pulls its tongue aside to clear its airway. Chimpanzees are among our closest living relatives The chimpanzee, as known as chimps, are a great ape species native to the savannah of tropical Africa. There are four confirmed subspecies and a potential fifth subspecies awaiting confirmation. It is closely related to the bonobo and part of the genus Pan, a distant relative to humans. They are covered in coarse black hair with a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of hands, and soles of the feet. On average an adult male weighs 88–154 lb, and an female 60–110 lb. They reach between three feet 11 in and four feet 11 inches in height. Gestation period is eight months and mothers will wean the infant for up to three years, keeping a close relationship for years after weaning. Almost all chimpanzee populations have been recorded using tools, modifying sticks, rocks, grass and leaves for hunting and foraging.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Science
- IOL News
So who would win in a fight between 100 men and 1 gorilla?
A male gorilla is enormously strong and can lift 100kg without working out Image: Supplied Renaud Joannes-Boyau The internet's latest absurd obsession is: who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? This hypothetical and strange question has taken over Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Some argue that humans once hunted mammoths so, clearly, we would win. Others point out that a silverback gorilla can lift close to 1 000kg and could throw a grown man like a rag doll. To be honest, it's not really a question we need to answer – and yet, as usual on the internet, everyone has an opinion. But, beyond the jokes and memes, this silly debate provides an opportunity to reflect on human evolution. What are the real strengths of our species? What have we sacrificed? And what can a gorilla, our majestic, powerful and endangered distant cousin, teach us about our own nature and evolution? Two branches of the same tree Gorillas are one of our closest living relatives. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, they belong to the great apes or Hominidae family. Chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA with us, while gorillas come a close second, sharing around 98.4%. The last common ancestor between humans and gorillas lived roughly 10 million years ago, and it is also the same ancestor for chimpanzees. Since the evolutionary split, humans and gorillas have followed very different paths. Gorillas have adapted to dense forests and mountainous terrains, while humans have evolved to live in the open, but realistically to multiple and various environments. Despite the substantial difference in ecological niches, humans and gorillas share many traits, such as opposable thumbs, facial expressions, complex social behaviours and emotional intelligence. Man's key skill is the ability to work together. Image: Supplied
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Who would win? No-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla
The internet's latest absurd obsession is: who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? This hypothetical and strange question has taken over Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Some argue that humans once hunted mammoths so, clearly, we would win. Others point out that a silverback gorilla can lift close to 1,000kg and could throw a grown man like a rag doll. To be honest, it's not really a question we need to answer – and yet, as usual on the internet, everyone has an opinion. But, beyond the jokes and memes, this silly debate provides an opportunity to reflect on human evolution. What are the real strengths of our species? What have we sacrificed? And what can a gorilla, our majestic, powerful and endangered distant cousin, teach us about our own nature and evolution? Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers? — MrBeast (@MrBeast) April 28, 2025 Gorillas and humans: two branches of the same evolutionary tree Gorillas are one of our closest living relatives. Along with chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, they belong to the great apes or Hominidae family. Chimpanzees share about 98.8 per cent of their DNA with us, while gorillas come a close second, sharing around 98.4 per cent. The last common ancestor between humans and gorillas lived roughly 10 million years ago, and it is also the same ancestor for chimpanzees. Since the evolutionary split, humans and gorillas have followed very different paths. Gorillas have adapted to dense forests and mountainous terrains, while humans have evolved to live in the open, but realistically to multiple and various environments. Despite the substantial difference in ecological niches, humans and gorillas share many traits, such as opposable thumbs, facial expressions, complex social behaviours and emotional intelligence. Mastering forest power In the recent Dune saga, to win, Duke Leto Atreides wanted to develop 'desert power'. Well, gorillas have mastered forest power. And let's be clear – in terms of raw power, the gorilla wins every time. An adult male silverback can weigh more than 160kg and lift about a tonne without going to the gym every day. Their upper-body strength is shocking. And that's no evolutionary accident – it's the result of intense competition between males, where dominance determines mating. Additionally, gorillas are extremely tough and resilient, yet gentle and calm most of the time. Gorillas, like many primates, have a strong social intelligence. They use a variety of vocalisations, gestures and even chest drumming to communicate across distances. They have shown the ability to use sign language, mourn their dead, and demonstrate empathy, attesting to sophisticated cognitive skills. Trading muscles for minds A fight between 100 men and one gorilla might lead to a lot of dead men, but we all know that men will come with weapons, strategies, drones, fire and other clever tricks. Humans are not physically strong in comparison to many other mammals. Our strength as a species is our adaptability and our ability to collaborate in very large groups. Our brains are, on average, three times larger proportionally than those of gorillas. This fantastic evolutionary adaptation has allowed us to develop abstract thinking and symbolic language, but most of all, to pass and build on complex knowledge across generations. And this is our greatest superpower, our ability to cooperate across vast groups, far beyond the average gorilla social unit, which usually ranges from a few family members up to a group of 30 individuals. Humans' evolutionary history has led to trading brute force for social, cultural and technological complexity, making us Earth's most versatile and dangerous species. So, who's the winner? In a one-on-one brawl, the gorilla can make 'human-mash' with one hand. There is no contest when discussing brute force and bare hands. But humans fight dirty. Judging by our evolutionary success, humans would likely lose many battles but ultimately win the fight. Mountain gorillas were not on the brink of extinction in the 1980s without our help. Our species has spread across all continents, all terrains, and all climates. We have reshaped ecosystems, walked on the Moon, and developed advanced technologies. But gorillas are another kind of success rooted in harmony with their environment, physical grace, and quiet strength. Perhaps the real takeaway message isn't who wins in a fight, but to realise that two very different and yet very close cousins have walked two separate evolutionary roads, each in their own distinct way. And both are nature's triumph and accomplishment.
