Author Archives: The Esbec Team

Meat was not on the menu for human ancestor Australopithecus: study

An illustration of two of the seven molars from Australopithecus, unearthed in South Africa, that were sampled in new research exploring the diet of this important ancient human ancestor. The image was released on January 16 2025. Image: Dominic Jack, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany/Handout via REUTERS/Illustration

An illustration of two of the seven molars from Australopithecus, unearthed in South Africa, that were sampled in new research exploring the diet of this important ancient human ancestor. The image was released on January 16 2025. Image: Dominic Jack, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany/Handout via REUTERS/Illustration

The incorporation of meat into the diet was a milestone for the human evolutionary lineage, a potential catalyst for advances such as increased brain size. But scientists have struggled to determine when meat consumption began and who did it. New research provides the first direct evidence that Australopithecus, an important early human ancestor that displayed a mix of ape-like and human-like traits, consumed very little or no meat, relying on a plant-based diet. The study determined the diet of seven Australopithecus individuals from South Africa dating to between 3.7- and 3.3-million years ago based on the chemistry of their tooth enamel. “Meat likely played a significant role in the expansion of cranial capacity — larger brain development — during human evolution. Animal resources provide a highly concentrated source of calories

Cannabis grow worth 800k found in vacant building

Officers found £800,000-worth of cannabis plants and £100,000-worth of equipment in the building

Humberside Police Officers found £800,000-worth of cannabis plants and £100,000-worth of equipment in the building Two men are in custody after a cannabis grow worth an estimated £800,000 was found in a vacant building. Humberside Police was called to reports of the suspected cannabis grow on Bull Ring Lane, Grimsby, on 14 January. The plants and £100,000-worth of equipment were found. The men, aged 33 and 48, have been charged with production of a Class B drug and illegally abstracting electricity. Following a hearing at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, they were remanded into custody ahead of a pre-trial hearing at Grimsby Crown Court on 17 February. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds , watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you

Banning cellphones in schools gains popularity in red and blue states

National headlines from ABC NewsCatch up on the developing stories making headlines.

National headlines from ABC NewsCatch up on the developing stories making headlines.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas’ Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom have little in common ideologically, but the two have both been vocal supporters of an idea that’s been rapidly gaining bipartisan ground in the states: Students’ cellphones need to be banned during the school day. At least eight states have enacted such bans over the past two years, and proposals are being considered in several more states this year. Here is a look at the push by states for such bans. The push for cellphone bans has been driven by concerns about the impact screen time has on children’s mental health and complaints from teachers that cellphones have become a constant distraction in the classroom. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has called on

How will Trump approach and possibly transform presidential power?

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in November [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in November [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

Washington, DC – United States President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office in just five days, completing a stunning reversal of fortune that saw him rebound from defeat after his failed 2020 re-election bid. Trump’s second term in the White House, starting Monday, will serve as the latest test to his strong-armed approach to presidential power. How he proceeds could transform an office that has, for decades, grown in potency, despite its constitutional design as a balance to the legislative and judicial branches of the US government. Indeed, Trump’s sweeping claims of presidential authority — both in his norm-breaking first term and in the years since — have caused disquiet among experts who question what may come in the next four years. Marjorie Cohn, a professor emerita at the

Biden takes credit for his administration securing ceasefire deal in final farewell address

US President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2025. (photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/POOL VIA REUTERS)

“This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will largely be implemented by the incoming administration,” Biden said. By HANNAH SARISOHN JANUARY 16, 2025 03:44 US President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2025. (photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/POOL VIA REUTERS) President Biden began his farewell address on Wednesday night by taking credit for his administration’s “nonstop negotiations” over the past eight months that led to the ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas.  As of Wednesday morning, it was uncertain that Biden would be able to speak of the finalized deal from behind the Resolute desk in his final address to the nation.  “This plan was developed and negotiated by

Unwell Yoon to skip interrogation over South Korea martial law bid

Unwell Yoon to skip interrogation over South Korea martial law bid

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol faced renewed questioning on Thursday, a day after his dramatic arrest over a failed martial law declaration, but his lawyers said he would not take part. The Constitutional Court was also to hold its second hearing in a trial that will decide whether to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, after the dawn raid that made him the country’s first-ever sitting president to be detained. The former star prosecutor – facing charges of insurrection – was questioned for hours on Wednesday but exercised his right to remain silent before being moved to a detention centre. Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) were to resume Yoon’s questioning on Thursday at 2pm local time, but his lawyer said he could not for health reasons, the Yonhap news agency

Key takeaways as Trump nominees face US Senate confirmation hearings

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15 [Ben Curtis/AP Photo]

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15 [Ben Curtis/AP Photo]

For a second day in a row, the United States Senate has weighed nominees for key positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, grilling candidates on their backgrounds and qualifications. Wednesday was a busy day for the Senate, as it held hearings for six Trump nominees, including heavy-hitters like Senator Marco Rubio — his pick to be secretary of state — and Pam Bondi, tapped for the attorney general’s seat. The hearings come as Republican leaders in Congress hope to give Trump a strong start to his second term, which begins on Monday. High-level cabinet positions need Senate approval, and Republicans hold 53 seats to the Democrats’ 45. Still, controversial nominees will need every vote possible to succeed in their appointment. Wednesday’s hearings, for instance, were preceded by fiery proceedings a day

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up MiniMax has launched a new series of open-source models, intensifying the competition among mainland technology firms to deliver cost-effective AI systems that can rival top offerings from US competitors. The Shanghai-based company on Tuesday unveiled the MiniMax-01 large language model (LLM) family, which includes a general-purpose foundational model, the MiniMax-Text-01, and the multimodal MiniMax-VL-01 with visual capabilities. LLMs are the tech that powers text-generating AI products such as ChatGPT . In benchmark tests that MiniMax posted to its official WeChat account, the new foundational language model was shown to be on par with the world’s leading AI models in evaluations that included maths problem solving, domain knowledge, the ability to follow instructions, and avoiding hallucinations or factual errors. MiniMax’s release of an industry-leading AI system

Arsenal reignite Premier League title hopes as Isak stars again

Arsenal reignite Premier League title hopes as Isak stars again

Arsenal came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 and reignite their Premier League title challenge on Wednesday as Alexander Isak fired Newcastle into the top four. Elsewhere, David Moyes endured a miserable return to the Everton dugout, watching his toothless side lose 1-0 to Aston Villa at Goodison Park. Arsenal’s victory at the Emirates lifts […] The post Arsenal reignite Premier League title hopes as Isak stars again appeared first on The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News.

Heres How Much Range These Popular EVs Lose In The Cold

Heres How Much Range These Popular EVs Lose In The Cold

EVs with a heat pump retain 83% of their real-world range in freezing temperatures on average. Meanwhile, EVs without a heat pump lose roughly 25% of their real-world range on average. Having a heat pump isn’t everything, though; some EVs without one can still deliver over 80% of their real-world range in the cold. No matter what type of car you drive, cold weather means the fuel efficiency will go down. In the case of combustion cars, the fuel consumption will go up because cold air is denser than warm air, and because the fluids are colder, which leads to increased friction. In the case of electric vehicles, more heat is needed to warm the cabin–and because EVs are much more efficient than ICE cars, there’s little to no waste

Mental Health in the Digital Age: Understanding Wellbeing in a Connected World

A conceptual illustration showing the intersection of mental health and technology, featuring a brain made of circuit patterns with connected digital elements and wellness symbols

In an era where digital technology interweaves seamlessly with daily life, understanding and maintaining mental health has become increasingly complex. Our constant connectivity, while offering unprecedented opportunities for communication and growth, also presents unique challenges to our psychological wellbeing. A groundbreaking study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology reveals that the integration of digital technology into daily […]

Biden, in prime time, to bid farewell to nation as Trump prepares to take office

President Joe Biden waits to speak about foreign policy at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 13, 2025.  Susan Walsh/AP

President Joe Biden on Wednesday will give his last Oval Office address as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump and exit politics after a decadeslong career. Biden is delivering his farewell address to the nation in prime time. He is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET. Biden is leaving the White House after four years with a complex legacy bookended by Trump’s historic return to Washington. The speech comes just five days before Trump’s inauguration. Biden will be in attendance as his successor is sworn in, resuming a tradition of American democracy that Trump himself sidestepped in 2021. In a letter released Wednesday morning, Biden reflected on where his administration started in the shadows of COVID and the Jan. 6 attack by a pro-Trump mob

Gaza ‘humanitarian zone’ struck almost 100 times since May, BBC Verify finds

Gaza ‘humanitarian zone’ struck almost 100 times since May, BBC Verify finds

BBC The area in Gaza which Israel’s military has told people to go to “for their safety” has been hit by 97 strikes since May, BBC Verify analysis has revealed. The findings come as negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to be nearing a breakthrough. Mediators in Qatar say talks are in their final stages, raising hopes that an agreement could be reached soon. The “humanitarian zone” was first established by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in October 2023 to protect civilians and keep them out of harms way. On 6 May 2024, the IDF significantly expanded the zone to include the cities of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. The area – much of which is a strip of land along the Mediterranean sea – is densely

America’s Gambling Obsession Has Taken A Ghoulish New Turn

America's Gambling Obsession Has Taken A Ghoulish New Turn

If you are betting on the California wildfires, I don’t know what to tell you. Go outside (if it’s safe). Do some reflecting. Call a gambling-addiction hotline, probably. Though I suppose the impulse to wager on destruction isn’t all bettors’ fault — gambling companies have people right where they want them, placing wagers on things most of us never would have imagined just a few years ago. We’re days into the new year, and it already feels like the gambling boom has gone too far. In case you missed it, the prediction market Polymarket is letting people place bets on aspects of the fires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area. The platform set various markets for questions like how long it would take the first fire to be contained

Argentinas President Javier Milei wins 2025 ‘Jewish Nobel Prize’

Javier Milei at the Western Wall, February 6, 2024 (photo credit: WESTERN WALL HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Genesis Prize Chairman Stan Polovets praised Milei’s support for Israel, achievements in reforming Argentina’s economy, and pursuit of justice for AMIA terror victims. By JERUSALEM POST STAFF JANUARY 14, 2025 18:09 Javier Milei at the Western Wall, February 6, 2024 (photo credit: WESTERN WALL HERITAGE FOUNDATION) The Genesis Prize announced President of Argentina Javier Milei as the 2025 Genesis Prize Laureate, the first time the award, known as “The Jewish Nobel Prize,” has been bestowed upon a head of state. Milei was the unanimous choice of the nine judges on the committee, which commended him for his unequivocal support of Israel during one of the most difficult times since the founding of the Jewish State. President Milei recently announced his decision to move the Argentinian embassy to Jerusalem, has reversed years