Today I got to try two different flavors of Necco Wafer candy. I honestly could not tell the difference in flavor but they were definitely chalky. They were thin circular bits that also gave a crunchy feel to them after biting down on them. I felt that no matter what color each one was, they tasted relatively the same and reminded me of this specific valentines day candy that I grew up enjoying. The aftertaste stained my mouth with Necco Wafer smell but it was worth the try.

My recent conversation occurred this morning following my normal routine. I usually tend to use the restroom, brush my teeth, put my contacts on, and get ready for the day. This morning was no different with the addition of a heavy conversation regarding something some sad news that our team found out yesterday.

This conversation occurred in the living room of our apartment and lasted about 15 minutes. I had this conversation with Luke, one of my roommates. Luke was still in his pajamas since he doesn’t have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and was planted on the couch while I was standing in the kitchen. The conversation was cut short since I had to go to class but was still meaningful.

During today’s ESPY Award ceremony, winner Staurt Scott gave a heartwarming speech highlighting the importance of not giving up. Stuart Scott is a sportscaster for ESPN who is well known for his unique style and catchphrases.

In his speech he touched upon his current ongoing fight with cancer and how hard it has been to fight. With that being said, Scott mentions that he isn’t in the fight alone and that others are fighting for him. Scott states that “you beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live”. This powerful quote is something that hit the audience hard as it is a very inspirational outlook on such a hard fight.

Scott also goes on to talk about his strong love for his kids and that he was standing up on that stage because of them. Scott states “But Taelor and Sydni, I love you guys more than I will ever be able to express. You two are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage here tonight because of you”, giving the viewers a very emotional and powerful moment to experience. Scott concludes his speech by asking his youngest daughter to come up and give him a hug while also thanking ESPN and wishing the world a good rest of their lives.

New research on chimpanzees shows that female chimpanzees have been observed to undergo menopause. These chimpanzees living in an East African woodland continue living for decades after becoming biologically incapable of reproduction. This discovery challenges previous understandings of menopause and sparks questions about its evolutionary significance.

 Published on ScienceNews, this research highlights a close genetic relationship between humans and chimpanzees, stating that both species are inclined toward post-reproductive survival.

The study focused on 185 females in the Ngogo community of wild chimpanzees in Uganda. The results revealed that hormonal indicators of fertility declined after reaching the age of 30, with no recorded births in chimpanzees aged over 50. Nevertheless, 16 Ngogo females lived beyond the age of 50, with some even reaching their 60s. These findings suggest that females in this community experience approximately 20% of their adult years after losing their capacity to reproduce.

According to anthropologist Kristen Hawkes from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, some evidence indicates that the age at which female fertility declines is similar in humans and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). However, in other research, female chimpanzees, including those observed by Jane Goodall at Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, aged rapidly and often didn’t live past their early 30s, even though they continued to have menstrual cycles.

Hawkins claimed that “What’s surprising is so many females living so long after menopause”

In summary, this discovery challenges our existing knowledge of menopause in nonhuman primates and opens up new possibilities for researching evolution of this phenomenon.

Surprisingly long-lived wild female chimps go through menopause

In a groundbreaking revelation, female chimpanzees living in an East African woodland have been observed to undergo menopause and then continue living for years or even decades after becoming biologically incapable of reproduction. This discovery challenges previous understandings of menopause and sparks questions about its evolutionary significance.

These chimpanzees, which represent the first known instances of wild, nonhuman primates experiencing menopause and outlasting their reproductive years, were the subjects of research conducted by Brian Wood, a UCLA evolutionary anthropologist.

 Published in the journal Science on October 27, this research highlights a close genetic relationship between humans and chimpanzees, implying that both species are inclined toward post-reproductive survival.

The study focused on 185 females in the Ngogo community of wild chimpanzees in Uganda. The results revealed that hormonal indicators of fertility declined after reaching the age of 30, with no recorded births in chimpanzees aged over 50. Nevertheless, 16 Ngogo females lived beyond the age of 50, with some even reaching their 60s. These findings suggest that females in this community experience approximately 20% of their adult years after losing their capacity to reproduce.

According to anthropologist Kristen Hawkes from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, some evidence indicates that the age at which female fertility declines is similar in humans and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), provided that our primate relatives have a sufficiently long lifespan. However, in other research, female chimpanzees, including those observed by Jane Goodall at Tanzania’s Gombe National Park, aged rapidly and often didn’t live past their early 30s, even though they continued to have menstrual cycles.

Hawkins claimed that “What’s surprising is so many females living so long after menopause”.

This study challenges previous theories concerning the evolution of human menopause, which posited that grandmothers played a vital role in caring for their grandchildren. In the case of chimpanzees, this theory does not hold, as females move to new communities during adolescence, leaving no breeding daughters nearby to provide assistance.

An alternative explanation is that older female chimpanzees may possess the experience and knowledge required for group survival, a trait observed in certain other mammals, such as killer whales. Alternatively, factors like reduced predation by leopards, access to ample food, and competition with other chimpanzee groups may have contributed to the extended female longevity in the Ngogo community.

It’s important to acknowledge that these findings are specific to the Ngogo chimpanzee population inhabiting an undisturbed forest environment, and may not be universally applicable to other chimpanzee populations.

This research also prompts the question of whether menopause might be an inherent characteristic in primates that becomes more apparent as mortality rates decrease.

In summary, this discovery challenges our existing knowledge of menopause in nonhuman primates and opens up new avenues for researching the evolution of this phenomenon.

Surprisingly long-lived wild female chimps go through menopause

The police are investigating the death of an American ice hockey player named Adam Johnson after an unexpected accident while playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England.

The event happened on Saturday during the Panthers’ game against the Sheffield Steelers in the middle of the second period where Johnson appeared to get seriously hurt in a collision with a Steelers player.

Spectators were told to leave the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, and the game was immediately stopped. On Sunday, the Nottingham Panthers confirmed that Adam Johnson had died in what they called a “freak accident during the game.” Adam Johnson was 29 years old.

Councilor Joe Otten, who leads the Sheffield Council’s safety team, expressed their sympathy, saying, “Firstly, our thoughts are with Adam’s family, friends, and teammates during this very sad and tough time.”

He also mentioned, “Our safety team is working together with the South Yorkshire Police for their investigation and will provide support as needed.”

After this event, fans are now leaving flowers outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, where the Panthers play. People from all over the world are also paying tribute to remember Adam Johnson.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/sport/police-investigating-adam-johnson-death-spt-intl/index.html