The mystery of how dogs became man’s best friend

Oct 17 2021

Theories attempting to explain how dogs became domesticated are hotly debated and the subject of much discussion. There are no clear answers yet but there are many hypotheses which are prying at the question and looking back in time to find some evidence of how canines went from wild, feral beasts to that pooch snoring on your couch right now. Here are some ideas…

Dogs most probably evolved from wolves at a single location about 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. It was previously thought that dogs are tamed from two different populations of wolves living thousands of miles apart. One study reports that DNA from three dogs found at archaeological sites in Germany and Ireland were between 4,700 and 7,000 years old. The ancient canines share ancestry with modern European dogs.

According to Krishna Veeramah of Stony Brook University, wolf populations would move to the outskirts of hunter-gatherer camps to scavenge for leftovers. The wolves which proved to be tamer and less aggressive towards humans would be more successful at getting unwanted food scraps. Despite the humans not getting any benefit from this initial behaviour, this quickly started to develop…

A symbiotic relationship wherein dogs would linger around humans to help them hunt to get food could have contributed to the domestication process. Some hypotheses state that the process should be looked the other way around – that it was dogs that domesticated humans. Many scientists say that dogs started to travel with human companions round 20,000 years ago.

They would have not been dogs many consider pets today, but they would have resembled village dogs which do not live in specific houses but simply roam around villages. These dogs would later be taken on for breeding into herders, hunters or gun dogs. Researchers however still consider themselves only scratching the surface of how this happened.

The issue is that it is super difficult to go back in time – literally or metaphorically. We have fossil records and possibly some manuscripts which could hint at dogs being domesticated. But for the most part, these bonds were being created during a time where no written documents were being produced.

Whatever the case may be, investigating how dogs became such a human favourite companion testifies to the close bond we as a species have developed. Many won’t even dream of spending their life without their canine best friend. The origin of how and why this occurred is still a massive mystery, but the bond we’ve created is undeniable.

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Here’s how you can get paid £24K per year to sit and watch Netflix

Oct 17 2021

This might be the dream job of many as luxury bed company called Crafted Beds is looking for a mattress tester. The company is currently accepting applications for someone to lie down and work a full 37.5 work week.

Your job will be to test different mattresses each week, taking notes, making assessments and reporting to the company just how comfortable these mattresses are. You can sleep, watch Netflix, read a good book or even whip up a bowl of cereal to have on your comfy bed. And you’ll be making cash just kicking back and relaxing.

The role was created by the company to ensure that customers are getting the best mattress possible. And hey, if that means paying someone to just chill on a mattress all day, no one’s recalling complaining. Let’s just hope that the mattresses actually are comfortable – otherwise you’d be going away with money and a wrecked back.

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Photo Source: Pinterest

Study reports third of prisoners had sexually transmitted infections

Oct 17 2021

A new study into Corradino Correctional Facility has revealed that a third of the inmates have had sexually transmitted infections. The study was carried out between 2017 and 2019, only to be published in this month’s journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. According to the study, 206 inmates out of a total 667 prisoners tested positive for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). More than a third of them were males aged between 14 and 72, with only 27% of them not having been sexually active in the six months prior to the test.

31% of those had sex with casual partners whereas 43% had not used contraceptives for intercourse. With three quarters admitting to drug use, the most common STI reported was HPV (16.5%), followed by syphilis (5.8%) and genital dermatoses (9.2%). Hepatitis C boomed at 25%. The study found that there needed to be far more collaboration between sexual health clinics and the prison to prevent such infections from spreading.

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Cirque du Soleil officially returning to Malta post pandemic

Oct 17 2021

Following an almost 17-month long intermission of the entire arts and culture scene due to COVID-19, the Malta Tourism Authority are proudly announcing the return of Cirque du Soleil in Malta for November and December. Visit Malta and the world leading producer of high-quality entertainment are also announcing the opening of a brand new production created exclusively for Malta. The production, called FIERI, will be presented in Malta’s capital starting November 25.

Diane Quinn, Cirque du Soleil’s COO expressed their delight in returning to Malta, which she described as a country steeped in history. Looking to pay tribute to ‘this resilient nation and its people, Quinn said how ‘now more than ever in our absurd world, Cirque due Soleil’s power to bring joy and hope you our audiences is not only welcome but necessary.’

On his part, Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection Clayton Bartolo said that FIERI will be ‘another opportunity to showcase Malta’s credentials in the cultural and entertainment sector […] Events of such a calibre fall under our ultimate goal – that of making Malta a home of tourism and excellence for the years to come.’

Cirque du Soleil thrillingly announced that Malta – a destination of choice in Europe – will be the first European country to host a new Cirque du Soleil event post lockdown. The event will feature the signature style acrobatics and visual artistry the group is known for, whilst also highlighting Malta’s cultural diversity and history. Johann Buttigieg, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority highlighted how last time the majestic auditorium of the Mediterranean Conference Centre welcomed audiences for musical productions was March 8th, 2020. After countless sacrifices, the new production will revitalise all that we have missed so dearly as we return to normality.

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Photo Source: MTA Communications