Study from University of Oxford looks into evolutionary origins of kissing and its role in relations between species From Galápagos albatrosses to polar bears, chimpanzees to orangutans, certain species appear to kiss. Now researchers suggest Neanderthals did it too – and might even have locked lips with modern humans. It is not the first time scientists have suggested Neanderthals and early modern humans were intimately acquainted. Among previous studies, researchers have found humans and their thick-browed cousins shared the same mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split, suggesting they swapped saliva. Continue reading...

A man reportedly turned up unannounced and laid a wreath at the town’s war memorial during a service A 64-year-old man has been arrested following reports that an individual allegedly posed as a highly decorated naval officer at a town’s Remembrance Sunday event in Clywd. The man reportedly turned up unannounced at the war memorial in Llandudno wearing the Royal Navy uniform of a rear admiral on 9 November. Continue reading...

Blackburn MP criticises ‘struggle for power’ amid tensions between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana The leftwing Your Party spearheaded by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has had a major split after another independent MP involved, Adnan Hussain, quit because of “persistent infighting and a struggle for power” in the organisation. The departure of the Blackburn MP, who is secretary of the limited company behind Your Party, is yet another blow after renewed disagreements between Sultana and Corbyn, this time over the handover of membership levies. Continue reading...

From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly ...

It’s as if everyone at No 10 has had a collective breakdown, an act of self-harm on an unimaginable scale

Praise be for The Sound of Music, Ordinary People and It’s a Wonderful Life! The sinfully twee and queasy Life is Beautiful, however, must be renounced

The voices of the Oscar-winning actors can now be used to create AI-generated versions in a new deal with ElevenLabs Oscar-winning actors Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have both signed a deal with the AI audio company ElevenLabs. The New York-based company can now create AI-generated versions of their voices as part of a bid to solve a “key ethical challenge” in the artificial intelligence industry’s alliance with Hollywood. Continue reading...