Long-term and short-term knowledge is a very useful way to frame things for the study of culture transmission. This study on culture from an evolutionary perspective makes a really important contribution to the literature. Congratulations!

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/u...

reason.com/volokh/2025/...

They argue that these animals could help heal the Arctic ecosystem in several ways, (1) restoring the grassland ecosystem, (2) slowing permafrost thaw, (3) facilitating carbon sequestration, (4) revitalizing ecosystem and enhancing biodiversity in Arctic.

Fwiw, these issues are addressed in news stories I've heard. Colossal argues that reintroducing genetically engineered cold-tolerant elephant-mammoth hybrids—to Arctic tundra could bring several potential benefits, primarily centered around ecological restoration and climate change mitigation.

🔁 Please RT & share to help spread the word! @athenaaktipis.bsky.social @jeremykoster.bsky.social @humannature.bsky.social @kenbergerum.bsky.social

And a final tip I picked up from Nathaniel Wilcox, which I need to often remind myself of: avoid using phrasing like "you should" and substitute something softer like "it would be helpful..."

4. Only then are you permitted to say so much as a word of rebuttal or criticism.

3. You should mention anything you have learned from your target.

2. You should list any points of agreement (especially if they are not matters of general or widespread agreement).

1. You should attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that your target says, “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.”

I've always thought the difficulty knowing what "it" is is due to the broad scope of anthropology: ~the study of all things human.

Presumably the humans are told the task is to successfully move the object from A to B. What incentive motivates the ants' coordinated action in this task?