Africa’s biogeographical disadvantages
2025-03-27 19:56 When I talk here about Africa I mean Sub-Saharan Africa.  Historically the Sahara has consisted a greater barrier than the Mediterranean.  Most from Africa’s north coast are more similar to Europeans than people south of the Sahara.
The differences between wild and cultivated plants
2025-02-12 12:37 Plants we grow to eat have not arisen completely naturally.  Instead they have been bred over thousands of years.  Shrubs and trees with nuts have been bred for larger seeds.
Only some animals are suitable for domestication
2025-01-28 19:57 There are dozens of large mammals which are herbivores or omnivores.  However, there are only 15 suitable to domesticate.  Some are too picky eaters.  Others grow too slowly, are too aggressive or to easily frightened.
On the origin of the cat
2025-01-22 13:46 I have read of people thinking the cats we have as pets would descend from large felids.  Or at least be closely related to them.  People might not know that smaller felids exist.
On myths and fairytales
2024-12-31 15:03 Ancient peoples tried to explain what was outside of human control. They were used to think in terms of human interactions. Phenomena were anthropomorphised into gods to be more easily thought about.
On mythological figures
2024-12-21 14:21 I just want to remind about me being a non-believer.  This does not mean I am hostile to religion.  If God exist or not each may decide for him- or herself.  In contrast I deny the existence of divine intervention.
How demographics works
2024-12-12 15:58 Demographics is about the size of a population and how it is composed.
The myth of the uninhabited habitable area
2024-11-28 17:09 Many seem to have trouble grasping how populated the world is.  Areas not built up or clearly fenced in are mistaken for unpopulated.  At worst parts of countries are believed to be entirely uninhabited. 
Getting across the sea low-tech
2024-11-26 13:34 Today it is outright easy to get across the world.  In a time of motorised transports it is easy to not think about how hard it has been.  Getting there at all can’t be taken for granted.
How technological progress works
2024-11-25 13:55 There is a mix-up between brain capacity and which technology people use.  On one hand simple technology is equalled to people would have been stupid.  On the other hand it is claimed we should have developed high technology very long ago.