For some experts, there is power in knowing what is deemed useless, trivial information. According to product design veteran Stephen Marshall-Rees, staying curious can enhance our problem-solving skills.
"What may seem trivial or irrelevant today could be the key to unlocking tomorrow's breakthroughs," he wrote.
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This kind of procedure is most likely to be successful on larger butterfly species, such as Monarchs, where the size of the wings makes the process easier.
However, it requires an understanding of the butterfly’s anatomy, extreme precision, and a gentle hand, due to the delicate nature of the wings and the scales that cover them."
Humans seem naturally drawn to facts that won’t necessarily add value to our lives. Some are even willing to endure slight pain to know useless information.
University of Melbourne psychologist Stefan Bode conducted a study in 2021 in which he showed participants a series of coin flips. Each side of the coin had a small monetary reward, but the participants were unaware of which ones came with the prize.
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Rakus chewed leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria plant, known for its medicinal properties, and applied the juice directly to the wound, which subsequently healed.
This marks the first documented instance of a wild animal using a plant with known medicinal properties to treat an open wound.
The findings offer insights into the origins of human wound care, possibly dating back to a common ancestor shared with these primates."
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Bode then made an offer: participants would know the payouts of each coin flip. But in exchange, they would have to endure a brief but harmless flash of heat to the forearm.
Knowing how much they were getting did not affect the outcome of the coin flip, and they would earn the same amount regardless of whether they knew the values.
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The results were telling. In 75% of the experiments, participants were willing to handle the flash of heat to the forearm if it meant knowing how much the payouts were. And when the amounts increased, so did their willingness to endure more pain.
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Residing on Saint Helena, he was brought there in 1882 and named in the 1930s. Jonathan continues to live at Plantation House, cared for by the government.
Despite his age, he remains active and spends his days with his mate Frederik. Jonathan’s remarkable longevity has garnered media attention and even royal visits, including from Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, in January 2024."
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These young animals are particularly vulnerable to the cold due to their age and size, requiring additional measures to ensure they remain warm during the winter months."
University College London neuroscientist Tali Sharot was amazed at the lengths certain people would go to for the sake of knowing something trivial. According to her, the value of information increases with higher uncertainty.
“Humans value information even when they cannot use it to change outcomes,” she pointed out.
Author Scott H. Young encourages continuous learning because it shapes one's view.
“Even if ideas can’t make you money, friends, or a six-pack, it can still make your model of reality a little more accurate. And an accurate model of reality is useful to have, even if any particular idea that helps you form it is not,” he wrote in an article.
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The surface of their eye changes from golden-orange in summer to a rich blue colour in the winter.
Experts think their vision might have evolved to help them see in snowy conditions and explains why they are able to see food so well in the dark."
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