Bookmarks 2025-11-23T21:37:12.976Z
by Owen Kibel
37 min read
Bookmarks for 2025-11-23T21:37:12.976Z
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lrq3000/infinitabs: Unlimited tabs for your browser - Experience an infinite browsing experience with minimal RAM footprint!
Added: Nov 23, 2025GitHub - lrq3000/infinitabs: Unlimited tabs for your browser - Experience an infinite browsing experience with minimal RAM footprint!
Site: GitHub
Unlimited tabs for your browser - Experience an infinite browsing experience with minimal RAM footprint! - lrq3000/infinitabs
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Mamdani stands by fascist label as Trump relationship thaws Added: Nov 23, 2025
Mamdani still thinks Trump's a fascist, but he'll work with him
Site: Axios
Zohran Mamdani stood by harsh criticism of Trump.
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When Lawmakers Lecture the Military: Why the “Unlawful Orders” Video Invites Confusion | Military.com Added: Nov 23, 2025
When Lawmakers Lecture the Military: Why the “Unlawful Orders” Video Invites Confusion
Site: Military.com
A group of Democratic lawmakers released a video telling service members they must refuse unlawful orders, a message that is legally correct but poorly delivered. The video offered no examples or legal context, creating confusion about what orders they meant. Critics warned it risked politicizing the military and undermining the chain of command. The lawmakers said they were reminding troops of their constitutional duties, but the vague framing and political timing made the message more controversial than clarifying.
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VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Oregon’s secession fantasy: The left’s dangerous return to 1860 | Fox News Added: Nov 23, 2025
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: When liberals play confederates. Portland's revolt against America
Site: Fox News
Antifa protesters surround ICE facilities in Portland, Oregon to block deportations, prompting comparisons to historical conflicts over federal law enforcement.
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This kind of rhetoric sparks ‘military coups’: Ben Ferguson - YouTube Added: Nov 23, 2025
This kind of rhetoric sparks ‘military coups’: Ben Ferguson
Site: YouTube
Podcast host Ben Ferguson blasts six Democratic leaders for urging military personnel to defy 'illegal orders' in a social media video, calling their message...
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GitHub - karpathy/llm-council: LLM Council works together to answer your hardest questions
Added: Nov 23, 2025
GitHub - karpathy/llm-council: LLM Council works together to answer your hardest questions
Site: GitHub
LLM Council works together to answer your hardest questions - karpathy/llm-council
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Practical Guide on how to build an Agent from scratch with Gemini 3 Added: Nov 23, 2025
Practical Guide on how to build an Agent from scratch with Gemini 3
A step-by-step practical guide on building AI agents using Gemini 3 Pro, covering tool integration, context management, and best practices for creating effective and reliable agents.
It seems complicated, when you watch an AI agent edit multiple files, run commands, handle errors, and iteratively solve a problem, it feels like magic. But it isn’t. The secret to building an agent is that there is no secret.
The core of an Agent is surprisingly simple: It is a Large Language Model (LLM) running in a loop, equipped with tools it can choose to use.
If you can write a loop in Python, you can build an agent. This guide will walk you through the process, from a simple API call to a functioning CLI Agent.
## What actually is an Agent?
Traditional software workflows are prescriptive and follow predefined paths (`Step A -> Step B -> Step C`), **Agents** are System that uses an LLM to dynamically decide the control flow of an application to achieve a user goal.
An agent generally consists of these core components:
- **The Model (Brain):** The reasoning engine, in our case a Gemini model. It reasons through ambiguity, plans steps, and decides when it needs outside help.
- **Tools (Hands and Eyes):** Functions the agent can execute to interact with the outside world/environment (e.g., searching the web, reading a file, calling an API).
- **Context/Memory (Workspace):** The information the agent has access to at any moment. Managing this effectively, known as **Context Engineering**.
- **The Loop (Life):** A `while` loop that allows the model to: Observe → Think → Act → Observe again, until the task is complete.
**"The Loop"** of nearly every agent is an iterative process:
- **Define Tool Definitions:** You describe your available tools (e.g., `get_weather`) to the model using a structured JSON format.
- **Call the LLM:** You send the user's prompt *and* the tool definitions to the model.
- **Model Decision:** The model analyzes the request. If a tool is needed, it returns a structured `tool use` containing the tool name and arguments.
- **Execute Tool (Client Responsibility):** The client/application code intercepts this `tool use`, executes the actual code or API call, and captures the result.
- **Respond and Iterate:** You send the result (the `tool response`) back to model. The model uses this new information to decide the next step, either calling another tool or generating the final response.
## Building an Agent
Let's build an agent step-by-step, progressing from basic text generation to a functional CLI agent using Gemini 3 Pro and Python SDK.
_Prerequisites: Install the SDK (`pip install google-genai`) and set your `GEMINI_API_KEY` environment variable ([Get it in AI Studio](https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey))._
### Step 1: Basic Text Generation and Abstraction
The first step is to create a baseline interaction with the LLM, for us Gemini 3 Pro. We are going to create a simple Agent class abstraction to structure our code, which we will extend throughout this guide. We will first start with a simple chatbot that maintains a conversation history.
```python from google import genai from google.genai import types
class Agent: def __init__(self, model: str): self.model = model self.client = genai.Client() self.contents = []
def run(self, contents: str): self.contents.append({"role": "user", "parts": [{"text": contents}]})
response = self.client.models.generate_content(model=self.model, contents=self.contents) self.contents.append(response.candidates[0].content)
return response
agent = Agent(model="gemini-3-pro-preview") response1 = agent.run( contents="Hello, What are top 3 cities in Germany to visit? Only return the names of the cities." )
print(f"Model: {response1.text}") # Output: Berlin, Munich, Cologne response2 = agent.run( contents="Tell me something about the second city." )
print(f"Model: {response2.text}") # Output: Munich is the capital of Bavaria and is known for its Oktoberfest. ```
This is *not* an agent yet. It is a standard chatbot. It maintains state but cannot take action, has no "hands or eyes".
### Step 2: Giving it Hands & Eyes (Tool Use)
To start turning this an agent, we need **Tool Use** or Function Calling. We provide the agent with tools. This requires defining the implementation (the Python code) and the definition (the schema the LLM sees). If the LLM believes that tool will help solve a user's prompt, it will return a structured request to call that function instead of just text.
We are going to create 3 tools, `read_file`, `write_file`, and `list_dir`. A tool Definition is a JSON schema that defines the `name`, `description`, and `parameters` of the tool.
_**Best Practice**: Use the `description` fields to explain when and how to use the tool. The model relies heavily on these to understand when and how to use the tool. Be explicit and clear._
```python import os import json
read_file_definition = { "name": "read_file", "description": "Reads a file and returns its contents.", "parameters": { "type": "object", "properties": { "file_path": { "type": "string", "description": "Path to the file to read.", } }, "required": ["file_path"], }, }
list_dir_definition = { "name": "list_dir", "description": "Lists the contents of a directory.", "parameters": { "type": "object", "properties": { "directory_path": { "type": "string", "description": "Path to the directory to list.", } }, "required": ["directory_path"], }, }
write_file_definition = { "name": "write_file", "description": "Writes a file with the given contents.", "parameters": { "type": "object", "properties": { "file_path": { "type": "string", "description": "Path to the file to write.", }, "contents": { "type": "string", "description": "Contents to write to the file.", }, }, "required": ["file_path", "contents"], }, }
def read_file(file_path: str) -> dict: with open(file_path, "r") as f: return f.read()
def write_file(file_path: str, contents: str) -> bool: """Writes a file with the given contents.""" with open(file_path, "w") as f: f.write(contents) return True
def list_dir(directory_path: str) -> list[str]: """Lists the contents of a directory.""" full_path = os.path.expanduser(directory_path) return os.listdir(full_path)
file_tools = { "read_file": {"definition": read_file_definition, "function": read_file}, "write_file": {"definition": write_file_definition, "function": write_file}, "list_dir": {"definition": list_dir_definition, "function": list_dir}, } ```
Now we integrate the `tools` and function calls into our Agent class.
```python from google import genai from google.genai import types
class Agent: def __init__(self, model: str,tools: list[dict]): self.model = model self.client = genai.Client() self.contents = [] self.tools = tools
def run(self, contents: str): self.contents.append({"role": "user", "parts": [{"text": contents}]})
config = types.GenerateContentConfig( tools=[types.Tool(function_declarations=[tool["definition"] for tool in self.tools.values()])], )
response = self.client.models.generate_content(model=self.model, contents=self.contents, config=config) self.contents.append(response.candidates[0].content)
return response
agent = Agent(model="gemini-3-pro-preview", tools=file_tools)
response = agent.run( contents="Can you list my files in the current directory?" ) print(response.function_calls) # Output: [FunctionCall(name='list_dir', arguments={'directory_path': '.'})] ```
Great! The model has successfully called the tool. Now, we need to add the tool execution logic to our Agent class and the loop return the result back to the model.
### Step 3: Closing the Loop (The Agent)
An Agent isn't about generating one tool call, but about generating a series of tool calls, returning the results back to the model, and then generating another tool call, and so on until the task is completed.
The `Agent` class handles the core loop: intercepting the `FunctionCall`, executing the tool on the client side, and sending back the `FunctionResponse`. We also add a `SystemInstruction` to the model to guide the model on what to do.
_Note: Gemini 3 uses [Thought signatures](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/gemini-3?thinking=high#thought_signatures) to maintain reasoning context across API calls. You must return these signatures back to the model in your request exactly as they were received._
```python # ... Code for the tools and tool definitions from Step 2 should be here ...
from google import genai from google.genai import types
class Agent: def __init__(self, model: str,tools: list[dict], system_instruction: str = "You are a helpful assistant."): self.model = model self.client = genai.Client() self.contents = [] self.tools = tools self.system_instruction = system_instruction
def run(self, contents: str | list[dict[str, str]]): if isinstance(contents, list): self.contents.append({"role": "user", "parts": contents}) else: self.contents.append({"role": "user", "parts": [{"text": contents}]})
config = types.GenerateContentConfig( system_instruction=self.system_instruction, tools=[types.Tool(function_declarations=[tool["definition"] for tool in self.tools.values()])], )
response = self.client.models.generate_content(model=self.model, contents=self.contents, config=config) self.contents.append(response.candidates[0].content)
if response.function_calls: functions_response_parts = [] for tool_call in response.function_calls: print(f"[Function Call] {tool_call}")
if tool_call.name in self.tools: result = {"result": self.tools[tool_call.name]["function"](**tool_call.args)} else: result =
print(f"[Function Response] {result}") functions_response_parts.append({"functionResponse": {"name": tool_call.name, "response": result}})
return self.run(functions_response_parts)
return response
agent = Agent( model="gemini-3-pro-preview", tools=file_tools, system_instruction="You are a helpful Coding Assistant. Respond like you are Linus Torvalds." )
response = agent.run( contents="Can you list my files in the current directory?" ) print(response.text) # Output: [Function Call] id=None args={'directory_path': '.'} name='list_dir' # [Function Response] {'result': ['.venv', ... ]} # There. Your current directory contains: `LICENSE`, ```
Congratulations. You just built your first functioning agent.
### Phase 4: Multi-turn CLI Agent
Now we can run our agent in a simple CLI loop. It takes surprisingly little code to create highly capable behavior.
```python # ... Code for the Agent, tools and tool definitions from Step 3 should be here ...
agent = Agent( model="gemini-3-pro-preview", tools=file_tools, system_instruction="You are a helpful Coding Assistant. Respond like you are Linus Torvalds." )
print("Agent ready. Ask it to check files in this directory.") while True: user_input = input("You: ") if user_input.lower() in ['exit', 'quit']: break
response = agent.run(user_input) print(f"Linus: {response.text}\n") ```
## Best Practices for Engineering Agents
Building the loop is easy; making it reliable, transparent, and controllable is hard. Here are key engineering principles derived from top industry practices, grouped by functional area.
### 1. Tool Definition & Ergonomics Your tools are the interface for the model. Don't just wrap your existing internal APIs. If a tool is confusing to a human, it's confusing to the model:
* **Clear Naming:** Use obvious names like `search_customer_database` rather than `cust_db_v2_query`. * **Precise Descriptions:** Gemini reads the function docstrings to understand *when* and *how* to use a tool. Spend time writing these carefully, it is essentially "prompt engineering" for tools. * **Return Meaningful Errors:** Don't return a 50-line Java stack trace. If a tool fails, return a clear string like `Error: File not found. Did you mean 'data.csv'?`. This allows the agent to self-correct. * **Tolerate Fuzzy Inputs:** If a model frequently guesses file paths wrong, update your tool to handle relative paths or fuzzy inputs rather than just erroring out.
### 2. Context Engineering Models have a finite "attention budget." Managing what information enters the context is crucial for performance and cost.
* **Don't "Dump" Data:** Don't have a tool that returns an entire 10MB database table. Instead of `get_all_users()`, create `search_users(query: str)`. * **Just-in-time Loading:** Instead of pre-loading all data (traditional RAG), use just-in-time strategies. The agent should maintain lightweight identifiers (file paths, IDs) and use tools to dynamically load content only when needed. * **Compression:** For very long-running agents, summarize the history, remove old context or start a new sessions. * **Agentic Memory:** Allow the agent to maintain notes or a scratchpad persisted *outside* the context window, pulling them back in only when relevant.
### 3. Don't over engineer
It's tempting to build complex multi-agent systems. Don't.
* **Maximize a Single Agent First:** Don't immediately build complex multi-agent systems. Gemini is highly capable of handling dozens of tools in a single prompt. * **Escape Hatches:** Ensure loops can be stopped like a `max_iterations` break (e.g., 15 turns). * **Guardrails and System Instructions:** Use the `system_instruction` to guide the model with hard rules (e.g., "You are strictly forbidden from offering refunds greater than $50") or use external classifier. * **Human-in-the-loop:** For sensitive actions (like `send_email` or `execute_code`), pause the loop and require user confirmation before the tool is actually executed. * **Prioritize Transparency and Debugging:** Log tool calls and parameters. Analyzing the model's reasoning helps identify if issues, and improve the agent over time.
## Conclusion
Building an agent is no longer magic; it is a practical engineering task. As we've shown, you can build a working prototype in under 100 lines of code. While understanding these fundamentals is key, don't get bogged down re-engineering the same pattern over and over. The AI community has created fantastic open-source libraries that can help you build more complex and robust agents faster.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/_philschmid) or [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-schmid-a6a2bb196/).
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Scientist Identifies Something Strange About New Image of Mysterious Interstellar Visitor
Added: Nov 23, 2025Scientist Identifies Something Strange About New Image of Mysterious Interstellar Visitor
Site: Futurism
according to Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, there's something off about the latest image of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS.
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An Extraordinary New Anomaly of 3I/ATLAS | by Avi Loeb | Nov, 2025 | Medium Added: Nov 23, 2025
An Extraordinary New Anomaly of 3I/ATLAS
Site: Medium
Let us suppose, hypothetically, that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is a mothership that was designed to seed Jupiter with technological…
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Paintings v Photos in the 19th century! #history #19thcentury #arthistory
Site: YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
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Avi Loeb: 3I/ATLAS path will bring object close to Jupiter — its chief aim? Added: Nov 23, 2025
Astrophysicist’s latest 3I/ATLAS theory: It’s interested in Jupiter
Site: NewsNation
Avi Loeb notes that presumed comet 3I/ATLAS will be near Jupiter in March — near enough to “release some probes.”
(NewsNation) — Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who still insists 3I/ATLAS could be an alien vessel instead of a comet, is now pointing to the interstellar object’s expected rendezvous with the solar system’s largest planet early next year. He said 3I/ATLAS is expected to come closest to Jupiter on March 16, 2026, as it leaves our planetary system. At that time the object is estimated to be 33 million miles from Jupiter, compared with the wider berth of 170 million miles the Earth will have with 3I/ATLAS on Dec. 19. “It comes exactly at the right distance from Jupiter for Jupiter’s gravity to dominate. So, if it wants to release some probes near Jupiter, that’s where it needs to be,” Loeb told “NewsNation Prime” on Saturday. “Jupiter is easy to recognize, the biggest planet in the solar system, and perhaps that’s what attracted their visit,” he added. “We tend to think that it’s all about us.” NASA on Wednesday said the latest government images of 3I/ATLAS indicate the object is a comet, as suspected, albeit one with unusual features. But Loeb says there are still many anomalies left unexplained, ranging from the object’s size to its chemical signatures to the “jets” that appear to be emanating from the surface. In his view, he said, the latest NASA material doesn’t solve these riddles. “The verdict should not be decided by administrators at NASA. It should be decided by data,” Loeb said. The Harvard professor told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that scientists should be able to draw firm conclusions next month, when 3I/ATLAS is nearest Earth.
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Generate Power From the Night Sky with a Radiative Engine
Added: Nov 23, 2025Simple new engine sucks power from the night sky
Site: New Atlas
What if you could draw energy from the night sky without effort? That's the question that researchers at the University of California, Davis are trying to answer with a new engine that generates power simply by sitting under the clear starry heavens.
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Nearby super-Earth emerges as a top target in the search for life | ScienceDaily Added: Nov 23, 2025
Nearby super-Earth emerges as a top target in the search for life
Site: ScienceDaily
Researchers have pinpointed a super-Earth in the habitable zone of a nearby M-dwarf star only 18 light-years away. Sophisticated instruments detected the planet’s gentle tug on its star, hinting at a rocky world that could hold liquid water. Future mega-telescopes may be able to directly image it—something impossible today.
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Fresh ocean spray from Enceladus reveals its strongest signs of life to date
Site: Earth.com
Ice grains from Enceladus reveal the richest mix of organics yet, offering the strongest clues that the moon’s hidden ocean may support life.
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theia origin inner solar system closer sun earth moon giant impact iron isotopes missing reservoir science 2025 - India Today Added: Nov 23, 2025
Moon's origin story: Its mother died after giving birth. She was Earth's sister
Site: India Today
Theia was part of the inner Solar System, and was formed closer to the Sun than Earth, a new study has found.
Did you know that the Moon’s mother made sacrifices to give birth to it? Around 4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized planetary body named Theia collided with proto-Earth (early Earth) to form the Blue Planet’s natural satellite.As a result of the collision, known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis, Theia was shredded into pieces, and the size, composition, and orbit of proto-Earth were changed. Even though Theia was completely destroyed, its traces became a part of the Earth and the Moon.However, several questions about Theia, such as its size, composition, and origin, remain unanswered.To learn about Theia’s history of formation and ingredients, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany and the University of Chicago analysed the isotopic fingerprints of iron and other elements in 15 Earth rocks, six samples brought back from the Moon by Apollo astronauts, and meteorites. Published in the journal Science, the study yields two interesting results: Theia was part of the inner Solar System, and it was formed closer to the Sun than Earth.THEIA, EARTH’S LONG-LOST SISTER Artist's reimagination of the Giant Impact Hypothesis, the collision between the Earth and Theia which formed the Moon (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Isotopes, which are atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons and hence, different masses, reveal clues about the original building blocks of a celestial body.Earlier studies found the isotope ratios of calcium, zirconium, chromium, and titanium in the Earth and the Moon to be indistinguishable, but this information was not enough to draw conclusions about Theia.Until this study, scientists were not sure whether Theia was a carbonaceous or non-carbonaceous body, and in which part of the Solar System it originated.Previous studies implied that Theia could have incorporated significant material from the outer Solar System. The new study is the first to provide substantial evidence that it originated in the inner Solar System.By calculating how much material Theia could have contributed to each element in the Earth and the Moon, the researchers arrived at the conclusion that the Mars-sized planetary body was likely to have formed closer to the Sun than Earth.Some material from Theia, which formed closer to the Sun than Earth, and contributed to elements in the Earth and the Moon, might be part of a "missing" reservoir, according to the study.Timo Hopp, the lead author on the paper, told IndiaToday.in that it is possible this material does not perfectly match any known meteorite class. “The material that formed in the inner Solar System closer to the Sun than the Earth can be called a missing reservoir which is not sampled by meteorites.”Explaining why, he added, “The reason for this might be that all of this material was accretedconsumed by the planets in the inner Solar System, like Mercury, Venus and Earth. One could speculate that if we ever get a sample from Mercury or Venus, we might find a larger contribution of the unsampled material in them compared to the Earth.”Just as one can know the ingredients of a cake by tasting it, the researchers determined the composition and size of Theia by measuring isotope ratios of rocks from the Earth, the Moon, and meteorites, a technique known as reverse engineering.Now, a question arises: why did the researchers measure the isotope compositions of iron in the Earth and the Moon?It is because iron isotope ratios are different in carbonaceous (carbon-containing) and non-carbonaceous meteorites.When the results showed that Earth and the Moon fall within the non-carbonaceous (inner Solar System) range, the researchers arrived at the conclusion that Earth and its long-lost sibling were both built mostly from inner Solar System material because that is where such objects are thought to have formed.Hopp explained that the researchers decided to analyse iron isotope compositions because this is a major element in the Earth and the Moon.“Iron is a siderophile, meaning it tends to go into the metallic cores of planets like the Earth. Therefore, a large fraction of iron in present-day Earth’s mantle was likely delivered at the end of the planet’s accretion by Theia,” the lead author added.Since Theia was formed closer to the Sun than Earth, it is likely that the Moon's progenitor was present in a relatively hot region with less water and volatile elements.Explaining if this is why the Moon is dry compared to the Earth's mantle, Hopp said, “Yes, this might be an option for the volatile, poor and dry composition of the Moon. However, more likely, the Moon lost most of the water and volatiles during the giant impact, which melted the Earth and the Moon's mantles into magma oceans.”As new evidence pours in, it is clear that the Moon is the result of something much more violent than what it appears today.- EndsPublished By: Radifah KabirPublished On: Nov 22, 2025
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How Google Finally Leapfrogged Rivals With New Gemini Rollout - WSJ Added: Nov 23, 2025
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JD Vance on X: "If the president hasn't issued illegal orders, them members of Congress telling the military to defy the president is by definition illegal." / X Added: Nov 23, 2025
Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Jobs soar — but California slumps | New York Post Added: Nov 23, 2025
Why California’s falling behind even as US jobs rebound
Site: New York Post
Instead of jetting off to climate change confabs in Brazil, maybe Newsom should focus on changing the climate for jobs at home.
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This open-source app is the Notion alternative that Obsidian should have been
Added: Nov 23, 2025This open-source app is the Notion alternative that Obsidian should have been
Site: XDA
It's just built better than Obsidian
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This free academic AI tool is helping me reach new levels of nerd
Added: Nov 23, 2025
This free academic AI tool is helping me reach new levels of nerd
Site: How-To Geek
It's like Shazam for nature.
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Nano Banana Pro cast a design spell in NotebookLM to explore the legend of Camelot | TechRadar Added: Nov 23, 2025
Nano Banana Pro is making graphic magic in NotebookLM
Site: TechRadar
NotebookLM's new infographics and slide decks sparke with Nano Banana Pro images
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The unpowered SSDs in your drawer are slowly losing your data
Added: Nov 23, 2025
The unpowered SSDs in your drawer are slowly losing your data
Site: XDA
SSDs aren't ideal for long-term data storage
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Why do vultures circle? | Live Science Added: Nov 23, 2025
Why do vultures circle?
Site: Live Science
Circling vultures aren't waiting for you to die, and seeing them should be a welcome sight because of the benefits they bring, experts say.
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Is It More Efficient To Walk Around On Massive Stilts? | IFLScience
Added: Nov 23, 2025The Latest Internet Debate: Is It More Efficient To Walk Around On Massive Stilts?
Site: IFLScience
People on Reddit are arguing over whether it's more efficient to walk around on stilts. Science has the answer.
People over on Reddit are once again (see also: why we can't power trucks with a big magnet ) asking the big questions: is it more energy efficient to walk around on giant stilts? In a post to the "they did the math" subreddit, one Redditor asked the question, after seeing a video of members of the Banna tribe in Ethiopia walking around on long wooden stilts, a traditional method of avoiding animal attack whilst herding cattle. Though that is likely the reason that they first started walking on stilts, today it is done for cultural reasons. "Stilts-walking is a long-standing cultural tradition among community members," Further Africa explains. "Unmarried young men are the carriers of this tradition popular during community festivals and rituals. A rule for Banna tribe stilts-walking during a ceremony is painting their bodies in white strips." ⓘ IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites. So, is it more efficient? Reddit users were mixed in their opinions, if they offered one at all. "That's a complicated kinesiology question, not really a math question," one user wrote. "Generally if you're not used to it, almost definitely not. But if you got used to it, maybe? You'd probably have to run some tests on someone who was used to it. Can't answer it by doing some simple math in a reddit question." Fortunately, and surprisingly, scientists have looked into it. "During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, stilts were commonly used in some places in the southwest of France, presumably because ground can be covered faster with stilts than by normal walking," the researchers wrote, justifying the project. "The research reported here sought to verify this latter point by studying the mechanical and energetic aspects of level walking with stilts." The researchers, publishing their study back in 1981, took three healthy young men who used stilts as a hobby, and gave them a set of 1.4 meter-long (4.6 foot-long) stilts to demonstrate, which would "lengthen the shank" by 1 meter (3.3 feet). In a sports hall, the men were then asked to walk around at their normal speed, slower than their normal speed, faster than their normal speed, and "very much faster" than their usual speed. While this was going on, their pace length and speed were measured, along with their oxygen consumption through use of a mask placed over their face. Agreeing with previous studies they found that to achieve the same speeds, stilt walkers' pace was longer and step frequency lower than in usual walking. "At highest speeds, maximum pace length increased by approximately 30 percent with stilts (1.3 m against 1 m). At the same time, step frequency decreased by 10 percent (2 against 2.2/s)," the team wrote. "The overall result is an increase of the maximum speed ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 km·h⁻¹ [0.4-0.9 miles per hour], comparable to mean speeds observed during long-distance stilt-walking races (10 km·h⁻¹) [6 miles per hour]." The team had hypothesized that stilt-walking should be more efficient: "[W]alking energy expenditure is directly related to the vertical oscillations imposed at each step to the body centre of mass. The smaller the oscillation, the lower the expenditure of energy. This oscillation is related to the length of the lower limbs ( a ), the length of the pace ( b ), and/or the amplitude of [the vertical displacement of the centre of mass]." However, upon analyzing the results, they found that the difference was negligible. "Our experimental data do not support this hypothesis," they concluded, adding that the difference in efficiency was small. "We think that such a discrepancy can be explained by the weight of the stilts. Ralston and Lukin have shown [in a previous study ] that the effect of foot loading is greater than trunk loading. These authors showed that a loading of 2 kg on each foot increased the metabolic expenditure by about 30 percent over controls. Since each of our stilts weighed 2 kg their results may be applied exactly to our conditions." In short, there may be some advantages to using stilts (avoiding animals, seeing over tall people at a concert, making yourself appear more like a clown, etc.) but efficiency-wise, there isn't much in it.
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45,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Remains Show Signs Of Exocannibalism, With Short Women And Children Specifically Targeted | IFLScience
Added: Nov 23, 2025
45,000 Years Ago, These Neanderthals Cannibalized Women And Children From A Rival Group
Site: IFLScience
Short ladies were particularly sought out by the prehistoric cannibals.
Neanderthals in what is now Belgium may have eaten the weakest members of an enemy clan around 45,000 years ago. Analyzing the bones of these massacred victims, researchers have revealed that they all belong to petite females and children, suggesting that these individuals were specifically targeted by the cannibals. Found in a cavern within the Goyet caves, the bones appear to represent a minimum of six individuals, four of whom were identified as adult or adolescent females, while the remaining two – a child and a baby – were found to be male. With the exception of the newborn, all of the skeletons display unmistakable signs of having been butchered, making this the largest assemblage of cannibalized Neanderthal remains in northern Europe. Previous isotopic analysis has indicated that the six victims were not local and were therefore not members of the tribe that consumed their flesh. To learn more about who these unfortunate Neanderthals were and why they were eaten, the study authors analyzed the size, shape, and robusticity of the long bones in their limbs. Comparing these with other Neanderthal skeletons, the researchers noted that the victims were all of low stature and that their robusticity indices were clustered towards the bottom end of the spectrum. In other words, they were all rather short and dainty for Neanderthals. Moreover, despite being foreigners, their physical condition suggests that they had not been particularly mobile during their lives, which means they probably didn’t stray into enemy territory while foraging. “The Neandertal individuals from Goyet that were anthropogenically processed not only indicate exocannibalistic practices, but they also testify to a targeted predatory behaviour toward gracile, short-statured female individuals, and possibly immature individuals,” write the study authors. Putting it another way, they say the evidence “suggests that weaker members of one or multiple groups from a single neighbouring region were deliberately targeted.” And while it’s impossible to say exactly what motivated this unspeakable act, the researchers point out that exocannibalism – meaning the consumption of foreigners – by humans “is typically associated with warfare or competition between groups, involving the violent abduction of individuals from outside communities.” Dated to between 41,000 and 45,000 years ago, the Goyet skeletons coincide with the arrival of Homo sapiens in western Europe. According to the researchers, the extra competition and stress that our ancestors’ presence placed on Neanderthals may have led to increased inter-group violence, potentially triggering this episode of cannibalism. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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Waking up early Vs Sleeping late night: Intelligence found higher among one group during brain research - The Economic Times Added: Nov 23, 2025
Waking up early Vs Sleeping late night: Intelligence found higher among one group during brain research - The Economic Times
Recent research highlights key differences between night owls and early birds. Studies show night owls often score higher on cognitive tests measuring intelligence, reasoning, and problem-solving, while early risers tend to enjoy better overall health, including lower BMI, healthier blood sugar, and more consistent sleep patterns. Chronotype, the bodys natural sleep-wake rhythm, largely determines whether someone is a morning or evening person.
The debate over whether waking up early is inherently better than staying up late has been around for decades. Society has long associated early risers with discipline, productivity, and overall health. However, emerging scientific research is challenging this conventional wisdom, suggesting that the cognitive advantages may lie with night owls in certain areas.What Determines Your Chronotype?Whether someone is a night owl or an early bird is not just a matter of personal preference. According to MDPI, chronotype is a biologically driven pattern that regulates natural sleep-wake cycles, alertness, and peak performance periods. Essentially, it reflects the brain’s circadian rhythm—the body’s internal clock.Dr. Raha West, a researcher at Imperial College London, explained that chronotypes impact cognitive function, influencing memory, problem-solving, and overall mental sharpness. Understanding your chronotype can help tailor work schedules and daily routines to optimize performance.Cognitive Advantages of Night OwlsA large-scale study conducted at Imperial College London examined over 26,000 adults. Participants completed cognitive tests measuring intelligence, reasoning, memory, and information-processing speed. The study found that night owls outperformed early birds on these measures. Those with intermediate chronotypes—neither strict morning nor evening types—also scored higher than early risers.West emphasized that sleep is essential for brain health, and getting the right amount—typically seven to nine hours per night—optimizes cognitive performance. Too little or too much sleep can negatively affect brain function, highlighting the importance of quality sleep regardless of chronotype.Health Trade-Offs for Night OwlsWhile night owls may enjoy cognitive advantages, research indicates potential long-term health risks. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers highlighted that evening chronotypes are more likely to have metabolic issues, including higher BMI, elevated cholesterol, and increased risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. UK-based studies also suggest higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among night owls.On the other hand, early risers often experience better overall health. Cohort studies show that morning chronotypes tend to have lower BMI, healthier blood glucose levels, and better cholesterol profiles. They also generally enjoy more consistent sleep quality and better alignment with societal schedules, which can positively impact mental well-being.Can Chronotypes Be Changed?Completely changing one’s natural chronotype appears difficult. However, adjusting sleep schedules to align with daily routines can improve alertness, mood, and productivity. West and neurologist Clifford Segil agree that maintaining sufficient, high-quality sleep is crucial, whether one is a morning or evening person. Segil emphasized that paying attention to sleep duration—ideally seven to nine hours—is more important than trying to become an early riser or night owl artificially.
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Rare Earth Element Crystals Found Forming in a Plant For The First Time : ScienceAlert
Added: Nov 23, 2025Rare Earth Element Crystals Found Forming in a Plant For The First Time
Site: ScienceAlert
Scientists have just discovered an incredible superpower hidden away in the tissues of the fern Blechnum orientale, a plant that can collect and store rare earth elements.
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Your Next ‘Large’ Language Model Might Not Be Large After All | Towards Data Science
Added: Nov 23, 2025Your Next ‘Large’ Language Model Might Not Be Large After All | Towards Data Science
Site: Towards Data Science
A 27M-parameter model just outperformed giants like DeepSeek R1, o3-mini, and Claude 3.7 on reasoning tasks
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World Record Broken: 50-Qubit Quantum Computer Fully Simulated for the First Time Added: Nov 23, 2025
World Record Broken: 50-Qubit Quantum Computer Fully Simulated for the First Time
Site: SciTechDaily
The JUPITER supercomputer set a new milestone by simulating 50 qubits. New memory and compression innovations made this breakthrough possible. A team from the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, working with NVIDIA specialists, has achieved a major milestone in quantum research. For the first time, the
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Amid GOP grumbling, White House makes course corrections - POLITICO Added: Nov 23, 2025
Amid GOP grumbling, White House makes course corrections
Site: POLITICO
‘There's some bumps here and there,’ a White House official acknowledged.
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'Crooked as a dog leg': Rep. Burchett slams congressional insider trading
Site: YouTube
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., joins 'The Sunday Briefing' to discuss his push to ban congressional stock trading and President Donald Trump’s meeting with New ...
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'POLITICS OF PAIN': Sen. Barrasso slams Dems' message to troops
Site: YouTube
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso discusses Democrats posting a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders, Republicans pushing back on President...
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'HIT JOB': Kennedy Center president BLASTS Dem probe
Site: YouTube
Kennedy Center interim president Richard Grenell joins 'Sunday Morning Futures' to discuss Democrats' investigation into the center's finances. #fox #media #...
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Scientists Discover Weird Structure in Outer Solar System
Added: Nov 23, 2025
Scientists Discover Weird Structure in Outer Solar System
Site: Futurism
Astronomers have spotted an intriguing cluster of objects in the Kuiper belt, an enormous, donut-shaped region of icy objects beyond Neptune.
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New York Magazine: November 17, 2025 Issue Added: Nov 23, 2025
In this issue: A Theory of Dumb
Site: New York Magazine
The complete table of contents for the November 17, 2025 issues of New York Magazine.
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground, by David Litt — Marguerite Reads Added: Nov 23, 2025
It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground, by David Litt — Marguerite Reads
Site: Marguerite Reads
When blue liberal David Litt seeks improved mental health through surfing, he has an opportunity to learn about how red conservatives see the world from his brother-in-law, Matt. He doesn’t quite get there, but at least opens the door, in this funny memoir.
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I just tested ChatGPT-5.1 vs. Grok 4.1 with 9 prompts — and there's a clear winner | Tom's Guide Added: Nov 23, 2025
I just tested ChatGPT-5.1 vs. Grok 4.1 with 9 prompts — and there's a clear winner
Site: Tom's Guide
One crushed the other
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'It was an incredible moment.' Skydiver plunges across the face of the sun jaw-dropping astrophotographer photo | Space Added: Nov 24, 2025
'It was an incredible moment.' Skydiver plunges across the face of the sun jaw-dropping astrophotographer photo
Site: Space
"I didn't know if it was even possible."
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Why a portable Linux install is my favorite troubleshooting tool
Added: Nov 24, 2025
Why a portable Linux install is my favorite troubleshooting tool
Site: How-To Geek
Windows crashed without warning? Tux has your back.
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DEMOCRAT FINALLY ADMITS IT
Site: YouTube
The sides are polarizing more everydayBecome A Memberhttp://youtube.com/timcastnews/joinThe Green Room - https://rumble.com/playlists/aa56qw_g-j0BUY CAST BRE...
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THROWBACK to some of the most legendary presidential turkeys in POTUS & FLOTUS history
Site: YouTube
Presidential Turkey Pardon
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Mamdani-Trump WH Bromance, MTG Resigns from Congress, MN Somali Fraud Allegations: AM Update 11/24
Site: YouTube
President Trump strikes a surprisingly warm tone with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after months of attacks, even as Mamdani publicly reaffirms hi...
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Breakthrough Simulation Maps Every Star in The Milky Way in Scientific First : ScienceAlert
Added: Nov 24, 2025
Breakthrough Simulation Maps Every Star in The Milky Way in Scientific First
Site: ScienceAlert
The Milky Way contains more than 100 billion stars, each following its own evolutionary path through birth, life, and sometimes violent death.
