According to researchers at the University of Michigan, the size of future generations will reduce significantly as an evolutionary response to global warming. Historical data, they say, shows that the size of mammals decreased substantially during the two ancient planetary warming events, including the “thermal maximum period” 55 million years ago. The cause of this shrinking is not fully understood, but it’s thought that plants may be less nutritious when atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide are higher.
So should we start preparing for a world of munchkins? Would it be wise to start lowering high shelves now? And what else does evolution have in store for the future of our species? Time to hit the books.
• If evolutionary theory is only a distant, school-days memory, turn to Life Ascending: The Ten Great Innovations of Evolution by Nick Lane, for a refresher course. Evolution is the beautifully simple phenomenon that created natural complexities, including DNA, photosynthesis, the eye and human consciousness, says Lane – and the evidence for it is irrefutable.
• So what might evolution have in store for us? For some answers, read The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond. With the world's population now doubling every 40 years, says Diamond, we will soon reach the limit of planet Earth's ability to sustain us. The subsequent struggle for survival could give rise to an evolutionary surge that will see a new kind of human emerge (no news here, though, on how the new shorter breed of human will fair in this epic struggle for survival).
• For a really vivid portrait of one possible future for humanity, turn to fiction. The Canadian author Margaret Atwood's speculative classic Oryx and Crake imagines a dystopian future after the collapse of civilisation, in which strange human-like creatures called Crakers share what is left of the Earth with a handful of humans. Atwood's inspiration came partly from trips to the Arctic, where she observed first-hand the effects of global warming.
artslife@thenational.ae
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Company%20profile
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South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Messi at the Copa America
2007 – lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final
2011 – lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals
2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final