Religion is a key part of how we understand societies. Just like languages or money, religions change and adapt to the world around them. This means that religions aren't static but evolve over time. There are some interesting questions we can ask about this. For instance, how many different religio
Religions and languages are a lot like other social traits, such as age or political views. They evolve just like anything else does. New religions and new languages pop up, while others fade away. It's all about adaptation to society's changes. You might be wondering, "How many religions or languag
Scientists are exploring how the spread of religious ideas, or "memes, " can shape the diversity we see in religions today. They compare this to how diseases or helpful microbes spread and evolve within hosts. Just like pathogens, religious memes can jump from person to person, influencing how peopl
Ever thought about board games designed by robots? Well, it's happening! These robots are using a neat trick called evolutionary strategy to create exciting two-player games. And how do we know if these games are worth playing? People test them out and give their thoughts. Plus, a clever system call
Have you ever wondered if computers could invent new board games? Well, some clever folks are using artificial intelligence to do just that! They're trying to find a way for AI to create two-player board games all by itself. To make sure these games are fun, they've come up with special rules, or me
Religious adherence can be seen as a choice, like picking a favorite color. Scientists studied 58 religions from 1900 to 2000, using data from the World Christian Encyclopedia. They found 40 growing religions, 11 of which had a big change in the 1900s. 18 religions were shrinking, with 12 hitting th
Ever ponder how religions morph and branch out into different shapes? Picture this: cultural ideas, or 'memes', zip around like lightning among people. Some ideas latch on, others vanish in a flash. Sort of like how viruses invade hosts, religions act as hosts for these memes. Zoom in on how viruse
Religions and languages are like any other social traits, such as age or wealth. They evolve and change over time, just like people do. New ones pop up while others fade away. Have you ever wondered how many religions or languages exist at any given time? Or how they change and spread? Scientists s
Have you ever wondered how we measure the evolution of technology? Scientists have struggled with this question for years, trying to figure out the best way to track the progress of technology over time. Some have suggested looking at the current level of technology, or how it changes, but these met
Imagine technology as a big dance floor. Some technologies are the cool kids in the middle, while others are the wallflowers waiting for their moment to shine. This is what some experts are now calling "technological parasitism. " At its core, it's all about how one tech (the wallflower) evolves by
