Compete but don’t go-kart Lightning detector uses algorithms Doppelgangers share DNA traits
bull elephants that causes aggressive behaviour and a rise in testosterone. A few months ago, elephant attacks trended online after an elephant in eastern India attacked a woman, only to return to her funeral and attack her once more.
After a video of prisoners go-karting at a facility in Fresnes, south of Paris, was published on Youtube, rightwing French politicians lambasted the activity. The prisoners and guards were taking part in sporting contests as “a moment of fraternal commitment for the benefit of three charities”, which included go-kart racing as part of the games. The justice minister pointed fingers at the Fresnes prison governor and stated: “As for what the ministry knew, it was going to be a sporting contest and there was never any question of go-karting.” A nine-page inquiry was published this week, which indicated that although the ministry gave permission for the event, it had little knowledge about the go-kart race. No clear reason was given as to why there was an aversion to go-karting in particular.
American meteorologists are now able to detect lightning strikes long before they occur. The new technology allows them to predict which locations are likely to be affected by lightning upwards of an hour before a strike. The data emanates from satellites that are able to scan the skies across North America. According to forecasters, an algorithm helps detect patterns in imagery that precedes lightning activity during developing thunderstorms. The new technology reportedly helped meteorologists warn the attendants of a sports event in Alabama about a potential lightning threat, which allowed event organisers to postpone the event. According to
2 000 people around the world are killed annually by lightning strikes. The South African Weather Services says that 260 people are killed by lightning each year.
The phenomenon of doppelgangers is more than just surface level, according to a new study released by researchers in
Spain. People who share the same facial characteristics, although unrelated, have shared genetic variants, the study shows.
After sourcing 32 look-alike couples who completed comprehensive biometric and lifestyle questionnaires, a saliva test for
DNA analysis, and narrowing the group down to 16 close matches with three facial recognition algorithms, results indicated that doppelgangers shared similar genetic characteristics and that the 16 couples had 19 277 genetic variations in common.
They also tended to mirror behavioural characteristics such as smoking and education. Researchers were also careful to point out that each person’s environment, other genetic factors and lifestyle resulted in many other differences. “We provided a unique insight into the molecular characteristics that potentially influence the construction of the human face,” said the study’s senior author. “We suggest that these same determinants correlate with both physical and behavioural attributes that constitute human beings.” He added that the research would assist forensic pathologists in constructing the faces of criminals and also assist in genetic diagnosis by helping specialists determine the genomes of an individual from a photograph.