Basically all countries that started having some economic growth since 1950 will have this spike effect. The countries that were already rich had a slow population transition, the other ones a fast one. The short version of that story is that in the latter child mortality went down slowly, and in the the former it was a quick proces. People take some time to adapt to this new reality, which means that for a shirt period of time 10 of 10 children will grow up to have kids of their own. After a while, the amount of children goes down to 2 or less, and growth stops. In Europe, this lade population multiply by two or three, in North Africa for example it can be up to times five or more. And in modern societies, this kind of growth tends to concentrate in cities.

Made me wonder: how likely would it be that a modern ginkgo could not reproduce with an ancient one?

Just having the vote on a non working day or giving (almost) everyone obligatory paid leave that day is way easier and could already have quite an impact.

I did, and enjoyed them!

Popped to mind immediately upon seeing the word Portia

While we should absolutely use our backyards to make some space for nature, there’s going on more than this. Even in nature reserves, insect counts seem to be going down. Last I heard, it’s still not entirely clear what’s going on, but probably related to certain types of pesticides.

Ancient AI proven

It makes me so mad we don’t just tell the flight industry that by date X no planes that use traditional fuel can be produced, and by date Y that they won’t be allowed to fly. Doesn’t even need to a global agreement, if the European market is closed, than that could be motivation enough. And it would focus innovation on efficiency instead of frivolous stiff like this.

Reminds me of the setting of The Stars are Legion. Not exactly the same, it’s a cluster of artificial planets in the middle of empty space, not a natural phenomenon. But it creates the same kind of “in this together” atmosphere form being isolated.