Mastodawn

The trash panda is being domesticated

What?

Urban #raccoons have shorter snout length than rural raccoons

This is due to #neoteny: the retention of juvenile characteristics in adulthood

An aggressive adult #raccoon won't live long near us. So their genes aren't passed on. But the more docile and childlike breed more successfully in cities

Dogs are basically wolf puppies after all

Give it a millennia or two and we'll have raccoons on our sofas

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-city-raccoons-domestication.html

#Evolution #Science

City raccoons showing signs of domestication

That resourceful "trash panda" digging through your garbage may be more than just a nuisance—it could be a living example of evolution in progress.

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mookraker Nov 14

Flarian meme:
Spunj with badly photoshopped fins and flippers
"Sessiles are cute. Flippers[1] are cute. Why is this not cute?!"

As noted earlier, harm to creches and sessiles gets a lot more media attention and horror than harm to individual adults. My friend Tea has pointed out that their sessile stage is probably peak adorable[2] to them on a biological level.
Adoption of adolescents shortly after emerging from the sea is also biologically important, so aquatic features would be a kind of cute neoteny, something usually grown out of in adulthood. Some flarians grow fins, some have webbed digits, some have full flippers; and the majority grow out of these traits within a few years on land.

[1] localization of TRC word encompassing aquatic features

[2] Peak adorable: the phase of adorable reliance where the demand for adorable can no longer ever be met despite ever-increasing drilling for more adorable.

#original-species #OriginalSpecies #flarians #Tea-friend #Tea-is-awesome #OpenSpecies #open-species #neoteny #cuteness #My-friend-Tea

Ra Kai May 27, 2025

Recently I had a deep and long discussion with a teenager that touched several unrelated topics such as photosynthesis, human (mind) evolution, and the consistency of laws of physics in our universe.
First of all, this kind of talk I will choose over the "small talk" any day. It was awesome.

Secondly, the discussion encouraged me to refresh my knowledge and even learn new things. I got to browsing.

Thus I have learned (or remembered - difficult to say now) that even plants with red leaves have normal green chloroplasts. Just with additional red pigment anthocyanin that supposedly help plants to protect against harsh sun.

Also, I have (re)learned about neoteny in humans. Wow. This thing explains a lot!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny_in_humans
It seems neoteny was (and perhaps still is) one of the major factors of quick and powerful evolution of human brains and high thinking, and thus human civilization.

I should probably look up for the theories of "consistent laws" of the universe next...

#deeptopics #knowledge #neoteny #chlorophyll

Neoteny in humans - Wikipedia

Sadly Robotic Metaphors for AI May 2, 2025

Another #SadlyRoboticMetaphor! "I Can Use Computer Like a Real Boy"

This image is the “featured” image for this story in Technology Horizons in Education (THE) Journal titled Microsoft Unveils ‘Computer Use’ Automation in Copilot Studio .

The metaphor would be that this robot sits at a computer and simulates interacting in a way formerly limited to humans.

Microsoft has announced a new AI-powered feature called “Computer Use” for its Copilot Studio platform […]

Check out the sadness https://sadlyrobotic.cogdogblog.com/metaphorically/190 and maybe share another you have seen https://sadlyrobotic.cogdogblog.com/share

#computer #cute #neoteny #Robot

I Can Use Computer Like a Real Boy – Sadly Robotic Metaphors for AI

Matt Willemsen Jan 21, 2024

What does your dog’s tail wag really mean?
https://www.science.org/content/article/what-does-your-dog-s-tail-wag-really-mean #dog #tail #communication #wag #neoteny #asymmetry #rhythm

Queer Sci Fi Nov 20, 2023

WRITER FUEL: The Mexican axolotl salamander can regrow its body and stay looking young forever. It's only found in two lakes and is considered critically endangered, with pollution and invasive predators driving the species' decline.

https://www.limfic.com/2023/11/20/writer-fuel-forever-young-the-adorable-regenerating-axolotl/

#LimFic #LiminalFiction #WriterFuel #Writers #Authors #WritersofMastodon #StoryIdeas #Biology #Axolotl #Longevity #Regeneration #Paedomorphosis #Neoteny

Writer Fuel: Forever Young? The Adorable, Regenerating Axolotl

Name: Mexican salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) also known as an axolotl Where it lives: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, near Mexico City What it eats: a variety of small invertebrates, along with some small fish Why it's awesome: Despite its rarity, the axolotl's incredibly cute looks has made it one of the world's most famous amphibians,...

Liminal Fiction