Deaf experimental psychologist Rain Bosworth has discovered that babies have a natural ability to understand sign language, according to Meghan Rosen in “Primed to sign” (SN: 4/26/24). This has led reader Suzanne Lijek to ponder whether our sensitivity to sign language could be rooted in its use by ancient humans.
Cognitive neuroscientist Karen Emmorey from San Diego State University suggests that our ancestors likely communicated through a combination of gestures and speech. She explains that all speakers, including signers, use gestures regardless of the language they speak. The exact origins of language are still a topic of debate among scientists. Some believe that spoken language evolved from vocal sounds like grunts and alarm calls, while others argue that our ancestors initially communicated through gestures, paving the way for the development of spoken language. The reason why speech became the dominant form of communication remains unclear. Emmorey speculates that gesture and speech probably evolved simultaneously, rather than one preceding the other.
Moving on to the shape of the universe, Emily Conover’s article “The universe may loop back on itself” (SN: 5/13/24) discusses the possibility that the universe could have a complex structure resembling a doughnut. Reader Jim Schmitz raised a question about whether this looping nature could allow scientists to observe distant objects in outer space by looking in the opposite direction.
Theoretical physicist Glenn Starkman from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland explains that this concept was initially considered as a method to search for cosmic topology. If the same object could be observed from two different directions in the sky and identified, it would indicate the ability to see around the universe. However, attempts to implement this idea have proven to be quite challenging. Starkman compares it to trying to recognize a friend from a picture of them as a baby from the back. Due to the complexities involved, scientists have concluded that the universe is too vast to observe a distant object from two separate viewpoints.
In a correction to a previous article, it was noted that there was an error in stating Usain Bolt’s top speed during his record-setting run in 2009 (SN: 7/24/24). His actual top speed was 44.72 km/h, not nearly 40 km/h as previously mentioned.
