City animals act in the same brazen ways around the world

the gist

City animals around the world are becoming bolder and more alike. Urban squirrels, monkeys and gulls learn that people are a food source, and because most people do not harm them, they lose their fear. Birds in noisy cities sing louder or at higher pitches to be heard over traffic, and some animals learn tricks like opening bins from each other. Researchers call the convergence behavioral homogenization. It matters because behavioral variety supports resilience and local traditions such as song dialects, and losing it can make reintroduction to the wild harder.

how it works

Cities are warmer, noisier, lighter at night and dominated by people. Animals that tolerate people and exploit waste get more food, so bolder individuals survive and pass those traits on. Noise favors birds whose songs can cut through traffic, and social learning spreads new tricks quickly.

so what

Cities are reshaping animal behavior and evolution in the same ways across continents, which makes urban wildlife a natural experiment in adaptation. The trend also brings more conflicts with people, from property damage to disease transmission.

Illustrative photo · PortlandAppraisalBlog, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

source: The Conversation ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗