Humans are social creatures; we live in family groups, socialise with friends, and work with colleagues. Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar’s ‘social brain hypothesis’ suggests that brain size is directly related to social group size in mammals. The bigger the group, the bigger the brain. In this interview with Research Outreach, we find out how Dunbar developed his theory as well as his now famous ‘Dunbar’s number’
Robin Dunbar discusses his eponymous ‘Dunbar’s Number’, primates to people, and why size matters with social groups and evolution.
Yoshua Bengio, an artificial intelligence pioneer, is creating a new nonprofit research organization to promote an alternative approach to developing cutting-edge AI systems, with the aim of mitigating the technology’s potential risks. The nonprofit, called LawZero, is set to launch Tuesday with $30 million in backing from one of former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt’s philanthropic organizations and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, among others. Bengio will lead a team of more than 1
The MIND diet, focusing on brain-healthy foods like leafy greens and berries, is linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to recent studies.
SpaceX is advancing its ambitious Mars plans, aiming to launch five Starships in 2026 and establish a self-sustaining city by 2033, despite facing challenges with vehicle performance and heat shield durability ## ## Questions to inspire discussion.
Production and Design.
🏭 Q: How is SpaceX aiming to increase Starship production? A: SpaceX plans to scale up from producing a Starship every 1–3 weeks to 3 ships per day or 1,000 ships annually using the Gigabay facility, requiring stable designs and efficient production processes.
🚀 Q: What changes are coming with the Block 3 Starship? A: Block 3 Starship will retain 6 engines, have 1,550 tons propellant capacity, 15.7 megatonnes thrust, 52.1 m height, and the entire stack will carry 5,200 tons of propellant.
🔥 Q: How will the Raptor 3 engine improve Starship? A: Raptor 3 will save 39 tons of vehicle mass by self-shielding, eliminating basic heat shielding on the booster bottom, making hot gas and plasma leaks easier to manage. Testing and Development.
🛰️ Q: What’s the status of Raptor engine testing? A: SpaceX has conducted over 300 Raptor tests with 16,000 seconds runtime at McGregor, with actual numbers likely 500 tests and 30,000 seconds firing time.
The researchers are especially interested in how our bodies maintain balance. Metabolic homeostasis, the fancy term for it, may have shaped more traits than we realize.
And as diets continue to change today, our ancient genetic choices could still be nudging us in new directions.
The study is published in the journal Cell Genomics.
More and more people are investing their time and energy into longevity — it’s not just living longer, but living happier, healthier and staying productive well past what has been considered “old age.” McKinsey reports that up to 60 percent of consumers across health and wellness markets say that healthy aging is a “top” or “very important” priority. The movement has created a boost in the health and wellness businesses, and to get an overview of the longevity supplements space, we spoke with Dr. Luke Winegard, the Chief Operating Officer at Longevity Method.
Entrepreneur: What is driving the current boom in the longevity supplement market? Dr. Luke Winegard: Growing consumer demand for health and wellness products is creating explosive growth in the longevity supplement market. Scientific advancements and increasing health consciousness are driving this trend, with consumers now focused on “healthspan” — not just how long they live, but how well they live. The pursuit of longevity has moved from being a niche interest of visionaries to becoming mainstream in 2025.
What does “healthspan” mean and why is it important? Healthspan refers to the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic diseases and disabilities. Today’s consumers are concerned not just about adding years to their lives, but making those years healthy, productive, and vital. This represents a cultural shift toward proactive self-optimization where maintaining energy, cognitive sharpness, and resilience is just as important as achieving physical goals.
