What do you do if see a black bear in the woods? Do you climb a tree or play dead? Is your response different if it’s a grizzly bear attack? What about surviving a wild boar attack or a cougar? We answer all these questions in our new book – Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill You.

Why We Wrote this Wildlife Guide Book

The movie poster of Jaws depicts a girl swimming at the surface of the ocean, with a great white shark lurking below. Talk about a terrible image to take with you every time you step foot into the water! 

As a kid, it was forever burned into my mind. Even in the pool, I imagined the sharks coming from the vents! I had a  recurring nightmare about it. Fortunately, I learned that Jaws was a fictional story. I was told a counter-story – sharks don’t eat people. 

Now a marine biologist, I still want to tell myself that sharks don’t eat people, but the fact of the matter is that… well, sometimes they do. But it doesn’t mean we all have to be helpless floating meat-balls. 

If you know a little bit about the behavior of many of the potentially dangerous things that live in our world, maybe you’ll be less scared of exploring on your own. Maybe you’ll be safer. Maybe that will make you the master of your domain. Who knows! Maybe your knowledge will grow into an admiration and love that leads to protecting the wild places that harbor those amazing creatures. 

Here is what this book isn’t

This isn’t a book about how scary and terrifying all these animals are. That does nothing but scare you with the sensational. I won’t take the opposite approach either and say that we humans are evil doers in every wildlife incident. It’s not about sharks being victims. It isn’t a book suggesting crocodiles might be harmless and misunderstood. 

Instead, let’s first view nature in a very pragmatic way. What are ways we humans can get into trouble? What are the lessons we can learn from tragic mistakes of the past? What does science say about the behaviors in question? And how can you apply this knowledge so you can feel confident in our wild world?

I hope what you learn here helps clear the way to turn your fears into a love affair with what some would consider the scary part of nature. The scary can give way to awe for exactly what these creatures are – even if what they are are giant man-eaters. 

Armed with a new perspective based on science and real life examples, I bet you will look at animal encounters in a new light. When you watch movies, you might find yourself looking at scenes from movies with a more discerning eye. Think of  JAWS again- where the marine biologists end up getting eaten by the over-sensationalized shark villain. Then contrast that with the modern insta-models and shark activists that swim alongside these massive sharks hoping to make you think they’re only gentle giants. The truth is not one or the other. It is in the middle. You can take these facts, make up your own mind, and judge your own risk. 

Here is what this book is

This book is designed as a straightforward guide book – a “what happens if?” book for encountering wildlife with a mix of true stories and relevant biology. I’ll walk you through many animals that have the potential to kill you, with a heavy emphasis on how to avoid an encounter in the first place. The sections on deadly plants and fungi could fill entire guides on their own, but I’ll  take you through the basics of each and best practices for staying safe when encountering them. 

The last section gives the basics of outdoor survival. This includes knots, knives, fire-starting and the shelter building. It’s often these basics that (with a little practice and knowhow) could really save your life. 

You can find even more outdoor survival resources and videos through my YouTube channels and via StoneAgeMan.com and UntamedScience.

An Audio Sample: My Survival Story

I did record the audible version of Mother Nature is Not Trying to Kill you too. Here is a sample from chapter one.

Buy the book!

You can get the Wildlife and Bushcraft guide on Amazon.

If you’d rather support the work we are doing I have signed copies for just a tad under what you can get it on amazon here. If you don’t want to support us at that tier for long, you don’t have to. It’s great to have you here though. Just drop your monthly support to whatever you’re comfortable with. 🙂

I hope you enjoy the read! If you pick it up, let us know what you think!

As online gaming has grown in popularity, an important subsection of this market, online casino, has mirrored these trends and has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years, Driven predominantly by advances in technology, developers have also taken advantage of changing player habits too offer on the go gaming, accessible all day, every day from the comfort of the players own home. Technology has become more affordable, and the advent of the smartphone, allowing for internet connectivity of the go has allowed for mobile casino gaming to grow.

Players have the ability to access the online casinos, and developers are able to optimize their offerings to the mobile market, as well as using technology to make game play fresh and exciting, as well as attract and engage players. The current online market is estimated to be worth upwards of US$60 billion worldwide and is expected to reach in excess of US$90 billion by 2023.

The most popular games in an online casino have been recreated faithfully thanks to skilled utilization of scientific methods and psychology. But how have they done this exactly?

Slots

Online slots are perhaps the most popular online casinos game of all. They are quick, fun and engaging. Simple to play, there are no rules to learn and a complete novice can play almost immediately. However, this simplicity belies the complex technology behind it. In order to make it fun and exciting, and to offer so many different themes, lines and reels, developers have to work hard to deliver true randomness and appealing visuals and sounds.

Random number generator

The Random Number Generator (RNG) is critical for fair gaming

. The RGN uses an algorithm created by a computer that generates a sequence of numbers that link to a specific symbol on the reel and cannot be worked out or reproduced. The RGN weights different symbols differently, so lower symbols are more heavily weighted meaning players are more likely to get lower symbols with smaller wins. All reputable casinos get their RGNs verified independently on a regular basis to ensure fairness, and so their players know they are being treated fairly.

Return to Player Value

The Return to Player Value (RTP) is a mathematical statistic that shows how much, theoretically, the game will pay out. Expressed as a percentage, the higher the number the better for the player. For example, a game at 97.2% RTP will pay out US$97.2 for every US$100 paid in. This however does not specify over what time period the game will pay out, as this will link to the RGN.

Psychology

Although slots are a game of pure chance, there is still an element of psychology behind it to keep players betting. Many studies have been completed around human behavior, conditioning and gratification, showing that there are many tricks that casinos use to keep people at the slot machine, be it in a land casino or online. 

Music: this plays an important part, as it needs to be engaging but also appealing to greatest number of people to keep them playing. High energy music helps keep players pressing the button, chasing the high of winning. There are also shifts from major to minor keys to increase the anticipation, and there is usually a fun sound that signifies the player has won.

Button: although the player actually has no control over what happens, giving them the power to press the button on the screen keeps them engaged and means they are involved and more likely to keep going. 

Near misses: these encourage ongoing play as players want to rectify this.

Low bets: when wagers are mere pennies, players don’t think twice about playing another bet, and this soon adds up and is a valuable source of income for casinos.

Other games also use a similar scientific basis to be successful, including roulette, which uses the RGN when spinning the roulette wheel to ensure fairness, as well as other mathematical formulae to calculate odds. The flashing lights and sounds help to engage players and keep them coming back.

Poker

Whilst there is a variation on the RGN to ensure that when the cards are dealt it is as if they have been fully shuffled and dealt out randomly, much of the science behind poker, a game of skill, is around the psychology of the game.

• Player self-knowledge: Players must understand their own motivation and control their emotions. Players who are not natural risk takers will play differently to those who are more daring.
• Confidence, not ego: Although online, how they bet, and the size of bets can demonstrate how confident someone is. 
• Focus: Keeping a strong focus of knowing how previous games have played out, how people bet and remember (roughly) what cards have been before.
• Avoiding ‘tilt’: This is frustration at a run of bad hands/difficult opponents/bad luck, and can lead to rash decisions and mistakes. Players should refer back to focus and emotional resilience to keep this in check.
• Trust the odds: The maths does not lie. Players should use this to their advantage to ensure they maximize their chances of winning.

There is a great deal of science and technology behind the successes of online casinos, ensuring fairness and engagement. Online casinos will use anything they can to engage and retain players, and will continue to use technology are is develops to bring more excitement to their offerings.

What is Artificial intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence is used to help computers complete tasks usually carried out by humans. From simple programs through to computers that can learn and think for themselves, AI is a new and upcoming area of research that is being used to revolutionize the world of security, transport, medicine, and gaming to name a few.

AI in gaming

AI has traditionally been used in two-player, zero sum games (i.e. where what one player loses, the other player wins) such as Go, Chess, and Checkers. Each of the AI programs designed for these games was attempting to reach some sort of approximation to the Nash Equilibrium and are based on elements of game theory. 

Games where AI has been successful tend to be ones where there is perfect information: for example, on a chess board, both players can see all pieces and identify what steps they and their opponent can take next. There may be a surprise move from an opponent, but it must be a legal move thus limiting the element of uncertainty, and AI has used this to its advantage.

What are the unique challenges with poker?

Poker is a game of imperfect information; the other players do not know what their opponents are working with and requires an element of intuition from players to guess what cards their opponent is holding in their hand. Often AI will run algorithms to calculate all possible results of a game, and in doing so can lead to strategies that don’t work for the game emerging. One of the two programs that have finally managed to beat a human poker player is DeepStack, and one of the key elements to their success has been to only have the AI calculate a few steps ahead, and recalculate data as new information in introduced to the game. The development of ‘neural networks’ created by the machine-led learning has helped the program limit the number of potential situations by learning and being able to adapt to the behavior in the game. It is estimated that training DeepStack’s neural network required the program to solve over 10 million randomly generated poker game situations.

Poker is also a game traditionally played with more than two people, and the bots have had to learn the rules of poker to be able to compete against real people.  

Artificial Intelligence Programmes in Poker

Pluribus

Pluribus was designed to play against copies of itself without any data or prior human input. It started playing from scratch and using counterfactual regret minimization as it played. This then became an iterative process and as it played it was learning and storing information on different strategies that could be used. By assessing what strategies worked, and which didn’t it was able to improve the longer it played, improving the outcomes exponentially. When pitted against real poker players, Pluribus used its stored data as a blueprint to start the game, and then the inbuilt learning software to learn from its opponent to improve its strategy. Pluribus was able to beat players (poker champions at that!) in a six-player game, not just one on one, in part due to the ability to learn and adjust and use different strategies throughout the games.

DeepStack

Deepstack was recently tested against 33 professional poker players over the course of 4 weeks, playing almost 45 thousand games of no-limit, two player, Texas Hold’em. After removing instances of winning through pure luck, researchers were able to compute that the AI had a final win rate of 486 mili-big-blinds per game, around ten times what is considered a good rate by a competent professional poker player. One of the ways it managed to do this was by having technology built in that allowed for the probabilities and strategies to be recalculated throughout the game whenever there was the introduction of new information, be it a new card of a new bet. DeepStack also has deep learning, software to help it learn as it plays.

Libratus

Designed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, Libratus took part in a 20-day poker competition where it was able to beat four top ranking human poker players over the course of 120,000 hands. Unlike DeepStack, Libratus requires a lot more computing power for its algorithms as it does not have any kind of learning software, so it does not improve over time.

Could AI change poker?

Whilst there have definitely been huge strides in AI as technology has improved, there is a still a long way to go for these bots to take over poker games, or even really influence the game as it stands. Even in chess, where AI has been under development for years, it is only recently that programs have been designed that can beat humans, and even then, the human element of game play is still hugely important for competitors. In terms of things like bluffing, and tells, these remain hugely important in poker, and someone is a good player not just because of their hands, but due to the way they play, when they fold, the size of their bets and showing human emotion. Much of poker is rooted in psychology and socialization, aspects of the game that the bots have yet to master. AI however, can be used to help players learn different strategies and improve their poker games without risking real money.

Online slots are, by far, the most popular type of game in online gaming venues. Ask any casino player, and they will tell you that playing slots is a regular part of their gaming routine for various reasons, such as HD graphics and high-paying symbols. 

However, after completing several studies on slots UK, online gaming experts discovered that these superficial characteristics are not the only reasons players have remained enchanted by online slots for such a long time. Read on to find out what science has to do with the seductive powers of slot games.

Why Are Slots So Popular?

If you don’t think that online slots are the most popular game in online casinos, just visit the first one you come across. For example, take a look at the number of online slot machines on Mega Casino UK, and you’ll quickly realize there are a lot more of them compared to any other game on the platform.

As online slots have dominated the online gaming industry for years now, some experts decided to find out exactly which characteristics of slots make them so popular. Here are three reasons that emerged from the research.

Simple Gameplay

Online slots are probably the most straightforward game you can plan in an online casino. There are no complicated rules you need to remember, and there are no particular skills you have to develop either. The only thing you should be able to do is locate that Spin button, and you’re good to go.

Attractive Design

With their high-definition graphics and eye-catching design, online slots are tough to resist. Furthermore, these games are usually inspired by themes familiar to the whole world, such as ancient civilizations or popular movies. Sometimes, players open a particular slot out of curiosity but remain tied to their screen for hours. What is more, thanks to amazing graphics, even free slot games can keep you occupied for a while.

Easy Money

You’ll hardly meet a person these days that wouldn’t like to earn some cash without too much effort. Well, according to some players, online slots can make your wish come true. Your only job is to enjoy the audio-visual aspects of the game and click a single button, and if you’re lucky enough, the money will flow to your account. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

However, it’s one thing to find a game appealing initially, but staying on it for several hours is entirely different. In other words, attractive graphics and relatable themes are not enough to keep you engaged in such a simple game. 

For this reason, we decided to dive deeper into the waters of online slots and find out what it is that makes slot games so captivating.

Psychological Aspect

After years of studying the background of online slots, many studies have concluded that there’s more to this game than pure visual effects. B.F. Skinner came up with a set of psychological principles in the 1960s that can be recognized in the operation of slot machines.

He named the philosophy Radical Behaviorism and claimed that all human action was a direct consequence of conditioning. To prove this theory, Skinner carried out an experiment in which he used pigeons. Namely, pigeons were trained to press a lever to get rewards in the form of food.

After some time, the food stopped being distributed on every press of the lever, and it turned out that pigeons started pressing it more often. If you recall how slot machines work, you can quickly notice that humans behave the same way.

Furthermore, the sound effects that slots produce also affect players. Once you hear the sound of coins, your brain immediately imagines real-money rewards and gives out an order to spin those reels more.

Finally, the fact that you immediately know whether or not you’re a winner is what provides the greatest satisfaction. Once you feel the taste of victory, you won’t be willing to give it up anytime soon.

There’s a common misconception that owning a photography business is as simple as having a good camera. While a camera is a good start, it requires more effort to run a sustainable business and build a career as a professional photographer.

In fact, in his book Fast Track Photographer, Dane Sanders revealed that 60 percent of photography businesses don’t even make it through their first year, with 25 percent giving up in the second. But you don’t have to be a statistic.

The key to a successful photography business, or any business for that matter, is not luck, it’s strategy. 

Look at some of the ways you can incorporate a winning strategy, boost your business, and secure a stable client base.

1. Recognize That Bigger Isn’t Always Better

While we’re always on the lookout for bigger events and special days, we shouldn’t overlook the value of mini shoots. These can be more affordable options for people looking for professional photos. Plus, you’ll be able to reach a wider target market and secure additional revenue.

2. Provide Bulk Discounts

You can offer clients a certain number of shoots in a year at a discounted rate, or even offer printing discounts. Packages and special discounts are often well-received, as people believe that they’re getting value for money. For example, run promotions where clients qualify for 10 percent off if they book two more shoots in the space of 12 months, or an offer where if they order 15 prints, they only pay for 10. You can get creative with your options, just make sure that your discounts don’t cut into your costs and leave you out of pocket.

3. Look Into Stock Photography

Selling your images to stock image sites is one of the easier ways to make money—and you can be creative in the process. The profit margin for selling stock images can vary greatly, with the average sitting at less than $1 per photograph. However, the plus side to this is that you can sell images already in your portfolio, you don’t necessarily have to go out and take new ones.

4. Work With A Charity 

While we’re not telling you to promote free shoots actively—because let’s face it, you need to survive—we are telling you to join a worthy cause. You can gain exposure and network with potential clients, all while giving back. Another option is raffling or auctioning off a shoot with the proceeds going to the charity of your choice.

5. Offer Custom Prints

Many people are opting for larger-than-life canvas prints to commemorate a special day. While photographs are still very much in demand, there’s no denying the appeal of a beautiful canvas print. Another option is using a photo printer to offer prints on unique materials, giving it a whole other dimension. Use your creativity to come up with prints that differ from the norm and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

6. Refer and Earn

Word of mouth remains one of the most effective marketing methods to date. Offer different levels of discounts based on the number of referrals you receive from each person. You could also offer a special discount to the person who has been referred. People are always on the lookout for value for money. They’re also very observant, and will pick up on these personalized deals and be more inclined to partner with someone that cares about their input and support.

7. Themed Shoots

This is a networking opportunity and a chance to have some fun. You can consult and partner with hairdressers, make-up artists, and costume hire businesses to create one-of-a-kind themed shoot experiences. You can also use these new partnerships to develop a new offering for shoots that include hair and makeup. This is a marketing opportunity for all involved, and can help you increase your exposure.

8. Reach Out To The Community 

Depending on your niche, you can reach out to businesses with related interests to create marketing opportunities and referrals. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you could speak to venues, makeup artists, and hairdressers about a possible working relationship where you refer one another. 

This ties in with the partnership opportunities mentioned in point number seven and the referrals in point six. 

Make sure you have business cards and flyers available to leave with your new partner, and be sure to take some of theirs in return. You could also offer to do a promotional shoot with them where the images created can be used to market both businesses involved.

9. Become An Event Photographer

Sports events, music festivals, and nightclubs all offer opportunities for you to cover an event. This will give people the opportunity to tag themselves in your photos on social media and create more exposure for your business. 

Most people would have already sourced a photographer, but don’t let it stop you from taking the initiative to update your portfolio. Get in contact with business owners and promotional companies to find out more about getting into the industry.

10. Launch A Competition

Challenge your social media followers to a contest where the prize is a free photoshoot. You could task them with taking a selfie with anything blue, or a 3D or panoramic photo of a specific subject. You could also have a free photo day where you email the pictures to the participants. This will give you the opportunity to grow your database for marketing purposes. You could even offer a discount coupon with each image. It’s all about being creative and reaching a wider audience.

Take A Chance On Something Different

You don’t need to take on all of our suggestions at once. Why not choose the most viable option, see how you can incorporate it, and go from there? 

A good way to do this is to draw up a business plan, or add to your existing document. Every business needs a plan, and if you don’t have one, you need to change that. In a business plan template you can outline your marketing strategies and analysis, services and product lines, and financial projections—all of which will help you to stay on track and reach your goals.

Once you have a plan in place, you can grow your photography business at your own pace. Even if you only attract one or two new customers initially, that’s one or two more than you had before!

Studying online has been a trend for the past few years, but even traditional education turned to online platforms due to 2020’s pandemic. Either to reenter the job market or simply because getting an online education became mainstream, more people are looking for complete courses on the web.

There is a huge availability of courses nowadays, which might make it more difficult to decide. Not to mention that most of them are not worth your time. Also, without any guidance, some people might end up looking at memes or playing at Jet Casino or a similar website. Therefore, this article has 5 steps on how to get an online education that will actually suit your plans for the future. 

Before Getting Online Education

Most online courses will be available whenever the student has time to do them, being flexibility one of their great advantages. However, that implies the need to have the discipline to establish the habit of studying online. That said, prepare and reserve some time for getting online education in your schedule before continuing.

Step 1: Define What You Want to Learn

The huge catalogs of online courses can make decisions harder, especially in platforms that allow just anyone to create a personal school. Therefore, take a moment to think if there is any subject that is a priority and focus on it. By doing it, the risks of ending up losing time scrolling through courses like Netflix movies will be reduced.

Step 2: Find Suitable Education Platforms

There are platforms whose goal is to offer courses on crafting skills, while others are directed to programming or even traditional school courses. Some of them are accredited by education authorities and, therefore, probably offer better quality. 

Searching for the keywords “online education” will show a myriad of options. Stick to the subject you defined in step 1 as your goal and look for recommendations and reviews on the websites you find. Try to reduce them to a small number.

Step 3: Paid Tuition or Free Courses?

Some online education platforms are completely free and count on ads, others have low-budget courses, and some are professional in both content and price. The chances are you already selected websites that match your planned budget – or the absence of it – for online learning.

However, step 3 is not about choosing, but considering what each option means. Free courses will most likely not offer the same level of information as private online tuition or complete courses. Once again, your goal defines what should be chosen.

Step 4: Get the Course and Study Hard

It does not matter if you take notes with a pen or if you use a text editor. Each person might have a different way of absorbing the content of online courses. In any case, one thing is for sure: the results will only come from dedication to whichever course you chose.

Step 5: Keep Up With Your Goals

Maybe you enrolled in discussion forums, participated in online events, and collected the contact of other online classmates. Perhaps you did not do any of it and simply absorbed as much knowledge as possible. Either way, consider if you achieved your primary goal and define what the next step is. A new course or actually using that new information in your favor?

Takeaway Tips to Get an Online Education

• Online or not, education must be taken seriously if you actually want to improve yourself.
• Keep track of your evolution, notice sudden losses of focus or interest, and try to keep up.
• Stick to your schedule but allow the flexibility of online courses to be your friend in times of need.
• Have a personal and quiet place for studying. Let other people know that you are serious and should not be disturbed.
• Leave your smartphone and TV for another moment, avoid distractions altogether.
• Try different learning strategies. Do not be afraid of testing them and spending some time doing it.
• Participate in discussion forums, if available.
• In the case interaction with other online classmates is available, start building your network.

Online learning is open to all, from students to retirees and keen amateurs. It has never been easier to find world-class instructions and education online. Most of the time, these courses are available free-of-charge, with some institutions offering a certification process for an extra fee.

While this extra cost may put some students off, it may interest them to know that some MOOCs (that’s ‘massive online open course’ for those who don’t know) actually can count as valid college credit.

If you’re an essay writer or a mathematician, these online science courses present challenging ideas all from the comfort of your laptop.

1. Introduction to Complexity, hosted by the Santa Fe Institute

Complexity is a fascinating field. Complex systems are found everywhere and studied in many disciplines. They’re of as much interest to physics students as social science students. Delivered by the Santa Fe Institute, students who enroll in this course will be receiving knowledge from field-leading thinkers and scientists. 

The Institute dedicates itself to understanding the principles behind what they call ‘complex adaptive systems’; it’s a slightly bizarre but engrossing field of study that may change your life or cause you to break down in hysterics. Either way, it is certainly worth a look.

2. Mathematical Economics, hosted by Doon University 

Finance and big business run on complex mathematics. Enrolling in this course from Doon University may open up a future filled with private jets and million-dollar bonuses. Or you could seek to destroy a corrupt system from the inside with your new knowledge. 

Regardless of your stance, knowledge is power, so why not earn some more power through this insightful course. You’ll be ready to top the science olympiad tables in no time.

3. Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences, hosted by the University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, that’s a tricky one. In recent years, that is to say, the last 300 years, philosophy has ceded its position over understanding the natural world to science. Physical science is the study of non-living things as opposed to the life sciences, like biology, which deals with living.

But where is the line of living and dead? Even the most ardent bachelor of science students might find their views challenged by this course’s ideas, brought kindly to us by the University of Edinburgh.

4. Science Literacy, hosted by the University of Alberta

Fake news is everywhere today, and it is obscuring good science. For students who are engrossed in scientific study, they may find it easy to parse and deal with the propaganda that fills the internet and airwaves. However, students lacking some scientific background may find all the statistics and arguments beyond their current abilities.

Science Literacy, hosted by the University of Alberta, offers students a course that will enable them to sniff out lies and understand how the process of science works in the 21st century. An essential course for any student who feels frustrated at the state of communications.

5. Introduction to Food and Health, hosted by Stanford

Similar to the previous entry in this list. Introduction to Food and Health offers students a scientific perspective on a topic that is prone to exaggeration and embellishment. Think about all those fad diets that come and go, how the trends on social media seem to dictate health more than our physicians and nutritionists.

How often have you heard the benefits of a novel superfood touted by a person you know failed high school biology? How often have you thought about what you’re eating is doing to your heart, lungs, kidneys? The answers may seem obtuse without a good ground in science. This course, presented by Stanford, offers students a means of understanding this essential issue. 

6. Epidemics – the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases

We’re all aware of the devastating effects infectious diseases have on society and economies. The coronavirus crisis may have sparked an interest in public health that you previously were unaware you had. At the same time, medical school is expensive; this free MOOC (like all the others in this list) offers students a chance to experience a scientific education without any cost to themselves.

The University of Pennsylvania hosts this course on epidemics. It covers biology, microbiology, the development of vaccines, the role of public health in society. 

7. Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences 

Statistics are hard! Many students grow weak at the thought of conducting quantitative analysis. It’s good then that the Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences course, brought to us by the University of Amsterdam, is such a life-saver. Learning the foundations of data analysis and statistical inference from a world-class institute is a godsend.

It’s been popular for a while on Coursera and designed for beginners; it is ideal for brushing up on statistics if you’re returning to academia after a few years (or simply missed the courses during your earlier years of studying).

Those are our top picks of science MOOCs for students. There are a whole lot more available, hundreds if not thousands, all at the press of a button.

Taking a break from writing my Premieressay review, I decided to analyze a subject that piques my interest: science education. 

In many ways, proper education can be compared to maintaining a proper diet. You need vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and sugars to function as a human being. Eating only a single food type will make you sick.

The same goes for learning.

It is not enough to simply focus on STEM or the Humanities exclusively. A well-rounded education will incorporate the vital aspects of learning while leaving plenty of room for deeper inquiry if the student’s interest is raised.

Teach science because it works

Depending on who you ask, the world is filled with shades of gray and various levels of subjective perception. Philosophy, art, and even psychology only glimpse the truth because they rely on a hefty degree of perception and opinion bias. 

The same cannot be said about science; your subjective notions do not matter. A rock will weigh 100 pounds even if you never notice it. Water will still boil at the same temperature, and the tides will continue to come in. 

Science is remarkably predictable and almost entirely objective, and it has transformed humans into the most dominant species of the Earth. We wield astounding powers due to science, from flight to instant communication. We can record images, dive to the ocean’s bottom, and grow enough food to feed billions.

It would be foolish not to pass on and proliferate this power to as many people as possible. In fact, humanity’s future depends on our ability to educate future generations about science. 

Science education is essential because it produces results, plain and simple. 

It can now entertain

A common misconception is that people in general, and children in particular, are putt-off by science’s difficulty. 

It may be true that at its highest level, science requires quite a bit of brainpower, yet that is not the reason for the extreme lack of interest. Science education is avoided because it is hard and boring. People have no issue with challenging tasks, as long as they are interesting and engaging.

Science proliferates through a flawed medium. The education system seems to take great care into making even the most exciting subjects seem dull.

Speaking from personal experience, I distinctly remember learning something in school and then forgetting about it in a matter of days. Then, I saw a documentary on the subject a week later. 

The documentary enthralled me, and my interest was piqued.

I was amazed at the contrast between how boring my classes made the subject and how interesting the documentary presented it. 

I was not the first to notice this, and some very clumsy attempts to popularize learning were made. Dubbed “EDUTAINMENT,” some very cheesy cartoons came out of that trend.

Fast forwards past the 2010s, the landscape has changed due to the internet. 

The rise of social media and Youtube have seen a vast influx of user-made content that puts the edutainment shows of my childhood to shame. 

Dozens, even hundreds of channels, pages, and passion projects, are talking about science just for the fun it generates. Some people listen to science Youtube channels while they eat, fall asleep, or clean their house. And these aren’t people who work in STEM.

This popularity may be typical now, but a young person wouldn’t be caught dead learning for fun back in my day. 

Democracy and ignorance are incompatible. 

For as long as humans have been around, the strongest among us have formed a ruling class. These influential and powerful people, otherwise known as nobles, were responsible for not only preparing for war but also educating themselves to rule. 

Private tutors would educate young noblemen in everything some economics, science, warfare, and art. It was a heavy burden and a privilege inherited from father to son. 

If you are reading this, odds are you are living in a democracy. Now, the very same role that used to fall on nobles falls on your shoulders.

As a citizen, you decide who rules over you, encouraging politicians who most represent your preferred laws and policies. 

Science education is vital because informed voters make better decisions when it comes to policy. 

While being ignorant doesn’t necessarily make you stupid ( not knowing something and being unintelligent being two separate things), it does make you very easy to fool. 

Many of life’s truths are counterintuitive, and you cannot rely solely on your ability to reason. Science education teaches us about the realities of our world, presenting facts outside of party politics. 

Direct material benefit

As the market globalizes, the job priorities will be restructured based on certain parameters. Jobs that involve physical labor will generally produce less income. This fact is due to the reality that most able-bodied people can do physical jobs. Also, a world of 7 billion people has plenty of able bodies. 

However, STEM jobs require a more considerable investment. If your job requires you to apply a hefty amount of science, the odds are that it pays more than average. 

Being proficient in medicine, engineering, or IT is a relatively rare skill set because it is complicated, and it requires years of learning. This large commitment requirement will make your aptitudes rarer, thus more valuable. 

Incidentally, there is a debate raging on the Internet regarding college. One side claims that it is a waste of time, while the other says your life will be ruined if you don’t go to University. 

The truth is that going to college isn’t inherently valuable, but learning science is .

You won’t find many starving engineering, programmers, or doctors.

Teaching has the lowest salaries out of all science-aware jobs, and even teachers can earn a decent living after a while. 

Conclusion 

Science education is valuable because the world runs on science. 

People who are science-aware earn higher salaries. Also, science education will encourage thinking critically and analytically on an intuitive level.

Science learning can also be mind-bending, engaging, and entertaining. An entire online industry of science promotion has sprung-up organically without any funding or backing, thus proving the public’s interest in the topic. 

Finally, we have social ramifications. In a 21st century democracy, you don’t get to be ignorant. You, as a citizen, are calling the shots. Each of us has to make informed decisions on topics such as climate change, cancer research, energy production, disease control, etc. 

Not being science-literate is a luxury that modern society can’t afford. 

Reducing impacts of freshwater fishing on non-target wildlife

Take a second and try to imagine that you are a freshwater turtle. You are slowly making your way along the bottom of a murky pond, searching for your next meal, when there in front of you is a tasty little snack – maybe it’s a freshwater shrimp. You approach slowly, carefully.. And SNAP! You’ve got it! But wait, what is happening, something is pulling you by your mouth from the water, you fight back but there is a sharp tugging in your mouth. Soon, you are pulled from the water and are in the hands of a confused fisherman. You are frightened and you struggle to break free… 

Now, let’s put ourselves in the fisherman’s shoes. They didn’t want to catch a turtle! They were just looking for a catfish! What do they do now? And what could they have done differently?

Freshwater fishing is a popular sport in much of the world, and it can actually help protect wild areas and stimulate the economy of places with good fishing sites. Unfortunately, sometimes non-target wildlife, meaning not the species being fished for, is injured in the process, through getting accidentally caught or by being tangled in discarded fishing line. 

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Warning: Some images in this article contain injured wildlife and may be unpleasant.

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What animals are negatively impacted by freshwater fishing? How?

If you are fishing at a great location that happens to have a lot of fish, that probably means that it is a fairly healthy system, which also means there is plenty of other wildlife there too. Unfortunately, this means that there are other things that you can catch by accident, or animals that can be harmed by any gear that gets left behind. 

Animals that are predacious, or scavengers, like turtles, are very vulnerable to being caught by fishermen. The turtles are either waiting at the bottom of a pond/lake or they are actively searching for prey. When they come across bait, they chomp down, getting hooks caught in their mouths or even completely swallowing them. 

Things like reptiles, birds, and even mammals can get entangled on left-behind fishing line or injured by discarded hooks or other gear that is left behind. 

What are the consequences?

For turtles that get hooks stuck in their mouth or throats, the result can be fatal. Though most of these animals will not die quickly from their injuries, the hooks tend to limit the animal from being able to feed, so they slowly starve. Otherwise, these injuries can become infected or cause the animal to get caught on branches or rocks, and be unable to search for food or get away from predators. 

Discarded hooks and fishing line can cause a wide range of issues for wildlife. Hooks and line can be ingested, causing similar issues as mentioned above, or animals can become entangled in them and trapped. 

Though this is true for any wildlife, birds in particular are found tangled in line and are often found once it is too late, mainly from the struggle of trying to break free. Additionally, they sometimes use it in their nests which can cause their young to be strangled on it later on, or it is eaten which causes a range of internal issues.. 

How can we reduce these risks? 

The good news is, there are a lot of ways that we can help mitigate this problem and reduce the risk of accidentally harming wildlife while enjoying recreational fishing. Let’s take a look. 

1- Do not leave anything behind when you leave a natural area:

This is probably the biggest and easiest point, for both fisherman and non-fishermen. From fishing line, to hooks, to food wrappers and even food waste, if you pack it in, pack it out. If we want to keep natural areas healthy and pristine, so that we can continue to enjoy them, we have to make sure to never leave any trash behind. If there are bins to be used, use them, and if not, put it in a bag and carry it home with you.

With fishing line in particular, if your line gets tangled up, cut the line and unwind it, take the extra time to get it out. If your line is snagged on vegetation and you absolutely can not get it out, cut it as close to the hook as possible.

2- Consider using “lower-impact” hooks and lures:

What do I mean by this? There are a range of hooks that can be used for sport fishing and even fishing for food. Hooks that 1) are unbarbed and easier to remove 2) that rust away after time – so if they end up in a turtle they may rust away and allow it to recover 3) Lures that do not have multiple hooks – when an animal gets tangled in these it is extremely detrimental.

3- Consider not using bait (especially if it is toxic):

Of course bait is helpful to fishing, however, fish are often more visual predators, whereas turtles use scent to find their prey. Using lures instead of bait slightly lowers your chances of catching a fish, but greatly lowers your chances of catching a turtle. Make sure that your bait is not toxic to animals. 

4- Respect the environment you are using:

Do not destroy vegetation, pollute or leave behind waste. A healthy and clean ecosystem helps protect wildlife and makes it so everyone can enjoy the area. 

5- If you catch a non-target animal, take action!

See more below

What can you do if you catch a turtle by accident or find an injured turtle? 

If you catch a turtle by accident, you have a few options depending on the scenario. 

If you catch a turtle and get it onto land, and the hook is stuck, you can:  Put the turtle into some kind of holding device (a box, bucket etc) and from there you can 1) Take it to the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center 2) call your rehabilitation center and they will come get it for you. Only remove the hook yourself if you are confident you can do so without harm to yourself or the animal. 

These organizations are non-profit, so they won’t charge you for the care. However, if you are able to donate to the organization it really helps!

If the turtle escapes, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center to report it, so they can keep an eye on the situation and try to catch the animal to treat it. 

If you think a turtle is on the end of your line, and can not get it to the surface or near you: You can cut the fishing line a bit longer, so that it is easier for the staff from the wildlife center to catch the turtle later, or to help that the hook does not go too far down into the turtle where it will require surgery. Call your local wildlife center immediately!

If you see any injured animal, such as a turtle with a fish hook in its mouth or a bird tangled in fishing line, call your local wildlife center for help. Save the number in your phone so it is a quick call away!

How else can you help?

There are many ways that anyone can help out with these problems: 

Volunteer to do a clean-up in natural areas with your local community or even just with friends and family.

Volunteer at your local wildlife rehabilitation center, call and see what you can do to help! 

Spread awareness! Education about these issues is a very important step to helping reduce them. When people are made aware of these problems, they are generally more willing to make changes. You can use social media, and even discuss in person about the problem. An important piece to this is to provide information in a receivable and approachable way, with evidence, to convince people to make a change, without starting an argument.

Donate money or resources to your local wildlife rehabilitation center. These centers are non-profit and depend on donations to keep running. If you want to donate supplies instead of money, you can contact your local center to see what it is that they currently need.

A special thanks to Nicholas McCarney and Kim Titterington for meeting with me to talk about this issue. If you are interested to hear more on this topic watch these interviews:

Learn more with the interviews:

Nicholas McCarney on fishing and its impact on non-target wildlife:

Kim Titterington (SwampGirl) on receiving wildlife with fishing related injuries and what to do if you find an injured animal:

Hey, what about the imaginary turtle!

… the fisherman places you into a dark box, and you lay motionless as you are transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center. The box opens and there are bright lights around you. Hands reach in to feel around your mouth, you are still afraid, but you do not move. In a quick and skilled motion, the hook is removed from your mouth. OUCH… but then relief. The box closes again. Darkness. Before you know it, the box opens and you are on the edge of your pond once again. You scurry from the box and into the water, as fast as your legs can take you, and swim to the far side of the pond. You had an unpleasant day, but you are now safe and healthy back in your home.

Take a look at some of these organizations that help with wildlife rehabilitation and donate if you can!

• Oaken Acres
• Swamp Girl Adventures
• See my other work: https://untamedscience.com/kirstynn-joseph/

When you think of a casino your mind probably conjures images of tense poker games, spinning roulette wheels and bustling blackjack tables. In terms of revenues and popularity all three of these classic casino games pale in significance to the shiny, whizzing slot machines that dominate the floor space.

In fact, research shows that slot machines were responsible for the greatest percentage of revenues in America’s gambling capital Las Vegas. Studies also found that the city’s 39,680 machines earn on average $79,962 a year.

The reasons behind the success of slot machines lies in our brains, deep within our psyche which we will explore in this article. Read on to find out the psychology behind our collective attraction to slot machines.

Cognitive Dissonance – The Psychological Phenomenon That Helps Us Gamble

According to World Health Organization figures, there are an estimated 1 billion smokers on the planet and statistically, half of them will die as result of their habit. Despite all of the numerous resources, these smokers continue to puff away on cigarettes in full knowledge that it is shortening their life expectancy.

What allows smokers to do this is a psychological phenomenon called cognitive dissonance whereby they disassociate from the well-known evidence that their smoking is killing them. This cognitive dissonance allows them to happily smoke without suffering a panic attack or intense waves of fear every time they light up.

Similarly, slot machines provoke cognitive dissonance amongst players. Every licensed slot machine in a land-based casino or online has a Return to Player (RTP) percentage that players can easily access.

This tells players on average, how much money they can expect to lose from every $100 spent wagering. Despite this figure proving to players that they will lose more than they win on average, people continue playing.

In much the same way that the nicotine rush of a cigarette makes the risks seem worth it, the chances of a big win help gamblers forget that they will on average, lose more than they will win. 

Dopamine – The Brains Reward System

Whenever we do something that our primitive brain finds to be good or beneficial, such as eating, procreating and exercising a neurotransmitter called Dopamine is released in our brains. This chemical messenger is synonymous with pleasure and when it is released, we can often feel a sense of euphoria.

Video gaming and in particular slot machines have been designed to deliver great highs and waves of euphoria to players. Because money is at stake, the risks to the individual are high so when a win occurs a huge amount of Dopamine is released into the players brain.

Every time this happens the brain begins to further associate slot machines with these intense feelings of pleasure. This is often why people continue to play and play slot machines even when they are losing, because they are constantly in search of that Dopamine rush that a win will trigger.

Unlike most other gambling games, slot machines have been designed to consistently offer small rewards to players to keep them engaged and coming back. Whilst your chances of winning the jackpot might be miniscule, you are never far away from winning free spins or bonuses.

These features have been specifically designed to activate that reward system inside your brain as when you begin to associate slots with pleasure, you will be more likely to continue playing.

Interactive Controls – Increasing Control

Humans love certainty in life, it is the reason that for millennia we have searched for the answers to all of life’s big questions. Unfortunately, much of life is uncertain and as a result we seek out certainty in as many areas of our lives as possible.

Slot machines play into this human desire to gain greater control despite the slots themselves being inherently uncertain. Psychologists have found that buttons, even on the simplest items help people to feel in control, especially when the pushing of them triggers a pre-programmed, visually appealing outcome.

Every time you push down on the ‘spin’ button on a physical slot machine or an online slot, you are taking control in a way that your brain views as positive. Each time you press the button, the visual whirlwind of colours and shapes in front of your eyes release Dopamine in your brain.

No matter how many times you push the button, the same thing will happen, the reels on the slot will spin. This simple yet effective feedback loop boosts feelings of control amongst players which encourages them to ignore the uncertainty of winning or losing and play on for longer.

Visual & Audio Cues – Making Memories

You may have won small amounts of money from a scratchard or a lottery ticket before, but unless it was a significant amount, you are unlikely to vividly remember it. That’s because the process of buying a scratchard or lottery ticket and collecting your winnings are relatively boring.

However, if you were to win the same amount of money playing a slot machine the memory would be much more prominent in your mind. That’s because of the audio and visual cues that these games use to engage you. Online slot providers like Wink Slots offer players various themed games that all have a distinct theme tune and brightly colored graphics, making the games a lot more attractive than an average casino game like roulette.

Wins on a slot machine game are often followed by the sound of coins dropping from a height, flashing dollar signs on the screen and an array of flashing lights on the slot terminal. This makes a win on a slot a full-body experience that is not only intensely pleasurable and rewarding, but memorable too.

When these wins become etched on your brain, your Dopamine reward system is more likely to be activated whenever you think of slot machines. This helps to keep even the most casual of gamblers interested in slots for a long time, potentially even years after spinning the reels.

Summing Up

Slot machines aren’t a trick, nor have they been designed to deceive you and appeal to your primitive brain. Rather they are enjoyable distractions designed part by intention and part by accident to engage you for as long as possible.

There is an awful lot that can be learned about the human brain and psyche from slot machines, perhaps much more than we already know…