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Honeybees possess the remarkable ability to recognize human faces. This skill allows them to distinguish between friendly and unfriendly individuals.

Researchers have found that honeybees use a process called “configural processing”, similar to how humans recognize faces, by integrating facial features into a cohesive whole.

This ability was demonstrated in a study where bees were trained to associate specific human faces with a sugary reward. The bees consistently chose the rewarded faces over unfamiliar ones, showcasing their impressive facial recognition capabilities.

US News

Dying Marine’s Last Wish Fulfilled

When a dying veteran’s last wish was to receive a high school diploma, a superintendent and an American Legion Outpost commander made it happen.

Their efforts ensured that Richard Remp, a marine who sacrificed his education to fight in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, was awarded an honorary diploma. Remp, originally from Sharon, PA, and living in Poolesville, MD, had seen another elderly marine receive a diploma and wished for the same honor.

Superintendent Justi Glaros of the Sharon School District and James Cappuccilli, vice commander of Legion Post 247, teamed up to fulfill this wish. Although Remp attended a neighboring high school, Glaros obtained approval from her school board to print a diploma from their high school.

With Remp’s health rapidly declining due to stage 4 prostate cancer, Glaros drove four-and-a-half hours to personally deliver the diploma in a graduation ceremony at his home.

“The last thing he remembers is receiving the diploma,” said American Legion Post 247 Commander Julian Singh. Remp passed away on May 19th at the age of 98, having received a combat commendation ‘V’ for valor for his bravery in helping fellow Marines evacuate safely from enemy territory.

Health Science

Parents Shouldn’t Always Be 'In Sync'

Forming secure attachment bonds with parents is crucial for healthy child development. Decades of research highlight the importance of bio-behavioral synchrony, where parents and children's brains and behaviors align during social interactions. This synchronization includes imitating gestures and aligning heartbeats and hormone secretion, such as cortisol and oxytocin.

Studies have shown that brain-to-brain synchrony between parent and child is beneficial for attachment and increases during play, conversation, or problem-solving. However, new research indicates that excessive synchrony can signal relationship difficulties. A study published in Developmental Science suggests that constant synchronization may not always be better.

Current parenting advice often emphasizes staying "in sync" with children, promoting physical closeness and immediate responses to their needs. While well-intentioned, this advice overlooks that parents and children are only "in sync" about 30-50% of the time. They engage in a "social dance" of attunement, disconnection, and reconnection, which is essential for developing social brains.

Excessive synchrony can increase stress and the risk of insecure attachment, especially if parents overstimulate their child or respond too quickly to every need. Therefore, an "optimal midrange" of synchrony is more beneficial, balancing support and moderate stress to foster healthy development.

Go here if you want to read more about this new research:

Environment

Majestic Sei Whales Reappears After A Century

News from Argentina indicates that the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling continues to yield benefits, as sei whales have returned to the country's coastal waters for the first time in nearly a decade.

Overhunting in the 1920s and 1930s forced these whales to leave Argentina's waters.

"After nearly a century of being hunted to near extinction, sei whale populations are now recovering and returning to their former habitats," said Mariano Coscarella, a biologist and marine ecosystem researcher at Argentina’s CONICET scientific agency. He noted that sei whales reproduce every two to three years, so it took almost 100 years for their population to become noticeable again.

The sei whale, the third largest whale in the world, can grow up to 64 feet (20 meters) long and weigh up to 31 tons (28 tonnes). It is also one of the fastest whales, capable of swimming 31 mph over short distances.

Despite being listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the global sei whale population is estimated at 50,000 and is increasing.

In other whale-related news, a recent survey in the Seychelles observed 10 groups of blue whales, the first such sightings since 1966. Additionally, a New England Aquarium aerial survey team sighted a gray whale off the New England coast in March, a species extinct in the Atlantic for over 200 years. Blue whales have been returning to coastal Californian waters in significant numbers, and surveys have found around 8,000 Southern fin whales in Antarctica's Southern Ocean between 2018 and 2019.

Mind Stretchers

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Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Over C’s (Overseas) travel

Chris Hostetler got the correct answer in first!

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