Why Use “Moral”?, Uranus’ Stunning Rings, Bad AI Grammar, and More

The latest from The Porthole and the wider world of science. [View in browser](| [Join Nautilus]( Did a friend forward this? [Subscribe here.]( This Tuesday, check out the top science news—and the latest short sharp looks at science from The Porthole [READ NAUTILUS]( DISCOVERIES The Top Science News This Week [Why Do We Use Words Like “Moral” and “Immoral”?]( As societies grew, strangers began to surround us, encouraging us to expediently judge others as, on the whole, either good or bad. [Journal of Personality and Social Psychology→]( [Humans Handily Beat Language AIs at Spotting Bad Grammar]( Large language models like ChatGPT fail to discern impossible word patterns above chance. (But the researchers have yet to test GPT-4 on this.) [PNAS→]( [Uncovering the Primordial Layers of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch]( How did the 17-century painter prepare his canvas for this famous masterpiece? [Science Advances→]( [When AI Talks Climate Change]( Researchers fed GPT-4 the latest climate science and asked it pointed questions on the challenges global warming poses. [Communications Earth & Environment→]( [Bonobos and Chimpanzees Don’t Forget Their Friends’ Faces, Even After Decades Apart]( The research underscores the idea that “long-lasting social memory likely provided key foundations for the evolution of human culture.” [PNAS→]( [Poison Gas Hints at Potential for Life on an Ocean Moon of Saturn]( A researcher who has studied the icy world said “the prospects for the development of life are getting better and better on Enceladus.” [The New York Times→]( [NASA’s Webb Rings in Holidays With Ringed Planet Uranus]( In the new image, you can see the gaps between the planet’s bright rings and 9 of its 27 moons. [NASA→]( [What Was It Like When No Stars Yet Existed?]( Atomic nuclei form in minutes, atoms form in hundreds of thousands of years, but the "dark ages" rule thereafter, until stars finally form. [Big Think→]( [Buy Art Pieces Featured at Art Basel Miami Beach]( Following the conclusion of Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, Nautilus is offering some of the showcased art for sale, with proceeds supporting Mobilize for the Ocean. - Place a bid on the two framed prints by Rodrigo Thome, [EYE CONTACT](, and [MOTHER OCEAN](, displayed at Frost Science. The auction ends on December 22nd. - Purchase one of the limited edition, Gayil Nalls' olfactory art pieces, [World Sensorium: OCEAN](, exhibited at Art Basel Miami Beach. - Purchase one of the limited edition prints of Nicole Stott's [THE WAVE]( showcased at the Nautilus/UNESCO lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach. Sales from these artworks will benefit both the Space for Art Foundation and Mobilize for the Ocean. [VIEW FULL ART AT SEA CATALOG HERE]( WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW... What is the most memorable encounter you’ve had with an animal? Let us know! Reply to this newsletter with your response, briefly explaining your choice, and we’ll reveal the top answers. (This question was inspired by [“I Know How the Caged Bird Jams.”]() Top Answers to Our Previous Question (On the Amount of Spacefaring Civilizations That Two Trillion Galaxies Might Harbor) - I calculate that at this instance in time there exist about 20,000 “intelligent” civilizations. One dies off and is replaced by another every day or so. – Richard M. - I believe there are many thousands of space-saving civilizations out there. Life can arise in a billion years, so imagine how advanced billion year old civilizations are. They probably didn't spend all their time fighting each other. – J.S. - I would say that it is very unlikely that there is any advanced civilization with which we could communicate right now. Even for Andromeda, our beautiful “next door” galaxy, we can only see how it looked a couple of million years ago. Perhaps there was a spacefaring civilization there five million years ago, but by now it has been extinguished. Similarly, there may have been millions of spacefaring civilizations in millions of galaxies, but they may have surged, peaked, and disappeared millions or even billions of years ago. – Oscar G.C. From The Porthole—short sharp looks at science [ZOOLOGY]( [Tracking the Lion Poachers]( Forensic science comes to wildlife law enforcement. BY SUMMER RYLANDER The regal African lion is a species in dramatic decline. [Keep on reading]( [Out-Of-This-World Gifts](​​ The sky isn’t the only place you can find a shooting star. Explore the stars with the perfect space gift at [Mini Museum](​​. From meteorites, NASA collectibles, and even a piece of the Moon, you will discover the perfect gift for anyone obsessed with space. Save 10% with code SHOOTINGSTAR. ​​ [SHOP NOW](​​ Your free story this Tuesday! [ZOOLOGY]( [I Know How the Caged Bird Jams]( Surprising things happen when you give zoo animals control over the soundscape. BY ELENA KAZAMIA In a modest rectangular enclosure surrounded by sparse green shrubbery, just past the main gate of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a middle-aged hyacinth macaw blasts Daft Punk on his bespoke boombox. [Continue reading for free→]( EXCLUSIVE MEMBER CONTENT | [Explore Memberships→]( [Plastic Pollution is a Nightmare]( Discarded plastic hurts our climate, ecosystems, agriculture, human health, and the oceans. To help you shop smarter and recycle better, [One5C]( has put together the definitive guide to plastics and plastic pollution. Check it out to begin your journey to a plastic-free future. [READ IT HERE]( P.S. The German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer died on this day in 1915. The disease that has his name causes most cases of dementia, a decline in cognitive abilities affecting everyday activities. Greg O’Brien wrote about his own bout with Alzheimer’s: “I never know who’s going to show up. Will I be on or off? I was off the other night, yet another reminder of the denouement of this plot. [Stephen King couldn’t have written a better thriller](.” Today’s newsletter was written by Brian Gallagher Thanks for reading.[Tell us](mailto:brian.gallagher@nautil.us?subject=&body=) your thoughts on today’s note. Plus, [browse our archive]( of past print issues, and inspire a friend to sign up for [the Nautilus newsletter](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 NautilusNext, All rights reserved.You were subscribed to the newsletter from [nautil.us](. Our mailing address is: NautilusNext360 W 36th Street, 7S,New York, NY 10018 Don't want to hear from us anymore? [Unsubscribe](