The American Museum of Natural History is bringing a winter solstice holiday themed Sci Cafe on December 2nd. Should be an interesting talk on that very tiresome meme: Human nature (a total myth if you didn’t know):

NAUGHTY VS. NICE: THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF GREED AND ALTRUISM

FEATURING BIOLOGIST LEE DUGATKIN AND AMNH CURATOR ROB DESALLE

WHAT: SciCafe presents Naughty vs. Nice: The Biological Basis of Greed and Altruism, featuring biologist Lee Dugatkin, University of Louisville, and AMNH Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Rob DeSalle.

Join fellow New Yorkers to discuss what makes us naughty or nice by uncovering the evolutionary and cultural roots of greed and altruism, and compare these seemingly human behaviors to those of other species. (continue reading…)

I am always surprised at the reaction when i tell people that humans are hard wired for altruism, and that people feel better giving than receiving. Even if the neurological case may not be convincing for some, few would doubt how difficult this existence on earth is.  If it is this hard for modern humans to survive this tech aided world, imagine  how are it  was for small tribes of proto-humans. A neanderthal was not an island, and the culture of giving and socialization is a key aspect to our evolution. We are social altruistic beings. I spent only a few months working at home, and i felt wrong for months after. Don’t get me started on working in a lab.

(continue reading…)