The Reality Check Episode 50

Spot Reduction + Aquatic Ape Theory Interview + More People Alive Now Than In All History

Spot Reduction work? OR NOT?

 Part 1:

What is spot reduction? And does it work? 

Spot reduction refers to the reduction of fat from a specific area of the body. There is a common view that it is possible to achieve spot reduction through exercise of specific muscles in the desired area, such as exercising the abdominal muscles in an effort to lose weight in or around one's midsection. 

So, does it work? The answer is no. It's because a muscle does not own the fat that surrounds it. To lose fat anywhere in your body, you must have a kind of exercise that envolves cardiovascular training and weight training.

People say that what if they have more fat in some areas and less in others? Well, that's just a genetic issue, everyone's different. 

Another thing is the muscles won't turn into fat when you don't exercise, and the fat doesn't turn into muscle. 

Aquatic Ape Theory

Part 2:

What is the Aquatic Ape Theory?

The aquatic ape theory is an alternative explanation of human evolution which theorizes that the common ancestors of modern humans spent a period of time adapting to life in a partially-aquatic environment. The theory is based on differences between humans and great apes, and apparent similarities between humans and some aquatic mammals. First proposed in 1942 and expanded in 1960, its greatest proponent has been the writer Elaine Morgan, who has spent more than 40 yeras discussing the aquatic ape theory. 

While it is uncontroversial the both H. neanderthalensis and early H. sapiens were better suited to aquatic environments than other great apes, and there have been theories suggesting protohumans underwent some adaptations due to interaction with water the sort of radical specialization posited by the aquatic ape theory has not been accepted within the scientific community as a valid explanation for human divergence from related primates. It has been criticized for possessing a variety of theoretical problems, for lacking evidentiary support, and due to alternative explanations for many of the observations suggested to support the theory. Morgan has also suggested that her status as an academic outsider has hindered acceptance of the theory. 

The aquatic ape theory suggests that many of the features that distinguish humans from their nearest evolutionary relatives can be explained through a period of aquatic adaptation in which protohumans spent time wading, swimming, and feeding on the shores of fresh, saline, or brackish waters and suggests comparisons which other aquatic or semiaqautic species with similar characteristics. 

Some observations include:

• Bipedalism out of water causes considerable problems for the back, knees, and organs, while water would support the joints and torso and permit breathing. 
• Humans are relatively hairless compared to great apes, similar to the hairlessness of land-dwealling rhinos and elephants which both have aquatic ancestors; what body hair humans do have also follows water flow-lines.
• Increased subcutaneous fat for insulation, especially in human infants
• A descended larynx
• A hooded nose, muscular nostril aperture control and the philtrum preventing water from entering the nostrils. 
• Extensive coverage of the skin by sebaceous glands.
• The requirement of the human brain for certain nutrients including iodine and some essential fatty acids which are most easily found and absorbed in seafood.
• Voluntary breath control which allowed diving and swimming, and a more streamlined shape compared to other apes.
• The mammalian diving reflex which occurs when the head if immersed in cold water.
• Vestigial webbing between the fingers.
• The waxy coating found on newborns.
• Certain morphological adaptations within the kidney.

Review of the individual claims used as evidence for the aquatic ape theory generally does not support the hypothesis overall, and mot of these traits have an explanation within conventional theories of human evolution. Other authors have suggested that wading and other interactions with watery environments may have provided a less extreme but still present role in human evolution. 

Listen to this Episode here: The Reality Check Episode 50

Read about the aquatic ape theory here: Aquatic Ape Theory: Sink or Swim?

Science Myth of the Week: 

Are there more people living now than have ever died?

Humans appeared around 50000BC, and we start counting with 2 people. Then we look at other numbers in other times in history. 

So, about 106 billion people lived before, and today's population is around 6.9 billion people. 

So, this fact is not true, and pretty much impossible to come true in the future.