Nature might have a universal rhythm for communication signals across species

Amazing stuff!

"... In a new study, ... scientists found that communication signals across a wide range of species tend to repeat at about 2 hertz, or roughly two beats per second.

The researchers propose this tempo might reflect a shared biological constraint. Animal brains, including humans, may be naturally tuned to process signals arriving at that pace. In other words, two beats per second may be a rhythmic "sweet spot" that enables brains to detect signals more easily and process communication more efficiently. ..."

"Why it matters: Understanding this potentially universal tempo could help scientists better interpret animal signaling and social behavior across species. ..."

From the abstract:

"During fieldwork in Thailand, we observed nearly identical tempos of co-located flashing fireflies and chirping crickets.

Motivated by this, we survey published data showing that an abundance of evolutionarily distinct species communicate isochronously at ~0.5–4 Hz, suggesting that this might be a tempo “hotspot.”

We hypothesize that this timescale may have a universal basis in the biophysics of the receiver’s neurons.

We test this by demonstrating that small receiver circuits constructed from elements representing typical neurons will be most responsive in the observed tempo range."

Nature might have a universal rhythm

Nature might have a universal rhythm (original news release) "From insects to birds to mammals, communication signals follow a common tempo"

A widespread animal communication tempo may resonate with the receiver’s brain (open access)

Fig 1. Tempo comparison across scales, taxa, modalities, and media.

Fig 3. Schematic of the modeling methodology.

The US Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area

Maybe, the Trump administration was a little to fast and loose in this case!

Caveat: I am not familiar with the details of the case nor the court order.

"The unsigned [court] order stated the government “failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.”"

"... At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois. The President has not invoked a statute that provides an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act. Instead, he relies on inherent constitutional authority that, according to the Government, allows him to use the military to protect federal personnel and property. ..."

Wednesday, December 24, 2025 - Join The Flyover

No. 25A443 Donald J. Trump, President Of The United States, Et Al. V. Illinois, Et Al. On Application For Stay

Two Sanctuary States, New York and Illinois have Released Nearly 9,000 Criminal Aliens with ICE Detainers Since January

Incredible! Insane! Will somebody be held accountable? Don't hold your breath!

"... Just two of those states, New York and Illinois, have released nearly 9,000 criminal aliens from jails and prisons since January 20, defying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers to deport them. Among the offenders protected by the sanctuary policies are murderers, terrorists, sexual predators and kidnappers, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirms this month.

Almost 7,000 criminal aliens flagged by ICE were released from custody in the state of New York during the roughly 10-month period examined by DHS. Illinois released more than 1,700 criminal aliens from jails and prisons throughout the state rather than turn them over to federal authorities for removal. The failure to honor ICE detainers has led to “numerous illegal alien murderers, rapists, and pedophiles being released” back into sanctuary communities, Homeland Security officials have established. ..."

Two Sanctuary States Release Nearly 9,000 Criminal Aliens with ICE Detainers Since January | Judicial Watch

Most Corrupt Series: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Exposed

Recommendable! What sleazy politician! You have to thank President Trump to oppose him and this fool of a mayor of Chicago!

This is what Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson is blaming for Chicago's violent Labor Day weekend

Who voted for this fool and ideologue of a mayor of a major city in the US.

Brandon Johnson also made some other weird and strange remarks regarding President Trump and his crack down on crime in Washington DC:

"Johnson rallied protesters on Labor Day, telling the cheering crowd, "Are you prepared to defend this land? This land that [was] built by slaves. The land that was built by indigenous people. The land that was built by workers. Are you prepared to defend this land? I need you all to stand firm, to stand strong, if this president decides to continue to break this Constitution.""

This is what Brandon Johnson is blaming for Chicago's violent Labor Day weekend | Blaze Media

Former, female substitute teacher pleads guilty to predatory sexual assault of an 11-year-old male student

Another Me Too event! Welcome to the age of gender equality!

"A former substitute teacher in Illinois accepted a plea deal on predatory criminal sexual assault charges, according to authorities.

Police said the ex-teacher sexually abused an 11-year-old male student during "play dates" at her home. However, the teacher allegedly attempted to blame the child for making sexual advances toward her. ..."

Former Decatur substitute teacher Alley Bardfield pleads guilty to predatory sexual assault of an 11-year-old student. Discover the shocking details of her crimes, including explicit messages and CashApp payments. | Blaze Media "'The perpetrator’s predatory actions have left our client with permanent injuries that have greatly disrupted his and his family’s daily life.'"

The suspect

Soles for Souls: How Fancy Footwear Inspired 500 Christians to Boldly Share their Faith

The ways of God are inscrutable! 😊

Married, former special education high school teacher Christina Formella (age 30) hit with 52 more child sex abuse charges, accused of having sex with boy 45 times at school

Another Me Too event! How is that for gender equality! Or is this part of the battle of the sexes too?

She only got married in August 2024 to her high school sweetheart (Source: Bing search). 

"former Illinois special education teacher accused of molesting a 15-year-old student has been hit with 52 additional charges relating to previous accusations of child sex crimes.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday in a statement that 30-year-old Christina Formella had been indicted on 52 additional counts of child sex crimes against a student. ...

Formella is facing 

20 counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 Felony),

20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 Felony),

six counts of indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 Felony), and 

six counts of grooming (Class 4 Felony) ...

As Blaze News previously reported, Formella was arrested March 16 when she was a teacher at Downers Grove South High School. At the time, Formella was charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 Felony), one count of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 Felony), and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 2 Felony). ..."

Former teacher Christina Formella hit with 52 more child sex abuse charges, accused of having sex with boy 45 times at school | Blaze Media "The suspect claims she's the victim of a blackmail scheme the accusing student orchestrated."

High School Teacher/Coach Indicted on 52 Additional Charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse/Criminal Sexual Assault (official county news release)

A pretty sex predator

Transgender therapy or gender affirming care can cause serious health issues to men, but not women

Bad news! Again women (assigned at birth) were excluded! Why?

Is it not curious that this study is only about several hundred men ("assigned male at birth") and no women (assigned female at birth). Again, it is utmost disturbing and presumably deliberately underreported that so many men want the be transgender compared to women. None of the usual disparate impact or gender bias complaints here.

Gender affirming care (or in this case here conversion therapy) is one the most horrific euphemisms of our times! It stands for e.g. double mastectomy or castration!

"Conversion therapy exposure has been linked with elevated blood pressure, increased systemic inflammation, and higher odds of self-reported hypertension diagnosis, finds a cohort study of 703 sexual and gender minority young adults. JAMA Network Open"

From the key points and abstract:

"Key Points

Question

Are exposures to sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE) associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease?

Findings

In this cohort study of 703 sexual and gender minority young adults assigned male at birth, SOGICE exposure was associated with elevated blood pressure, increased systemic inflammation, and higher odds of self-reported hypertension diagnosis.

Meaning

These results suggest that exposure to SOGICE may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes, underscoring the need for enforcement of bans and affirmative care approaches.

Abstract

Importance

Sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGICE), commonly known as conversion therapy, persist across the United States despite having been discredited due to their harmful mental health impact. Understanding the health consequences of SOGICE is critical, particularly for conditions exacerbated by stress, such as cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To investigate the association between SOGICE exposure and cardiovascular disease risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study draws on data from the observational cohort study RADAR, which included sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults assigned male at birth (AMAB) in Chicago, Illinois. All data for this analysis were collected cross-sectionally during the same study visit for each participant between December 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024. Participants who completed SOGICE exposure measures and had cardiovascular health data were eligible; participants with incomplete data were excluded.

Exposure

SOGICE exposure and duration.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Primary outcomes were diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured via automatic monitors, systemic inflammation (SI) assessed through plasma biomarkers, and self-reported hypertension or high blood pressure (HHBP) diagnosis. Regression analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and behavioral covariates.

Results

Among 703 participants (mean [SD] age, 26.75 [4.60] years), 540 (76.8%) identified as cisgender, and 163 (23.2%) identified as transgender or gender diverse. Seventy-two participants (10.2%) reported exposure to SOGICE. Exposed participants had higher SI levels (β = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.17-1.49; P = .02), increased DBP (β = 3.46; 95% CI, 0.60-6.32; P = .02), elevated SBP (β = 4.28; 95% CI, 0.68-7.87; P = .02), and greater odds of self-reported HHBP diagnosis (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.19-3.54; P = .003) compared with nonexposed participants. Associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of SGM young adults AMAB, exposure to SOGICE was associated with adverse cardiovascular health indicators, including elevated DBP and SBP, increased SI, and higher odds of self-reported HHBP. These findings underscore the need for public health and policy interventions to enforce and strengthen bans on SOGICE practices. Recognizing the cardiovascular health consequences of SOGICE contributes to addressing SGM health disparities and emphasizes the importance of affirmative care approaches that prioritize the well-being of SGM individuals."

Global Health NOW: Redrawing Battle Lines in the AIDS Fight; Twists in Abortion Lawsuit; and The Lifesaving Potential of Self-Driving Cars

Conversion Therapy Exposure and Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk

In den Latino-Vierteln von Chicago geht die Angst vor Razzien und Ausschaffungen um. Wirklich!

Noch mehr Trump Derangement Syndrome aus der Schweiz!

Es sollte eigentlich jedem Journalisten aufgefallen sein, dass Präsident Trump es gezielt auf Verbrecher unter den illegalen Einwandern abzielt!

Zweitens, Chicago (IL) ist eine sog. sanctuary city der Dimokraten und der fette Gouverneur von Illinois (IL), Pritzker (D), tut gerne alles um Präsident Trump zu schaden. 

"Die Regierung von Donald Trump hat angekündigt, dass sie ihre Razzien gegen illegal eingereiste Migranten in Chicago beginnen werde. Nun schicken manche Familien ihre Kinder aus Angst nicht mehr zur Schule, einige Erwachsene bleiben der Arbeit fern. ..."

Razzien und Deportation in Chicago: Panik in den Latino-Vierteln

What Happened to North America’s First Megacity located in Illinois

Very recommendable!

Laura Ingraham: Trump disqualified from Illinois ballot

The Dimocratic Party is insane! What a ridiculous black female judge! 

The Business of Transgenderism | Christopher F. Rufo

Very recommendable! Learn e.g. about Governor Pritzker (of the wealthy Pritzker family) of Illinois and his cousin, the first billionaire transgender woman.

Illinois is the latest state considering all mail-in voting, despite integrity problems nationwide

Mail-in voting is a sure way to widespread and significant voter fraud! Tight elections (e.g. Arizona in 2020 presidential elections), where only a few thousand votes make a difference, could be tainted.

The voter rolls in many jurisdictions across the U.S. are very inaccurate etc.

"... All mail-in voting elections are where all registered voters are sent ballots in the mail, without requesting them. This is different from absentee voting, where voters request a mail-in ballot to vote. ..."

Illinois is the latest state considering all mail-in voting, despite integrity problems nationwide | Just The News

Record number of internet users, two-thirds of the world's population are now online

Good news! Soon we are all connected!

I appreciate it very much that I have viewers of my blog from all over the world! One of the peculiar major blind spots is Latin America. I get very view views from this region.

📶 Record number of internet users, two-thirds are now online 5.4 billion people are now online. More than ever before. Growth in internet connectivity is strongest in low-income countries.

Credits: Human Progress Weekly Progress Roundup

What is the import of Lori Lightfoot's reelection loss as Chicago mayor about the LGBTQ community?

As I said here before, LGBTQ has probably reached its zenith of celebrity, cultism, and tribalism from 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic on until today! Human fads come and go!

In the 1980s/1990s primarily only the first two letters of LGBTQ mattered. Then it was mostly about better health care and equal rights. Over the last two decades, LGBTQ added letters until they ran out. Curiously, the letter P for polygamy was never added. Celebrity and narcissism took over!

As once marginalized and discriminated members of this minority community reach the apex of our society, we (a.k.a. sexists, racists, white men etc.) learn and see that these individuals are mostly average mere mortals too!

Infatuation with and exhilaration of LGBTQ fades away!

The outcome of the mayoral elections in Chicago is just one of the latest signs!

The many LGBTQ clowns of the administration of the demented and senile 46th President is also a strong indication!

A modern version of the Emperor's New Clothes effect!

Perhaps a new meaning of Shakespeare's What is in a name? This is time it is Lightfoot! Perhaps, she took her last name too literal! 😊

Architect Explores Chicago's Hidden Architecture & History | Walking Tour | Architectural Digest

Very recommendable!

Illinois Lost HALF or $1.8 billion of Its Pandemic ‘Stimulus’ Benefits to Fraud and Scammers

I am sure Illinois is not an isolated case! 😊 

This is a stern reminder that large temporary government expenditure programs financed often with more government debt is prone to wate, fraud, and abuse. E.g. income tax holidays accompanied by cuts of government expenditures would be preferable! 

"The federal government’s multi-trillion-dollar “stimulus” efforts during the pandemic may go down as the biggest legislative failure in modern American history. Congress spent an astounding $42,000 per federal taxpayer ... and only successfully “stimulated” inflation. What’s more, evidence continues to mount that the biggest beneficiaries of this binge were criminals and fraudsters. 

A new analysis from the American Enterprise Institute’s Matt Weingarten reports that the state of Illinois lost half of the money it sent out in expanded pandemic unemployment benefits to scammers. 

Illinois’s inspector general reports that the level of fraud it experienced was “unprecedented” and amounted to more than $1.8 billion lost. ..."

"... The report describes “overpayments associated with ID theft and traditional fraud within the PUA program” as “unprecedented.” Specifically, the audit states that ID theft overpayments under the PUA program totaled over $1.8 billion—or 50.4 percent of the $3.6 billion in PUA payments. ..."

This State Lost HALF Its Pandemic ‘Stimulus’ Benefits to Fraud and Scammers - Foundation for Economic Education

Audit Finds Half of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits in Illinois Were Stolen

Why Illinois Is In Trouble – 122,258 Public Employees Earned $100,000+ Costing Taxpayers $15.8 Billion

How is that possible? That is roughly 1% of the total population of Illinois! The highest paid governor (NY) in the United States makes only $225,000 per year (see my blog post). Looks like an egregious waste of taxpayers money to me! Illinois appears to be a public employees paradise thanks to this fiscal largesse!

"Here are just a few of our findings:

1. 40,000 K-12 educators made $100,000+ and only 24,500 are still working. The rest are retired on a six-figure lifetime pension.
2. 171 town managers out earn Governor J.B. Pritzker ($181,000).
3. Former Governor, Jim Edgar, moved into pension palace — last year Edgar double dipped two state retirement pensions and a part-time salary at the University of Illinois for total payout of $329,000!"

"... Barbers at State Corrections trimmed off $115,000; janitors at the State Toll Highway Authority cleaned up $123,000; bus drivers in Chicago made $174,000; line workers on the Chicago Transit Authority earned $222,278; community college presidents made $418,677; university doctors earned up to $2 million ..."

Why Illinois Is In Trouble – 122,258 Public Employees Earned $100,000+ Costing Taxpayers $15.8 Billion Despite Pandemic

One Million License Plates Like This One And Obama Would Have Lost

Too bad that not more Americans drove their cars with license plates (Nobama) like this one, because then business enemy no. 1 President Obama would have lost.

Because of the American voters I have lost a $50 bet with a good friend of mine in Germany over who wins the last US presidential election.

I said it before in an earlier blog post and I say it again without Obama in the White House the US economy would have come roaring back instead of continuing to be in a slump except for the stock market.