The origin of living Homo sapiens has once again been the subject of much debate. Genetic data on present human population relationships and data from the Pleistocene fossil hominid record are used to compare two contrasting models for the origin of modern humans. Both genetics and paleontology support a recent African origin for modern humans rather than a long period of multiregional evolutio...

All modern industrialized countries are confronted with a series of mega trends. This position paper envisions opportunities and challenges for Architectural Robotics to meet resulting demands. It focusses on typical living environments, i.e. private and residential homes.

In early modern England accumulating knowledge of normal and morbid anatomy through dissecting the human body not only led to a better understanding of nature, but also defined the identity of the people who engaged in this activity. This essay analyses the relationship between systemically dismembering the dead and how this pursuit shaped the attitudes and emotions of early modern medical men ...

This article opens up approaches and themes for a history of loneliness. It advocates handling of the subject by historians, and invites historical analysis of concepts, health issues, strategies from the past, theories of long-term loneliness change, „nuclear family hardship‟ and related demography. Topographies of isolation are raised. It then discusses one aspect of this: considering how liv...

Stakeholders in the science system need to decide where to place their bets. Example questions include: Which areas of research should get more funding? Who should we hire? Which projects should we abandon and which new projects should we start? Making informed choices requires knowledge about these research options. Unfortunately, to date research portfolio options have not been defined in a c...

The fundamental and continuing changes in modern society are well recognised and well documented. The resulting world is one in which information is readily and globally accessible; where the dynamics of change are so rapid that traditional methods of training and education will be found wanting; where discipline-based knowledge will be inadequate to prepare for living in modern communities and...