The Daily Populous

About 40% of "worker" ants just hang around, doing nothing

About 40% of "worker" ants just hang around, doing nothing.

Ants are cultural signifiers of busy industriousness, but a new paper in Plos One reveals that, across species, about 40% of "worker" ants spend most of their days doing nothing.

The researchers hypothesize that the "lazy" ants form both a reservoir of genetic material and a reserve workforce that serves as a hedge against the death of the "productive" ants.

They may also serve as an emergency food supply for hard, cannibalistic times.

Charbonneau observed that the lazy ants tend to have more distended abdomens, hinting at the possibility that they could serve as "living pantries."

Published in another recent paper, this observation awaits further testing to determine whether their larger circumference is a cause or a consequence of the lazier workers' lifestyle.

Inactive workers act as a ‘reserve’ labor force replacing active workers, but inactive workers are not replaced when they are removed [Daniel Charbonneau, Takao Sasaki and Anna Dornhaus/Plos One]. »

Trump’s FCC Will Let Big Telecom Destroy Small Houston ISPs As It Rebuilds After Harvey

Authored by motherboard.vice.com

When a natural disaster like Harvey wipes out the old wires, it's a good excuse for the provider to do a widespread upgrade.

If the FCC rolls back the 2015 rule, and Big Telecom starts replacing the system wiped out in the storm, these businesses will be SOL.

In the months to come, Houston will serve as an important case study in the costs of FCC deregulation colliding with a literal hurricane. »

Girl, 14, raped in 'horrendous' broad daylight attack in London park

Authored by independent.co.uk

It will go on public display next year to mark the centenary of women gaining the vote Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

9/75 6 September 2017 Protesters wave placards in Parliament Square during a protest against a Government pay cap in London.

10/75 5 September 2017 U Soe Win, the great-grandson of Burma's last King, visits Buckingham Palace John Phillips/Getty Images. »

Health Canada trans fat ban takes effect next year

Authored by cbc.ca

Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced Friday the final step to ban partially hydrogenated oils in all foods sold in Canada.

Trans fats are used in the production of pastries, other baked goods and some packaged goods to extend shelf life.

In case you were wondering why a trans fat ban was necessary https://t.co/PprVSr4fF9 — @YoniFreedhoff. »

‘Narcos’ Location Scout Shot and Killed in Mexico

Authored by variety.com

Mexican location scout Carlos Muñoz Portal was shot to death in a violent region in central Mexico Monday while scouting for season four of Netflix’s hit show “Narcos.”

The seasoned scout, who worked for Stacy Perskie’s Mexico City-based production company Redrum, has a slew of high profile credits to his name, including, “Sicario,” “Spectre,” “Fast & Furious” and “Apocalypto.”.

Netflix issued the following statement: “We are aware of the passing of Carlos Muñoz Portal, a well-respected location scout, and send our condolences to his family. »