Probably incidental. The high-performing Jews tend to be Ashkenazi.
The migration of humans into Central and Northern Europe exposed them to environmental stressors that required adaptation.
The reduction of melanin in the skin (better absorption of Vitamin D), the development of light-colored eyes (increased the range of wavelengths that could be perceived), the ability to digest lactose past infancy, an omnivorous diet focused on protein and fats, increased consumption of seafood, an environment that facilitated the development of cheese, distillation in addition to fermentation, and the adoption of yeast-raised breads, all of which resulted in a diet much higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, coupled with the elimination of pandemic infectious agents due to cold winters, probably contributed to an increased rate of intellectual development compared to people in other locations.
On the downside, but adding to the eventual outcomes, cold, harsh winters meant you either were productive or died.
Given that each of us share approximately 98% of the same human genome, this is probably the best explanation as to why Caucasian males have created 90% of civilization, Caucasian females, another 5% of civilization, and the other 84% of humanity has chunked in the remaining 5%.
It’s not because Jews are smarter than other people, but because they prize education and scholarship.
Consider that the Middle East is a desert, as in not enough rain. Countries run by Islam are third-world and impoverished, even with massive international aid.
Israel is also a desert, there’s a good portion of it where rain never falls. OTOH, it’s green, verdant, exporting food and providing aid to Gaza. It’s a first-world powerhouse, with a tech sector second only to Silicon Valley and catching up to them, medical research second only to the U.S. and a functioning democracy. Since the 1950s it’s gone from rationing water to exporting it.
And the only resource Israel has that the rest of the middle east doesn’t is – Jews. From 1900 to 2010 15 million Jews won 25 percent of the Science Nobel Prizes, 49 in biomedical, 28 in chemistry, 45 in physics, and 28 in economics totaling 150 out of 609. Meanwhile 1.3 BILLION Muslims won a total of three (3), one in chemistry, one in physics, and one in economics.
Apropos of nothing, based on Jo, I think Javier recovered from his big crush on Mari (unlike JTC, myself, and others in the DBD community).
Isn’t Jo based on one of Don Portago’s staff and Jan’s engrams? (Which is why she is perpetually horny, much to Jeff’s delight and Sam’s consternation.).
Of course Javier also got blinded by Kiko’s “science,” so perhaps he is a well-rounded young man with extremely catholic (original meaning, universal) tastes.
Brunettes, blonds, and redheads. Javier is a Renaissance, polymath, gentleman of refined tastes. (And there are so few of us left.)
6 Comments
Mari and Eva probably just set a record for brains and beauty above 9000 feet MSL in Peru.
Spectacular scenery, Chris, IYKWIMAITYD.
The Peruvian version of the Chamber of Commerce or Board of Tourism owes you a royalties check.
Mari seems to want to ask if that control is due to or incidental to jewness…
Maybe like Islam – there are 10-15% who are actually the problem and make it tough for the rest to just get along
JTC,
Probably incidental. The high-performing Jews tend to be Ashkenazi.
The migration of humans into Central and Northern Europe exposed them to environmental stressors that required adaptation.
The reduction of melanin in the skin (better absorption of Vitamin D), the development of light-colored eyes (increased the range of wavelengths that could be perceived), the ability to digest lactose past infancy, an omnivorous diet focused on protein and fats, increased consumption of seafood, an environment that facilitated the development of cheese, distillation in addition to fermentation, and the adoption of yeast-raised breads, all of which resulted in a diet much higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, coupled with the elimination of pandemic infectious agents due to cold winters, probably contributed to an increased rate of intellectual development compared to people in other locations.
On the downside, but adding to the eventual outcomes, cold, harsh winters meant you either were productive or died.
Given that each of us share approximately 98% of the same human genome, this is probably the best explanation as to why Caucasian males have created 90% of civilization, Caucasian females, another 5% of civilization, and the other 84% of humanity has chunked in the remaining 5%.
YMMV.
It’s not because Jews are smarter than other people, but because they prize education and scholarship.
Consider that the Middle East is a desert, as in not enough rain. Countries run by Islam are third-world and impoverished, even with massive international aid.
Israel is also a desert, there’s a good portion of it where rain never falls. OTOH, it’s green, verdant, exporting food and providing aid to Gaza. It’s a first-world powerhouse, with a tech sector second only to Silicon Valley and catching up to them, medical research second only to the U.S. and a functioning democracy. Since the 1950s it’s gone from rationing water to exporting it.
And the only resource Israel has that the rest of the middle east doesn’t is – Jews. From 1900 to 2010 15 million Jews won 25 percent of the Science Nobel Prizes, 49 in biomedical, 28 in chemistry, 45 in physics, and 28 in economics totaling 150 out of 609. Meanwhile 1.3 BILLION Muslims won a total of three (3), one in chemistry, one in physics, and one in economics.
Apropos of nothing, based on Jo, I think Javier recovered from his big crush on Mari (unlike JTC, myself, and others in the DBD community).
Isn’t Jo based on one of Don Portago’s staff and Jan’s engrams? (Which is why she is perpetually horny, much to Jeff’s delight and Sam’s consternation.).
Of course Javier also got blinded by Kiko’s “science,” so perhaps he is a well-rounded young man with extremely catholic (original meaning, universal) tastes.
Brunettes, blonds, and redheads. Javier is a Renaissance, polymath, gentleman of refined tastes. (And there are so few of us left.)