Masturbation is far more important in the timeline of human evolution than ever previously thought. In fact, we might not be here at all if it weren’t for primates masturbating thousands of years ago, a new study has claimed. New research from the Proceedings of the Royal Society B has focused on the effects of masturbating in male primates and its effects on ensuring reproductive methods. “Masturbation is common across the animal kingdom but is especially prevalent amongst primates, including humans,” the study authors said in a statement. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter They went on to say that masturbation “was most likely present in the common ancestor of all monkeys and apes” before saying that it might have influenced mating behaviour. “Masturbation (without ejaculation) can increase arousal before sex,” the authors wrote. “This may be a particularly useful tactic for low-ranking males likely to be interrupted during copulation, by helping them to ejaculate faster.” According to the researchers, regular ejaculation evolved as a trait among male primates where they faced competition. That’s because it “allows males to shed inferior semen, leaving fresh, high-quality sperm available for mating, which are more likely to outcompete those of other males.” It also helped male primates “by cleansing the urethra (a primary site of infection for many STIs) with ejaculate”. Things were less clear with female primates, with the study authors stating that “more data on female sexual behavior are needed to better understand the evolutionary role of female masturbation.” “Our findings help shed light on a very common, but little understood, sexual behavior,” said lead author Dr. Matilda Brindle, of University College London. “The fact that autosexual behavior may serve an adaptive function, is ubiquitous throughout the primate order, and is practiced by captive and wild-living members of both sexes, demonstrates that masturbation is part of a repertoire of healthy sexual behaviors.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 7, 2023--

Months after Apple unveiled a privacy change that threatened Facebook's core advertising business, the social networking company rebranded as Meta and shifted its focus to virtual reality.

A clip from the launch event of Apple's Vision Pro AR headset heard the audience gasp when the price of the tech was unveiled. When the tech-lovers gasp, you know something is expensive. While the revolutionary piece of kit might sound like a lot of fun, if you want to get your hands on it you'll be forking out $3,499 (£2,813) for the pleasure. However, it does mean you'll be able to use apps, conduct calls, and even type just using your vision. Click here to sign up for our newsletters

New York City and the US Northeast face another day of eerie orange skies and choking smoke from

Instagram is working on an AI chatbot with 30 different personalities for users to interact with, according to leaks. App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots of the ‘Chat with an AI’ feature, revealing details of an artificial intelligence agent similar to ChatGPT. It offers users the option to ask questions and seek advice, as well as a writing assistance tool for help with composing messages. “Bring AI to your chats for a more fun and engaging experience,” the leaked images of the ‘Chat with an AI’ feature states. “Chat with 30 AI personalities and find which one you like the best.” It is not yet clear when Instagram plans to release the AI chatbot, if at all. The Independent has reached out to Instagram for comment, though the company typically does not speak about unreleased products. Several other social media platforms have already launched similar AI tools, or are rumoured to be working on them. In February, Snapchat unveiled its ‘My AI’ chatbot, which is powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. The tool can be used to “answer a burning trivia question, offer advice on the perfect gift for your BFF’s birthday, help plan a hiking trip for a long weekend, or suggest what to make for dinner”, according to Snapchat. It was met with skepticism from some users, who reported on social media that they felt uncomfortable sharing their data with the AI chatbot. “I want it gone, remove it,” one user wrote in response to Snapchat’s tweet about the feature, while another asked: “Can we have the option to delete it.” TikTok is also currently testing an in-app chatbot called Tako, which has seen a limited roll out in a few select countries like the Philippines. “Being at the forefront of innovation is core to building the TikTok experience, and we’re always exploring new technologies that add value to our community,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “In select markets, we’re testing new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok, and we look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture.” Read More ChatGPT creator says AI ‘superintelligence’ is impossible to stop Meta Ireland to cut about 490 jobs Ukrainian schoolboy to buy home for his mother after selling Minecraft server Here’s what it’s like to use Apple’s new virtual reality headset

Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings Inc. and climate tech startup Asuene Inc. have entered a joint venture to

Scientists have figured out what the sun sound like - because yes, it makes a racket. By recording acoustical pressure waves in the sun, using an instrument called the Michelson Doppler Imager, solar physicists from Stanford University have determined the solar surface noise of the sun and it turns out it is pretty loud. If the sounds, which are apparently like 'screaming sirens' were able to pass through space, it would be 100 decibels by the time it reached us here on Earth, according to the American Academy of Audiology. This equals out to tens of thousands of watts of energy generated per metre on the sun, or 10x to the 100x the power of speakers at a rock concert.. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter However, humans on Earth are unable to hear any of this because the sound waves emit at frequencies that are too low for the human ear to detect. The sun creates noise due to the constant flow of hot material on the surface and the sinking of cooled material towards the centre. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A bout of Bitcoin turbulence caused by US Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuits against key crypto exchanges may

The European Commission is still in talks with countries on a deal to scale up renewable energy by

The Beijing-based firm has denied Chinese Communist Party members were allowed to access user data.

Cathie Wood’s funds boosted their holdings of Coinbase Global Inc. as shares slumped after the Securities and Exchange