Today I Learned:
1) The eigenvalues of a triangular matrix are its diagonal entries! So freaking simple!
2) 420 = pot. Therefore, the appropriate time to smoke weed is 4:20. The MOST appropriate time to smoke is April 20, at 4:20.
3) Right now, eusocial insects (that is, the "truly social" insects like most ants, termites, and some bees and wasps) are arguably the dominant form of animal life on Earth by biomass (not sure if they outmass planaria or nematodes, TBH). Today I learned that was only true after about 50 million years ago, even though there have been eusocial insects since about 100 million years ago! In other words, eusocial insects (bees, specifically) evolved in the mid-Cretaceous, but were relatively rare until about 14 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs, at which point they took off in a big way and haven't stopped since.
I always figured that insects had kind of always been the dominant animal life form. Apparently not.
(Bonus eusociality fact -- there are three species of eusocial shrimp! They form nests in coral, which they defend as a group while one female reproduces madly.)
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