Category Archives: Life Sciences

The handicap principle, first espoused by biologist Amotz Zahavi, shows how apparently maladaptive traits can evolve which signify the genetic fitness of an individual. The peacock’s tail is perhaps the most recognizable manifestation of the handicap principle at work. Peacocks … Continue reading →

The success of our national football team can bolster a sense of collective wellbeing and, therefore, help the individuals belonging to this collective to sustain a positive self-concept. When the team fails to measure up to expectations it could damage … Continue reading →

Who will be Fabio Capello’s left-midfielder for South Africa 2010? WCC has ranked the contenders below. 1. Steven Gerrard’s performances at left-midfield have been convincing enough for him to remain first choice for this position. Gerrard was a perennial underachiever … Continue reading →

One of England’s current weaknesses is the goalkeeping position. Gone are the days of Banks, Clemence, Shilton and Seaman! The fact that the error-prone David James was resurrected as England’s no.1 following the brief reign of Paul Robinson suggests that … Continue reading →

Back in February WCC suggested a team of fringe players that could come into the reckoning if they hit form and/or their key rivals experienced injury. Of the XI selected, Steven Warnock and Ryan Shawcross made the squad for the … Continue reading →

Professor of Behavioural Ecology, Nick Davies undertook a study on speckled wood butterflies which supported the view that the resident of a territory has an advantage over intruders. Male butterflies defended patches of sunlight within a wood, as females were … Continue reading →

Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard were Fabio Capello’s first-choice central-midfield pairing throughout the qualifiers. Both take up fairly constrained roles and provide a secure midfield base. Capello recognizes that contemporary international sides have little chance of sustained success unless the … Continue reading →

John Maynard Smith introduced the concept of the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), which demonstrates how different behavioural strategies become balanced within a population. Maynard-Smith proposed a hypothetical case in which a member of a population could either be hawk or … Continue reading →