Characteristic processes of human evolution caused the Anthropocene and may obstruct its global solutions

Ethnogenetic analysis reveals the Bronze Age genetic affiliation of Yashkuns with West Eurasians

Focusing on the Yashkun population of Gilgit-Baltistan, an administrative territory in northern Pakistan, our study investigated mtDNA haplotypes as indicators of ancient gene flow and genetic diversity. Genomic DNA was extracted and evaluated for quality using agarose gel electrophoresis. The complete control region of mtDNA (nt 16024-576) was amplified via PCR, and sequencing was performed using the Big Dye Terminator Kit on an Applied Biosystems Genetic Analyzer. Sequence alignment and analysis were conducted using Geneious software and the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS). Haplotypes were classified into phylogenetic haplogroups with HaploGrep 2 and the Mito Tool platform, referencing PhyloTree version 17. The study identified considerable genetic diversity within the Yashkun population, with major macro-haplogroups H (29.47%), T (13.68%), and M (13.68%) representing West Eurasian, South Asian, and East & Southeast Asian lineages. The highest genetic affiliation was with West Eurasian haplogroups (73.68%), indicating significant gene flow from the West. The population's genetic distinctiveness was highlighted by the calculation of forensic genetic characteristics, such as power of discrimination (PD = 0.9975), genetic diversity (GD = 0.9865), and random match probability (RMP = 0.01349). The knowledge of the genetic makeup of the Yashkun population was further improved by the inference of phylogenetic links made possible by comparisons with other indigenous groups in Pakistan. These results attest to the reliability of mtDNA data for forensic applications such as ancestry tracking, individual identification, and additions to national forensic databases. The inclusion of mtDNA analysis in forensic science is strongly supported by this groundbreaking study on the Yashkun community, especially in areas like Pakistan with diverse genetic histories.

Complex systems perspective in assessing risks in artificial intelligence

In this article, we identify challenges in the complex interaction between artificial intelligence (AI) systems and society. We argue that AI systems need to be studied in their socio-political context to be able to better appreciate a diverse set of potential outcomes that emerge from long-term feedback between technological development, inequalities and collective decision-making processes. This means that assessing the risks from the deployment of any specific technology presents unique challenges. We propose that risk assessments concerning AI systems should incorporate a complex systems perspective, with adequate models that can represent short- and long-term effects and feedback, along with an emphasis on increasing public engagement and participation in the process.This article is part of the theme issue 'Co-creating the future: participatory cities and digital governance'.

Integrating social learning and network formation for social tipping towards a sustainable future

Numerous psychological biases shape how we respond to observing others conforming to or diverging from social norms. Depending on our social networks, we may be more influenced by societal majorities, such as the widespread consumption of meat or frequent air travel, or by the sustainable lifestyles of our closest friends. The evolution of social norms is shaped by personal preferences, values, beliefs, and the structure of social networks. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for promoting a cultural shift towards sustainability, yet our grasp of how normative transformations occur remains limited. In this paper, we simulate an agent-based model in which agents choose between maintaining the status quo or adopting an alternative, engaging in a coordination game. Our model illustrates that interventions aimed at changing individual preferences may fail if the population is structured in polarised networks, where agents with similar preferences cluster together and primarily interact within their groups. These echo chambers limit the effectiveness of preference-based interventions. However, we show that a subsequent intervention that increases the salience of behaviours from agents with dissimilar preferences can successfully tip the population from a status quo equilibrium to an alternative norm equilibrium. This paper outlines the challenges policymakers face in designing interventions for catalysing positive social norm changes. We argue for a reevaluation of current methodologies for modelling and empirically investigating norm change. Our primary recommendation for future research is a more comprehensive incorporation of the myriad ways individuals respond to social information and network formation.

Navigating ecological novelty towards planetary stewardship: challenges and opportunities in biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere

Human-induced global changes, including anthropogenic climate change, biotic globalization, trophic downgrading and pervasive land-use intensification, are transforming Earth's biosphere, placing biodiversity and ecosystems at the forefront of unprecedented challenges. The Anthropocene, characterized by the importance of Homo sapiens in shaping the Earth system, necessitates a re-evaluation of our understanding and stewardship of ecosystems. This theme issue delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by the ongoing ecological planetary transformation and explores potential solutions across four key subthemes. Firstly, it investigates the functioning and stewardship of emerging novel ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to comprehend the dynamics of ecosystems under uncharted conditions. The second subtheme focuses on biodiversity projections under global change, recognizing the necessity of predicting ecological shifts in the Anthropocene. Importantly, the inherent uncertainties and the complexity of ecological responses to environmental stressors pose challenges for societal responses and for accurate projections of ecological change. The RAD framework (resist-accept-direct) is highlighted as a flexible yet nuanced decision-making tool that recognizes the need for adaptive approaches, providing insights for directing and adapting to Anthropocene dynamics while minimizing negative impacts. The imperative to extend our temporal perspective beyond 2100 is emphasized, given the irreversible changes already set in motion. Advancing methods to study ecosystem dynamics under rising biosphere novelty is the subject of the third subtheme. The fourth subtheme emphasizes the importance of integrating human perspectives into understanding, forecasting and managing novel ecosystems. Cultural diversity and biological diversity are intertwined, and the evolving relationship between humans and ecosystems offers lessons for future stewardship. Achieving planetary stewardship in the Anthropocene demands collaboration across scales and integration of ecological and societal perspectives, scalable approaches fit to changing, novel ecological conditions, as well as cultural innovation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.