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It’s been 30 years since evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar declared that humans can only sustain 150 meaningful relationships — and only five of those will be truly close. We’re just not cognitively equipped for more.
In truth, that might sound like a laughably ambitious goal in pandemic times but critics often claim that we can make friends with many more than a few hundred other souls, particularly in the age of online networks. Here, Dunbar himself claps back at those who think his findings are dated. He asserts that – even with Facebook, even with LinkedIn – his golden number still holds true.
On multiple occasions during my childhood, I toyed with the idea of cutting my own twin brother out of my 150 relationships as a result of his distinctly unfraternal attitude towards Panini football sticker albums. Both of us were fanatical about completing these books, but he did a much better job of it than me. He’d often trade stickers with other collectors while I was left with 18 Chris Waddles. Would he ever give me a spare Diego Maradona to complete my set? Not if he could get a good deal for it on the black market.
As Euro2020 stickers go on sale, a mathematician has tried to work out how much it would cost to secure a full set. There are spaces for 678 stickers in an album, and they are sold in randomly selected packs of six. What do you think you’d have to spend to stand a chance of getting all 678, accepting that you’re going to end up with a fair few duplicates along the way? Hint: it’s an awful lot of pocket money.
This week, we were given a searing insight into life with long COVID by Nathalie MacDermott, who is, herself, an expert on infectious disease. In the early days of the pandemic, MacDermott would make regular media appearances to discuss the coronavirus threat. But she now suffers debilitating symptoms. This is what she wants us all to know about those among us who are suffering from this condition.
Also this week, China’s space station monopoly, how our brain controls our hands, and cooking with kids.
And you can now listen to many of our articles, narrated in partnership with Noa, News Over Audio. Find a selection here.
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