In nature, organisms often support each other in order to gain an advantage. However, this kind of cooperation contradicts the theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin: Why would organisms invest valuable resources to help others? Instead, they should rather use them for themselves, in order to win the evolutionary competition with other species. A study led by Prof. Dr. Christian Kost from the Department of Ecology at the Osnabrueck University solved this puzzle.
The research team led by Prof. Dr. Christian Kost used bacteria as a model system to study the evolution of mutual cooperation. In the study the researchers saw that in large cell groups, cooperative mutants were rewarded. The more resources they invested in the growth of other cells, the more nutrients they received in return from their partners. (1)
Cooperation for… cooperation.
Solving the problems that would not exist without the cooperation in the first place.
That is why people marry.
To solve issues they would never face without them being married.
That is why we ask questions.
To get answers we would never care about without the questions in the first place.
That is why we live in this cosmos.
To find out the meaning of life which would be null if we never existed.
This is what the universe is about.
Full of things that exist.
Only because they wouldn’t if they did not…
Full of humans that Are.
Only because you still hold my hand…
Let go.
Watch the cosmos explode.
And in the midst of chaos…
Wonder…
Why did I ever wanted to hold your hand in the first place?
