Cultural evolution moves exponentially faster than genetic evolution because ideas spread through social networks in hours rather than generations. Digital platforms amplify this through algorithmic selection, creating both unprecedented opportunities for knowledge sharing and serious risks from viral misinformation.
Humans have colonized Earth's most extreme environments through a powerful combination of genetic adaptation, cultural innovation, and technological ingenuity that offers crucial lessons for surviving climate change.
Human altruism evolved through kin selection, reciprocal cooperation, and cultural institutions that reward helping and punish cheating. Our brains are wired to feel good about cooperation, making selfishness and generosity surprisingly compatible evolutionary strategies.
Culture now evolves thousands of times faster than genetics, as ideas spread through social networks and digital platforms in days rather than millennia. This acceleration transforms everything from business innovation to personal identity, making cultural adaptability the key survival skill.
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