17
Nov
Queen bees and alpha chimps aren’t voted into office, but that doesn’t mean they’re despots. Scientists have begun to view many animal species as de facto democracies, where majority rule ensures survival more than tyranny can.
7 examples of animal democracy
15
Dec
Study suggests ignorance promotes democracy
Strongly opinionated members can determine a group’s consensus decision, even when they make up only a small minority. New research of animal behavior shows, however, that adding ignorant or uninformed members to the group can counteract the minority’s powerful influence and promote a more democratic outcome.
31
Mar
U.S. develops ‘panic button’ for pro-democracy activists
The ‘panic button’ is an app developed by the State Department that will wipe out a phone’s address book and emit emergency alerts to other activists.
