Genes, environment or a special bond? Why some twins talk and think in unison
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Introduction:
The news topic “Genes, environment or a special bond? Why some twins talk and think in unison” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- The Black Woman of Gippsland is based on a true story. It is the story of a woman believed to have been lost off the coast of Melbourne in 1846. The story is told through the eyes of the woman and her family. The play is set in the 1930s and 1940s. It was written by Peter James and directed by David Walliams. For more information on the play, visit www.theblackwoman.org.uk. For further information on The Black Woman, visit the official website of the Black Woman’s Association. For information on how to buy a copy of the book, visit http://www.the Black Woman.org/shop/black-woman-of-gipps-land-by-peter-james-and-david-walliams-the-book.
- A group of New Zealand academics have drawn up a ‘Declaration on Palestine’ The document will be formally adopted at a congress of the Otago Staff for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) on Thursday. ‘It expresses the brutal truth of what is currently taking place in Palestine, as well as our commitment to international law and human rights,’ says Professor Richard Jackson of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. “We hope the declaration will be an inspiration to others and a call to action at a moment when the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is accelerating at an alarming rate,” he says. The declaration is part of the wider Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanction (BD) campaign, which is calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Grief, strength and resistance: The Black Woman of Gippsland is a powerful reckoning with colonial myths
The Black Woman of Gippsland is based on a true story. It is the story of a woman believed to have been lost off the coast of Melbourne in 1846. The story is told through the eyes of the woman and her family. The play is set in the 1930s and 1940s. It was written by Peter James and directed by David Walliams. For more information on the play, visit www.theblackwoman.org.uk. For further information on The Black Woman, visit the official website of the Black Woman’s Association. For information on how to buy a copy of the book, visit http://www.the Black Woman.org/shop/black-woman-of-gipps-land-by-peter-james-and-david-walliams-the-book. Read full article
Otago academics plan declaration on Palestine to ‘face daily horrors’
A group of New Zealand academics have drawn up a ‘Declaration on Palestine’ The document will be formally adopted at a congress of the Otago Staff for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) on Thursday. ‘It expresses the brutal truth of what is currently taking place in Palestine, as well as our commitment to international law and human rights,’ says Professor Richard Jackson of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. “We hope the declaration will be an inspiration to others and a call to action at a moment when the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is accelerating at an alarming rate,” he says. The declaration is part of the wider Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanction (BD) campaign, which is calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. Read full article
Australian twins went viral for speaking in unison. But is twin telepathy real?
An interview with Paula and Bridgette Powers recently went viral. The way they spoke and gestured in unison has captivated global audiences. So, when identical twins talk and gesture in unison (known as synchrony), is it down to genes? The answer can be complicated. Let’s break down the factors that might lead some twins to speak — and apparently think – in unison. For identical twins who grow up in the same home, school and community, the effect of a shared environment and close bond may be particularly intense. Almost all twins, even “identical” ones, show some differences in physical, mental and emotional traits. They also regard themselves as distinct individuals and typically don’t like being referred to as “the twins”. Most people naturally mimic the way those close to them speak and move, even without realising it. This phenomenon is called automatic mimicry. Read full article
‘Like living mirrors’: what twins’ special bonds reveal about nature, nurture and genetics
About one in every 65 pregnancies in the UK results in a multiple birth. The unusualness of twins has captured the creative imagination. June and Jennifer Gibbons are the subject of Polish film maker Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s new film, The Silent Twins. The Gibbons girls, like all identical or monozygotic (MZ) twins, came from the same egg and sperm. When a zygote is split in two at an early stage of development, it creates two separate embryos that share the same genes. Worldwide, less than one in 300 people are identical twins. They present a strikingly similar image of themselves, but also provide a mirror for society to examine the age-old questions of nature and nurture. But their likeness has often been treated not as a biological quirk but as something weird, even supernatural. Read full article
Independent Analysis and Reportage
A recent report described the war in Gaza as the “worst ever conflict for reporters” in history. Israel has killed 214 Palestinian journalists in Gaza over the past 18 months. Two journalists killed on Wednesday — Yahya Subaih and Nour El-Din Abdo. New details have emerged about the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, the renowned Palestinian American Al Jazeera journalist who was fatally shot by an Israeli soldier three years ago on 11 May 2022. She was killed while covering an Israeli army assault on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. But Israel has never identified the soldier who fired the fatal shot, or allowed the soldier to be questioned by US investigators. But a new documentary just released by Zeteo has identified and named the Israeli soldier for the first time. This is the trailer to the documentary Who Killed Shirean? Read full article
I went to the world’s largest gathering of identical twins. I left jealous.
Identical twins are the result of one fertilized egg splitting into two, giving them identical DNA. They can speak in unison (it’s weird at first, then charming) They often choose the same careers — the Simmermon sisters, now 25, are electrical engineers in Knightstown, Indiana. They and other identical twins I met at Twins Days are really, really into their twinness. The overwhelming answer, often said in unison: “It’S like having a built-in best friend for life.” Would it be better for everyone to have a twin? Would the world be a better place? Twins Days provides compelling evidence that the answer is yes. The festival is held every August in Twinsburg, Ohio, and draws thousands of identical pairs and other multiples to celebrate this special kind of siblinghood. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Grief, strength and resistance: The Black Woman of Gippsland is a powerful reckoning with colonial myths
- Otago academics plan declaration on Palestine to ‘face daily horrors’
- Australian twins went viral for speaking in unison. But is twin telepathy real?
- ‘Like living mirrors’: what twins’ special bonds reveal about nature, nurture and genetics
- Independent Analysis and Reportage
- I went to the world’s largest gathering of identical twins. I left jealous.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-genes-environment-special-bond-twins.html