We may have discovered a new form of evolution
Scientists studied how insects coped with hurricane Harvey in 2017 for a paper published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. They noticed that many bugs went through a type of evolution called ‘spatial sorting’. It changes the likelihood of which specific traits are passed on, like with natural selection, but instead of taking thousands of years, the change occurred almost instantaneously. Since it’s often triggered by major natural disasters, scientists think we’ll be seeing more of this evolution in the near future (Rutgers University).
Is winter the best season for our health?
A new mouse study shows that these shorter days may have a positive effect on metabolism. The mice that were exposed to winter-light hours experienced less weight gain and had a better eating schedule to support metabolic health. The work, which is published in Cell Metabolism, can’t be accurately translated to humans, but researchers hope this study opens the door to figuring out how seasons affect our hunger pathways (University of Copenhagen).
Education has become an afterthought for many kids
The U.S. Department of Education has reported that chronic absenteeism in schools was at an all-time high this past school year. Two-thirds of K-12 students were enrolled in education programs with high levels of chronic absence – meaning that one in five kids missed nearly four weeks of classes. These absences put a greater stress on teachers and make learning much more difficult (Johns Hopkins University).
Breast milk is triggered by a baby’s whine
New research in Nature Finds that a newborn’s cry tells the mother’s brain to release oxycontin – a chemical that controls the flow of breast milk. This flood of hormones lasts for a few minutes, allowing enough time for a mother to feed her child. Without this process, there could be a delay in milk production which leads to a frustrated baby and mom (NYU).
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