Pregnancy's effect on 'biological' age, polite birds, and the carbon cost of home-grown veg
Apr 3, 2024
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Pregnancy can advance 'biological' age, but giving birth reverses it; birds show polite gestures; home-grown veg has higher carbon footprint than commercial farms; upcoming total solar eclipse's scientific experiments and learning opportunities
Pregnancy can impact 'biological' age by altering DNA methylation levels, which can partially reverse postpartum.
Birds like Japanese tits display symbolic gestures signaling 'after you,' showcasing potential cognitive complexity in animal communication.
Deep dives
Aging, Pregnancy, and Biological Age
Pregnancy can impact biological age by increasing methylation levels, leading to a perceived aging effect. However, postpartum, this increase can be partially reversed. Methylation, an epigenetic process, plays a key role in determining biological age, influenced by factors like stress, disease, and now, pregnancy.
Symbolic Gestures in Japanese Tits
Japanese tits have been observed displaying symbolic gestures akin to 'after you' signals, representing abstract communication. These gestures are unique among animals, indicating potential cognitive complexity in these birds. Researchers noted that the mate's presence influenced the frequency and meaning of these gestures, establishing them as symbolic in nature.
Carbon Emissions in Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture projects, aimed at growing food locally, can have a higher carbon footprint than commercial farming. Factors like synthetic fertilizers, inefficient composting, and use of plastic materials contribute to increased emissions. Efforts are needed to optimize urban gardening practices to reduce carbon impact while retaining social benefits.
00:35 Pregnancy advances your ‘biological’ age — but giving birth turns it back
Growing a baby leads to changes in the distribution of certain chemical markers on a pregnant person’s DNA, but new research suggests that after giving birth, these changes can revert to an earlier state.
A Japanese tit (Parus minor) will flutter its wings to invite their mate to enter the nest first. Use of these sorts of gestures, more complex than simply pointing at an object of interest, were thought to be limited to great apes, suggesting that there are more non-vocal forms of communication to be found in the animal kingdom.
Research have estimated that the carbon footprint of home-grown food and community gardens is six-times greater than conventional, commercial farms. This finding surprised the authors — keen home-growers themselves — who emphasize that their findings can be used to help make urban efforts (which have worthwhile social benefits) more carbon-efficient.
On 8th April, a total eclipse of the Sun is due to trace a path across North America. We look at the experiments taking place and what scientists are hoping to learn.