Something You Should Know The Surprising History of the 7-Day Week & How and Why Cats Evolved into Pets - SYSK Choice
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May 31, 2025 
David Henkin, a history professor at UC Berkeley, reveals the surprising origins of the seven-day week, explaining how this artificial concept shapes our lives and schedules today. Additionally, Jonathan B. Losos, an evolutionary biologist, shares the fascinating journey of cats from wild animals to beloved household pets, detailing their domestication alongside human agriculture. Together, they explore the importance of these timelines and companions in our modern existence, highlighting how our routines and relationships have evolved.
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Origin of the Seven-Day Week
- The seven-day week is entirely artificial, not based on natural phenomena like the sun or moon.
- It originated mainly from Jewish Sabbath practices and Roman planetary cycles, merging over time globally.
Days of Week Have Distinct Feels
- Days of the week have distinct "feels" linked to social schedules and expectations.
- This subjective feeling arises not just from work-rest cycles but from habitual communal activities.
Pandemic Shattered Weekly Time Sense
- The pandemic disrupted weekly routines, causing a loss of sense of time linked to the week.
- The week remains our most fragile and significant time cycle anchored in human habits, not natural markers.
