"The Atlantic's Science, Technology, and Health desk has had a busy 2025: Our writers have spent the year probing the limits of human consciousness and gene-editing technology, studying the ubiquity of microplastics, investigating the origins of a mysterious ALS outbreak, and even chasing down rubble from the White House's demolished East Wing. Our reporting has led us to a number of strange and delightful facts. In a year defined by slop, we hope these nuggets of reality inspire some genuine awe:"
"On average, women's hands are more sensitive to warmth than men's, some research suggests. The U.S. releases 100 million sterile flies in Mexico every week. A sea-slug species called Elysia chlorotica appears to perform photosynthesis. The slug eats algae, turns bright green, and spends the rest of its life converting light, water, and air into sugar, like a leaf. The jingle for Pepsi-Cola was the most recognized tune in America in 1942, according to one survey. Satellites can spot the hot breath geysering out of a single whale's blowhole."
Women's hands are, on average, more sensitive to warmth than men's, according to some research. The United States releases 100 million sterile flies in Mexico every week as part of pest-control programs. A sea slug, Elysia chlorotica, appears to perform photosynthesis by eating algae, turning green, and converting light, water, and air into sugar. Satellites can detect the hot breath from a whale's blowhole. Some people worried about AI are skipping retirement savings. Scientists identified or created a new color called "olo." Modern potatoes likely descended from an ancient tomato plant. One estimate attributes 92 percent of U.S. GDP growth in early 2025 to AI spending. A baby received a customized CRISPR treatment for a rare mutation. Historical curiosities include four-sided baseball bats and Little League claims that being hit with a ball could cause breast cancer.
Read at The Atlantic
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