April 22, 2025—Today, a biological mystery: Why some animals live longer than others. Plus, a surprising way to cut the risk of dementia; and spherical structures in the cosmos baffle astronomers.
—Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor
TODAY'S NEWS
Baac3nes/Getty Images
Astronomers still don't quite know what recently discovered, "odd radio circles" are. | 5 min read
Lowering someone's blood pressure with medication can also reduce their risk of developing dementia. | 3 min read
The oil company founded by Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported falling profits last week, warning investors that the oil industry faces "storm clouds on the horizon." | 3 min read
Animals on Earth live to an astoundingly wide range of ages. Mice have a maximum lifespan of 4 years, whereas scientists think the Greenland shark may have a maximum lifespan of nearly 400 years (they don’t even reach sexual maturity until 150). Some species of turtles, fishes and salamanders don’t show any signs of degeneration or senescence as they grow older.
How it works: It’s a biological mystery why some species live longer than others. DNA mutations may play a role in determining lifespans, with longer-lived species tending to evolve better DNA-repair systems to help ward off cancer.
Mark Belan; Source: AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database/Human Aging Genomic Resources (longevity data)
The human condition: Humans may have reached their upper limit of lifespan already, according to a study published last year. Despite ongoing medical advances designed to extend life, the findings indicate that people in the most long-lived countries have experienced a deceleration in the rate of improvement of average life expectancy over the past three decades.
What the experts say: Aging, which involves a series of poorly understood biological processes whose effects include frailty, dementia, heart disease and sensory impairments, has so far eluded efforts to slow it down, says S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
MATH PUZZLE
Move the Matchstick
Move three matchsticks around so that the coin is inside the house. You cannot move the coin, and the house must have exactly the same shape as before. Click through to see the solution.
EXPERT PERSPECTIVES
Since January, slashes to federal funding have halted studies on a wide range of scientific and health topics. A few scientific organizations have joined an ACLU lawsuit filed on April 2 to protect these essential projects, and "Yet no other scientific societies I am aware of have taken steps to join such funding-related legal challenges, despite the vocal resistance of individual scientists," writes Angel Algarin, an assistant professor at Arizona State University. "I urge you to ask this simple but critical question: What is my professional society actively doing to protect science right now?" | 4 min read
If you enjoy brain teasers like the matchstick puzzle above, I recommend checking out a special issue we published last summer that has a sampling of articles by Martin Gardner, longtime author of Scientific American's games column. He dives into the math of probability paradoxes, Möbius strips, and more. You can also find a great sampling of puzzles and games on our website. Enjoy!
What are your favorite puzzles and brainteasers? Let me know at: newsletters@sciam.com. Thanks for reading!
—Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor
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