Natural Selections

Natural Selections explores the intersection of evolution, science, and societal issues, challenging conventional wisdom and prompting reevaluation of accepted norms. It discusses biological differences, privacy, censorship, education, and environmental concerns, often emphasizing the importance of questioning, creativity, and scientific inquiry.

Evolution Societal Issues Biological Differences Privacy Censorship Education Environmental Concerns Scientific Inquiry

The hottest Substack posts of Natural Selections

And their main takeaways

Amphibian Milk

5 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🔬 Science Nature Research Evolution Biology
  1. The three clades of extant amphibians are Anura (frogs and toads), Caudata (salamanders and newts), and Gymnophiona (caecilians). Each group has unique characteristics and adaptations to their environment.
  2. Some caecilians provide parental care by offering highly nutritious skin for their babies to eat, and secreting a kind of milk-like substance that the young ones click and chirp for before collecting from their mother's cloaca.
  3. Milk is typically associated with mammals, but caecilian mothers also produce a form of milk for their young, showcasing similarities in parental care across different animal groups.

Brains, Mammals, and the Brains of Mammals

6 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🔬 Science Evolution Anatomy Biology Neuroscience Genetics
  1. Our ancestors were successful in evolution, leading to our existence today. Every single one of us is part of a long line of evolutionary success.
  2. Mammals have evolved unique traits such as mammary glands, four-chambered hearts, and specialized teeth, making them distinct from other species.
  3. The mammalian brain has evolved to be large, well-connected, and specialized, with a balance between autonomy and integration, as shown in the structures like the forebrain and the corpus callosum.

Eat street food

7 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culture Microbiome Travel
  1. Travel offers mind-expanding experiences, even if uncomfortable at times, leading to memorable moments and reflection.
  2. Eating street food while traveling can provide a glimpse into local culture, fostering connections, and offering unique culinary experiences.
  3. Sampling street food can impact your gut microbiome positively, contributing to better health and enhancing your overall travel experience.

On a bus

7 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Human condition Lifestyle Global Perspectives
  1. Observations from a bus ride in Ecuador highlighted the disparity in wealth and opportunities between people
  2. The toll booth workers' daily lives spark questions about freedom, joy, and aspirations in the face of monotonous and toxic work
  3. Scenes along the road reveal the repetitive nature of tasks and the search for meaning in various forms of work and entertainment
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Things that caught my eye #5

6 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing Economy
  1. The author reflects on creating fake marketing schemes in their youth.
  2. They were drawn to Publishers Clearing House mailings in the '70s and '80s.
  3. The author found these mailings both horrifying and captivating.

Things that caught my eye #6

4 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Anatomy Authors
  1. Research suggests it's better for the environment to buy conventionally grown food than grow it yourself.
  2. Shoulders have an interesting origin connected to skeletal evolution.
  3. Author Edith Wharton's work gets a new appreciation over time.

You Go Girl

24 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Entertainment Society Norms Identity
  1. Different cultural events can reveal surprising similarities.
  2. Surface appearances and illusions play a big role in drag and Barbie shows.
  3. Pushing boundaries in social norms should be done thoughtfully to avoid negative consequences.

Celebrating the Cheater

23 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🎾 Sports Gender identity Gender Equality
  1. Men and women have different physical capacities due to biological differences.
  2. Separate men's and women's divisions in sports exist because of these differences.
  3. Allowing individuals to self-assign their sex in sports can lead to unfair competition and cheating.

Stark and Exposed

21 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Architecture Nature Society Wellness
  1. The modern way is to sanitize and control your surroundings to avoid imperfections and surprises.
  2. Trusting experts and following standardized aesthetics can lead to a sterile living environment.
  3. Balancing controlled indoor spaces with exposure to nature and elements can bring vitality and appreciation for life.

Defend what is yours

14 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
  1. The bald eagle, once endangered, has seen a population increase due to conservation efforts.
  2. Gulls fiercely protect their young from eagle predators, showing persistence and care.
  3. Gulls actively pursue and confront threats to protect their offspring, providing a lesson in determination.

The pendulum swings

16 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Privacy Youth Masks
  1. Masks outdoors did not make sense as airflow disperses pathogens and sunlight is healing.
  2. Privacy is important for introspection and personal growth, allowing time for reflection before sharing reactions.
  3. Young people who once shared everything online are now seeking privacy by hiding behind masks, highlighting a transition in behavior.

My Father

17 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Family Memoir Food Travel Traditions
  1. The author reflects on her father's life, memories, and impact after his passing.
  2. The father was a strong and adventurous person, eager to teach his children but kept many of his thoughts to himself.
  3. He had a love for nature, mathematics, food, and life, leaving a lasting impression on his family.

Corruption takes on many forms

13 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Corruption Bureaucracy Travel Memoir
  1. Corruption manifests in various ways, from bureaucratic hurdles to hidden agendas.
  2. Dealing with bureaucratic corruption can be challenging and sometimes requires compromises.
  3. Transparent broken systems are preferable to hidden corruption that manipulates reality and information.

The Age of Censorship

16 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Censorship Education History Literature Art
  1. Fact-checking organizations and big tech increasingly engage in censorship, affecting what information is allowed online.
  2. Changes made by sensitivity readers and censors to works of authors like Roald Dahl interfere with historical understanding and creative autonomy.
  3. The traditional education system favors certain types of learners, leading to an imbalance in perspectives and a failure to cater to the diverse needs of students.

It is dark inside your head

14 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. Our brains work in darkness, but sunlight still plays a role.
  2. Near Infrared (NIR) light penetrates our bodies and brains, promoting health.
  3. Subcellular melatonin, produced by NIR exposure, acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body.