Wednesday, September 20, 2023

why tolerating lactose is weird

https://youtube.com/shorts/EP56wTBgiPM?si=r2uVHs-DfDThyLfR

The truth is that people from cow herding cultures evolved toward adult lactose tolerance because it is a survival advantage. Most Asian people are lactose intolerant.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Jurassic Raccoon

https://youtube.com/shorts/D7w4AXKSZUg?si=_Pa-bGZVvGTP_raE

My father used to say that you should never feed a wild animal. I didn't understand at first, but the problem is that many animals can have rabies and not show symptoms. This includes raccoons.

Wild animals are not pets.

Migratory birds only fly south when the food runs out. I noticed that people would feed ducks who then stuck around till winter. This can't be good for the birds.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

Fundamental Biology Overturned: New Discovery Challenges Long-Held Views on “The Second Brain”

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Statement on 'Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses' review | Cochrane

Many commentators have claimed that a recently-updated Cochrane Review shows that 'masks don't work', which is an inaccurate and misleading interpretation.

It would be accurate to say that the review examined whether interventions to promote mask wearing help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses, and that the results were inconclusive. Given the limitations in the primary evidence, the review is not able to address the question of whether mask-wearing itself reduces people's risk of contracting or spreading respiratory viruses. 

The review authors are clear on the limitations in the abstract: 'The high risk of bias in the trials, variation in outcome measurement, and relatively low adherence with the interventions during the studies hampers drawing firm conclusions.'