Snippets From Science

• Do women on boards and committees make for better decision-making? A number of studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, indicate they do. A group of social scientists at Wellesley College concluded that three is often the magic number. It appears that the presence of women, who often process information in a different way than their male counterparts, results in a more collaborative effort and makes the board more open to different opinions. Studies at the University of Queensland School of Business confirmed these conclusions, further noting that the presence of women board or committee members often results in better monitoring of finances and a greater alignment with community interests. (Lithwick, D., in Newsweek, Sept. 6, 2010; Adams and Ferreiera, 2009, J. Financial Economics, vol. 94, p. 291; and other sources)

• Language processing is a predominant function of the left brain in humans, while the right brain plays a major role in processing music. However, both hemispheres appear to participate in the creation of music. The famous composer, Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) suffered a left hemisphere stroke at the peak of his career. Thereafter he could no longer speak or compose music. However, he still recognized melodies, picked up mistakes in the playing of compositions, and judged the tuning of pianos, which he could no longer play. (Kolb and Shishaw, 2001, Brain and Behavior, Worth Pub.)

• Are Door County summers getting too hot for you? The world’s record for the hottest place on the planet was set in 1922, when it reached 136.4 degrees in El Azizia, Libya. Long ago desert tribes discovered that, as long as there is a breeze, loose-fitting and lightweight black robes can be cooler than light-colored robes. The reason is that solar heat is concentrated at the surface of black objects and is carried away by the wind, which reduces further penetration of radiant heat. (Dennis and Wolff, It’s Raining Frogs and Fishes, 1992, Harpers)

• Most everyone knows what genetics means, but there’s a new kind called “epigenetics” that is creating a lot of interest. The name literally means “above (or beyond) genetics.” Recent discoveries indicate that environmental factors can influence gene expression in an individual although the sequence of genes in the person’s DNA remains unchanged. At one time, it was believed that your genetic makeup determines who you are and what you become. Then research showed that the environment plays an equally important role in what you become and how you behave. Now epigenetic research is showing that negative environmental factors cause certain chemicals to reprogram how genes are expressed.

The work of Meaney and Szyf at McGill University in Canada showed that baby rats raised by inattentive mothers tended to be more nervous and anxious than those raised by a nurturing mother. They, and others, are demonstrating that early life experiences “can leave an indelible mark on the brain and influence both behavior and physical health later in life.” What appears to happen is that a group of atoms, called “methyl groups,” become attached to genes in response to adverse environmental conditions. Attachment of these groups results in a “reprogramming” of gene expression, and behavioral or physical changes occur in the individual as a result. (Science, July 2, 2010; other sources)