SPONSORED BY  | | | | December 21, 2023: How sperm lose their genetic material, humans are fixated on water, and sexual harassment is a real problem at McMurdo research station in Antarctica. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Water scarcity can change how we think about and plan for the future. Behavioral scientists conducted local surveys and global analysis and found that when less water is available, people spend more time thinking about the future and making more plans. For example, in two geographically and economically similar cities in Iran, how much water was available determined how much people there prioritized future planning. Surveys of hundreds of individuals in each town showed that in Shiraz–where rainfall is plentiful–people liked being in the moment more than planning for the future. Why this is interesting: Humans and water have a special relationship. Research has shown that humans are more dependent on water than any other mammal, and our thirst has shaped our evolution. The researchers found that the availability of water was more of a determining factor of planning and saving than was wealth.
What the experts say: "Our work suggests that as many places dry up, global warming could reshape how people think, pushing whole communities toward more cautious, future-oriented behavior," write Thomas Talhelm and Hamidreza Harati, the researchers who conducted the studies. | | | Humans inherit mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from their mother's egg cell–an ancient genetic relic of when the mitochondria was a free-swimming bacteria. But the few mitochondria in sperm cells are notoriously void of nearly all DNA. Researchers have discovered that, as sperm cells mature, a protein called transcription factor A (TFAM) gets redirected away from entering the sperm's mitochondria, where it would otherwise protect the genetic material. Without TFAM in the sperm mitochondria, the mtDNA there degrades.
Why this is interesting: If any mtDNA remains in the sperm cells, it could lead to infertility. In addition to this new observation, researchers have previously recorded several alternative mechanisms that keep genetic material out of sperm mitochondria in different organisms.
What the experts say: "We need to uncover these mechanisms," he says, "to better understand mitochondrial diseases and how to treat them." Mitochondrial diseases affect one in 4,000 people in the U.S., according to a recent review. | | |
Looking for a last-minute gift? Give the gift of science this year and save 40% on digital and print subscriptions to Scientific American. | | | • Technology was supposed to make life more efficient. But instead it's stealing our time. | 4 min read | | | • Many people feel down in winter months. But winter also boosts sex drive. | 5 min read | | | • To get a sense of COVID rates in your community, you can check online wastewater management sites. Here's how to do it. | 4 min read | | | A halo around the sun—like this one over Germany's Ore Mountains—comes from light shining through airborne ice crystals. Credit: Martin Ruegner/Getty Images | | | • The majority of women who work or have worked at McMurdo research station in Antarctica believe that sexual harassment and assault there is a problem, according to a report released in 2022 by the National Science Foundation, the government agency that runs the research base and manages the contractors who support it. Anecdotal reports from women who have worked there paint an even more sinister picture of what happens at the edge of the world, as Elizabeth Endicott writes. Endicott spent three Antarctic summers as a janitor at McMurdo and endured nearly constant stalking and harassment. The NSF needs to account for the decades of wrongdoing at its Antarctic research stations and explain why it's taken so long to act, she says. And it should "hold its contractors responsible for the welfare of the employees who work under its banner." | 10 min read | | | SPONSORED CONTENT BY NOVAVAX | Novavax is a global leader in vaccine development and research | The company's vaccine technology is built on a protein-based platform and combines the power of a well-understood approach with an innovative nanoparticle technology. It is intended to help protect against some of the world's most pressing viral diseases. Learn More. | | | Sexual harassment is pervasive in science. On top of that, women and people of color face more subtle forms of discrimination and bias. To learn more, I recommend the 2020 documentary "Picture a Scientist," which profiles the journey of several women scientists, including Jane Willenbring, who filed a complaint against her supervisor for harassment while they were doing fieldwork in Antarctica. It's a powerful film and you can rent it on Amazon Prime. | If you do watch it, tell me what you think, or send any other feedback to: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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