Yale University's "Best of the Week" highlights significant research spanning societal trends, evolutionary biology, and medical advancements, alongside crucial public health information.
Law professor Samuel Moyn's new book explores the "great aging" of America, positing that a "gerontocracy" now dominates, with wealth and power increasingly concentrated among older generations. Moyn's work delves into the origins and implications of this phenomenon, and potential solutions.
In scientific news, Yale researchers are challenging a long-held theory regarding tuna evolution, suggesting that the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs did not rapidly spur the development of warm-blooded predators. Separately, pathologist Sarah Aitken and her team have found that individual genetics profoundly influence not only cancer risk but also its progression over time, potentially opening new avenues for screening and treatment.
The university also provided public health guidance on cyclosporiasis, a foodborne infection, with infectious disease specialist Scott Roberts explaining its causes and prevention. Additionally, Yale faculty offered summer book recommendations, and the Yale Alumni Service Corps engaged in community service in Poland, supporting English language learning for local and Ukrainian youth.