What Are the Success Rates of Animal Reintroduction Programs? The success rates of animal reintroduction programs vary greatly depending on the species, location, and goals of the project. There are countless examples of successful projects, but there are also many instances of failure. A study published in the journal Animal Conservation looked at the success … Read more
What is the probability that new wild animal species will be discovered in the next five years? It is highly probable that new wild animal species will be discovered in the next five years. With advances in technology and the increasing number of dedicated researchers and scientists in the field, new species are being discovered … Read more
In 1920, hemlines were short, whiskey illegal, and girls were named Mary. Or, at least 1 in 17.52. Other names that year, almost as fashionable, were Dorothy (1 in 33.95), Margaret (1 in 44.42) and even Ruth (1 in 47.65). But by 1950, when booze was legal again, but hemlines down, Mary dropped to second place … Read more
The first gun ever “fired” at a US movie audience was in 1903, in a 10-minute silent film called The Great Train Robbery. In the film’s final shot, a robber points his revolver directly at the audience and fires twice. Many audience members shrieked or jumped for cover. It was a watershed moment in US history: … Read more
The parents of large families have sons and daughters in every combination and birth order. But some couples seem to go on a gender-streak. After Joe and Rose Kennedy had two sons, Joe Jr. and the future president, John F. Kennedy, they went on a streak of four girls in a row before alternating boy-girl-boy … Read more
It’s a staple of movies and television sitcoms. Think Charlotte in Sex and the City. A hugely pregnant woman is going about her life—say enjoying a meal in a fancy restaurant, or taking a Yoga for Mommies class, or strolling the produce aisle looking for mangoes—when suddenly she clutches her belly, looks down at her feet, … Read more
Alzheimer’s disease is the downside—and looming threat—of rapidly improving longevity. Not surprisingly, aging is the single greatest risk factor for developing the disease. For the 65 and older population of the United States, the odds of having Alzheimer’s are 1 in 6.86. For those 85 and older in the US, the odds jump to 1 in 1.57 (63.7%). … Read more
1 in 2,930,000 The odds a person will be diagnosed with leprosy in a year are 1 in 2,930,000 (US, 2007). Sources & Definitions SOURCE(S) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Summary of notifiable diseases—United States, 2007]. Published July 9, 2009 for MMWR 2007;56(No. 53):[inclusive page numbers]. CALCULATION(S) BY BOOK OF ODDS BASED ON Population … Read more
Dining at the venerable Harvard Faculty Club is a cherished tradition for many, including current and former faculty and alumni of the prestigious university. But this spring, over 300 people became ill with a norovirus,. The infection can be transmitted directly from person to person, but it is far more often spread through food which … Read more
Few young baby boomers went tromping through the backyard without the parental warning, “Don’t step on a rusty nail. You’ll get lockjaw!” echoing behind them. There was a certain urgency in the warnings that today’s children just don’t hear from their parents. Lockjaw, or tetanus, a brutal bacterial infection, is now entirely preventable, thanks to … Read more