The A﹠P Professor Science & Education Updates - Issue #228

Life Science

The sex of human and other mammal babies is decided by a male-determining gene on the Y chromosome. But the human Y chromosome is degenerating and may disappear in a few million years, leading to our extinction unless we evolve a new sex gene.

Restoring hearing loss with hearing aids or cochlear implants was linked with less long-term cognitive decline and even some gain, a systematic review and meta-analysis showed.

Fires and droughts in the western states are getting worse — and they’re combining with industrial sources to threaten air quality and people’s health.

The highly transmissible variant emerged with a host of unusual mutations. Now scientists are trying to work out how it evolved.

Sequences of early forms of the fast-spreading variant reported to have been circulating in West Africa could have resulted from contamination.

Teaching & Learning

A new study shows that eye movements during the processing of tasks provide information about what the respective person is currently occupied with and what goals are being pursued within the task. These findings could play a role in the organization of screen work in the future.

As the court weighs race-conscious college admissions policies, some say the needs of resegregating K-12 schools ought to be considered, too.

By looking inward, you can enter a state of mind where you can increase focus and get more done, says this author.

TAPP News & Notes

Phantasia: Mental Imagery in Teaching & Learning | Pregnancy & Abortion Facts Can Stir Up Feelings

What to Do When Flooded with New Learning? | Transparency About Models, Analogies, and Color Codes in Science | Should We Extend Deadlines?