Research Preview: Nature Magazine – Dec 1, 2022

Volume 612 Issue 7938

Science Magazine – December 1, 2022 issue:

Research Highlights

Fast-evolving genome regions point to DNA that sets humans apart

The collection of 1,500 rapidly changing segments is rich in sequences associated with brain development and disease.

Prehistoric rubbish hints that early cooks cared about flavour

Ancient chefs made bitter plants taste better with techniques such as grinding and soaking.

Off the hook: electrical device keeps sharks away from fishing lines

Such interventions could greatly reduce accidental catches of threatened species.

Devastating drought in East Africa is traced to nearby seas

Understanding the weather pattern known as the Indian Ocean Dipole might help to predict lack of rainfall in countries such as Kenya.

Reports: Tufts Health & Nutrition – December 2022

Cover Image

December 2022 Issue:

Beware of “Health-Washing”

Front-of-package health claims can be helpful—but they can also be misleading. Learn how to tell the difference.

Habitual Coffee Consumption Associated with Health Benefits

A study that followed nearly 400,000 middle-aged individuals in the U.K. for a median of over 10 years found that, compared to individuals who reported drinking less than one cup of coffee a day, drinking four or more eight-ounce cups a day was associated with lower risk of 30 medical conditions.

FDA Proposes New Definition of “Healthy” on Food Packages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed new draft guidelines for food manufacturers who want to label their products as “healthy.” This term was last defined in the 1990s. According to the FDA, “our current definition permits manufacturers to use the claim ‘healthy’ on some foods that, based on the most up-to-date nutrition.

News: China Protests And Zero-Covid Easing, Major Russia Airstrike Planned

December 1, 2022 – The latest on the unrest in China and the easing of some coronavirus restrictions in response. Plus: the repercussions of the Belarusian foreign minister’s sudden death, Oath Keepers go on trial for the Capitol riots in the US and ArtReview’s annual Power 100.

Front Page: The New York Times – December 1, 2022

House Passes Bill to Avert a Rail Strike, Moving to Impose a Labor Agreement

The House voted to force rail companies and workers to accept a pending agreement and to add seven days of paid leave, a key demand of the employees. But it met with a rocky reception in the Senate.

For China’s Leader, Another Dilemma: How to Mourn Jiang Zemin

The former president’s death drew tributes from Chinese people at a fraught moment for the current leader, Xi Jinping, who faces widespread criticism of his harsh Covid policies.

When the Lights Go Out, Kyiv Keeps Going — With Some Ingenuity

Survival kits in elevators, alternative menus in cafes, flashlights and generators everywhere: This is life under Russian bombardment, when power can fail at any moment.

On City Streets, Fear and Hope as Mayor Pushes to Remove Mentally Ill

Mayor Eric Adams intends to remove people with severe, untreated mental illness from the streets. That will mean involuntary hospitalization of people deemed unable to care for themselves.