Reddit science
1Research shows doctors’ prescribing habits are heavily influenced by payments, gifts, and free meals from pharmaceutical companies, leading to more expensive, less appropriate and more drugs being prescribed.
- A Cochrane review of 93 studies finds pharmaceutical payments, gifts, and even free meals lead doctors to prescribe more, costlier, and less appropriate drugs, including opioids, with more meals meaning more prescriptions. Strict conflict-of-interest policies may improve prescribing.
Industry practices used to be far worse
Many say pharma perks were far worse before the Sunshine Act and a 2004 industry code banned gifts, trips and pens. Meals and speaker fees persist. Critics wish the review had split pre- and post-reform data, and the opioid crisis is cited as the era's worst consequence.Education versus bribery
Some argue the influence comes less from bribery than from reps becoming doctors' main educators, and note newer drugs are often better. Others counter that subconscious influence through gifts and repetition is still harmful, and that doctors should know better.How widespread payments really are
A claim that most doctors take no pharma money met a JAMA stat that 57% received payments. Others replied that the median was under $100, mostly meals like a $25 sandwich, while a few get millions. Some urge patients to look up their prescribers online.
2Research shows that the invisible mental load of planning and organizing household life predicts women's relationship and sexual satisfaction more strongly than the division of physical chores like cooking or cleaning.
- Women in heterosexual relationships report greater relationship and sexual satisfaction when male partners share the mental load of planning and emotional labor, which predicts satisfaction more than physical chores. Men were more satisfied when partners carried more of it.
Mental load is real, especially with kids
Users describe the endless tracking of appointments, groceries, school and meals, which intensifies with kids. Dads who took over childcare gained new appreciation. Shared fixes include digital calendars, fridge whiteboards and clear ownership of tasks."Just tell me what to do" isn't enough
Many say being told what to do still leaves one partner managing everything, so initiative is needed. Others say partners, often wives, gatekeep tasks and demand things done their way. Replies say it's about trust and unseen downstream consequences.Self-imposed and subjective load
Many commenters, mostly men, say some mental load stems from anxiety, perfectionism or over-planning every weekend and meal. Critics call the concept subjective, note modest study correlations (0.24), and say men's loads like finances and maintenance are overlooked.
3After Almost Going Extinct, Giant Tortoises Now Outnumber People in The Seychelles. Ample food supply and little predation enabled them to reach famously ripe old ages, and all without much need for speed or aggression.
- Aldabra giant tortoises, hunted to under 1,000 by the 19th century, now number over 180,000 after decades of protection, outnumbering Seychelles' human population. Researchers call this a baseline, as climate change, drought and invasive cats and rats still threaten them.
Population decline and recovery
Aldabra giant tortoises thrived on the isolated Seychelles until explorers and pirates hunted them below 1,000 by the 19th century. After decades of protection, they now outnumber the Seychelles' human population. One user jokingly questioned how many people live there.Tortoises as delicious food
Users noted that tortoises sent to Britain for study in Darwin's era were eaten before arrival. One cited an old seafarer's account comparing the meat to rich, creamy butter, and another wondered whether it also had a typical stringy reptile taste.Jokes about speed and aggression
Users riffed on the article's line about tortoises lacking speed and aggression. Jokes included giving them artificial or natural enhancements, a Ninja Turtles Foot Clan reference, envy of their peaceful lives, and a Miyamoto Musashi quote about peace requiring knowledge of violence.
4Moms who vacuumed, aired out futons and used anti-mite covers more often while pregnant had toddlers less likely to show signs of developmental delays at 18 months to 3 years, in a Japanese study of over 81,000 mother-child pairs. The more often they cleaned, the lower the odds.
- A Japanese study of 81,125 mother–child pairs found that more frequent house dust–related cleaning during pregnancy, such as vacuuming, airing futons, and using anti-mite covers, was linked to lower odds of developmental concerns in children aged 18 months to 3 years.
Correlation vs. causation
Many argue the link is merely correlational, as frequent cleaning may reflect higher income, better health, less stress or more attentive parenting. Some cite heritable ADHD/autism. One user noted the study adjusted for income, pets and BMI, and others call it an initial study.Study design limitations
Users criticize the lack of controls for post-birth parenting like reading to kids, and the reliance on self-reports, which may be biased in Japan, where mothers face strong cleaning expectations. Some propose randomized trials with house cleaners to isolate dust effects.Fathers' role and mother-blaming
Commenters asked about fathers' cleaning habits, joking that researchers hate vacuuming and noting Japanese fathers rarely clean. Others mocked expecting pregnant women with back pain to deep clean and called it another mother-blaming study.
5A new study has found that genetic signatures of assortative mating, where people pair up with partners who share similar traits, have grown significantly stronger among more recently born generations in the United States, particularly regarding educational attainment and smoking habits.
- A study of UK and US genetic data finds that assortative mating, where partners share traits like education, height, and smoking, leaves detectable genetic signatures across generations. Signatures for education and smoking grew stronger among more recently born Americans.
Social change and study limitations
Users say converging traits reflect expanded opportunities, like women's university access. Many criticize limiting samples to European ancestry given rising interracial marriage (3% in 1967 vs 17% in 2017). Others defend it as a standard genetics control.Genetics versus social factors
Skeptics say education and smoking are social, not genetic. Others cite heritable influences like intelligence and addiction risk. Some tie the trend to class divergence and debate whether neurodivergent couples or better recognition explain rising ADHD/autism diagnoses.Birth control hypothesis
Users challenged a theory that hormonal birth control makes women prefer genetically similar partners, noting the pill mimics post-ovulation, not pregnancy. A poorly replicated MHC study was cited. Others favor simpler causes like smokers being shunned and wider partner choice.
6Emotional blunting is common in depression and bipolar disorder, even after symptoms ease. It covers experiences such as apathy, loss of motivation, anhedonia (a reduced ability to feel pleasure), emotional numbness, and diminished empathy. It is also a known side effect of some antidepressants.
- A Thai study of 106 outpatients on antidepressants found 56% reported emotional blunting, with similar rates across major depressive, persistent depressive, and bipolar disorders. It was less common in remission (45% vs 66%) but still frequent, and links to childhood adversity were weak.
Living with gray emptiness
Users describe life drained of color: abandoned hobbies, lost motivation, and feeling "gray," "hollow," or like a "numb robot." Some have endured it for over a decade. Others note strained relationships and being seen as cold or uninterested.Antidepressants as a cause of blunting
Many blame SSRIs like Lexapro and Lustral for muting empathy, joy and drive, echoing the study's finding that over 90% linked blunting to meds. Some quit and recovered slowly. Others say an SNRI's blunting beats constant emotional volatility.Coping strategies and self-medication
Suggestions include THC (helpful for some, worse for others), gentle stretching, sensory grounding, Flow neuroscience, and HRT for menopause-related blunting. Skeptics mock "get off your phone" advice, question therapy's value and lament barriers to psilocybin.
7A new 'smart battery architecture' can extend electric vehicle battery life by over 20 percent by bypassing weak cells and making better use of remaining capacity. This can reduce total cost and increase sustainability, making it a great advantage for private car owners and fleets.
- Chalmers researchers show reconfigurable EV battery packs, which bypass weak cells, could theoretically extend battery life over 20% and delay replacement by about 14 months. Adding about 9% to pack cost, the design can already be cost-effective and may aid second-life reuse.
How reconfigurable battery packs work
Cells age unevenly, and in fixed packs the weakest cell limits the whole pack. Switches let the BMS bypass weak cells, for example changing 10s5p to 7s7p with a DC-DC converter. Idealized models show over 20% lifetime extension for some high-voltage EVs.Practicality concerns and serviceable alternatives
Skeptics note that packs have hundreds of cells, so switches must carry full load and add weight, cost and failure points. Some think it suits only small pouch-cell packs. Others suggest serviceable packs or regulations requiring swappable modules instead.Skepticism about lab breakthroughs reaching market
One user complains such announcements never become products. Others counter that EV batteries keep improving through incremental R&D, much engineering refines existing systems, and companies don't credit earlier research articles when features ship.
8Women Are More Likely to Be Interested in Jobs Where Most Employees Are Women. Researchers Suggest Workplace Gender Representation May Influence Career Interest and Help Explain Why Some Professions Remain Male or Female Dominated.
- Four PLOS One studies of 1,680 people found women showed more interest and expected belonging in jobs where most employees were women, sometimes outweighing job ads stressing brilliance. Men were largely unaffected, suggesting existing representation encourages future representation.
Shared interests and belonging
Women describe feeling excluded in male-dominated settings where talk centers on golf, sports and video games. Others say shared interests matter more than gender, and that many women stay in jobs for their relationships with female coworkers.Toxicity depends on people, not gender
Users trade conflicting anecdotes: some call all-female workplaces calm and supportive, while others call them toxic. Many conclude that toxicity depends on individuals and environment rather than gender. Some feel such studies unfairly paint men negatively.Study methodology and interpretation
Commenters question whether representation drives interest or the reverse. Others clarify that men's interest didn't depend on gender makeup, while women's interest dropped for male-dominated jobs. Participants' older average age (39.5) was noted as a possible influence.
9A new study published in Pediatrics found that therapeutic horseback riding can reduce hyperactivity and improve emotional and social functioning in children with autism and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
- A CU Anschutz study in Pediatrics found therapeutic horseback riding reduced hyperactivity in children with autism and psychiatric disorders, replicating earlier results at a Maine center. Riding and non-riding barn activities both improved irritability, emotional regulation and social skills.
Accessibility and cost
Users asked how non-wealthy families could access it. Others pointed to nonprofits (PATH Intl, CANTRA, Easter Seals), scholarships, possible Medicaid coverage and ~$50 sessions. Skeptics noted horses are costly to keep and suggested dogs or hiking instead.Personal experiences with equine therapy
Volunteers and parents described calmer, more engaged kids. One nonverbal AuDHD child is thriving in horseback OT, and some adults recalled horses as a refuge. Autistic users said animals are easier to understand than people, though not every kid enjoys it.Why horse therapy works
One user argued that horses, as prey animals, give instant honest feedback that teaches calm behavior without adult-imposed rules, like living neurofeedback. Workers said kids learn to respect horses' comfort. Others asked about session length or called the findings obvious.