THINGS WE LEARNED THIS MONTH

MARS IS COVERED WITH TOXIC COMPOUNDS

The surface of the Red Planet is teeming with chemicals that could wipe out living organisms, say researchers from Edinburgh University. This finding greatly reduces the chances of finding life on Mars.

OUR BRAINS BENEFIT FROM PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Working out can be just as beneficial for our brains as our bodies. A team at the University of Arizona has found that taking exercise leads to improvements in brain structure and function – an effect thought to be linked to our evolution from sedentary apes to active hunter-gatherers.

CHILDREN WHO SLEEP LESS COULD AGE FASTER

Telomeres are structures at the end of our chromosomes that shorten with age. In nine-year-old children who miss out on sleep, they are significantly shorter than in kids who sleep more, a study at Princeton University has found.

EARTH IS ON THE BRINK OF MASS EXTINCTION

Over the last century, Earth has undergone a decline in mammal populations akin to ‘biological annihilation’, according to Mexican researchers. This is due to human overconsumption and overpopulation, they say.