Noted

Alex Eben Meyer

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Amblyopsid cavefish—small, colorless, and blind inhabitants of subterranean waters of the eastern United States—display unique adaptations to perpetual darkness. Yale researchers have unveiled new insights into their evolutionary history while creating an innovative genetic method for dating their underground habitats. 

Using genomic analysis, researchers found that different cavefish species colonized cave systems independently and separately evolved similar adaptations to their environments. Studying genetic mutations, the team developed a “mutational clock” to estimate when each species began losing its eyes, providing a minimum age for the caves they inhabit since the fish must have already inhabited subterranean waters when their eyesight began degenerating. The maximum ages researchers found exceeded the ranges available with traditional cave-dating methods.

The researchers cite potential implications for human health, as several genomic mutations seen in the deterioration of cavefish eyesight parallel mutations that cause certain human eye diseases. 

Getting young adults to drink less can reduce the risk of lifelong trouble with alcohol, but persuading that cohort to take problem drinking seriously can be challenging. Yale researchers have tested a new approach: demonstrating the detrimental effects of alcohol on sleep to motivate lifestyle changes. 

Participants aged 18–25 were assigned to one of three groups: one received only web-based advice on sleep and alcohol; another received the advice while self-monitoring with a smartphone diary; the third wore biosensors that monitored both alcohol use and sleep health, kept the diaries, and received personalized coaching. While all groups decreased their drinking, the third group achieved clinically meaningful reductions in their alcohol risk level. Researchers note that the stigma around talking about substance abuse was reduced by integrating it with overall health concerns.