Health & Science

A planet full of Angelina Jolies; Chimps aren’t immune to AIDS; When your eyes are wide shut; How the toucan got its bill

A planet full of Angelina Jolies

The female half of the species is getting more beautiful with each successive generation, while most men remain no more attractive than their cavemen ancestors, evolutionary biologists say. University of Helsinki researchers base that conclusion on a study of more than 2,000 American men and women who were tracked over decades. Women rated as beautiful had, on average, 16 percent more children than their more ordinary counterparts and more girls than boys. Handsome men, however, had no more success in reproducing than the average guy. Since men choose mates largely based on attractiveness, beautiful women have a much better chance of passing on the genes for physical beauty to the next generation of girls. Women, on the other hand, tend to choose as breeding partners men of high status and wealth, who offer protection and security for them and their children. “Historically, this has meant rich men tend to have more wives and many children,” said British psychologist Gayle Brewer. That’s true even if they look like Donald Trump or Aristotle Onassis.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us