The Week contest: Winter blubber
Last week's question: A study has found that mammals have evolved to overeat during cold winter months in order to maintain body fat, which might explain why so many people's New Year's resolutions to lose weight ultimately fail. Come up with a medical term to describe the extra layer of blubber many people put on from December to March.
Click here for the results of last week's contest: Candy Putin
RESULTS:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
THE WINNER: Polar Excess
Ivan Kershner, Salem, S.C.
SECOND PLACE: Jingle Belly
Janine Witte, New Hope, Pa.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
THIRD PLACE: Weather Ballooning
Richard Price, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Snowbesity
Ray Crary, Lodi, Wis.
Auld Lard Syne
Joe Valetti, San Leandro, Calif.
Hippothermia
Lynn Ahwesh, Camp Hill, Pa.
S'morebidly Obese
Kevin Spinner, Mill Valley, Calif.
Cold's Folds
Peter Bailey, Princeton, N.J.
BlubBRR
Neil Mann, Albuquerque, N.M.
Polar Paunch
Kenneth Updegrove, Cedaredge, Colo.
HoHoHobesity
Roger Lansing, Cooperstown, N.Y.
XX-mas
Janice Scalza, Rodney, Mich.
Spare snow tire
Danny Magowan, Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Seasonal My Gains
Lynn Rohatiner, Los Angeles
-
Antibiotic resistance: the hidden danger on Ukraine’s frontlinesUnder The Radar Threat is spreading beyond war zones to the ‘doorstep’ of western Europe
-
‘Capitalism: A Global History’ by Sven Beckert and ‘American Canto’ by Olivia NuzziFeature A consummate history of capitalism and a memoir from the journalist who fell in love with RFK Jr.
-
Who will the new limits on student loans affect?The Explainer The Trump administration is imposing new limits for federal student loans starting on July 1, 2026
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users