malaria resistance African descent enslavement Caribbean United States

Malaria resistance helped make enslavement more profitable

People of African descent had greater resistance to malaria than Europeans. That difference helped make the enslavement and transportation of Africans more profitable in the southern United States and the Caribbean.

A planet barely heavier than Earth can be almost as big as Saturn

Kepler-51b is a remarkably low-density planet. It has only a few times Earth's mass but a radius approaching that of Saturn, giving it an enormous, diffuse atmosphere. Astronomers call such worlds 'super-puffs.' Their strange proportions show that a planet's size can reveal surprisingly little about how much matter it contains.

Jumping spiders use fluid pressure to extend their legs

A jumping spider can straighten its legs for a powerful leap by forcing body fluid into them under pressure. This lets it jump without needing large muscles to extend those leg joints.

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malaria resistance African descent enslavement Caribbean United States

Malaria resistance helped make enslavement more profitable

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