planned economy shortages firms hoarded labor supplies

Shortages led firms to hold onto workers and supplies

In socialist planned economies, firms facing shortages could expect government support even if they missed financial targets. They held onto workers and supplies, helping keep employment high but making production disruptions and ongoing shortages hard to end.

COVID-19 was linked to extra loss in smell-related brain tissue

0.2%–2% more tissue

A study found that people infected with COVID-19 had more tissue loss in brain regions connected to smell than uninfected people; most infections were mild. The average overall brain effect was equivalent to at least one extra year of normal aging. Researchers do not know whether the changes are temporary or permanent.

An octopus can flash a warning without changing color

Under ⅓ Second

A blue-ringed octopus can reveal its brilliant blue warning rings in less than a third of a second. But it does not need to create new pigment. Tiny muscles uncover reflective structures that were hidden beneath its skin. The rings were there all along—the octopus simply switches them into view.

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planned economy shortages firms hoarded labor supplies

Shortages led firms to hold onto workers and supplies

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