iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

How many meaningful social relationships can a human brain handle? One scientist has an answer. @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJScience www.wsj.com/science/soci... via @wsj.com

wsj.com

Our Brains Evolved to Socialize—but Max Out at About 150 Friends

The size of our social networks is limited even in the age of social media.

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Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Scientists have solved the puzzling origin story of the modern spud: “We revealed that tomato is the mother of potato.” @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJScienceShorts www.wsj.com/science/pota... via @wsj.com

wsj.com

Potato, Meet Tomato: How the Modern Spud Was Born

A potato-like plant interbred with ancient tomatoes. Without this evolutionary event, the tuber we know wouldn’t exist.

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Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

How tall is your running shoe? Thick foams and stiff plates confer a biomechanical advantage—but as sneakers grow higher, are there implications for our running experience? @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJFOR www.wsj.com/tech/running... via @WSJ

wsj.com

The Evolution of the Running Shoe and What Comes Next

As sneakers get taller, experts weigh in on the shoes of the future and what they mean for your running health.

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Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Evidence suggests early humans used primitive sunscreen and wore tailored clothing—possibly contributing to their survival as Neanderthals went extinct @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJScience www.wsj.com/science/nean... via @wsj.com

wsj.com

Did UV Rays Doom Neanderthals?

Some researchers say sunscreen and tailored clothing might have helped humans survive when Neanderthals went extinct.

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Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Unlike any other mammal, human scalp hair can grow in length for years on end--and this unusual trait gave our ancestors an evolutionary edge. @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJScience www.wsj.com/science/biol... via @wsj.com

wsj.com

Hair Kept Our Ancestors’ Brains Cool—And Gave Them an Evolutionary Advantage

New research explains how scalp hair grows so long, and how its characteristics helped us thrive.

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Reposted by Aylin Woodward

Jo Craven McGinty @mcjomcg.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Megalodons were longer and leaner than scientists once thought. That shape could have contributed to the giant shark’s extinction, new research suggests. @aylinwoodward.bsky.social reports for #WSJScienceShorts www.wsj.com/science/how-... via @wsj.com

wsj.com

Megalodon Sharks Were Prehistoric Nightmares. Why Did They Go Extinct?

Megalodons have been portrayed as gigantic great whites, but new research suggests they were more svelte and less agile hunters that got outcompeted.

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Aylin Woodward @aylinwoodward.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Science reporters can leave the scientists whose work we’re communicating feeling like there’s lots left to be desired. But staff in national newsrooms also uphold the highest standards while ensuring your research reaches many, many more ppl than if it had stayed within the grafs of a Nature paper.

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Aylin Woodward @aylinwoodward.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Hello Bluesky world! Today is my first day here, but my 3-year anniversary at WSJ! I've settled into a beat dominating paleoanthropology, discoveries in space and dinosaurs. Check out my most recent work following the world's most expensive fossil, Apex the Stegosaurus: www.wsj.com/science/ken-...

wsj.com

Ken Griffin’s $44.6 Million Stegosaurus Is on Public View—for Now

Ken Griffin’s $44.6 million dinosaur “Apex” is unveiled at the American Museum of Natural History.

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