SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
If you've ever wondered why Dutch people are so tall, this story from The New York Times may have the answer:
Today, the Dutch are on average the tallest people on the planet. Just 150 years ago, they were relatively short. In 1860, the average Dutch soldier in the Netherlands was just 5 feet 5 inches. American men were 2.7 inches taller.
Since 1860, average heights have increased in many parts of the world, but no people have shot up like the Dutch. The average Dutchman now stands over six feet tall. And while the growth spurt in the United States has stopped in recent years, the Dutch continue to get taller.
For years, scientists have sought to understand why average height has increased, and why the Dutch in particular have grown so quickly. Among other factors, the Dutch have a better diet than in the past, and they also have better medical care. But now Dr. Stulp and his colleagues have found evidence suggesting that evolution itself is also helping to make them taller.
It seems that taller men in the Netherlands are more likely to father more children:
Dr. Stulp and his colleagues analyzed data on 42,612 men and women over age 45, looking at the height of their subjects and how many children they had. Dutch men who were taller than average had more children than those of average or lower than average height, the researchers found.
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 10 2015, @10:25PM
The most hateful person on this site is you. Just read what you wrote. You should be ashamed of yourself. Even your citations are wrong. An example: you state that genetics only account for 20% of variation. The paper you linked to says 56%. Not only did you get the number wrong, you used it as absurd proof that anyone pointing it out is racist.
That is not science. Expletive rants are not respectful. You are the problem.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 11 2015, @12:38AM
Wah!!!
You must be respectful towards my racism! Otherwise you are a damn dirty hypocrite!
Liberals! Always accusing conservatives of being evil to censor them!
Meanwhile real conservatives never think liberals are evil.