The science behind your favorite things to do in summer
Summer brings the heat — and in some cases, a lot of it, as those who suffered through record-breaking heat waves in Europe and South Asia in June can attest. Parks fill with picnickers.
Here’s what science has to tell us about some of our favorite summer activities.
Frolicking in forests
Developed in the 1980s, forest bathing has been gaining in popularity in the United States over the last few years. Spending time among trees may improve health, from boosting the immune system to lowering blood pressure, the thinking goes. Some small studies have indicated possible benefits, an analysis published in 2017 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found. Research is ongoing.
Chasing fireflies
In the forests of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, spectators gather each summer to watch fireflies put on a dazzling synchronized light show. Scientists still aren’t sure why those flashes sync up. Besides attracting mates, the light is also a warning to predators, scientists have found. In laboratory experiments, bats took about twice as long to learn that fireflies tasted bad when the bugs’ lights were covered by black paint.