Science Capsules

The phrase gets used to justify ruthless competition, which is nearly the opposite of what it describes. These explanations correct the record: fitness means reproductive success and adaptability, Darwin emphasized cooperation and even compassion, and the famous wording was not originally his. Rethink what actually drives survival before you borrow the phrase again.

Childhood trauma does not just leave psychological scars; it leaves chemical marks on DNA that can pass to children and grandchildren, raising their risk of chronic disease. That runs against the mainstream view of trauma as a purely psychological injury confined to one generation. If the biology holds, it changes practice: screen earlier, study families across generations, and treat the body along with the mind.