| A Better Way to Calculate 'Dog Years' Anyone who has ever owned a pet is likely familiar with the concept of "dog years," which suggests that one year for a dog is like seven years for a human. But now, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have come to a more data-based measurement on dog aging through DNA. The paper based the finding on DNA methylation, a process in which molecules called methyl groups attach themselves to DNA and serve as an indicator of aging. Generally speaking, the older living beings get, the faster the rate of methylation. In the study, 104 Labrador retrievers were examined, with subjects ranging from 1 month to 16 years old. The results of their DNA methylation were compared to human profiles. While the rate of methylation tracked closely between the two-young and old dogs had similar rates to young and old people-adolescent and mature dogs experienced more accelerated aging. Their recommended formula for comparing dog and human aging? Multiply the natural logarithm of a dog's age by 16, then add 31. Or, just use this calculator. Users will see that a 2-year-old dog, for example, wouldn't be the canine equivalent of a 14-year-old. It would be equivalent to 42 human years old. But because methylation slows considerably in mid-life, a 5-year-old dog is approximately a 57-year-old human, while a 6-year-old dog is nearing 60 in human years-a minor difference. Things level out as the dog gets much older, with a 10-year-old dog nearing a 70-year-old human. Love your dog no matter the age and check out these titles |
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| Books on the Air An overview of talked-about books and authors. This weekly update, published every Friday, provides descriptions of recent TV and radio appearances by authors and their recently released books. See the hot titles from the media this week. |
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| Matt Tavares Matt Tavares was born in Boston, and grew up surrounded by books and reading. From the time he was very young, his mother read to him every night, and his family made countless trips to the public library. Years later, as a studio art major at Bates College, he rediscovered his love for picture books, and decided to try to make his own. For his senior project, Matt wrote and illustrated a story called Sebastian's Ball, about a boy who caught a magic foul ball at a Boston Red Sox game. Three years later, after much revision, Sebastian's Ball became Zachary's Ball, Matt's first published picture book. When Matt's not working in his studio on his latest book project, he travels the country speaking (and drawing) at schools, libraries, conferences, and bookstores. He has presented at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Eric Carle Museum, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and he's even done a few book signings at Fenway Park. Matt lives in Maine with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters. Check out his titles here. |
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| The Ten Best Books About Food of 2019 Courtesy of Smithsonian.com-These titles are bound to satisfy your cravings for delicious dishes and food knowledge. Check them out here |
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| Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark.-Germaine Greer
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