This Simple Change Could Instantly Increase Your Life Expectancy

Our series Healthy Planet, Healthy You explores just how tightly human health and environmental health are intertwined—for better and for worse. Each month, we’ll share the latest news on how nature can rejuvenate us on one hand and damage our health when it’s not cared for on the other. We’ll end with timely tips and tools to help you care for your environment so it can care for you.

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New research on people in Los Angeles County, California found that those who lived in greener areas, closer to tree canopy and accessible public parks, lived 0.24 to 0.33 years longer on average (after adjusting for 15 other covariables). Though this may not sound like much, researchers predict that if all residents had access to even modest levels of greenery, it would increase life expectancy by a cumulative 155,300 years across the county. (Read the research here1.)

Previous research has found that exposure to ground-level ozone, caused by things like car exhaust and industrial emissions, increases oxidative stress and insulin resistance2. And it could have an impact on chronic disease. In a recent systematic research review, exposure to the pollutant was associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. (Read the research here.)

Many sleep experts are advocating to end daylight saving time because of its disruptive impact on sleep schedules and public health. But there’s an underappreciated perk of setting the clocks forward an hour in spring: It reduces the amount of energy we use on lighting our homes, and according to a new study, heating and cooling our office buildings, too. (Read the research here.)

An interesting study in the journal Global Change Biology studied how bumble bees reacted to common pesticides at different temperatures (spanning from around 70-86 degrees Fahrenheit). Researchers found that the higher temps negatively impacted how far the bees could fly. “The drop-off in flight performance at the highest temperature suggests a ‘tipping point’ has been reached in the bees’ ability to tolerate the combined temperature and pesticide exposure,” lead researcher Richard Gill, PhD, said in a statement. Considering how important bees are for keeping the world—and our food supply—in equilibrium, this is a disturbing finding. (Read the research here.)

After diving into the treasure trove of Major League Baseball data, a team of researchers out of Dartmouth found that conditions of climate change have actually been pretty ideal for scoring home runs. They estimate that the warmer, thinner air has helped 500 baseballs clear ballpark walls since 2010 and it could increase home runs by 10% or more by 2100 if trends continue. Talk about a climate curveball. (Read the research here.)

Monthly focus: Fixing the food system