Anna Hartz
Many people talk about feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed, even when nothing dramatic is happening around them. This has become such a common experience that it is easy to assume it is simply part of modern life.
A new analysis suggests something deeper may be going on. Two evolutionary anthropologists, Colin Shaw and Daniel Longman, argue that our bodies are struggling to keep up with the world we have created, according to ScienceDaily.
Hunter-Gatherer Biology
Their research says human biology was shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of living as hunter-gatherers. Daily life once involved constant movement, short bursts of danger, long stretches of calm and steady contact with nature. Industrial society has changed these conditions very quickly.
We now deal with noise, polluted air, artificial lighting, long periods of sitting, processed food, microplastics and a stream of digital information. These changes arrived within just a few generations.
Shaw explains that our ancestors were equipped to face sudden threats. A predator would appear. The body reacted. The danger passed. The system reset. Today the threats are different. Traffic, a stressful job, notifications on a phone and city noise trigger the same stress response. Longman says the body behaves as if danger keeps coming. People get a strong nervous system reaction but no real break.
New Advancements, New Problems
The researchers reviewed studies that point to consequences for health and reproduction. They note that many countries are experiencing falling fertility rates and rising rates of chronic inflammation and autoimmune problems.
Shaw says this creates a strange contrast. Life is more comfortable and medicine is more advanced than ever. At the same time, the conditions of modern living can strain the immune system, mental function and reproductive health.
One of the clearest examples is the long-term decline in sperm count and motility recorded since the mid-20th century. Shaw says this trend appears linked to chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, along with exposure to microplastics.
Shaw and Longman believe these problems will not fix themselves through natural evolution. Biological change takes far too long. They argue that societies must adapt instead. Stronger ties to nature. Better city design. Cleaner environments. Shaw says their research can help leaders understand which conditions affect the body most. He believes healthier cities and more access to natural spaces could make a meaningful difference.
