CLIMATE HAS A NOSE FOR SHAPES.
The shape of our noses was formed by a long process of adaptation to climate, a study says.
- Wider noses are more common in warm-humid climates.
- Narrower noses are more common in cold-dry climates.
- Narrower nasal passages help to increase the moisture content of air and warm it - a bonus for those in higher latitudes.
- The width of the nostrils and the base of the nose measurements differ across populations, researchers found.
- This indicates a role for natural selection in the evolution of nose shape.
- The width of the nostrils is strongly correlated with temperature and absolute humidity.
Adapting Mechanism:
- Narrower nostrils alter the airflow so the mucous-covered inside of the nose can humidify and warm the air.
- People with narrower nostrils therefore fared better in colder climates.
- This lead to a gradual decrease in nose width in populations living far away from the equator.
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