Obesity

China's eastern coastal region is associated with lower obesity, cardiovascular risk, and higher life expectancy. It's also where, for generations, market stalls selling fresh leafy greens, lotus seed pods, vegetables, tofu, and freshwater fish have shaped the diet of those living there.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified a bunch of genes linked to obesity in dogs – and found the very same ones in humans predisposed to putting on weight too.

It's controversial, but slogging passengers with a body-weight surcharge is still on the table for many airlines, be it for profit or the environment. But it seems attitudes, particularly among younger travelers, is shifting on the contentious issue.