Bits and Pieces 

From National Geographic: Nature’s Design for Having Babies 

How big an issue is age in predicting fertility in women? And what should women do if they hear “the clock ticking”?

Here’s a good article that answers those questions.

The Future of the Universe 

If you are worried about humanity disappearing in a hundred years because of atomic war or climate change, this may make you feel better. Populations may thrive and die. Planets may come and go. But the universe? Click here for a bracing perspective.

The World’s Most Repressive Countries 

When it comes to women’s rights, the most repressive countries in the world are Islamic. No surprise there. But you might be shocked to learn that when it comes to free speech, the most repressive countries include Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand!

There are many studies that have rated the right to free speech by country. I’ve looked at several, and they were surprisingly consistent.

Here’s an example of repression that I came across last week.