Emily Kwong

They published these results in the journal American Psychologist last week.

And it turns out that swearing participants held their body weight for much longer.

And they also reported more positive emotion, humor, distraction, self-confidence, and psychological flow, all of which are linked to state disinhibition.

But not all of these birds look the same.

Junkos in the wildlands outside L.A.

have longer, more slender beaks, whereas the junkos within Los Angeles, including the birds on the UCLA campus, have shorter, stubbier beaks.

But the shapes of the city bird beaks changed during COVID.

And her team thinks it has to do with campus closures.

When campus is full of people, the trash cans are, you know, full of food waste and stubbier beaks could be good for foraging in that environment.

It is a tricky question.

We usually think of evolution happening over a much longer period than just two years.

But Pam and Ellie say it is possible, especially because they saw the bird beaks change again once campus opened back up.

Junkos born after campus got busy had stubbier, shorter beaks.

Anytime.

Please come back on the show.

Yeah, that was fun.

You can hear more of Juana on Consider This, NPR's afternoon podcast about what the news means for you.

And for more science stories just like this one, follow Shortwave on whatever app you're listening to.

This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson and Kai McNamee.

It was edited by Patrick Jaron-Wantanonan.