A groundbreaking study from the University of Oxford suggests that climate change might be silently altering the ratio of boys and girls born globally. analyzing over five million birth records across India and sub-Saharan Africa, researchers found that average temperatures rising above 20°C correlate with a slight decrease in male births. Heat stress appears to be a key factor affecting survival rates in the womb.
The impact varies by region, with heat stress in Africa affecting early pregnancy, while in India, the effect is seen later during the second trimester. Factors like maternal age and family size also play a role. These findings highlight how environmental changes and rising global temperatures could have unforeseen long-term effects on human population dynamics and gender balance.
Global warming linked to fewer male births in new study
