𝐊𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲'𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
At Bayern’s training ground, a small detail is making a big difference: players frequently wear skin-coloured patches on their earlobes because the club takes blood samples before and even during sessions. By tracking lactate and creatine kinase levels in real time, Vincent Kompany and his staff can precisely gauge muscle load, detect early signs of strain, and adjust training intensity individually. This proactive monitoring has paid off. Bayern have barely suffered muscle injuries this season, a big contrast to last year’s Champions League collapse when half the core squad was sidelined.
What do you think about this highly data-driven approach to player management?
https://x.com/spielertrainer_/status/1991043502310817875?t=0sOvrcmODQoGuhcYmYQXbA&s=19
In 2008, evolutionary anthropologist Katie Hinde began studying breast milk from rhesus macaque mothers. What started as a routine study turned into a groundbreaking discovery. She found that mothers raising sons produced milk richer in fat and protein, while those raising daughters had different nutrient balances. This led Katie to a radical conclusion: milk is not just nutrition—it’s information.
Her research revealed that milk shapes behavior, not just growth. For instance, first-time mothers produced milk with higher levels of cortisol, influencing their babies to grow faster but also become more anxious. Katie also discovered that milk changes based on the baby’s immune needs. When a baby is sick, the mother’s milk quickly adapts by producing more white blood cells and targeted antibodies.
Katie’s work, which challenged the scientific consensus, was largely ignored. She launched a blog, Mammals Suck Milk, to spark discussions, and her findings, including that every mother’s...