Fewer Sons Born Close to Sun

Women who live near the equator are more likely to give birth to baby girls than boys, the Independent reports. A new study has found a small but significant shift in gender ratios depending on latitude, with males comprising 51.1% of tropical births; the global sex ratio is 51.5% in favor of males.

Researchers studied birth data from 202 countries and found the ratio was even further skewed in steamier countries: The Central African Republic produces only 49% boys, for example. Researchers say the findings may reflect the fact that northern regions offer more varied food supplies than the tropics. Data was eliminated from countries where sex-specific abortions are known to regularly occur. (More gender stories.)