A bird? A plane?

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Climate change forcing French wineries to adapt or die; a lifetime of aerobic exercise leads to resilience; and why are theatre seats always red?

Let’s get into it!

2026 has been uncharacteristically hot in France, and the heat combined with severe drought conditions have driven production in the wine region down to what’s expected to be a 70-year low.

It’s the third straight year that production has declined, and France’s world-famous winemaking regions will need to make serious adjustments in order to stay among the world’s best.

Pivoting is easier said than done, however, because most wineries are at the mercy of higher-order rule makers that govern the various regions. Chateau Lafleur, for example, was forced to withdraw from the Pomerol and Bordeaux designations last year for the six wines it produces.

The bodies that govern those regions require certain irrigation methods, planting densities, and grape varieties. The Guinaudeau family, which owns Lafleur, deemed the rules counterintuitive to the adjustments it would have to make in order to adapt to “the reality of climate change with precision and effectiveness.”

A study published in the journal GeroScience looked into the ways older adults can avoid chronic illness and maintain their vitality capacity, as they age.

Vitality capacity refers to being able to continue doing the things one wishes to do throughout life. It’s typically calculated by measuring immune and stress response, energy and metabolism, and neuromuscular function.

The researchers wanted to determine whether regular aerobic exercise could drive increased vitality capacity in a person’s older years.

While all forms of physical activity are generally associated with healthier aging, the research group wanted to understand specifically how aerobic exercise (running, cycling, swimming, etc.), done regularly for 30 years, impacted the three categories that determine vitality capacity.

The team recruited 39 healthy adults over 55, 19 of whom were active and 20 inactive, all from Nice, France.

They found the active group had a significantly higher immune and stress response, but at the individual level, they displayed little difference. Conversely, the active individuals had much higher neuromuscular function than inactive ones, and energy and metabolism were roughly dependent on age and not exercise habits over previous decades.

Did you ever wonder why almost every time you walk into a movie, you’re met by a sea of exclusively red seats.

Red seats go with theatres like bread goes with butter, but there’s got to be reason for this, right?

There is! The modern theatre dates back well beyond the advent of movies. Opera houses across Europe—and especially in Italy—were designed in the 16th and 17th centuries with the sole intention of wowing audiences before the curtain (also usually red) even lifted.

Red was often associated with decadence and royalty, because creating dyes of this colour has always been more expensive. Royals, clerics, and aristocrats would often be draped in it, creating a long-established association between red and high society; its inclusion in places of important occasion was a no brainer.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, red velvet became the fabric of the uppermost premium VIPs. It’s no coincidence the stars of modern pop culture aspire to walk the red carpet.

Aside from visual messaging, red velvet also moderately reflects light, catches other fabrics, and absorbs sound, providing a perfect material for the presentation and comfort expected by theatre-goers.

The black robin was named New Zealand’s bird of the year, though this unbearably cute little creature can actually only be found on the Chatham Islands, 800 km east of New Zealand proper.

On top of that, the fact that there was a black robin to crown was a miracle in itself. At one point, there was just one pair of black robins around to breed offspring and save the species, and an unbelievable conservation effort involving the designating of two pest-free islands helped bring the little “goth” back from the brink.

New Zealanders often refer to the creature as a goth ironically, given its all black feathers, beady black eyes, and cute little black beak.

Due to intentionally-introduced pests in the black robin’s natural habitat, the species was down to just five birds by 1979, including the sole breeding couple—the mother Old Blue, and the father Old Yellow.

Old Blue lived for 13 years and is the legitimate matriarch of the species; the lineage of all living black robins can be traced back to her.

Conservation authorities have helped work a miracle, but say the species isn’t fully saved yet. The two pest-free islands are reportedly near capacity, and a third will need to be made available soon.

When was that, again…?

How well do you know your music timelines? Do you know which album came first? That’s what we’re quizzin’ you on, with today’s trivia. 🎵

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