A new study from the National Cockroach Project at Rockefeller University has confirmed that cockroaches tend to stay in the neighborhoods they were born, and divide themselves by ethnic group and class. In other words, they are as sad and intolerant as we are!
The Wall Street Journal wrote about the study:
“A cockroach found on the Upper East Side is genetically different than the Upper West Side and Roosevelt Island cockroaches, Dr. Stoeckle and his team have found. On the Upper West Side, about 80% of the American cockroaches belong to the same gene pool. On Roosevelt Island, it is 90%.”
The study has collected and analyzed 125 different specimens from across the U.S., which means the lab only has slightly more roaches than your disgusting apartment. Strangely, all of the specimens were sent in by mail. Seriously:
“Dead cockroaches have been shipped in every conceivable condition to his Upper East Side laboratory in packages from as far away as Australia.”
“In every conceivable condition.” I’m sure Rockefeller University is the highlight of that postal worker’s route.
The study still leaves some questions unanswered: Do cockroaches have hopes and dreams like we do? Do they trudge sadly through life, holding on to petty romantic regrets? We may never know.
Image: Wall Street Journal