Success may come down to luck more than merit, research suggests
ITHACA, N.Y. — Life is full of chance events that shape our futures, but how much does luck really matter? According to new research from Cornell University, early life chance events, or “contingency” as scientists call it, can create lasting differences in success, especially in competitive environments.
Using a mouse model, the study reveals how early experiences can set individuals on dramatically different life paths. By studying a special strain of laboratory mice called C57BL/6J, which are genetically identical — think of them as natural clones — researchers discovered that competition among males amplifies the effects of early chance events, creating a feedback loop that pushes some individuals toward success while others fall behind.
Researchers at Cornell University’s Department of Neurobiology and Behavior conducted their experiment using 104 baby mice (with 90 surviving to adulthood) from 16 different litters, tracking their development from infancy through adulthood in a large outdoor enclosure that mimicked their natural environment.
