–Contribute to | Image By freepik
Context
Science DailyA species of shark found in our seas today is a warm-blooded relative of the megalodon, a massive prehistoric shark that died out about 3.6 million years ago, a new study has found. Megalodons were about three times bigger than the largest known great white sharks and are believed to be the largest shark that ever lived. Unlike most sharks, they were warm-blooded. That means they generated heat with their muscles like many mammals, including humans, do. Scientists believe that being warm-blooded may have contributed to megalodons’ going extinct. They likely could not survive after ocean temperatures and sea levels changed between 5.33 and 2.58 million years ago.
Explanations and Usages
“Contribute to” is a phrase commonly used to describe the act of helping to cause or bring about a particular result or situation. When someone or something contributes to something else, it means they are playing a part in making that thing happen. This phrase is versatile and can be used in various contexts, including positive, negative, and neutral scenarios.
In a positive scenario, “contribute to” implies adding something beneficial or helpful. For example, if you say, “Volunteering at the shelter contributes to the well-being of the community,” it means that volunteering helps improve or enhance the community’s condition. Here, the phrase is used to express a good outcome or a positive effect.
On the other hand, in a negative scenario, “contribute to” can be used to describe a role in causing something harmful or undesirable. For instance, if someone says, “Smoking contributes to health problems,” it means that smoking plays a part in causing health-related issues. In this case, the contribution is harmful, leading to a negative result.
In a neutral scenario, “contribute to” can be used when the outcome is neither clearly positive nor negative, or when the focus is more on the act of contributing than on the nature of the outcome. For example, in a sentence like, “Her study on local birds contributes to our understanding of the ecosystem,” the phrase is used to denote a role in adding to our knowledge. Here, the emphasis is on the contribution to knowledge rather than on a positive or negative outcome.
Overall, “contribute to” is a useful phrase that can be adapted to various situations, depending on the context and the nature of the contribution being discussed.
Examples
- Samantha’s dedication and strong work ethic contribute to her academic success.
- Albert Einstein, renowned for his groundbreaking theories and innovative contributions to the field of physics, exemplifies how the brilliance of famous figures can significantly contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and understanding.
–Education
- The S&P 500 is structured with a market capitalization-based weighting, signifying that the performance of the index is more substantially affected by the movements of the largest companies, which contribute significantly to its overall performance.
- While facing the challenges posed by the pandemic, the commercial real estate industry, which includes office buildings, shopping malls, and warehouses, was calculated by an industry association to have contributed $2.3 trillion to the U.S. economy last year.
–Business
- Snap has come under scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators due to concerns that its platform exposes young people to potentially harmful content, with critics contending that this exposure can exacerbate eating disorders and contribute to other mental health issues.
Older digital cameras, with fewer megapixels and lenses featuring higher apertures in comparison to today’s smartphones, capture less detail and allow in less light, ultimately contributing to the production of lower-quality photos.
–Technology
- Short strands of toxic RNAs that contribute to brain cell death and DNA damage in Alzheimer’s and aged brains have been identified by scientists for the first time.
The researchers conducted a 19-month longitudinal cohort study in New York City between 2016 and 2018 to contribute to epidemiological research on factors influencing disease severity by monitoring respiratory viruses.
–Science
- The consistent evidence points to the fact that both the Mediterranean and Okinawan diets contribute to improved health, showing lower rates of obesity and other metabolic diseases.
- According to the findings in the “Eating Behind Bars” report, nutrient deficiencies contribute to a range of mental health and behavioral issues, including depression, aggression, and antisocial behavior.
–Arts and Culture
