Shark attacks down, and other recession ripples

The recession may have kept many of us from going on vacation, but look on the bright side – at least shark attacks are down.

That's one of the quirky things our partners at LiveScience found when they took a look at some of the unexpected results of the recession, which began in December of 2007 and officially ended in June of 2009. (Yes, we know it doesn’t feel much like the recession is over.)

According to ichthyologist George Burgess of the University of Florida, shark attacks hit a five-year low in 2008. LiveScience says the scientist saw this as a sign that fewer Americans were taking a trip to the beach, and thus reducing their risk of being chomped.

It would be a stretch to say the recession has made our celebrities fat, but the beauty icons of today may not be as super-skinny as they were before the downturn. LiveScience said researchers at Coastal Carolina University found that when the economy is bad, people tend to favor women who are heavier and taller, with larger waists and less babyish features.

Economic hard times also have reduced our desire to bring those little bundles of joy (and expenses) into the world. LiveScience cites a Pew Research Center analysis showing the decrease in birth rates in 2007 and 2008 roughly mirrored an increase in foreclosure rates in 2007.

Have you seen any unexpected results of the recession? Share your thoughts below.