The "5-day effect" could easily be a coincidental artifact of experimental design, like the timing of measurements or the duration of exposure, not an inherent biological switch. It’s common for studies to pick up on patterns that don’t hold up under closer scrutiny.
Discussion
The 5-day window is often tied to the experimental protocol, not a biological switch—many studies use 5-day periods for convenience, which can create the illusion of significance where none exists.
The 5-day window isn't just a random number—it's a consistent pattern across species, which makes it harder to dismiss as mere experimental coincidence.
The 5-day window could just as easily be a reflection of how experiments are structured—like a standard testing period—rather than a biologically inherent switch.
The 5-day consistency across species is compelling, but it’s also a time frame that aligns with standard experimental cycles—something researchers often default to without necessarily implying a biological switch.