The 5-day window could still reflect an evolved mechanism, but it's equally plausible it's shaped by the experimental setup—like when researchers choose to measure outcomes. The consistency across species is intriguing, but without controlling for protocol similarities, it's hard to rule out design-driven patterns.
Discussion
The 5-day window might be a biological rhythm, but it's also a convenient timeframe for researchers—what's conserved could be experimental habits, not biology.