There’s something inherently fascinating about twins—their uncanny similarities, shared quirks, and mirrored lives. But in some cases, it’s their unexpected differences that truly capture our attention. A recent study in Science Direct explored just that, documenting the remarkable reunion of identical twin sisters who were separated as toddlers and raised in entirely different cultures.
The sisters were born in South Korea in 1974 and spent their early years side by side—until a devastating accident at a crowded market separated them. Only one twin was found, despite her family’s relentless efforts. She stayed in Korea, while her sister—completely unaware of her twin or any siblings—was adopted by a family in the United States.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the American-raised twin uncovered the truth about her past. After submitting a DNA sample to a South Korean program aimed at reuniting separated families, she discovered not only her identical twin sister but also other biological siblings.
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Their astonishing reunion drew the attention of researchers, who saw a rare opportunity to explore a key question in twin studies: to what extent do upbringing and environment shape who we are—our personality, mental health, and intelligence?
The results of cognitive testing were striking: although the sisters shared identical DNA, their IQ scores differed dramatically. The twin raised in the U.S. scored 16 points lower than her Korean-raised counterpart—a gap more than double what researchers usually observe between identical twins, who typically differ by no more than 7 points.
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"The twins showed substantial differences in cognitive abilities that have been linked to strong genetic influence," one researcher observed. Multiple childhood concussions sustained by the US-raised twin, researchers speculated, could have played a role in her lower IQ score.
Still, despite their significant IQ gap and vastly different upbringings, the twins exhibited strikingly similar personality traits. "Notable is that both twins are distinctively high on conscientiousness—indicating that both are purposeful, well-organized, dutiful, and achievement-striving," the researcher wrote.
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Researchers also uncovered stark contrasts in the sisters' upbringing: the twin raised in Korea experienced a warm and supportive home, while her sister in the U.S. endured significant challenges within her adoptive family. And yet, both women demonstrated notable resilience, with similar scores in self-esteem and overall mental health assessments.
Their experience challenges assumptions about what shapes us. Despite growing up worlds apart, the twins reveal how genetics and environment can pull in opposite directions while still producing surprising points of connection. The study adds meaningful insight to the nature versus nurture conversation, showing that the answers aren’t always clear-cut.
This story originally appeared last year.
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A family makes heart shapes with their hands at sunset
Ketel Marte was brought to tears during an MLB game after facing a shameful fan taunt.
Baseball manager's poignant support for a player brought to tears after shameful fan taunt
Whether they’re expecting perfection from their favorite players or, worse, behaving callously toward opposing teams, sports fans often forget that athletes are human beings. But athletic competition has the ability to unify and uplift, even amid such painful and unpleasant encounters. Take, for example, a major-league baseball game held June 24, 2025 between the home team Chicago White Sox and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
A shameful low point occurred when Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was at bat in the seventh inning. Per ESPN, a fan reportedly yelled out a comment regarding Marte’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic. Team personnel, including manager Torey Lovullo, then requested the 22-year-old fan be ejected. (Though he was remorseful and admitted his actions were inappropriate, according to an ESPN source, he was nonetheless banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks.) "We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," the MLB said in a statement. Marte reportedly declined to comment.
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While the fan’s behavior is inexcusable, it did spark a powerful and inspiring moment. After hearing the comment, Marte was visibly upset, prompting Lovullo to walk on the field, put his arm around him, and offer some words of encouragement. "[I said,] 'I love you, and I’m with you, and we’re all together, and you’re not alone,'" Lovullo said in a post-game interview, as documented by The Rich Eisen Show. "'No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you’re heard, that guy is an idiot.’"
According to Arizona Republic, Lovullo heard the fan’s comment but didn’t want to repeat it. “I looked right at [Marte] when I heard,” he said. “I looked right at him, and he looked at the person, as well. He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure."
Elsewhere in the post-game interview, the manager called the moment "terrible" and reflected on why he stood up for Marte. "Fans are nasty, and fans go too far sometimes," he said. "I love my players, and I’m gonna protect them…I’ve known Ketel for nine years. He’s had some unbelievably great moments and some hardships as well and some really tough moments in his life. I know those. At the end of the day, we’re human beings, and we have emotions. I saw him hurting, and I wanted to protect him."
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The following day, the Chicago White Sox X account sent out a message in support of Marte, writing, "We’re with you" and "Baseball is family." On The Rich Eisen Show, the show's host addressed the need to eradicate this kind of toxic athlete-fan interaction: "I was hearing [people saying], 'There’s no place for this in major league baseball.' There isn’t. There’s no place for this in our society. I understand that people are saying the MLB has got to do something about this. Fans have a right to heckle players—this is something that has happened forever…But there is a line."
In another recent, depressing sports moment with a beautiful coda, let’s look to Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the first quarter, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon—a devastating injury that could potentially sideline him for most of the 2025-2026 season. Following the game, in a lovely display of sportsmanship, Thunder point-guard and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went to the Pacers locker room to check on his competitor. In a press conference, he said, "You just hate to see it, in sports in general. But in this moment, my heart dropped for him. I can't imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s so unfortunate."
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