Some people like to fall asleep with background sounds — whether it be soothing music, a comforting TV show, ASMR, or white noise. And YouTube has a new feature catering to that group of snoozers. The sleep timer allows users to set a period, say 15 or 30 minutes, for videos to play. Once that time is up (and the user is presumably fast asleep), YouTube will power down and stop devices from playing through the night. Here’s how to use the tool.
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Culture
The Best Places to Work, According to Outside Magazine
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There are various studies and surveys ranking the best places to work in the U.S. But the one from Outside magazineoffers a unique, outdoorsy perspective on the country’s top employers. Earlier this week, the outlet shared a list of 50 workplaces that “go above and beyond” to ensure employees are happy —and provide perks that are a breath of fresh air, literally. We’re talking international trips, “adventure days,” generous sabbaticals, and outdoor gear discounts. The No. 1 spot went to BSW Wealth Partners, a financial advisory services company based in Boulder, Colorado. And we can see why: It offers paid volunteer days, early Fridays for weekend adventures, and annual ski trips on top of paid parental leave, 401(k) matching, and hybrid work schedules. Some of the more novel benefits include a dinner and babysitter stipend on work anniversaries, kids’ first day of school off, and a well-located office near local mountain trails. See the list of 50 companies, plus some honorable mentions.
Together With RYSE
The Smart Home Company to Watch
Best Buy has a knack for picking the up-and-coming tech products that go on to dominate the market. The company’s early bets on household items like Ring (acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion) and Nest (acquired by Google for $3.2 billion) have a proven record of paying off. Now, Best Buy is lifting the curtain on its latest find, launching RYSE’s SmartShades in over 120 retail stores. RYSE has already surpassed $9 million in lifetime revenue with over 60,000 units sold, and the numbers are rising alongside the window shades. You can invest in RYSE at just $1.75/share before it becomes a household name.
Scientists Used Gene Editing to Create the Goldilocks of Tomatoes
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Juicy news for tomato lovers: Researchers in China have produced sweeter tomatoes without compromising on size or harvest haul — all with the help of thegene-editing tool CRISPR. To find this sweet spot, the team identified and deactivated two “sugar brake genes,”both of which were found to degrade the enzymes involved in sucrose production. This tweak allowed the new fruit to grow with 30% more glucose and fructose than mass-produced varieties. Beyond creating a particularly delectable tomato, the study shows how plant scientists can boost the genetic diversity of domesticated crops, and thus “improve modern varieties,” Christophe Rothan, a fruit biologist who was not involved in the study, explained to Nature. It’ll likely be another three to five years before the gene-edited tomatoes begin to pop up in grocery stores, but we’ll be keeping an eye out. “We are working with some companies to develop some commercial varieties by knocking out these genes,” first author Jinzhe Zhang told New Scientist. “It is still at the beginning stages.”
Humanity
Operation Santa Is Going Digital to Streamline Gift-Giving
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Calling all elves! A new partnership between the U.S. Postal Service’s Operation Santa project and Toys R Us is making it extra easy to brighten the lives of families in need. This year, after Santa letter “adopters” register online, they can buy toys from a specially curated Toys R Us page. No wrapping or trip to the post office is required — “just a click,” Sheila Holman, the Postal Service’s vice president of marketing, told USA Today. If participants do choose to shop elsewhere, they’ll receive a scannable code via email, which they can bring to a post office location to ship their presents. As for the letter writers, the service is accepting digital versions, in addition to handwritten ones addressed to Santa at 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. Last year, nearly 30,000 of these Santa letters received a response from a generous stranger, “a reminder of the power of kindness and connection,” said Holman. A note if you’re planning to take part in the operation: Dec. 16 is the deadline for adopting letters and the recommended date for shipping gifts.
In Other News
Get to know some of the U.S. students recently selected for the prestigious Rhodes scholarship (read more)
The Klamath River dam removal concluded about a month ago, and already salmon are laying eggs (read more)
Paleontologists discovered a pterosaur species that once flew through skies “with a sword-like tail” (read more)
The only hospital in Howard Country, Maryland, is celebrating the opening of a new behavioral health unit(read more)
Bridget Jones is back: Watch the trailer for the newest Renée Zellweger rom-com, coming this Valentine’s Day (read more)
Inspiring Story
One-of-a-kind server
Adam Rieger, a restaurant server in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, wanted to build connections with Indigenous customers, so he took it upon himself to learn the Cree language — and quickly noticed his interactions start to shift. “Languages are like a bridge and open doors that really communicate respect to people,” he said.
Photo of the Day
Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images
Many Brits are walking in a winter wonderland this week (nevermind that it’s technically still autumn). See more dreamy photos from the U.K. snowfall.
RYSE: The Next Big Smart Home Innovation
Missed out on RYSE’s last fundraising round? Don’t make the same mistake again. Shareholders in this smart shades startup have seen their value increase 40% year-over-year, with strong upside remaining as they scale into retail and high-volume B2B channels. Click below to learn how you can invest in the technology.
