You may have heard of Couch to 5K — the beginner running program that promises to get you from 0 to 100 (100 being 3.1 miles) at whatever pace works for you. But could a similar scheme be used to kickstart to other habits, like reading? Author Naomi Alderman was pondering that question as she lamented how the allure of screens has made it more difficult for her to keep up a reading practice. So she created it: An eight-week back-to-reading program, inspired by Couch to 5K, with different tracks to choose from. Read her recent reflection in The Guardian and check out the program on her Substack page.
Must Reads
In Maryland, birders and boaters were delighted by the appearance of a rare tropical bird
A woman bought an abandoned beach house in Italy and transformed it into her dream home — see it before and after
Science
It’s Not Just You: Study Explains Why Mosquitoes Favor Some People
Jaromir—Moment/Getty Images
It’s often said if mosquitoes love you (or don’t love you, depending on how you look at it), you must have sweet blood. But a recent study suggests that each mosquito species is actually drawn to a specific blend of skin bacteria and body odor, explaining why they may feast on one person and leave another blissfully be. To come to this buzzworthy conclusion, researchers recruited around 120 brave volunteers in Miami and analyzed their odors in a special scent chamber as three different mosquito species buzzed about. The participants also had their forearms swabbed to identify the bacterial species on their skin. The team found that one of the species had a slight preference for male participants, while the other two demonstrated no sex bias but rather were attracted to certain scents caused by skin bacteria that feed on our sweat and natural oils. The researchers hope this new intel could help ward the bugs off with “microbial-based mosquito repellents that produce repulsive compounds or reduce attractive cues.” Fingers crossed, but in the meantime, here are some tips to make yourself less appealing to them.
Together With FinanceBuzz
19 Bills to Cut If Money Feels Tight
Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here’s what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies, and start with one or two today. The list includes tips for reducing your car insurance payments, tackling credit card debt, and more. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.
Cleveland Teens Used Robotics Skills to 3D-Print Prosthetics for Kids in Ecuador
Great Lakes Science Center Robotics Initiative
A group of six Ohio teens spent some of their summer break this year overseas, but they weren’t on vacation. They were delivering free, 3D-printed prosthetics to pediatric patients in need at Hospital General Ibarra in Ecuador. As part of a community service project through the Great Lakes Science Center Robotics Initiative, the Cleveland-based high school students developed the assistive devices — custom-made to fit small hands and arms — using the skills they’d honed creating robots for competition. “Everyone we met was incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely grateful for our work,” 16-year-old Sajayah Stephens tells Nice News. “It also made me appreciate the small things I often take for granted, from access to health care to everyday opportunities. Seeing the joy and gratitude on the faces of the children and their families reminded me how meaningful even a small act of service can be.” See footage of the humanitarian project in action.
Humanity
Play Is Essential for Young Children, Including When It Comes to Their Learning
Ariel Skelley—Photodisc/Getty Images
This article was written by Kelley Mayer White, a professor at the College of Charleston, for The Conversation. Prioritizing play offers a variety of benefits for children, from helping them grow their vocabulary to managing their big feelings with fewer behavioral problems. Play also benefits children’s cognitive and social and emotional development. But play isn’t always a focus in classrooms, even when it comes to very young children. My colleagues and I conducted a study in 2019 and 2020 to understand how children from our own play-based lab preschool in Charleston, South Carolina, transitioned to formal schooling for kindergarten or first grade. Learn what we found.
In Other News
France’s ban on unsolicited telemarketing calls starts tomorrow to ward off intrusions and fraud schemes (read more)
A new two-in-one pill willcombine Tylenol and Naproxen to help provide pain relief for up to 12 hours (read more)
Farm to School: In California, a program that pairs school districts with local farmers is now permanent (read more)
Unique bear sighting! A 6-month-old silver-haired cub was spotted on Alaska’s Katmai Bear Cam (read more)
Zendaya is the highest-grossing actor in the 2026 box office, starring in The Odyssey and the new Spider-Man (read more)
Inspiring Story
Selfless business
At 83, Eddie Smith Jr., the owner of a North Carolina boat-building business, turned down offers worth more than $400 million to sell his company, which he started in 1968. Instead, he decided to give away his company to a perpetual purpose trust so future profits will go toward charitable causes. “I think there’s room for a lot more [philanthropy] in our country,” he said.
Photo of the Day
Toronto Zoo
Meet the pygmy hippopotamus born last week at the Toronto Zoo! The bundle of adorableness is 20-year-old mother Kindia’s third baby — and both mom and calf seem to be doing well, according to the zoo, which said the birth is a milestone for the species as a whole. “Welcoming a pygmy hippo calf is far more than a celebration of new life,” CEO Dolf DeJong said in a statement. “Pygmy hippos are endangered, and their wild populations continue to decline due to habitat loss and human pressures.” See more photos.
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