With new seasons comes new in-season produce: Early spring is all about strawberries, rhubarb, radishes, and lots of greens (ramps, asparagus, and arugula galore). If you’re struggling to get those greens in, though, consider TikTok’s “dinosaur time,” a lighthearted trend that consists of eating fistfuls of leafy veg, like an herbivorous dino might have done back in the day, in order to get your daily helping of nutrients.
Must Reads
The nominations for the 2025 American Music Awards are in, with one rapper leading the pack
Thank you to this newly found magma cap at Yellowstone National Park, which is preventing a huge volcanic eruption
Environment
“World’s Lightest Champagne Bottle” Could Eliminate 8K Tons of Carbon Emissions Per Year
Champagne Telmont
The next time you want to pop some bubbly, there’s no need to wrestle with a heavy bottle of Champagne — a century-old French brand just dropped a lighter version that’s better for the planet. Dubbed the “world’s lightest Champagne bottle,” it weighs a mere 1.76 pounds (or 800 grams) and promises to reduce carbon emissions by 4% per bottle. Due to the huge number of bubbles in the beverage (around 1 million per flute, a scientist estimated in 2014), Champagne bottles require thick glass to avoid cracking under the gas’ pressure. But over the past 100 years or so, manufacturers have been able to decrease bottle sizes while keeping the glass intact. While a 1,250-gram bottle (around 2.75 pounds) was standard in the early 1900s, that figure was shaved down to 835 (around 1.84 pounds) by 2010, per Wine Industry Advisor. The new model has been in development since 2022, when Champagne Telmont — which boasts Leonardo DiCaprio as an investor — partnered with French glassmaker Verallia to design it in an effort to lessen the drink’s impact on the environment. On Tuesday, in honor of Earth Day, the bottle launched with Telmont’s Réserve Brut. Learn more about the innovation and see a blueprint of the bottle.
Together With AMASS
The 3-Step Routine for $900 Billion Dominance
The most successful companies leave no stone unturned. Take AMASS Brands: Its three-pronged approach combines launching, acquiring, and partnering standout beverage brands under one umbrella — and it works. AMASS launched Good Twin, a sparkling nonalcoholic wine and a top Amazon category seller. The company acquired Summer Water, a premium rosé with more than 3.8 million bottles sold. And it partnered on De Soi, a top-selling nonalcoholic aperitif co-founded by a pop star. This model has helped AMASS grow revenue 1,000% since 2021 and expand across over 40,000 retail locations. It even earned investments from names like Derek Jeter, Adam Levine, and First Beverage Group. You can, too. But the round ends (and share price increases) soon. Join the $900 billion beverage industry’s next big name today.
This is a paid advertisement for AMASS Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.amassbrands.com.
Health
Struggling With Well-Being at Work? Taking Mental Health Leave Could Be an Option
Maria Stavreva/ iStock
We’ve all probably heard of (and hopefully taken) mental health days. But 24 hours often isn’t enough time to reset and recharge, which is why some employees take mental health leave. Like disability leave, the time off allows individuals to take care of themselves and put their well-being first — a powerful act of self-care that many people don’t know is an option.
That was the case for Carolina Lasso, whose boss suggested she take a mental health leave from her marketing job after a cross-country move and divorce took a toll on her well-being. “I’m thankful for that opportunity to take the time to heal,” she told the Associated Press, adding: “[Leave is] not only OK, but it can really unlock new possibilities once we have the time to do the work — therapy, medication, whatever it is — and have enough distance from work to be able to reconnect with ourselves.” Most people working at a U.S. organization with 50 or more employees can request leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act. A mental health break can last anywhere from weeks to months, with some workers opting for an “intermittent leave” that involves taking short periods off as needed. Whatever the case, it’s up to each person whether or not they share why they’re taking time off, as there’s no legal or ethical requirement to disclose details.
“Your co-workers don’t need to know why,” said Seth Turner, co-founder of AbsenceSoft, a leave management system. “They just need to know, ‘I’m going to be here at this time, and I’m going to be gone at this time, and I’ll be back.’”
Humanity
This Floridian Has Picked Up 30,000 Pieces of Trash Over 8 Years
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
You’ll find it in natural spaces near and far: trash, strewn on coastlines, forests, lakes, parks, trails, gardens, you name it. This began to weigh on South Florida resident and outdoor enthusiast Andrew Otazo a few years back. “I would see more and more trash and nothing was being done about it,” he told CBS News. So Otazo made it his mission to leave nature better than he found it, using his free time to pick up rubbish from Miami’s mangroves — piece by piece. Eight years later, he estimates that he’s single-handedly picked up 30,000 pieces of trash. “I actually oddly get very excited when I see a very big piece of trash because it’s like a challenge to take it out,” he said, noting a range of interesting finds, like a VR headset, a quinceañera dress, and a 220-pound tractor trailer tire. Although Otazo is proud of the bags he stuffs with trash, he can’t help but wish his cleanup efforts weren’t needed in the first place. “The only way that this is ever going to change is if we stop the trash, this trash flow at its source. Otherwise, I’m going to be out here for the rest of my life and every high tide will just bring more trash,” he said. Feeling inspired? Check out this nonprofit’s group beach cleanup events across the country — or if you prefer to go trash picking solo, keep these tips up your sleeve.
Global Good
🇪🇬 The African Space Agency celebrated its inauguration at its new Cairo headquarters (read more)
🇮🇳 Meet the fierce grandma known as the world’s oldest woman to practice an ancient Indian martial art (read more)
🇬🇧 U.K. patients are trialing a new blood test that can detect a dozen common cancers (read more)
🇪🇸 This Spanish landmark is getting a “selfie zone” as a dedicated space for tourist photos (read more)
🇦🇸 A bird species native to Guam that’s been extinct in the wild for decades is laying eggs on a new island (read more)
Something We Love
Rebecca Aldernet Prints I saw one of Rebecca Aldernet’s prints in my friend’s house and had to get one myself. Her subjects are often women and animals, and she combines them in a striking, surrealist — yet understated — manner. There are always prints available, and she also sells her paintings online, though those go much faster. – Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor
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Inspiring Story
DMV made easier, thanks to this teen
At age 13, Sowmya Nandyala may still be a few years away from getting her driver’s license, but that’s not stopping her from improving the DMV system. The tech-savvy teen channeled her STEM skills to create an app that makes it easier to get a DMV appointment. DriveIt matches people with canceled DMV appointments based on their zip code and preferred date. Three months post-launch, she estimates the app has already saved customers more than 10 years of wait time.
Photo of the Day
JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images
What you’re looking at above is a section of the world’s largest strawberry cake. Earlier this week, a group of pastry chefs in France put their whisks to work to create a 400-foot-long treat that required 771 pounds of strawberries, 330 pounds of sugar, 915 pounds of pastry cream, and 4,000 eggs. We hope everyone saved room for dessert!
Unlock Hidden Amazon Prime Perks, Courtesy of Brad’s Deals
Did you know your Amazon Prime membership comes with perks beyond free shipping and exclusive access to shows and movies? Lesser-known benefits like free music and podcasts, lightning deals, and “try before you buy” are all part of the deal. And that’s just the beginning — click below to read Brad’s Deals’ roundup of hidden perks and start getting the most out of your Prime membership today.
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Up This Weekend
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival: Known to most as simply Jazz Fest, the Louisiana celebration is all about good music and even better food
London Marathon: The third world major marathon of the year is also considered the most popular — more than 56,000 runners are expected to descend on the U.K. capital’s streets this Sunday
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: LA’s paper of record is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its book festival, which is free to attend
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