Excluding those who live in parts of the country where produce is plentiful year-round, May can be a bit of a tease when it comes to fruit and veg. The warmer weather screams for fresh tomatoes, berries, and corn, but we’re still a few months out from that peak bounty. Still, there are items that are particularly good this time of year, like asparagus, garlic scapes, and other greens, so now’s a perfect time to lean into cooking with those while dreaming of the summer produce to come. For a recipe that puts some of May’s best together, might we recommend Alison Roman’s spring pasta with peppered peas?
Must Reads
The stars hit the red carpet as the Cannes Film Festival continued over the weekend, including one attendee who showed up in full bird costume
Harvard Paid $27 for a Magna Carta “Copy” That’s Actually a Rare Original
Lorin Granger/Harvard Law School
In 1946, Harvard Law School purchased what was then believed to be a copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50, or a little under $500 in today’s money. Nearly eight decades later, British historians have verified that the document is no copy, but rather an extremely rare original from the year 1300. The landmark document is well-regarded as a turning point in human rights, establishing in 13th-century England that no one was above the law — including the king. “This is a fantastic discovery,” David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King’s College London, told Harvard Law Today. “Harvard’s Magna Carta deserves celebration, not as some mere copy, stained and faded, but as an original of one of the most significant documents in world constitutional history, a cornerstone of freedoms past, present, and yet to be won.” Carpenter, who spearheaded the discovery, came across the digitized version of the document on the Harvard Law Library website and suspected it could be an original. He joined forces with Professor Nicholas Vincent from the University of East Anglia, and the duo established authenticity by comparing the piece’s dimensions, handwriting, and text to the six other known originals. Ultimately, they found Harvard’s version passed the test “with flying colors.” Beyond highlighting the power of research and curiosity, the finding is a testament to the importance of librarians, said Amanda Watson, Harvard Law School’s assistant dean for library and information services: “Behind every scholarly revelation stands the essential work of librarians who not only collect and preserve materials but create pathways that otherwise would remain hidden.” Take a closer look at the 725-year-old document.
Together With LMNT
The Best Science-Backed Hydration Hack
If you’re only drinking water to hydrate, you’re missing a crucial piece of the hydration puzzle: electrolytes. These charged minerals conduct electricity to power your nervous system and balance your hydration levels so you feel your best. In a perfect world, you’d get all your electrolyte needs from whole foods — but that’s not always realistic. Thankfully, we have LMNT. LMNT is a science-backed electrolyte drink mix that combines 1,000 milligrams sodium, 200 milligrams potassium, and 60 milligrams magnesium. This ideal ratio is designed to support energy levels, cognitive function, digestion, and sleep. Plus, LMNT is free from added sugar, artificial colors, and other questionable ingredients. Choose from delicious flavors like Watermelon Salt and Mango Chili — or try them all with the free sample pack included in your order.
“New Hope”: Breast Cancer Trial Shows Promising Results for Patients With Gene Mutations
Md Zakir Mahmud/ iStock
The results of a small clinical trial suggest that an update in treatment could improve survival rates for early-stage breast cancer patients who have inherited the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The mutations, which make one significantly more likely to develop breast cancer, affect about 1 in 400 people. In the study, 39 cancer patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 received a targeted drug, olaparib, along with chemotherapy before surgery. Another 45 women underwent chemotherapy but did not take the pill, which works by blocking a protein called PARP and thus causing cancer cells to die rather than repair. Three years later, all of the women who took olaparib had survived, compared with six deaths in the other group. “It is rare that you see 100% survival at 36 months for this subtype of breast cancer,” trial lead Jean Abraham told the BBC. “We’re incredibly excited about the potential of this new approach.” For participant Jackie Van Bochoven, who was diagnosed with an aggressive breast tumor in 2019, the study represents “new hope.” She added: “Six years on, I’m well and cancer-free. It’s amazing.”
Science
Good Eye! Why Some People Can See Speedy Things Better Than Others
slowmotiongli/ iStock
File this under interesting eye facts: When a fastball zips across home plate or a hummingbird zooms through the air, a camera might capture blurry footage. Human brains, on the other hand, don’t actually process these blurs, and fast-moving objects thus often become invisible to us. That’s because our eyes perform super-fast movements, or saccades, to jump between points of interest, which makes some things literally too speedy to see. While saccades aren’t new to science, researchers recently found what they believe to be the first evidence that body movements — not just sensory inputs — shape how we perceive quick-moving objects. The study notes that certain people have faster saccadic eye movements than others, perhapsgiving an edge to some athletes, video gamers, and photographers. In this sense, what we can see is determined by multiple bodily functions: “Our visual system and motor system are finely tuned to each other,but this has long been ignored,” lead study author Martin Rolfs said in a statement. So thank your saccades for sparing us from what would otherwise be quite a nausea-inducing world — and if you’re feeling inspired to improve your visual tracking, consider checking out these eye exercises.
In Other News
The record for most Mount Everest climbs by a non-Sherpa was broken by aBritishman whoone-upped himself(read more)
Here’s how to help victims of the recent storms and tornadoes in the central U.S. (read more)
Pope Leo XIV called for unity before about 150,000 people during his inaugural mass Sunday in Vatican City (read more)
Psilocybin therapy showed promising results for patients with Parkinson’s disease in a new study (read more)
Hidden fees, no more: Ticketmaster will now disclose “all in” ticket prices up front (read more)
Inspiring Story
A dream ending to a nightmare situation
In April, Tiffany Slaton was reported missing during a “bucket list” trip to visit all 50 states. Last week, the 28-year-old was finally found safe thanks to Christopher Gutierrez, a resort owner in California’s Sierra National Forest who decided to keep his cabin doors unlocked in case someone needed refuge during the snowy season. That someone turned out to be Slaton, who miraculously survived the elements for nearly a month. “She just wanted a hug,” Gutierrez said of his initial interaction with her.
Photo of the Day
Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images
Congrats to Austria’s JJ! The countertenor opera singer won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest at Saturday’s final, receiving 436 points for his song “Wasted Love.” Hundreds of millions of viewers tuned in as the 24-year-old nabbed the top spot: Watch his emotional reaction.
Brad’s Deals: You Should Be Using These Amazon Prime Perks
If you’ve been loving free shipping with Amazon Prime, you’ll want to check out the other perks your membership offers. From free music and podcasts to exclusive lightning deals and Whole Foods discounts, there are plenty of lesser-known incentives to enjoy. Brad’s Deals compiled these must-know Prime perks to make sure you’re getting the most out of your membership.
“HERE THERE & EVERYWHERE” by Lawrence Weiner, 1989 Sometimes I need to be told the same thing multiple times before actually getting it. In a wisdom talk I recently heard, the guru reminded us that we are all going to die. Of course, I know this. As do you. Previously, I thought having a constant reminder of my mortality was morbid. Today, it emphasizes the only two essential questions: How content am I, and what impact am I having? He talked about how so many of us see life as a race — where a series of accomplishments need to be achieved quickly and in advance of others. But reflection on our mortality can be helpful, centering, and the right reminder of the importance of being present. Lawrence Weiner created conceptual artworks that use text. At times poetic, others wise, here he makes his point and offers an idea to contemplate through repetition. And while art is never about getting it correct, in what he shares, I am certain he is right. Interested in adding a little more art to your day and learning how to live artfully? Sign up for the forthcoming newsletter About Art.
Written by Heidi Zuckerman
Heidi is the CEO and director of the Orange County Museum of Art and author of Why Art Matters: The Bearable Lightness of Being.
