A series of winter storms swept the U.S. this week, which may have made it a bit more hazardous to take a stroll outside. For those who are scared of slipping but need or want to venture out, a new TikTok trend presents a solution: socks over your shoes. It may not be the most stylish look, but wearing a pair of oversized or stretchy socks over your boots makes you less likely to slip on snow or ice — it’s even been tested in a scientific study. If that doesn’t sound appealing, though, learn more ways to reduce your risk of falling, like the “penguin shuffle.”
Must Reads
Working the night shift and need a little extra TLC? Try these expert tips
“Lemonading”: The Power of Playfulness for Facing Adversity
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Making lemonade when life hands you lemons is a concept that’s been around for over 100 years — but thanks to a study out of Oregon State University, we now have new science-backed evidence showing how powerful “lemonading” can really be. The study evaluated two groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic, homing in on one quality in particular: playfulness. Their findings? The more playful individuals displayed “significantly higher levels” of resilience when coping with the effects of the pandemic compared to the less playful group, suggesting the former are better equipped to have positive experiences during difficult times. “[Playful people] actively altered challenging situations, found creative substitutes for what was lost, viewed obstacles as opportunities for growth, and maintained a strong sense of control over their responses,” lead author Xiangyou “Sharon” Shen explained in a statement, noting that understanding how these individuals navigate tough times may help inform future coping interventions for stress and uncertainty. Learn how she and her team define lemonading — and get tips for putting it into practice.
Together With Timeplast
This Startup Is Making Plastic Obsolete
The world produces 450 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Microplastics are seeping into our oceans and food. They even show up in our bodies. So you can imagine how revolutionary a new kind of plastic that completely dissolves in water would be. Thatʼs exactly what Timeplast created. The company patented a water-soluble, time-programmable plastic that vanishes without harming the environment. They’re already partnered with a Fortune 500 company, with the potential to supply packaging materials to several other major players. Don’t miss this opportunity — become a Timeplast shareholder as they transform the $1.3 trillion plastic industry.
This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.
Environment
Indiana Nonprofit The Pipsqueakery Helps Oft-Overlooked Animals in Need
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A couch beaver named Agnes, a “floor bunny” named Nyxie, and a degu named Claire are all alive and well thanks to one Indiana nonprofit, where pipsqueaks become the top dogs. Located in Bloomington, The Pipsqueakery (which got its title from a hamster named Pipsqueak), cares for “medically and behaviorally needy” rodents, rabbits, and other small animals. “Basically, if it isn’t a predator, we’ll take it,” executive director Alex Hernly told ABC News. The organization not only provides sanctuary care and wildlife rehabilitation to its little guys, but also works with vets to “treat some of the most difficult and unique cases,” per the website. The Pipsqueakery has saved over 12,000 animals since its inception in 2013, typically caring for about 700 at a time, and works with 30-plus rescues to rehome critters that can’t be reintroduced into the wild. If neither option works out, however, they’re welcome to stay at the sanctuary. “If my experience has shown anything, it’s that, ‘wow, there are a lot of other animals out there that need a lot of help,’” said Hernly, who added that it can cost $20,000 a month to run the nonprofit. If you’d like to help save pipsqueaks in need, click here to donate or volunteer — and as a bonus, you can submit questionsto a “Dear Aggie” advice column for the beaver herself to answer.
Humanity
“Iglou” Emergency Shelters Keep Unhoused People Warm Amid Freezing Temps
Iglou/ Facebook
In the Czech town of Prachatice, you’ll find unhoused people living in igloos — but not the kind you’d typically picture. Just like regular igloos, these structures are meant to keep their inhabitants warm amid freezing temperatures, but instead of snow, “Iglous” are built with a nonflammable thermal material that traps in body heat to keep the interiors significantly warmer than it is outside. The emergency shelters are intended for individuals who “cannot or will not” sleep in traditional shelters, per the organization that creates them. Iglou supplies its structures to cities and charities with outreach workers who “frequently visit people experiencing homelessness” — like the nonprofit Prevent. Last year, Prevent partnered with Prachatice to buy two Iglous, per Radio Prague International, and now coordinates with social workers to lend them out under certain conditions. The structures are much-needed in Prachatice, which lacks central or sufficient shelters for its unhoused population, and doesn’t offer any night shelters for men. “At Iglou, we all believe that all the ones who want should have a real home,” Iglou wrote on its Facebook page. “But we also know the reality and thousands are still sleeping rough during freezing nights, and some freeze to death. And the Iglou is for them to prevent that.”
In Other News
At the ripe age of 74, the world’s oldest-known wild bird has a new chick — meet the adorable albatross (read more)
Renewables provided 90% of new U.S. energy-generating capacity in 2024 (read more)
A family-owned California farm plans to donate hundreds of thousands of eggs to LA wildfire victims (read more)
The British Judo Association is offering a free six-week course to help folks with Parkinson’s stay active (read more)
Advanced imaging technology led toan “unexpected” discovery in a painting from Picasso’s Blue Period (read more)
Inspiring Story
Taking children’s books to new heights
Braille has long been used to enable blind and visually impaired people to read — but when it comes to picture books for children, nonprofit Living Paintings gets even more creative. Volunteers turn two-dimensional art into colorful 3D carvings, which are then paired with audio guides before going on the shelves at the Living Paintings Library. “Reading a book to your kid is one of those special things in life, and it’s heartbreaking to imagine [missing out on that],” said CEO Camilla Oldland. “Books should be for everyone.”
Photo of the Day
Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Spring has officially sprung — in the baseball world, at least. Spring training workouts began this week, and players flocked to fields in Arizona and Florida to get ready for the season start in late March. But new Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona had some sage advice for his pitchers: Ease into the workouts. “I think the normal thought is, ‘it’s the first day’ and everybody wants to go out and throw 100 (mph),” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “So, I reminded them today, the pitchers, that, hey, there’s a progression here. Regardless of how old you are, get ready because you can’t make the club in the training room.”
Amazon Prime Perks You Might Not Know About, Courtesy of Brad’s Deals
For many, free shipping and access to exclusive showsand movies is enough reason to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Amazon Prime. But if that hasn’t been enough to entice you to join the membership, maybe some of the lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up. Click below to read the Brad’s Deals roundup of 10 such perks.
