Some may not think of hordes of bugs as particularly nice, but we do think it’s nice to be prepared, so here goes it: Within weeks, a large swath of the country will be faced with cicada broods XIX and XIII. These two broods last emerged at the same time 221 years ago (as in, when Thomas Jefferson was president), so it might be a pretty intense cicada season for the overlap areas in Illinois and Iowa. The good news is that cicadas are relatively harmless and short-lived once they’re above ground. Learn where and when the cicadas are expected, and read some tips on preparing for the season.
What age do you consider “old”? The question is of course subjective — a 5-year-old might think 15 to be ancient, for example — but a new study is shedding light on how society at large views aging and how that perception has changed over time. Using data from the German Aging Survey, the researchers found that the age we view as old has advanced: 65-year-olds born in 1911 characterized 71 as “old age,” but 65-year-olds born in 1956 said 74. “Our perceptions or conceptions of old age are obviously shifting across historical time. People nowadays who are in midlife or who are older adults believe that old age begins later than did their peers 10 or 20 years ago,” lead author Markus Wettstein told NBC News. Wettstein attributed the change to increased life expectancy, improved mental and physical health, and higher quality of life. Though the same trend might not hold true for other countries, it’s an interesting reflection on how we perceive time and age. “I would say that this confirms in a very strong way, at least in Germany, that 70 is the new 60,” said John Rowe, a professor of health policy and aging who wasn’t involved in the study.
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Since the devastating 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire, there’s been a monumental effort to restore and rebuild the Paris landmark. One of the people working on the site is Hank Silver: a timber framer from New England and a member of Carpenters Without Borders, a team of volunteers dedicated to helping restore historical structures around the world. “It’s a once-in-a-millennium experience,”Silver told NBC News. The carpenter moved from Massachusetts to France last year to help re-create the cathedral’s nave and is part of a small group of foreigners on the project. “It still doesn’t feel real if I’m honest,” he said. It’s clear Silver isn’t taking the opportunity lightly, and he’s in good company, according to the leader of the restoration efforts, Philippe Jost. He told CBS News there’s a “spirit of unity” among those who have traveled from all parts of the world to help. He added that all the workers “have been marked for life.” Notre Dame is slated to reopen Dec. 8 — see Silver in action as the team gears up for the unveiling.
Environment
Study Reveals What Birds’ Dreams (and Nightmares) Sound Like
There’s nothing sweeter than waking to the sounds of songbirds. But our feathery friends also sing in their sleep, though those tunes can’t be heard. In a study published earlier this month, researchers successfully decoded the silent songs of snoozing birds, shedding light on the mysterious realm of avian dreams — and nightmares. Using electrodes, the scientists recorded the nighttime symphonies of great kiskadees through the birds’ muscle activity, which they then translated into sound. One eerie tune echoed the calls of territorial disputes. “You could figure out this guy was experiencing a nightmare probably, re-creating the whole experience of having a fight in his sleep,” study co-author Gabriel Mindlin told NPR’s Science Friday podcast. While the specifics remain a mystery, the research suggests that bird dreams could very well be similar to human ones. Mindlin said listening to the nightmare in particular inspired empathy for the bird, who was “all alone at night in a tree with his fears.” He added: “I felt there were more similarities between them and us than we usually acknowledge.” Listen to Mindlin’s full interview with the outlet here (and hear the difference between the kiskadees’ waking and sleeping songs).
In Other News
The USDA is limiting added sugars in school meals as part of a new nutrition update that will begin taking effect in fall 2025.
Engineering students in England designed and ran a hydrogen-fueled engine, making them the only undergraduates to achieve such a feat.
Frank Sinatraand Mia Farrow’s former Upper East Side brownstone is on the market for the first time in over 50 years.
Millions of young salmonare embarking on a journey to the Pacific Ocean after being released from national fish hatcheries in Oregon and Washington this month.
Edward J. Dwight Jr. was almost America’s first Black astronaut in the 1960s, but he’ll soon finally make it to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket — and become the oldest person to do so.
Something We Love
Wordle: The Party Game If you have a Wordle group chat in which you and your friends share your daily scores, it’s time to take the conversation offline with Wordle: The Party Game. The IRL version of the popular New York Times puzzle features dry erase boards and markers for unlimited play. The premise is as simple as it gets — take turns coming up with a secret five-letter word, and whoever guesses it in the fewest tries wins!
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Inspiring Story
Everyday heroes
Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana of LookSharp Barbershop in East Hartford, Connecticut, have been praised as heroes after they noticed a young child wandering toward traffic at a busy intersection while they were cutting hair. They ran outside and rescued the toddler, averting a potential tragedy, and their courage was recognized by the East Hartford Police Department.
Photo of the Day
Jason Rudolph (sharetheexperience)/USFWS
Who knew that coyotes and badgers go together like peanut butter and jelly? The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently posted about the “mutually beneficial relationship” the two species share. “These unlikely besties are known to hunt together and can even be more successful hunting prairie dogs and ground squirrels when they work in tandem,” the department wrote. See another pic of the animal duo.
Press Play on Plant-Based Eating With Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is on a mission to prove that plant-based eating doesn’t have to be difficult, boring, or time-consuming. The brand’s chef-prepared meals and curated meal kits provide everything you need to put tasty dishes on the table that everyone will love. You can choose from high-protein, high-fiber, lower-calorie, and gluten-free options every week and skip or cancel whenever you want to take a break. Click below to check out the spring-themed meals currently on offer.
