Make room, protein, there’s another nutrient dominating TikTok feeds: fiber. Many social media users are sharing their daily fiber intake and encouraging others to focus more on the gut-healthy carb, using the hashtag #fibermaxxing. “Whether it’s adding chia seeds to everything, sneaking veggies into your meals, or finding new ways to love whole grains, fibermaxxing might just be the trend we didn’t know we needed,” registered dietitian Lauren Manaker told CNN. Learn why fiber is important and how much dieticians recommend we consume each day.
Must Reads
Bird’s-eye view: See top shots from the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards
If you need a reminder that you’re never too old to dance, this story has your name on it
Humanity
“Clear the Shelters” Is Back to Match Rescue Pets With Forever Families
Arlington Animal Services
August signals the tail end of summer for some — but it could be just the beginning of a new chapter with a furry best friend. This month marks the return of Clear the Shelters, a national campaign that helps rescue pets find their forever homes. Led by NBCUniversal, this monthlong campaign has facilitated nearly 1.2 million adoptions since its inception in 2015, including a record 170,000 last year alone. The aim is to turn the spotlight on pets in need through adoption events and media coverage, with many participating shelters reducing or waiving adoption fees throughout August to encourage more people to open their homes (and hearts) to animals. Take it from Joe Manganiello, who will host the Clear the Shelters TV special on Friday: “Pet adoption is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” the actor told People magazine of his experience adopting rescue pup Bubbles. He added: “This little dog is the light of my life.” So if you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet, there may be no better time than right now to make it happen. But if you’re not quite ready to bring a furry friend home, you can still support the initiative by volunteering, donating, or showing your pride with some new swag (100% of profits go to the Clear the Shelters fund). Learn more and check out the map of participating shelters.
Together With FinanceBuzz
This Card’sRare Unlimited Cash Back Match Is Turning Heads
If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. And FinanceBuzz can help you find the right card for you. One of the top credit cards recommended by the site’s personal finance experts goes a step further than no interest: It offers an insane 5% cash back perk that gets matched after your first year. That’s up to 10% back on qualifying purchases. Click below to see what all the hype is about.
Illinois Leads the Nation as First State to Require Mental Health Screenings in Schools
SeventyFour/ iStock
School health checks usually include vision and hearing exams, but in Illinois, students in grades 3 through 12 will also undergo mandatory mental health screenings — making it the first state in the nation to implement such a requirement. “At a time when our kids are struggling with anxiety and depression more than ever before, it’s our responsibility to ensure that young people have all the support that they need to get the help that they deserve,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in remarks at the bill signing ceremony, per Good Morning America. For context, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that anxiety and depression are among the most frequently diagnosed mental health conditions in children aged 3 to 17. Set to take effect during the 2027-2028 school year, the new law will require at least one annual mental health screening per student and encourages schools to connect caregivers with support services via a recently launched online tool called BEACON. “Our goal is an integrated, comprehensive approach to quality mental and behavioral health services for young people across the state,” Pritzker said, noting that Illinois will provide the necessary screening tools and technology access to assist schools in meeting these requirements.
Science
You Say Tomato, We Say Potato: How One Veg Helped Lead to the Other
Korneeva_Kristina/ iStock
What if we told you that french fries might never have existed without ketchup — well, more specifically, tomatoes? That’s according to a recent genetic study, which traced the humble potato’s origins back 9 million years to a serendipitous encounter between wild tomato genes and those of an early potato-like plant known as etuberosum. “Our findings show how a hybridization event between species can spark the evolution of new traits, allowing even more species to emerge,” co-author Sanwen Huang said in a statement about the study, which included analysis of more than 500 genomes from cultivated and wild potato species. “We’ve finally solved the mystery of where potatoes came from.” After the two plants fortuitously interbred, their hybrid offspring could do something neither the tomato nor etuberosum could do: produce the underground “tubers” characteristic of potatoes, yams, and taros. This adaptation to form nutrient-rich storage organs below the ground allowed potatoes to survive in the increasingly harsh Andes weather and eventually become the dependable food supply for humans that we know (and love) today. Beyond being fun foodie trivia, the plant’s evolutionary history could hold clues to breeding more innovation into future potatoes, CNN reports. Fingers crossed this helps ensure beloved potato-based comfort meals stick around no matter how the climate and growing conditions change. Looking at you, latkes …
In Other News
An endangered salmon species has been spotted in a California river for the first time in nearly 100 years (read more)
Football coach Deion Sanders opened up about getting a new bladder to treat his cancer: Learn the science (read more)
This public library’s summer game turned Ann Arbor, Michigan, into a giant playground for kids and adults (read more)
Pitcher Jacob DeGrom became the fastest in MLB history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts (read more)
A jellyfish that looks like a thistle flower was thought extinct — until a tourist spotted it near a U.K. isle (read more)
Something We Love
Horsepower Duck Vacuum This little guy has been a game changer in my house. We keep it out and charged, so we can quickly and easily clean up crumbs, pet hair, and other small debris throughout the day. It’s cordless, powerful, and the duck design is kind of adorable.
At a rock climbing camp near Philadelphia, kiddos with hand and arm differences are reaching new heights — both on the wall and in their confidence. Meet the courageous climbers, including a 10-year-old who refers to his small hand as his “lucky fin.”
Photo of the Day
Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hang ten! The World Dog Surfing Championships splashed down Saturday in Pacifica, California, featuring canines like Charlie here taking on the waves in front of thousands of cheering spectators as they were judged on their balance, how long they remained on their boards, and their tricks. They’re all champions in our eyes, but check out a video showing the winning pups.
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