Whether you love it or hate it, autumnal products are starting to pop up on shelves and social media feeds (welcome back, Spirit Halloween!). According to Apartment Therapy, this year’s trending Halloween decor vibe will be “Tarotween.” Think: deep jewel tones, celestial imagery, and all things related to the “mystical and magical world of Tarot [cards].” See some examples.
Must Reads
Need a new computer? A cheaper MacBookcould be on the market later this year
The Search Is On for the Next Air Bud — How to Submit Your Pooch
Cineverse Corp.
Calling all golden retriever parents! With Air Bud Returns set to hit theaters next summer, casting is officially underway to find the next four-legged basketball star. And for the first time in the soon-to-be 15-film franchise, the search is going nationwide with an open casting call for the next good boy or girl. In other words, a future Hollywood celeb could be the pup sitting next to you right now. Here are the required canine qualifications: “We need a dog who is a purebred golden retriever, who’s athletic and, ideally, he would love basketball, just like the original Air Bud,” lead animal trainer Mark Forbes said in a video announcement. A press release also calls out some other key qualities the team is looking for, including charm and heart. In case you need a refresher, the Air Bud from the 1997 film could nail baskets with his nose, had a soft spot for vanilla pudding, and was the ultimate MVP on and off the court. The pup in real life (also named Buddy) wasn’t so different from his on-screen character. Kevin Zegers, who played Josh, Buddy’s human best friend, recalled to The Athletic in 2020: “Buddy was the best. I’m not super sentimental but he was truly one of the most sweet, fantastic dogs I’ve ever been around, and he’s the reason that I’ve always had dogs since. … You know, he was a superstar.” If you think your pup may, too, be a superstar, owners across the U.S. can throw their dog’s name in the ring by submitting an application on the official Air Bud website — and dog-loving fans can get in on the action by following the journey on Instagram.
Together With Hypha Labs
Get Psyched About the $250 Billion “Shroom Boom”
Functional mushrooms are shown in studies to relieve stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even some cancer treatment symptoms with little to no side effects — that’s $250 billion in health and wellness markets. But it gets even better for fungi enthusiasts and investors alike. A biotech company called Hypha Labs is making it possible to get those benefits from your kitchen countertop. Their proprietary Micropearls contain mushroom nutrients you can add to any food or drink, packing the power of functional mushrooms at a fraction of the cost of competitors. Shares are just 20 cents for a limited time as part of their special round, and it’s immediate liquidity since they’re already publicly traded. Click here to invest while shares are still available.
This is a paid advertisement for Hypha Labs’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.hyphalabs.com.
Tech
Boston Public Library Taps Into AI to Make Historical Documents More Accessible
Boston Public Library
Once upon a time, searching archival materials involved trawling through hard copies and booking in-person appointments at the library. The internet has helped broaden access over the years, but a recent initiative from the Boston Public Library is taking things a step further. With the launch of a major digitization project, one of the country’s oldest library systems will bring its extensive collection of historic government documents to a wider audience. In collaboration with Harvard Law School Library’s Institutional Data Initiative and OpenAI, the project aims to digitize roughly 5,000 documents by the end of the year. Each fragile item will be scanned individually, then processed with new AI tools to create machine-readable versions and enriched metadata, making the texts fully searchable and able to be cross-referenced from anywhere. It’s a win-win for both technology and the public: OpenAI is helping fund the scanning and project management efforts, and in return, its AI models get a rare opportunity to learn from a trove of high-quality materials that would otherwise be hard to access. “We are improving data in a way that will help AI, but those improvements work their way back into the library,” Greg Leppert, executive director of the Institutional Data Initiative, told NPR. “So it improves the patron experience as well.”
Health
Can Blowing a Conch Shell Help Alleviate Sleep Apnea? Science Says Possibly
Alex Pena/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Sleep aids come in all shapes and sizes — from gummies and pills to masks and machines. Now, researchers are eyeing a surprising new technique to help the millions living with sleep apnea worldwide: blowing into a conch shell. In a recent study of 30 adults with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, about half of participants were taught to blow a conch shell (also known as shankh blowing in Hindu cultures), while the rest practiced deep breathing exercises. Six months later, those who practiced conch blowing were 34% less sleepy during the day and had an average of 4-5 fewer apnea events per hour during sleep. This group’s blood oxygen levels during the night also improved, which is notable as obstructive sleep apnea is typically associated with decreased blood oxygen levels due to repeated breathing interruptions. While more research is needed, the surprising treatment could be a promising alternative for those who are unable to access CPAP machines or find them uncomfortable. Lead researcher Krishna K. Sharma said in a statement, “Shankh blowing is a simple, low-cost breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication.”
In Other News
Tasty news! The world’s first artificial tongue can sense and learn flavors much like human taste buds (read more)
A 30-foot-tall sunflower could soon earn an Indiana man a world record (read more)
Two years after going legally blind, this Texan is a finalist for the USA National Women’s Blind Cricket Team (read more)
Tackling youth homelessness: A Boston pilot program will give $1,200 per month to 15 unhoused young adults (read more)
The Mets are reviving Beatlemania with a 60th anniversary tribute to the Fab Four’s iconic Shea Stadium show (read more)
Join the Nice Book Club
We’ve all gone through periods of feeling stuck — maybe stuck in relationships, routines, or self-doubt. But you can rewrite the script to get out of those ruts, and Case Kenny’s book The Opposite of Settling is the ultimate guide to doing just that. At the next Nice Book Club on Aug. 21, join us for a special conversation with Case, in which the author will dive into the empowering ideas behind The Opposite of Settling, sharing how to raise your standards, trust your intuition, and create the life you truly want.
From supply shopping to new clothes and shoes, back-to-school season can get expensive. To help lighten the load for families, New Generation Barbershop in Tampa, Florida, set aside a day earlier this month to give students free haircuts, along with free backpacks, bikes, and school supplies donated by community members and local businesses. “Let’s look out for the next generation,” said shop owner Davis Nguyen.
Photo of the Day
Chris Trinh/Getty Images
Who knew silk could look like this? The photo above captures a Vietnamese artisan harvesting lotus stems to produce lotus silk, a rare and sustainable fabric made by extracting delicate fibers from the country’s national flower. The traditional craft ensures none of the lotus plant goes to waste — the roots and seeds are widely eaten and the flower is made into tea.
Looks Made for Summer, Courtesy of Quince
Nothing says summer quite like a light, airy dress. And Quince’s collection of dresses and skirts captures the essence of the season perfectly. Crafted from materials like breathable linen, crisp cotton, and smooth silk, these pieces combine comfort with effortless style. From brunch to the market to a picnic in the park, you’ll always have something to wear with Quince.
