“Sitting hurts!” That’s the apt lead-in to a new series from the Los Angeles Times on simple exercises that can alleviate the aches and pains that come with being seated at a desk all day long. We shared the first installment of the series, focused on the head and neck, earlier this month, and you all seemed to like it, so here’s the second: easy exercises for your shoulders and chest that you can do right at your desk.
Must Reads
Explore a historian’s home library, complete with hidden shelves and a library book overdue by “at least 50 years”
The “Low-Buy” Challenge Is a Money-Saving Strategy That Can Boost Your Mental Health
martin-dm/ iStock
When the “no-buy” trend blew up on TikTok in 2024, many participants found it hard to stick to. That’s not much of a surprise, as the challenge involves completely abstaining from spending money on non-essential items, typically for an entire year. But in 2025, a new iteration has emerged — one that’s much more manageable and may even have an emotional impact to boot. Called the “low-buy” challenge, the idea is that you can cut back on spending by making a list of rules to stick to for a set time period. The number of rules, and their content, is completely up to you, meaning you can create a method that works for your budget and lifestyle, and that you’re most likely to adhere to. “Unlike a no-buy year where you literally can’t buy anything non-essential, a low-buy year is slightly less strict, and I think it’s more achievable for most people,” TikToker Mia McGrath explained in a video. She pledged to follow “Project Pan” in 2025, where you “try to use up every single product to its last drop,” and to look for most items secondhand before buying them new. Aside from the obvious benefits to your wallet, the low-buy method may also boost your mental health — evidence suggests that taking charge of your finances can positively impact your state of mind. Learn more and get tips on crafting your list of rules.
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Waterwheels Go Round and Round: The Old School Tech Is in the Sustainable Spotlight
Stefan Puchner/picture alliance via Getty Images
Though trends can be cyclical, it’s often hard to pinpoint what exactly will come back in style and when — but if you predicted waterwheels would be back en vogue, you’d be right. Developed thousands of years ago, waterwheels have been used primarily to drive mechanical processes (i.e. milling and hammering) and played a vital role in the industrial revolution. Flash forward to today, researchers at the Technical University of Munich have harnessed the technology to produce zero-carbon electricity via generators in a small village in Kashmir, India, per The Guardian. “You have this continuous power flow,” Michael Erhart, the chair of renewable and sustainable energy systems at the school, told the outlet. “It’s not intermittent like the radiation of the sun or wind power.” Because of that, the off-grid waterwheel offers some much-needed stability to the Kashmiri villagers. Previously, they relied on a centralized electricity grid that would go out for weeks or months, Erhart explained. Bigger picture, the wheels could help other remote communities — particularly those prone to climate change risks — become more self-sufficient.
Tech
In Ireland, Europe’s First 3D-Printed Social Housing Project Is Brought to Life
COBOD
Last year, we wrote about Texas being home to the largest 3D-printed neighborhood, and now, across the pond in Ireland, another milestone 3D project is in the books. In Grange Close, Dundalk, Europe’s first 3D-printed social housingwas brought to lifeby Harcourt Technologies using a COBOD construction printer. The result is a 3,550-square-foot terraced build that was cheaper and faster to create than with conventional construction methods. From start to finish, the structure took 132 days — more than two months less than the average timeline. Of that time, only 12 days were needed for the actual 3D-printing. Justin Kinsella, the co-founder of Harcourt Technologies, said he grew up near Dundalk, which is in Louth County, and is “immensely proud” of the housing project. “This endeavour highlights Louth County Council’s progressive stance toward meeting housing needs and its dedication to promoting sustainable solutions,” he said in a statement, per Newsweek. “The transformative potential of this technology is very exciting, offering a viable solution to help address our housing challenges.”
In Other News
“Kindness” was selected as the Children’s Word of the Year for 2024 by the Oxford University Press (read more)
Supersonic winds are moving at 20,500 mph on a “puffy” exoplanet, scientists discovered (read more)
Swim, gobies, swim: A rescue team saved hundreds of tiny endangered fish from a Palisades burn area (read more)
The Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions begins tonight — see the lineup of competitors (read more)
A golden piece of Alaskan history went up for auction, after being out of public view for decades (read more)
Inspiring Story
Compassion in a backpack
More than 400 unhoused people in Chicago have received the gift of a cozy place to rest, thanks to Australian philanthropist Tony Clark’s invention of “backpack beds.” The on-the-go shelters feature a roll-out mattress, insulation, lockable pockets, a mosquito net, and waterproof fabric. “It’s the things like this that keep us alive,” said one backpack bed recipient. “The small things that make us homeless people feel like real people again.”
Photo of the Day
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Australian snowboarder Scotty James made quite the splash on Day 1 of the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, last week. After winning his fourth consecutive halfpipe title, the athlete surpassed American legend Shaun White’s three-victory record, set over a decade ago. Watch James ride.
Viral TikTok Products You Can Buy on Amazon, Courtesy of Brad’s Deals
While there are some TikTok trends that come and go pretty quick — we’re looking at you, “fluffy Coke” — it can still be a great place to find your new favorite product. The editors at Brad’s Deals rounded up 30 of the best viral TikTok products, from beauty to tech and everything in between, that you can buy on Amazon.
