With 11 metros hosting matches and 39 hosting team base camps, the World Cup is showing off the welcoming spirit of U.S. cities. In the Boston area, a 6:30 a.m. wakeup call from kilt-clad bagpipers (aka Scotland fans) went viral — and led to an unexpected friendship. Then there’s Lawrence, Kansas, the small city that has embraced team Algeria with a heartwarming fervor. “I want to say thank you to Algeria for choosing Lawrence, Kansas,” one local said, exhibiting some true Midwestern hospitality.
Must Reads
Scroll through some of the greatest works by David Hockney, who died last week at age 88
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Culture
“House for a Mouse,” Human Edition: All About the Burrowcore Home Trend
SolStock—E+/Getty Images
Not long ago, cottagecore was trending, but now it seems we’ve collectively turned the page to a new (related) aesthetic. Welcome to burrowcore, the art of living like you’re hibernating inside an underground world straight out of the Brambly Hedge storybooks. In a nutshell, burrowcore is the opposite of picture-perfect minimalism. It looks like jumbles of books with dog-eared pages, whimsical wallpaper, mismatched antique finds, and perhaps some half-completed craft projects strewn about. Rather than just looking like a pretty spot to unwind, burrowcore is about actually making your home a place to pull up a chair, leisurely sip on tea, and invite friends over to dabble for an afternoon. “People want characterful homes that feel comforting,” designer Sarah Nolan told House Beautiful, noting that natural materials and “well-used everyday objects” are key to achieving the look. “We want the things around us to tell a story and reflect how we actually live.” Get tips on how to incorporate burrowcore into your home.
Together With FinanceBuzz
2026 Social Security Changes That Impact Everyone
Social Security is a major source of retirement income for many Americans, and this year, several changes could mean more money in your pocket. For example, you can now earn more without losing benefits if you’re collecting Social Security early and still working. The experts at FinanceBuzz rounded up more of the updates so you can stretch your benefits further. Here’s what’s changing and how it could help you.
On World Oceans Day last week, French Polynesia made a major move for marine conservation. The government announced it will protect 200,000 square miles of ocean, more than twice the size of Michigan (or roughly the area of France). The swath of sea surrounding the Austral and Marquesas Islands joins the Te Tai Nui a Hau Marine Protected Area, which was already the largest in the world. Once implemented, the addition will grant the highest level of protection to two of the world’s most biologically rich archipelagos — meaning no mining, trawling, or industrial fishing is permitted. The new designation safeguards acritical habitat for endangered sharks, whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, as well as a critical tuna spawning ground. Bigger picture, it’s a major contribution toward the United Nations’ goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. “This cements French Polynesia’s place as the global leader in marine conservation,” Maël Imirizaldu, a regional lead for the Blue Nature Alliance, said in a press release from Conservation International. “Their determination to preserve the ocean demonstrates that it is not simply a commodity, it’s the matrix that sustains all of us.”
Science
How Do Venus Flytraps Chomp Insects So Fast? It’s All in the Hair, Study Finds
Deanna Kelly—Moment/Getty Images
As much as we feel sorry for the insects, it’s undoubtedly fascinating to see a Venus flytrap work its macabre magic to gobble up a snack (as expertly narrated by David Attenborough in this video). For over a century, the sight has mystified researchers — even Charles Darwin — but now scientists believe they’ve finally nailed down the mechanism the plant uses to snap its “jaws” shut in as little as one-tenth of a second. Contrary to a previous hypothesis that water redistribution causes Venus flytraps to close, a recent study found that when the plant’s trigger hairs are stimulated, the cell walls in the outer layer of the leaves rapidly soften and become more flexible. This change releases stored energy, causing the leaf to bend and close like a spring. “I’m not aware of any other plants with this kind of very rapid change of mechanical properties of the cells,” senior study author Yoël Forterre told The Guardian, adding: “Plants are just amazing. It makes you realize how all plants can sense their surroundings, transport information, react, defend themselves, feed.”
In Other News
Forever chemical levels have gone down in clothing and textiles following state laws banning PFAs (read more)
Gas prices have dropped to an average of about$4 per gallon, just in time for summer road trips (read more)
A new programat a California hospital prevented all but one amputation in 1,165 high-risk diabetic patients (read more)
One of Claude Monet’s water lily paintings is expected to fetch more than $40 million at auction next week (read more)
“Ghost dog”:An elusive short-eared canine with webbed paws was spotted by a camera trap in Bolivia (read more)
Inspiring Story
R is for role model
At an elementary school in Marlow, Oklahoma, kindergarten teacher Heather Gage works alongside her assistant, 88-year-old Glenda Ousley — the very preschool teacher who inspired Gage to pursue a career in education. “Mrs. Ousley had been in my life since I was born and had even been a positive influence on me as a young child, encouraging me toward a career in education,” Gage said. “Having her as my assistant later in my teaching career was something I could never have imagined.” See the pair through the years.
Photo of the Day
Raj Mehta/Getty Images
She’s playing for two! Swedish golfer Madelene Sagstrom competed in the LPGA Dow Championship in Michigan while seven months pregnant over the weekend. The pro finished in the top 10 with partner Dani Holmqvist (their team name: 2 ½ Swedes) and announced she’d be starting her maternity leave afterward. When her participation in the U.S. Women’s Open made headlines the weekend prior, Sagstrom said she didn’t think twice about continuing to play while pregnant. “I didn’t realize it was going to turn into such a spectacle, the whole thing. For me, golf is all I’ve ever done, and it’s my job,” she told The Athletic. “So it was natural. If I feel good, just keep trying to play. But it’s so lovely. It’s nice that people are understanding that it’s not easy, and everyone’s been super supportive.”
Ditch the Razor This Summer With LaserAway
After a perfect beach day, the last thing you want is the hassle of shaving and the dread of razor burn. LaserAway is the largest aesthetic dermatology provider in the U.S., specializing in noninvasive, science-backed treatments. The certified professionals use medical-grade lasers for permanent, long-term hair reduction — and right now you can get 75% off select packages.
