Voting for the USA Today “10 Best” series is well underway, so now’s the time to make your opinions heard. The outlet’s Readers’ Choice Awards include the best ice cream shop in the country, the best lake, best independent bookstore, best kayak tour, best beach bar, and much more. Get voting for your faves.
Must Reads
How NYC dining has changed over the last 25 years — from cupcake crazes to streetside seating
The case for teaching children to write in cursive
Health
If You Require Less Sleep Than Most, It May Be in Your Genes
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Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is a tried-and-true doctor recommendation. While that’s generally solid advice, sleep is an individual thing and your genes can play a role in how much (or little) rest you need. Often called natural short sleepers, some people can snooze between four to six hours each night without feeling sleep deprived. These individuals are likely genetically wired to need less sleep, as a new study has linked a mutation in the salt-induced kinase 3 gene, or SIK3, to reduced sleep duration. “These findings underscore the conserved function of SIK3 as a critical gene in human sleep regulation,” the authors wrote. Although it’s estimated that only about 1%-3% of the world’s population are natural short sleepers, the study’s lessons could help many more, particularly when it comes to finding new treatments for sleep disorders, which affect 50-70 million Americans. The team noted the results could “advance our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of sleep, highlight the broader implications of kinase activity in sleep regulation across species, and provide further support for potential therapeutic strategies to enhance sleep efficiency.”
Together With FinanceBuzz
It’s Time to Take a Break From High Interest
Is high interest making it difficult for you to pay down your credit card debts? A balance transfer might be the right move for you. By transferring your debt to a credit card with a low APR, you can pay off high-interest balances faster and get closer to reaching your financial goals. Thankfully, FinanceBuzz has the scoop on one of the best balance transfer credit cards you can get. It has no annual fee, an extra-long no-interest period — 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months — and a simple cash back structure. Click below to learn more.
“Sounds Like Friendship”: Colorful Birds Step Up as Babysitters for Flock Mates
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It takes a village to raise a child — or a chick. Recent research discovered that superb starlings, a species of vibrantly hued, medium-sized birds in eastern Africa, rely on “friendships” to help raise their flocks’ young. After studying nine flocks of starlings over nearly two decades, researchers found the birds pitched in to help unrelated flock members rear their chicks, and they seemed to expect those members to return the favor down the road. “This is the first real evidence of reciprocity in a cooperatively breeding bird,” study co-author Dustin Rubenstein told ScienceAlert, “and one of the strongest pieces of evidence for reciprocity occurring outside of humans.” The superb starling flocks included both birds that were born into the group as well as birds that joined from other families, Rubenstein explained. New parents got support from up to 16 other “helper” birds (relatives and non-relatives), which brought food to the hatchlings and warded off predators. In the next breeding season, the roles were often reversed, with the helpers becoming parents themselves. Some of these relationships lasted for not just one or two breeding seasons, but for many years. “The starlings are consistently investing in the same preferred social partners over their lives,” lead author Alexis Earl told The New York Times. “To me, that sounds like friendship.”
Environment
2 Plants Remove up to 90% of Microplastics From Water, Study Finds
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It’s no secret that microplastics are everywhere — in our food, bodies, and bottled water. Fortunately, many scientists are hard at work coming up with potential solutions and finding new tools to filter out the teeny-tiny fragments of plastic that are notoriously difficult to remove. One recent breakthrough? Plants. In a study published last month, researchers found that the slimy strings in okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds can remove up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, fresh water, and groundwater. They were also “significantly” more effective at trapping microplastics than synthetic polymers, per a press release from the American Chemical Society. “Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water,” said researcher Rajani Srinivasan, “thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.” While the scientists work on how to harness the depolluting power of these veggies (which are also beneficial to have in your diet!), check out a guide to avoiding microplastics as much as possible.
In Other News
In a medical first, an 11-year-old had an artificial heart valve replaced with a living donor valve (read more)
Michael Jordan’s new gig: The basketball legend is joining NBC as a special contributor for NBA coverage (read more)
Speaking of new jobs, McDonald’s plans to hire 375,000 employees in the U.S. this summer (read more)
Waze on the moon? A Spanish firm unveiled a GPS-like navigation system for the celestial body (read more)
Welsh firefighters rescued a 1,700-pound bullnamed Bruce who got stuck in the mud (read more)
Inspiring Story
A silver lining of an injury
When Peng Mao Yu fractured his arm, he wasn’t a fan of his fiberglass cast. So with a team of fellow engineers from the University of Singapore, he used 4D-printing technology to create a lightweight, breathable, and customizable option. Check out the cutting-edge invention.
Photo of the Day
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Everyone has their favorite Robert De Niro movie — maybe it’s Taxi Driver, The Godfather, The Irishman, or, for the more comically inclined, Meet the Fockers. The point being, the 81-year-old actor is undeniably prolific and impactful to the world of film, which is why he received an honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival yesterday. Read about some of the buzziest movies premiering at the festival.
Introducing: The Next Generation of AG1
The AG1 you know and love just got an upgrade. The next generation of the supplement blend features an updated formula with five clinically studied probiotics with additional vitamins and minerals to offer greater support for whole body health. And the new travel pack shape makes it easier than ever to never miss a day of the health habit. Click below to subscribe and get your welcome kit with five free AG1 travel packs and a bottle of vitamin D3+K2.
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Quote of the Day
“All it takes to uncover hidden gems is a clear eye, an open mind, and a willingness to search for inspiration in places other people aren’t willing or able to go.”
