Must Reads

• Apple is rolling out the next generation of CarPlay — see which vehicles are getting it first​
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• Worth the scroll: A roundup of mesmerizing street art from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Science

Those “Aha!” Moments Aren’t Just Satisfying — They May Help You Remember Information Longer

When lightbulb moments occur — you know, those instances when you’re struck by a brilliant idea or solution seemingly out of nowhere — they can feel like miracles from the universe. But there’s actually science behind them, and according to a new study, their positive impact could last well beyond the instances themselves.
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Researchers at Duke University and Germany’s Humboldt and Hamburg Universities found that “eureka moments” may not only reshape the way our brains represent information, but also help us remember the insight for almost twice as long.
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If you have a eureka, or “aha!” moment when solving a problem, “you’re actually more likely to remember the solution,” first author Maxi Becker, a postdoctoral fellow at Humboldt University in Berlin, said in a news release. Learn how the team came to this conclusion.​

Together With Mode Mobile

No. 1 Software Company Shares Jump 15%

Deloitte’s 2023 No. 1 software company just raised $45 million in its pre-IPO offering — and the share price jumped to $0.30/share. Mode Mobile’s offering is almost fully subscribed, but there’s still a limited-time opportunity for investors to buy in.
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With parabolic revenue growth of 32,481%, this company is leading a smartphone revolution that has enabled more than 45 million users to earn over $325 million from screen time.
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We’ve seen it before when Uber turned cars into income streams and Airbnb turned homes into income-producing assets. Early investors in these companies earned significant returns, and Mode is following their playbook. Invest in this breakout Nasdaq candidate at $0.30/share while there is still room.​

Environment

A “Smelling” Gel Could Be the Key to Repopulating Coral Reefs

Reading about the ongoing coral bleaching crisis, it can be hard not to feel a sense of doom and gloom. But luckily, one team of biologists isn’t losing hope. Instead, they’re channeling their concern into an innovative project to help repopulate reefs — through smell.
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Much like humans associate certain scents with home, so do coral. The scientists created a “smelling” gel called SNAP-X that taps into that sensory power to help boost the species. “Coral are animals, and their larvae are selective about where they are going to attach because once they do, they’re stuck there,” marine biologist Daniel Wangpraseurt said in a press release from the University of California, San Diego. “With SNAP-X, we created a material that releases chemical cues that tell coral larvae this is a good place to live.”
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In lab experiments, the gel increased coral larvae settlement by up to 20 times compared to untreated surfaces. As for real-world applications, the researchers explained it could be particularly useful at getting coral larvae to settle on degraded reefs or human-made structures that don’t have the aroma of home.
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“I think this material is a breakthrough that can hopefully make a big contribution to coral restoration,” Wangpraseurt said. He added: “We are really excited to take this as far as it can go.”

Culture

Marry Your Best Friend: Why Some Young People Are Entering “Friendship Marriages”

A small but growing population of young people in China is redefining partnership and saying “I do” to their best friends rather than romantic love interests. The trend, called “friendship marriage,” involves couples who marry based largely on shared values and interests, with clear expectations that intimacy is off the table.
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“My husband and I are roommates who live together but are also family,” Meilan, a woman in her late 20s in a platonic partnership, told the South China Morning Post. In friendship marriages like Meilan’s, two people become legal spouses, live together (with separate bedrooms), and may even raise a family together via adoption or IVF.
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Of course, no two love stories are the same: For some, the decision might be a way of avoiding family and societal pressures to get married, particularly as the marriage rate has been steadily declining in China. For others, it’s a choice that offers the legal, financial, and emotional perks of marriage in an unconventional way.
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And it’s not just happening in China. “Meeting people is hard, getting a bond and romantic feelings is hard, and more and more young people are starting to realize that there are other benefits to marriage other than romantic love: I mean, isn’t the point to marry your best friend?” Jullep Teah, a woman from Texas, told The New York Times in 2021. “So why can’t it be your literal best friend?”

In Other News

1. In a historic surgery, doctors in Southern California performed the first human bladder transplant (read more)
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2. Elmo loves you — and Netflix: A new season of Sesame Street will be available to stream later this year (read more)
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3. A 2,300-year-old Chinese star chart is thought to be the world’s oldest structured celestial map (read more)
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4. Gynecology patients should be offered more pain management options during appointments, per new guidelines (read more)
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5. Two giant pandas have arrived at the Vienna Zoo — watch them explore their new home (read more)

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Inspiring Story

More than a meal

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When Hunter Metzger ordered his 8-year-old Great Dane, Iris, her final meal from Texas Roadhouse, the chain delivered much more than just a steak and fries. “It just blew us away,” he said of the restaurant workers’ sweet act of love.

Photo of the Day

Like mother, like daughter! This adorable rhino calf, born at a U.K. safari park, is only two weeks old, but she’s already learned how to pose perfectly alongside her mom. See the duo on video.​

Mode Mobile Offers You Income in the Palm of Your Hand

A bold new vision is emerging in response to AI taking over human jobs: tech-driven universal basic income. Mode’s flagship EarnPhone pays users for activities like playing games, listening to music, and even charging their phone. It’s this new business model that fueled Mode’s electric 32,481% revenue growth between 2019 and 2022. The company’s pre-IPO offering is almost fully subscribed — and the opportunity to invest in this growth at $0.30/share is fading.

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Odds & Ends

🧅 The science behind reducing the sting of onion tears
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🪻 Britain’s longest wisteria vine is in bloom​
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🗓️ Want your wedding guests to RSVP ASAP? Try this​
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🐿️ A decade of mesmerizing backyard wildlife

Quote of the Day

“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.”

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– ROBIN WALL KIMMERER