Must Reads

• Apple is expected to debut the iPhone 16 (and more devices) on Sept. 9
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• A scientific breakdown of the role food plays in mental health

Environment

Have You Seen This Bird? Scientists Seek Help Finding “Lost” Species

Calling all birdwatchers! Scientists recently released an updated list of over 140 birds that have not been seen for at least a decade, and they’re asking birders to keep their eyes out for them.
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Part of the Search for Lost Birds project, which was formalized in 2020 (right around when birdwatching soared in popularity as a soul-filling lockdown hobby), this community-driven effort leans on binocular-toting birders to help identify species that have been lost to the scientific community, but may still exist. That way, experts can better learn how to keep them from actually disappearing while filling in the blanks of their pasts.
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“Figuring out why these birds have become lost and then trying to find them can feel like a detective story,” project director John C. Mittermeier said in a previous statement from the American Bird Conservancy. “While some of the species on the list will be incredibly challenging or maybe even impossible to find, others might reveal themselves relatively quickly if people get to the right places.’’
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Already, the search has success stories on its resume. Over a dozen birds have been found, including the Santa Marta sabrewing you see above, and the team is optimistic more sightings are on the horizon. “The enthusiasm from people around the world makes me hopeful about the potential to find more of these lost birds,” Mittermeier told The New York Times.

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Health

FDA Approves Automatic Insulin Delivery System for Some Type 2 Diabetes Patients

There’s no question that managing diabetes can be a lot of work, but more and more, new technologies are easing some of the pressures. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first automated insulin delivery system for adults with Type 2 diabetes, expanding a previous decision that greenlit the software — the Omnipod from company Insulet — for only Type 1 diabetes.
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Insulet CEO Jim Hollingshead said in a news release that the FDA’s clearance “represents a significant milestone in providing easy-to-use, patient-centric technology for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.”
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Unlike manual systems, the Omnipod automatically adjusts insulin delivery via an insulin pump and integrated continuous glucose monitor that can be controlled by a compatible smartphone. For the user, this looks like a wearable product that provides up to three days of nonstop insulin delivery — no injections, tubes, or fingersticks required.
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The FDA added that the decision “provides a new option that can automate many of these manual tasks, potentially reducing the burden of living with this chronic disease.”

Humanity

Ohio Prison Hosts 5-Course Meal for Members of the Public

For the first time in Ohio, about 60 community members in the village of Grafton recently gathered at a local prison for a rather unique restaurant experience. The makings of the meal were familiar: linen tablecloths, locally grown veggies, fresh flowers, and signature mocktails. Setting it apart from the typical five-course dinner, though, was the fact that everything was prepared by incarcerated men.
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Hosted by EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute, the dinner was part of a culinary course offered at over 650 prisons and jails around the country to train incarcerated individuals in cooking techniques and other skills, so they have a better shot of securing a job following their release.
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“Figuratively what is happening is that we’re reframing what’s possible in prison,” Chef Brandon Chrostowski, a James Beard Award semifinalist who designed a class to teach men about culinary arts and hospitality, told the Associated Press. He added the program is rooted in the belief that “every human being, regardless of their past, has the right to a fair and equal future.” Learn what was on the menu in Grafton.

In Other News

1. A rare Canadian lynx was seen taking a stroll in Vermont, the first confirmed sighting in the state since 2018.
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2. Congratulations, Capt. Theresa Claiborne! The first Black woman to fly with the U.S. Air Force is retiring her wings.
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3. Paleontologists found matching dinosaur footprints on different continents, with 3,700 miles in between them.
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4. Practice makes progress: Traveling with “invisible disabilities” can be hard, but airlines, hotels, and theme parks are working to make it easier.
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5. Keanu Reeves is at it again. The actor (and former youth hockey player) joined a Canadian junior hockey team for one day to raise money for a mental health charity.

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Inspiring Story

Community care

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A few months ago, the story of young Emouree Johnson selling lemonade to raise money for her mom’s headstone made headlines. A local company took notice and installed one for free, so the 8-year-old could put the $17,000 she raised right into her savings account. “She couldn’t believe so many people cared for her and loved her mommy,” Emouree’s grandmother said.

Eyes on Paris

Turns out we didn’t have to say goodbye to this stunning view earlier this month. The Eiffel Tower stadium, which housed beach volleyball during the Olympics, has been repurposed to host blind football for the Paralympics.
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And it’s not the only venue that’s gotten a refresh over the last two weeks: The Olympic village has been outfitted with a series of subtle but impactful changes, like additional ramps, improved lighting, and rubber-lined food trays to prevent slipping. Ludivine Munos, a former French para-athlete and head of integration for Paris 2024, called the village a “paradise” in an interview with CBS News.
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“The goal was to provide the best possible experience for the athletes during their stay, ensuring that they could focus entirely on their performance without worrying about accessibility issues,” he said. See how organizers transformed the Paralympic village to make sure it’s accessible to all.

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Odds & Ends

🇬🇧 ICYMI: They’re getting the band back together​
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🧳 Reddit is a treasure trove of travel tips
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🍫 Who knew a chocolate bar could become so famous
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🌎 Learn what’s going on in the world (and why) by signing up for International Intrigue*

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Quote of the Day

“Creativity is an active engagement with the unknown, it’s risk-taking, it’s curiosity, it’s exploration, it’s discovery, it’s mystery. It’s all of that.”

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– ESTHER PEREL