Most of us pick up hobbies for the simplest of reasons: We find them fun. But some popular pastimes have also been proven to protect against age-related cognitivedecline, including knitting and taking part in a book club. Read a list of other hobbies that fit the bill.
Thoughtful advice if you’re feeling excluded by a group of friends (we’ve all been there)
Tech
Real or Fake? Tips and Tools for Identifying AI-Generated Images
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Artificial intelligence imagery is getting harder and harder to spot. In the best case scenario, we end up simply laughing at a funny moment that never actually happened. In the worst case, we buy into misinformation that warps our perception of what’s actually going on in the world. So, as technology continues moving at the speed of light, how do we keep up with the changes? Ironically, AI can help with that. As Popular Science points out, one way to determine if a photo has been produced using Google’s Gemini is to upload the image in Gemini and ask, “Was this picture created with AI?” That’s because every image Gemini creates or edits gets an invisible digital watermark called a SynthID that the AI model can detect. Remember, though, that this works specifically on Gemini with Google AI-created images. When we asked ChatGPT if an image we manipulated with Gemini was AI, the chatbot wasn’t able to detect the SynthID and reported that the picture appeared genuine. And Gemini may have difficulty detecting whether or not an image was created by another AI model. If you’re in doubt, it’s best to take a multi-pronged approach to identification. Luckily, there are other tips, tricks, and digital tools for spotting AI imagery. Read our article for a rundown.
Together With RAD Intel
They Missed the First AI Wave. Now, They’re Staring at the Second
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Health
Heart Disease and Stroke Deaths Have Declined in US, Report Finds
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We’ll start with the good news: Heart disease and stroke deaths in the U.S. have dropped for the first time in five years, according to the American Heart Association’s latest annual report, which cites data through 2023. There were roughly 25,000 fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease and strokes in 2023 versus 2022 — a reversal from what’s believed to have been a COVID-19-related uptick. “It’s encouraging to see that total deaths from heart disease and stroke declined. The past five years appear to have been an anomaly given the huge impact the pandemic had on all health during that time,” Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, said in a statement. Added Latha P. Palaniappan, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University: “Overall, fewer people are dying from any cause, and death rates are improving as life expectancy continues to rebound” following the pandemic. Now for the bad news: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the U.S., ahead of cancer and accidents combined. But Rosen told NPR that prevention is keyto changing these statistics, starting with making small, specific adjustments in your day-to-day. “Rather than saying, ‘I’m going to lose weight,’ ‘I’m going to exercise more,’ say, ‘I’m going to take the stairs twice a day, every day,’ ‘I’m going to not have a breadbasket if I go out for a meal,’” she said. Read more tips to reduce your risk.
Culture
Cursive Is Making a Comeback in New Jersey Elementary Schools
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Last year, we spotlighted some of the potential benefits of kids learning cursive, which include improving certain reading skills, spelling accuracy, and storytelling ability — and this fall, more students will get the opportunity to do so. Former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed a law requiring all of the state’s public schools to implement cursive instruction for grades three through five. Many of the Garden State’s school districts stopped teaching the skill in 2010, when it became optional due to the adoption of Common Core Standards. But when the new law goes into effect later this year, students will once again learn how to read and write it legibly. Per CBS News, Murphy said in a press release that the change is “especially meaningful” as it will take place during America’s 250th anniversary year, “giving our students the skills they need to read our nation’s founding documents and complete tasks like opening a bank account or signing a check, in addition to offering cognitive benefits.” Sen. Angela McKnight, who co-sponsored the bill, believes cursive could offer even more benefits for kids: “Not only does handwriting instruction encourage better retention and comprehension of information, but it also allows our students to build self-confidence and maintain a vital connection to written communication in the increasingly digital age.” Take this quiz to test your own cursive writing skills.
In Other News
“Peace” is the Oxford Children’s Word of the Year for 2025, voted on by nearly 5,000 U.K. kids (read more)
A space-based cancer lab is in the works with the goal of running experiments that “are impossible on Earth” (read more)
Researchers confirmed a massive freshwater reservoir exists off the East Coast, possibly dating back 20,000 years (read more)
Meet Giza: the rare black leopard spotted in Kenya by a wildlife photog (read more)
Mattel released a new Barbie honoring Opal Lee, who is known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth” (read more)
Something We Love
Kinto Iced Tea Glasses I love everything that Kinto, a Japanese home goods brand, makes — especially these glasses with double wall insulation to keep drinks cool (or hot) for a very long time. I’m talking hours and hours! They’re also super lightweight but still feel sturdy, the best combination. – Marika Spitulski, Writer
Last year, the winning girls soccer team at the Edinburgh Schools Cup received a small plastic trophy when they took home the championship title, while the winning boys team claimed a larger one the same day. The trophy discrepancy understandably didn’t sit right with the 10 to 12 year olds, so they sent a letter to the Edinburgh Primary Schools Sports Association, requesting equal recognition. This month, they got exactly that: a trophy as big as the one the boys received. “I feel quite proud now because we stood up for ourselves,” said 11-year-old teammate Caitlin. See the team with their new trophy.
Photo of the Day
Darrian Traynor—Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
The 2026 Australian Open is now in its second week with finals set for this weekend. While the extreme summer heat in Melbourne isn’t ideal for the players, the sunshine has served up some beautiful photo ops for capturing light and shadows — resulting in pics like this one of Carlos Alcaraz from Spain. Swipe through more images.
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