Flu season is inevitable as the colder months settle in, but you can control how you prepare for potential sickness. Pediatric emergency room doc (and mom of four) Meghan Martin recommends putting together a “flu box” with essentials like over-the-counter painkillers, a thermometer, electrolyte powders, and saline nasal spray. That way, you won’t have to frantically run to the drugstore when someone in your household comes down with an illness. See what else she includes in her kit.
FDA Considers Approval of First New Sunscreen Ingredient Since 1999
m.malinika/ iStock
Whether you live in sunny Los Angeles or misty Seattle, wearing sunscreen is an essential preventative health measure, especially given the prevalence of skin cancer in the United States. But if you’ve been tuned into the world of skin care lately, you might have heard that the country trails behind places like South Korea and Europe when it comes to sunscreen quality, and that the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved a new sunscreen ingredient since 1999. That might now be changing. The FDA is considering approving bemotrizinol, also known as PARSOL Shield, for use in U.S.-made sunblocks. The ingredient, marketed by Netherlands-based company DSM-Firmenich, has been used for decades in other regions, including Europe, Asia, and Australia. According to the company, it provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB radiation and is well-known for being more efficient at lower concentrations when compared to other active ingredients. From an aesthetic perspective, many people choose bemotrizinol-based sunscreens because they often leave less of a white cast on the skin. “Consumers are purchasing products with bemotrizinol when they go abroad, simply because they feel good, look good, and like the way it goes on the skin,” Carl D’Ruiz, senior regulatory and business development manager for DSM-Firmenich, told CBS News. The FDA now has 17.5 months, until March 2026, to make a decision on whether or not to approve the ingredient.
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Environment
Officials Rescue Stranded Manatees After Hurricane Helene Storm Surge
@MyFWC/ X
Today is World Animal Day, so naturally we have a timely animal story to share. In Florida, the storm surges from Hurricane Helene unfortunately left some of the state’s beloved manatees stranded far away from the waters they call home. So the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is “working swiftly to rehabilitate and conserve these gentle giants.” Officials are partnering with the Save the Manatee Club and the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership to locate the stranded “sea cows” and bring them back to safety. In a statement shared in the aftermath of Helene, Save the Manatee Club noted that “as Florida natives,” manatees are thankfully well-adapted to extreme weather. “However, they do face significant risk during powerful storms,” the organization explained. “Storm surges can cause manatees to go far inland to areas they would not normally inhabit, where they can become trapped when the water recedes.” Andy Garrett, the lead manatee rescue coordinator with Florida Fish and Wildlife, told Fox Weather that all the manatees he’s responded to so far have been found alive and well. “All these guys, these manatees, they’re still in really good health,” he said. “So, it’s mostly just getting them out of that traffic situation, getting back to a place where they can go back in the water.”
Tech
Toyota Ups Its Investment in Flying Taxis
Joby Aviation Photo
We might be getting closer to The Jetsons’ vision of the future. Toyota announced this week that it’s investing $500 million in Joby Aviation, an American electric air taxi startup. That brings the Japanese manufacturer’s total investment in Joby to $894 million, according to a press release. The two companies have been working together for seven years to help bring air taxis into the mainstream, and this latest influx of funds will be used to support the certification and commercial production of the aircraft. “The knowledge and support shared by Toyota has been instrumental in Joby’s success and we look forward to deepening our relationship as we deliver on our shared vision for the future of air travel,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. Joby has been making steady progress toward getting its product off the ground. It completed its third air taxi at the pilot production facility in Marina, California, in August, and recently began construction on an expanded facility in the Golden State that will double its manufacturing footprint. Watch the aircraft take to the skies — and next time you’re stuck in traffic, imagine simply flying above it all.
Global Good
🇬🇧 The percentage of young people who smoke cigarettesin the U.K. has dropped significantly in recent years.
🇵🇪 An ancient throne roomuncovered in Peru may have belonged to a female ruler.
🇦🇺 Birth control pills just got more accessible for women in New South Wales, Australia.
🇲🇬 Model ship makers in Madagascar are bringing history to life, in miniature form.
In all wars and tragedies, there are examples of love and perseverance, and such is the story of Sofia Malina and Polina Muzhychkova. The young women met in Mariupol, Ukraine, shortly before Russian forces attacked the city, and though a series of setbacks followed, they’ve found a way to start a new life together in Germany.
Photo of the Day
JONATHAN MARTINS/AFP via Getty Images
Only a small part of the world — Easter Island and an area near the southern tip of South America — got to witness this “ring of fire” solar eclipse on Wednesday. But thankfully, we have photos. See more shots of the spectacle and the people who gathered to watch it.
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