We love all librarians, but these 10 are extra special. The American Library Association recently announced the winners of the I Love My Librarian Award, honoring “outstanding public service” in the field. The 2026 recipients include three academic librarians, three school librarians, and four public librarians, like Mary Anne Russo, who recently retired after 42 years and is recognized for transforming the children’s room at an Ohio public library “from a dark basement into a vibrant, welcoming space that inspires learning and imagination.”
A thoughtful explainer on the African American Vernacular English roots behind many Gen Z phrases
Culture
The World Is Getting Fired Up by Tokyo Pizza
Pizza Studio Tamaki/Instagram
Pizza is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Japanese food, but that may soon change. Tokyo-style pies recently caused a stir in New York when two pop-ups from renowned Japanese pizzaiolos sold out — leaving many craving a slice or four. But first, what exactly is Tokyo pizza? It may look like a classic Neapolitan pie, but it breaks the fundamental rules of Italian pizza, featuring a less soupy middle, fluffy outer edge, and charred crust with a hint of wood smoke, per Food & Wine. It’s also often seasoned with Okinawan salt crystals to achieve “shio no shigeki” (a “salt punch”) and bring out the flavors. The unique iteration has been around for decades. Susumu Kakinuma, widely regarded as the “godfather” of Japanese pizza, invented it after studying the craft in Naples (solely through observation, he said, because no one would hire him). Upon returning to Tokyo, he spent years refining his flour blends, fermentation process, and oven temperatures before opening his legendary pizzeria, Savoy, in 1995. As good things tend to travel, Tokyo pizza is now gaining momentum across the world. New outposts are appearing in Los Angeles and New York (one of the aforementioned pop-ups is soon getting a brick-and-mortar), with further expansions slated for Australia, Indonesia, France, the U.K., and more. Want to try and make it yourself? Check out this recipe.
Together With Hear.com
Hearing Clearly Is a Brain Health Decision
Most people treat hearing as an ear issue, but it’s also a brain health issue. If you’ve ever left a noisy dinner feeling exhausted, it could be because your brain was working hard to process all the sound. The good news is that researchers at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and the NIH found cognitive performance can rise by nearly 50% when hearing clarity improves. Horizon IX by hear.com was built on that exact science. The hearing aid uses dual AI-powered processors that separate voices from background noise in real time, so your brain stops working overtime and you can truly connect. Over 670,000 people have tried it — join them with a 45-day, no-risk trial.
A Climate Scientist Turned to GoFundMe to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit 26919
Sometimes we all need a little help from strangers — and “we” includes North Atlantic right whales. With fewer than 400 of the critically endangered whales in the wild, each individual is a glimmer of hope for the species. But because these whales cannot be digitally tracked or chipped due to injury and infection risk, they often remain unseen to the ships and nets that threaten them. That’s why Zoë Rauscher, a volunteer and drone pilot for the Marineland Right Whale Project, launched a GoFundMe campaign. The goal is to raise money for specialized equipment, like drones, high-resolution cameras, and marine binoculars, that helps researchers conduct surveys to locate the whales, alert ships of their presence, and, ultimately, protect them. “Our nonprofit organization helps protect vulnerable right whale mothers and calves during their annual migration, giving this species a better chance at survival,” Rauscher wrote on the campaign page, explaining that federal budget cuts have made it more difficult to fund this essential work. As of yesterday, the fundraiser had secured over $9,000 of its $15,000 target — check it out.
Humanity
Cancer Patient Named Kirsty, 11, Is on Mission to Find Every Other Kirsty in the World
Courtesy of Mat Waugh / SWNS
An 11-year-old named Kirsty Waugh is on a unique mission. She’s tracking down every other Kirsty in the world. And she’s doing it for a good cause — to raise money and awareness for people with brain tumors. Kirsty, who herself was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2024, created an online map in an attempt to get everyone with her name (and those who spell it “Kirstie”) to add their photo and location to it. The site also directs visitors to her fundraiser for brain tumor research, with proceeds benefiting OSCAR’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Charity, an organization that previously sent sibling care packages to Kirsty’s older sisters. “It was really as a means of saying to Kirsty that she is not alone. Chemo can seem a pretty lonely journey, especially if you are a child,” her dad, Mat Waugh, told SWNS. “Essentially what we are trying to do is get all the Kirstys that we can … to join her map on the website. We wanted to show a sense of connectedness and that people do care about her. Getting together on a map seemed like the best way for people to show support.” Read more about Kirsty’s efforts.
In Other News
The Artemis II crew proposed naming a moon crater Carroll to honor their commander’s late wife (read more)
Researchers used “digital twins” to treat irregular heartbeats, with a 100% success rate in a clinical trial (read more)
Meet an inspiring father-son duo running the Boston Marathon together later this month (read more)
A pod of orcas that had not been seen before in Seattle gave whale watchers a happy surprise (read more)
Pickleball for Parkinson’s: Check out a new nationwide tournament series called “Triumph Over Tremors”(read more)
Something We Love
Moon Nude Bags These soft, quilted bags come in a plethora of springy patterns and fun styles — I particularly like the ones designed specifically to hold hair tools and the lunch bags with insulated interiors! I also love that they’re machine washable. – Stephanie Baxter, Staff Writer
After a 40-year career, Gary Mason has retired from his post as a trolley driver in Philadelphia — and the jolliest one at that. Over the years, Mason went the extra mile to spruce up his trolley with flowers, sparkles, and holiday decorations to brighten commuters’ days. And his time behind the wheel brought him joy as well: “Not everybody gets to work a job they love,” he said.
Photo of the Day
Earl Gibson III—Deadline/Getty Images
Good morning, Angels! The original stars from Charlie’s Angels — Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd — reunited to celebrate the series’ 50th anniversary at PaleyFest LA Monday night. “I knew the show was different, special, and unique,” Smith told the audience of the enduring legacy. “Three women chasing danger instead of getting rescued.” And it sounds like the Angels may not be done taking down villains … word is, a movie revival is in the works.
Catch Z’s With TribeTokes Sleep Gummies
TheTribeTokes co-founder was one of the 50-70 million Americans who have sleep troubles, so she created a sleep gummy that had everything she wanted — CBD, CBN, Vitamin B6, and L-Tryptophan, all in one. It’s now one of the brand’s bestsellers, with hundreds of reviews raving about sleep improvement. No fog. No dependency. Just rest. Use the code CBNSLEEP at checkout to get a free box with any order.
