We’ve officially entered the ber months — September, October, November,December. With heat waves still going strong around the country, the “brrr!” factor may not be in play quite yet, but we’ve decided to embrace the cozy season anyway, and we encourage you to follow suit. You can start by checking out 25 of the best apple picking spots across the country. — Rebekah, Ally, and Natalie
Featured Story
What Makes Someone Wise? Global Study Pinpoints 2 Main Factors
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Certain people just seem to embody wisdom: grandparents and teachers, the changemakers we admire from afar, the intellectuals whose ideas have influenced our own. However, given that cultures vary widely throughout the globe, it would make sense that the criteria for being deemed “wise” would as well. To test that hypothesis, researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario enlisted 2,650 participants on five continents to analyze their perceptions of wisdom. Interestingly, all surveyed agreed on two factors that make a person wise.
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Learn How to Optimize Your Afternoon Snooze With a “Goldilocks Nap”
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Napping can be a surprisingly spirited subject. Some swear by midday snoozes, others wince at the idea, perhaps assuming they’ll awake sleepier than before. No matter where you fall on the siesta spectrum, it turns out there are right and wrong ways to nap. First, experts reiterate that while naps are not a replacement for nocturnal sleep, there is evidence that they can do a lot of good: “We know it’s an easy, helpful way to quickly boost your alertness, your concentration, your productivity, your creativity, and your mood. It’s a royal flush,” James Maas, a sleep scientist, author, and researcher, told the Associated Press. To reap those benefits, timing is everything. The AP reports that the ideal “power nap” isless than 30 minutes, to prevent post-snooze grogginess and issues falling asleep later. Experts also recommend naptime be taken consistently and about six to seven hours after waking up. Think of this combination as the Goldilocks of naps. “It’s like putting yourself into low-power mode just for a little bit and letting your body recuperate,” said Sara Mednick, a sleep researcher and co-author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life. Get more tips on how to nap wisely.
Culture
Australians Now Have “Right to Disconnect” From After-Hours Work Notifications
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Australians who feel pressured to respond to work emails during dinnertime, first thing in the morning, and all the moments in between are getting a much-needed reprieve, as last week marked the start of a new “right to disconnect” law. Much like it sounds, the rule aims to protect workers’ free time. While bosses can continue to message workers as they please, employees can no longer be punished for not responding or reading those messages when they’re off the clock, unless their refusal is deemed “unreasonable,” the BBC reports. Per the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the goal is to create improved work-life balance. It’s a concept that’s increasingly out of reach in the digital era, with work messages at our fingertips and offices in our kitchens, closets, and bedrooms (and maybe even our actual beds). But when achieved, the balance can benefit both employees and employers. “Any organization that has staff who have better rest and who have better work-life balance are going to have staff who are less likely to have sick days, less likely to leave the organization,” Australian management professor John Hopkins told the BBC. See which other countries have passed similar legislation.
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. 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. “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.’’ 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.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
Feeling guilty about watching an entire TV series in a weekend? Don’t. Humans have been binging stories for millennia
Based on her popular Substack of the same name, Caroline Chambers’ new cookbook immediately became a New York Times bestseller. That will come as zero surprise to anyone who’s ever stood in front of their fridge at 5 p.m. battling the urge to order in (again). Ideal for “busy people who love good food,” every easy dinner recipe features a vegetable, protein, and starch, and Chambers also includes tips for money-saving swaps and shortcuts.
At a Texas high school, English teacher Evan Marquez — played by actor and comedian Brian Jordan Alvarez — has strong principles, but must pit them against equally strong faculty personalities and student opinions. Over the first eight-episode season, he navigates how to be his authentic self without sacrificing his job. The show premieres tomorrow on FX and Hulu, and Time magazine is calling it the “year’s best new sitcom.”
This Week in History
Kelly Clarkson Wins First Season of “American Idol”
September 4, 2002
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Many of you may personally remember the moment when a 20-year-old Kelly Clarkson was crowned the very first American Idol, but whether or not you voted on your phone to help make it happen, the win would become a key event in defining the zeitgeist of the early aughts. Following her appearance on the show, now in its 23rd season, Clarkson went on to release hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “Because of You” and has sold over 25 million albums. These days, though, her most-played tracks might just be the covers she sings on The Kelly Clarkson Show — often earning praise on social media for being better than the originals.
Bonner Private Wines Is America’s Most Unique Wine Club
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