National Wildlife Refuge Week, an annual commemoration of “the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americans’ precious wildlife heritage,” ends today. And the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has celebrated over the past seven days on its Instagram page, sharing intriguing photos like this one of an elk in Oregon showing off its antlers. Our favorite post of the week, though, was the agency’s hilarious Halloween costume recommendations.
Viral “October Theory” Offers a New Framework for Reaching Your Goals
AleksandarNakic/ E+ via Getty Images
Have you been feeling reflective this month, or perhaps more motivated than usual to reach your long-held goals? If yes, you might be unknowingly subscribing to “October theory,” a viral term recently coined on TikTok. The theory posits that rather than the new year, fall is actually the most opportune time for making changes in your life. “The autumn season often sparks a natural inclination for transformation,” psychotherapist Brianna Paruolo explained to Bustle. “As the leaves change color and fall, we’re reminded of the beauty in letting go and embracing new beginnings.” In addition to the changing weather, fall is usually the start of a new school year and a time when companies are often hiring for jobs. “This combination of environmental changes and societal rhythms creates a perfect storm for personal transformation,” Paruolo continued, “allowing us to shed old habits — just like trees shedding leaves — and cultivate new aspects of ourselves.” She recommends using this period to get a head start on any of the things you were planning to mark down as New Year’s resolutions. That way, you’ll already be well on your way to achieving your goals by the time the clock strikes midnight.
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Good Karma? Grocery Stores That Donate Food Make More Money, Study Finds
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Doing the right thing is worthy in and of itself — and it’s also wonderful when a good deed is beneficial for the giver. That’s the heart of this story about the connection between grocery stores and food banks. A study published last year found that when supermarkets donate safe produce with minor blemishes or food nearing its expiration date, they not only reduce food waste and help people in need, but also make more money. Beyond getting tax breaks from donations, stores that gave away food saw a boost in revenue from food sales. Donating instead of discounting carved out more shelf space for fresher (and higher-priced) inventory. Plus, giving away iffy-looking produce — a practice the research team called “preemptive removal” — can improve the overall perception of a retailer. After analyzing 21 stores, the researchers found that food donations can bump food prices by up to 1%, which means a 33%increase in profit margins. “At the same time, increasing the volume of retail food donations would get more food to people who need it, limit hunger, and reduce food insecurity,” lead author John Lowrey recently wrote in The Conversation.
Science
Researchers Engineer Finch Calls to Show How They’ll Adapt to Climate Change
Andrew Hendry
Birds are notably sensitive creatures, particularly when it comes to temperature changes. This is especially true for the finches of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands (yep, the species from Charles Darwin’s work on evolution). Scientists found that ecological changes, such as drought, can impact finches’ signature songs, to the point that other finches don’t even respond, which could lead to the separation of the species. This soundtrack change has been attributed to their beaks, which change along with the climate and thus don’t create the same sounds they once did. Authors of a recent study wanted to take this research a step further to pinpoint whether or not changing beaks are a catalyst for “speciation,” or the emergence of new species. The team used computer simulations combined with decades of field data to demonstrate how finch beaks would likely change in response to a potential drought, and then predicted what their songs would sound like as a result. “Essentially, we engineered the calls of future finches,” study co-author Jeffrey Podos said in a statement. He and his colleagues determined that the number of droughts is what prompted change. “We found that there were no changes in the finches’ responses to our modified calls even when the simulated songs had changed by the equivalent of three drought events,” fellow co-author Katie M. Schroeder explained. “But by six drought events, [they] had changed so much that the finches barely responded at all.”
In Other News
A new study will look at period pain in teens, specifically examining changes in the brain (read more)
The European Space Agency released the first section of the largest-ever cosmic map (read more)
Spotted:A “notoriously elusive” creature was recorded scampering about in a U.K. safari park (read more)
Happy almost 100th, Grand Ole Opry! Tickets for the venue’s celebratory concert series went on sale today (read more)
“I started to freak out.” A metal detectorist discovered a Viking-era sword in Finland (read more)
Something We Love
Prana Brion Pant These durable pants have all the specs you need for a day of hiking — built-in UPF protection, PFAS-free water resistance, abrasion protection, and just the right amount of stretch. But they’re also comfortable and professional enough to wear to the office, a true win-win. — Kenny Freeman, Director of Partnerships
A photo project (and soon-to-be book) called Let Them Stare turns the lens on people with disabilities. In one picture, a girl with limb differences is captured playing piano with her feet; in another, a fashionista with Turner syndrome shows her scars beneath a glittery top. “I felt like this was my purpose … to bring these differences to life,” said Angelea Yoder, the photographer behind the project, who was born with VATER syndrome. Learn more about the inspiring project.
Photo of the Day
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images
When astronauts return to the moon for the 2026 Artemis III mission, they’ll be doing so in style. This week, Axiom Space unveiled the first new lunar spacesuits since the Apollo missions — and Prada helped design them. See more pics of the suits and learn about their technical specs.
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