Regardless of which team you root for, it’s fair to say that pretty much any football fan would be jazzed to attend the Super Bowl. And the Red Cross is offering one person the trip of a lifetime to go see this year’s game — you just have to do a good deed to enter. Anyone who donates blood, platelets, or plasma through Jan. 26 will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Learn more about how it works.
Photo by Official Flickr Account of CAL FIRE / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
The devastating fires in Los Angeles have once again shown us the power of community — restaurants across the county are giving out free meals, individuals are offering up their homes and offices to those who need shelter, and all manner of charitable organizations are on the ground doing everything they can to help. But they have also shown us the importance of being prepared, particularly in the age of climate change. FEMA recommends everyone keep an emergency supplies kit, often called a “go bag,” containing food, water, and other essential supplies to last for at least 72 hours. In its most basic form, the bag should include a flashlight, first-aid kit, face masks, and backup batteries, among other items. There should also be supplies more specific to your individual situation — prescription medicine, eyeglasses, pet food, diapers and infant formula, feminine hygiene products, etc. Take a look at the full list from FEMA, or follow the Los Angeles Fire Department’s “six Ps” for packingfor an evacuation: people and pets; papers, phone numbers, and important documents; prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses; pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia; personal computers; and “plastic” credit and ATM cards.
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Tech
A Rollable Laptop, Cat Stand-Cum-Air Purifier, and More of the Top Gadgets From CES 2025
Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images
The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show wraps up today in Las Vegas — and it has featured far too many innovative gadgets and products to name here. But we’ll try to recap a few of the most interesting and hotly anticipated inventions, starting with Lenovo’s rollable laptop screen. The computer company’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 “stole the show” at CES, according to Verge reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto. The flexible OLED display has small motors that can unroll the screen and roll it back down, and users can control the expansion function with the wave of a hand. While many CES inclusions are still in the conceptual stage, the new Lenovo will be available for purchase come June (for a whopping $3,500). One of the quirkier devices is LG’s AeroCatTower, serving as both an air purifier and a perch for your pet. The smart gadget automatically reduces airflow when it senses a feline, so as not to disturb the cat, of course. We’re also intrigued by the PocketBook InkPoster, a product that seems to take a cue from Sony’s popular Frame TV (which also got an upgrade at CES). The InkPoster is a digital display for images and art that allows you to change out the artwork as you please — and it only needs to be charged once a year. See more of the top products.
Health
Why Is Hula-Hooping Easier for Certain People? Scientists Figured It Out
Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
If you’re like us, you probably gave Hula-Hooping a whirl as a kid. And if you’re like us, you probably also abandoned the activity as you grew up — because, at the risk of being overly punny, it can feel as though you have to jump through hoops just to sustain the spin for more than a few seconds. It turns out there’s a science-backed reason why this seemingly simple motion is so dang difficult for some people. Apparently, keeping the plastic tube in the air has more to do with your body shape than your movements, and people with “pear” and “hourglass” figures have a clear advantage. This finding is based on a recent study from New York University that sought to understand the physics and mathematics behind Hula-Hooping, which has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years as a form of exercise. “We were specifically interested in what kinds of body motions and shapes could successfully hold the hoop up and what physical requirements and restrictions are involved,” senior author Leif Ristroph said in a statement, adding: “We were surprised that an activity as popular, fun, and healthy as Hula-Hooping wasn’t understood even at a basic physics level.” Find out more and check out some fun Hula-Hoop workouts.
Global Good
🇹🇭 Thailand banned plastic waste imports to help reduce pollution (read more)
🇬🇧 Constructions workers happened upon a Roman stone coffin while expanding a U.K. road (read more)
🇨🇱 Chilean President Gabriel Boric made a trek to the South Pole, a first for any Latin American president (read more)
🇨🇳 The winter swimmers in Harbin, China, are plunging into polar waters — and loving it (read more)
🇳🇬 A mother in Nigeria is on a mission to support those living with cerebral palsy and end the stigma (read more)
Inspiring Story
The power of teamwork
When Diana Freedman realized her necklace — a beloved family heirloom bequeathed to her by her grandmother — was missing after a JetBlue flight, she immediately went into sleuthing mode. After determining that the jewelry was likely still on the plane, she posted a plea for help in a local Facebook group, and one of the members happened to be an executive at the airline who then located the necklace. “I feel so lucky and so blessed,” Freedman said.
Photo of the Day
Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images
Sunrise hot air balloon rides are a top tourist attraction in the Egyptian city of Luxor — and it’s easy to see why. Watch a video showing what the experience is like.
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