If starting your own garden is on your 2025 resolutions list, now is the time to think about making it happen. Jessica Damiano, who writes weekly gardening columns for the Associated Press, recently described the hobby as a "route to self-care that influencers rarely mention." She added: "A few hours spent outdoors nurturing fruits, flowers, and vegetables each week can provide physical exercise, stress reduction, vitamin D, and even a better diet — all without a membership fee." Read her tips on getting started, the easy way.
Must Reads
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Culture
"Mona Lisa" Is Getting a Room of Her Own at the Louvre
Kevin Voigt/Getty Images
You may have seen the pictures: crowds of people standing on their tippy toes and contorting their bodies with phones held up high, all to get a glimpse and probably a photo of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." While efforts have been made to control the chaos, like limiting daily visitors, it seems the scene has reached a tipping point — so much so that the famous painting is now getting a dedicated room at Paris' Louvre museum. "The Louvre will be redesigned and restored to become the epicenter of art history for our country and beyond," French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday, per The New York Times. The room revamp is part of a bigger museum renovation and expansion plan, which includes overhauling aging infrastructure and creating a new entrance to alleviate overcrowding. All of the above will be partly paid for by increasing ticket prices for visitors from countries outside the European Union starting next year. Beyond improving the experience, it's a venture steeped in legacy-making, as Macron will close out his term in 2027 and wants to do so on a high note. "He started his presidency at the Louvre, and he wants to end it at the Louvre," said Julien Lacaze, the president of Sites et Monuments, referencing Macron's 2017 victory speech in front of the museum. Learn more about the renovation and see a diagram of where the "Mona Lisa" will be moved to.
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AI Tool Aims to Detect Mold-Prone Spaces in Your Home
YURY NIKALAYEU/ iStock
Unfortunately, mold is one of those issues that once you notice it, there's a decent chance it's already been there for a while. So instead of waiting for a musty smell or unsightly stains, a team of researchers in the U.K. is developing an AI tool to identify the potential for mold to grow in spacesbefore problems pop up. "This app is just like you having an AI agent that comes to your home and tells you that mold is, or isn't, coming," lead researcher Jamiu Dauda told the BBC. He explained that the "preventative" technology uses a building's size and energy performance to calculate a home's mold risk. In the U.K., mold as a health issue gained attention following the death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020. The toddler died due to exposure to mold in his home, prompting the passage of Awaab's Law, which requires social housing landlords to address hazardous conditions like mold growth in a timely manner. This tool can help do just that, according to Dauda, who said it's currently being deployed in the construction industry, and will hopefully be ready for use by landlords, tenants, and homeowners in the future. "That's where it's going to be most effective," he said.
Environment
California Lawmaker Suggests Pilot Program to Test Autonomous Firefighting Helicopters
ALI MATIN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
We're almost at the end of a month that likely feels much longer for those in Southern California, where a series of historically devastating wildfires are finally slowing down. While many questions are circulating in the aftermath, so are potential solutions to alleviate harm in fire-prone regions — one being autonomous helicopters. On Jan. 21, California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris introduced a bill to launch a first-of-its-kind pilot program that would test the possibilities of self-operating helicopters to suppress wildfires. The idea is to pave the way for faster fire response times,particularly in the event of unsafe conditions for human pilots, such as when winds are too high. The concept isn't just talk, either: In November of last year, California startup Rain deployed an autonomous Black Hawk helicopter to locate and contain a test fire in Connecticut. "This technology has incredible potential for us to be able to successfully fight wildfires from the air, even when the wind is blowing at just extraordinary speeds," Petrie-Norris told Politico. "Anything that we can do to change that can save lives and can save property." In the spirit of fire assistance, learn how you can stream and support tonight's FireAid benefit concert.
In Other News
Portland, Oregon, launched a program that pays residents with a history of homelessness to clean up litter (read more)
Strength training during menopause can helpboost balance, mobility, and more, according to a new study (read more)
Rare Winnie the Pooh drawings and manuscripts were discovered in a late publisher's attic (read more)
Mice with two bio dads have survived into adulthood, marking a major milestone in reproductive science (read more)
Dolly Parton's autobiographical stage musical will premiere this July in Nashville, naturally (read more)
Inspiring Story
A role model in more ways than one
Tennis star Madison Keys, who just won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, is opening up about the self-doubt she's had to overcome to get to where she is today. "It finally took going to therapy and getting really honest," the champion said. Read her wise words on mental health.
Photo of the Day
NPS
What could be more stunning than Bryce Canyon's iconic red rock hoodoos? The same scene, but covered in a magical layer of snow and ice, as seen here. "At 8,000 feet, the scenery changes dramatically in the colder months, providing unique opportunities to see the park and requiring a very different packing list," the U.S. Department of the Interior advised on Instagram.
Say Goodbye to Dull Floors Thanks to Remodel Your Home
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