Today is World Thinking Day — "a day of international friendship and a time to stand up for causes that could improve the lives of girls around the globe," per the Girl Scouts. The global organization offers resources and activity guides for the occasion, prompting scouts to recognize the power of their thoughts. We'll also take this opportunity to remind you that Girl Scout Cookies are currently available for sale (and home shipping!).
Must Reads
The latest addition to Apple's iPhone 16 lineup is also its most affordable
Inside the 2,000-year history of animals serving as olive branches between countries
Health
Lifestyle Choices and Living Conditions May Affect Aging More Than Genes
AnnaStills/iStock
It's an age-old question: Does nature or nurture impact us more? When it comes to our health, it may be the latter. A new study suggests that lifestyle and living conditions affect aging significantly more than genetics. Researchers with the University of Oxford examined data from nearly half a million biobank participants, assessing the influence of 164 environmental measures and genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases. The team also used a novel aging measure, or "aging clock," that looks at blood proteins to evaluate the speed at which people age. They found that environmental factors accounted for 17% of the variation in risk of death, with smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and living conditions impacting mortality and biological aging the most. Genetic predisposition, on the other hand, explained less than 2% of that risk. And of the 25 associated environmental factors the study identified, 23 are modifiable. "Our exposome approach allowed us to quantify the relative contributions of the environment and genetics to aging, providing the most comprehensive overview to date of the environmental and lifestyle factors driving aging and premature death," lead author Austin Argentieri said in a statement. "These findings underscore the potential benefits of focusing interventions on our environments, socioeconomic contexts, and behaviors for the prevention of many age-related diseases and premature death."
Together With Pacaso
Top Investors Are Buying This "Unlisted" Stock
When the team that created Zillow and grew it into a $16 billion real estate leader starts a new company, people notice. That's why top firms like SoftBank and Maveron invested in Pacaso. Taking the industry by storm once again, Pacaso's streamlined platform offers co-ownership of premier properties — revamping a $1.3 trillion market. And by handing keys to more than 1,500 happy homeowners, Pacaso has made over $100 million in gross profits. Now, the company is focused on international expansion, achieving record-breaking sales in Paris, securing seven homes in Cabo, and recently buying its most valuable European property yet in London. You can invest, too — but with this expansion underway, the current share price won't last long. Invest at $2.70/share by Feb. 27.
About a third of Americans strap devices to their bodies to monitor their fitness levels and daily activities, per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — but travel to tiny, crescent-shaped Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, and you'll find gray seals donning Fitbit-like trackers as well. Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution recently adorned six seal pups with heart monitors that gather data on the baby animals' activity, heart rates, and EKG readings. The devices arm scientists with crucial information about how pups develop necessary survival skills, as newborns only nurse with their mothers for around 15-20 days before they must function independently. Despite the overall number of gray seals on Sable Island increasing in recent years, an estimated 90% of pups now die before their first birthday, likely due to the growing competition for food. "The pups go from being nursed on land, to being suddenly weaned and having to transition to making a living in the ocean," Michelle Shero, a marine biologist at WHOI, said in a press release, adding: "This data tells us a lot about the animal's health and how much energy they're expending and also tells us about how the pups are preparing and developing their diving abilities."
Culture
New Kentucky Waterfront Park Set to Be an Architectural Marvel
Heatherwick studio
The same architecture firm that gave us New York City's Little Island park is now bringing its award-winning designs to a Kentucky waterfront — and the initial renderings are stunning. Overlooking the Ohio River for more than five decades, Belvedere Park in downtown Louisville has sat neglected for years, but U.K.-based Heatherwick studio plans to change that. "Belvedere has an incredible potential to become a new green 'living room' for Louisville and its people," executive partner Stuart Wood said in a release, adding, "We've been listening to the community and hear a huge appetite for something powerful, exciting, and new to happen." All signs point to Wood's team fulfilling that wish. Designs include a pavilion with edges flowing in a ribbon-like formation, vast green spaces on the roof, and pedestrian-friendly pathways underneath. The site's revamp aims to provide Louisville with "a natural spot" for recreation, cultural events, or simply relaxing, while offering easy access to the river and nearby Waterfront Park. Construction is set to begin next year, but you can take a closer look at the renderings now.
In Other News
A customizable mRNA vaccine is offering hope to pancreatic cancer patients in clinical trials (read more)
LA now has another mural honoring Kobe Bryant,this one featuring current Lakers starLuka Dončić (read more)
Nine World War I-era ships sunk by German torpedoes were discovered off the coast of Morocco (read more)
Private lunar lander Blue Ghost caught rare footage of the "dark" side of the moon (read more)
You go, go-go: The world's only museum dedicated to the funk subgenre just opened in Washington, D.C. (read more)
Something We Love
Dosmix Retro Bluetooth Speaker File this one under "cute little things I don't need, but that make my day better." The Dosmix retro speaker is less than $20, it's small enough to fit on my windowsill, and it easily hooks up to my phone to play music via Bluetooth. – Stephanie Friedman, Staff Writer
The idea behind the nonprofit Happy Letters, created by former preschool owner Traci Pierson, is simple: Kids write and draw what makes them happy, and the resulting letters are distributed to veterans, retirement home residents, cancer patients, and other "individuals in need of support or gratitude." Happy Letter recipient Janet told the organization, "It moved me to tears, and every time I walked by it, I just remembered that you're here today; it's gonna be a happy day."
Photo of the Day
PEDIGREE Foundation
When a German Shepherd named Relic was brought to the East Bay SPCA in Oakland, California, he was stressed and reactive. But caring staff got to work setting Relic up with private lodgings, a comprehensive training plan, and eventually a foster family — who loved him so much, they decided to adopt him. Now, the happy pup has been dubbed the Pedigree Foundation's 2025 Rescue Dog of the Year, and the organization created a plush dog in his likeness to celebrate.
Amazon Prime Perks You Should Be Using, Courtesy of Brad's Deals
Free music and podcasts, access to lightning deals, and Whole Foods discounts are just a few of the many lesser-known incentives that Amazon Prime has to offer. Make sure you're not missing out, and get the most out of your membership.
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