Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a commemoration of the reverend and civil rights leader, whose teachings are needed now more than ever. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that," King famously said during a 1957 sermon titled "Loving Your Enemies." Check out our article below to learn some lesser-known facts about the late activist.
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Humanity
Martin Luther King Jr. Was a "Star Trek" Fan — And 5 Other Little-Known Facts About Him
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Born in Atlanta on Jan 15, 1929, the Baptist minister was one of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, a gifted orator, and a passionate humanitarian. Decades after his assassination in 1968, those of us who were not around during his lifetime are still keenly attuned to his legacy. We learn about him in elementary school, watch YouTube videos of his speeches, and share memes of his most powerful quotes. Few reading this will need reminding, then, that King was a Nobel Peace Prize-winning proponent of nonviolent activism or that he preached the power of forgiveness. A vast number of us can likely recite some portion of his iconic March on Washington address, and many are even aware that its most famous portion almost wasn't uttered at all. But did you know he was a big-time Trekkie? Yes, that's right, a Trekkie — as in, a Star Trek fan. The TV series premiered in 1966, and apparently, it was the only one King let his kids stay up late to watch — in part because of its progressive representation of African Americans. Learn five more lesser-known facts like that one to get to know a bit more about the activist's personal life.
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Health
College Students Continued to Report Lower Rates of Depression and Anxiety in 2025
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Some hopeful news on the mental health front, courtesy of a report published in the fall: The number of college students experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts went down in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of declines. The web-based study, conducted annually by researchers from UCLA, the University of Michigan, Boston University, and Wayne State University, analyzed responses from more than 84,000 students from 135 colleges and universities on key aspects of mental health and well-being. Nearly 10,000 faculty and staff from higher education institutions also took part in the survey. Researchers found that severe depression among students dropped from 23% in 2022 to 18% in 2025; moderate to severe anxiety decreased from 37% to 32%, and high loneliness levels went from 58% to 52%. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts fell from 15% to 11%. Declines were also seen in the 2023 and 2024 studies. "These sustained reductions tell me this is not a blip," co-principal investigator Justin Heinze said in a release. "Whether it's distance from the pandemic, better institutional support, or something else driving the change, I think this is a promising counternarrative to what seems like constant headlines around young people's struggles with mental health."
Environment
Astrotourism: The Case for Traveling to See the Stars
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If you're feeling a pull to look up at the stars more, you're not alone. Astrotourism is a rising travel trend, with more people planning trips around taking in the cosmos — whether that's to see an event like a solar eclipse or simply be in a peaceful spot to reap the health benefits of stargazing for a while. One of those peaceful spots is Dark Sky Alqueva, an observatory in Portugal that is home to some of the least light-polluted skies in Europe. The area also experiences clear nights about 50% of the year, making it an ideal celestial retreat for "groups that are seeking a bit of a break from the life they have … they want to come away and step into a bit of tranquility," Rebecca Slade with the observatory told the BBC. She added: "We get a lot of 'wow' moments." Fortunately, there's no shortage of cosmic delights to look forward to — and potentially travel for — this year, including fiery meteor showers and a rare blue moon. But even without the big celestial events, just looking up can provide an antidote to whatever might be bringing you down, Slade said: "When you're laying out under the stars, you do have a sense that you're suddenly very small. And the big problem you had this morning might not be so big after all." See footage from Alqueva.
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Inspiring Story
Compassion in action
Albany, New York, is walking the walk to address mental health needs among the homeless community. Through its "street psychiatry" program, a team of trained professionals provides care, including medication prescriptions, to unhoused individuals directly on the streets. "Folks that are living on our streets … we need to meet them where they're at," said Brendan Cox, the county's police chief.
Photo of the Day
Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. is looking even more wondrous than usual this month. For 10 days, the monument is hosting a dazzling light-and-sound installation exploring humanity's relationship with time. Per the cathedral website, visitors can "traverse wormholes, stand at the dawn of the universe, and witness the birth of our planet — all inside one of D.C.'s most iconic landmarks." Watch a video of the light show.
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Quote of the Day
"Don't allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody. Always feel that you count, always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance."
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