It's the International Monarch Monitoring Blitz! That's a mouthful, but here's the gist: The annual event, running through Sunday, calls on individuals and organizations to go out in nature and report any observations of monarch butterflies, milkweed plants, monarch eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises. The data collected helps scientists learn more about the current state of monarch populations and their host plant, milkweed. Get more info on how you can participate.
What to do if you do get caught in a rip current (and how to avoid them entirely)
Culture
Undecipherable Address? The Postal Service's Handwriting Detectives Are on It
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Snail mail carries a special kind of charm — you can see it in the unique handwriting, uneven lines, and occasional pen smudges. But when it comes to pinpointing the intended address of a piece of mail, these perfectly imperfect human touches can present quite a challenge for post office machines. That's where a U.S. Postal Service team comes in to do what machines cannot: decipher chicken scratch. In Salt Lake City, handwriting experts known as "keyers" work around the clock at the Remote Encoding Center to parse out illegible or hard-to-read addresses, usually sent to the center as digital images for human interpretation. Last year, the keyers processed roughly1 billion pieces of mail, Ryan Bullock, the site's operations manager, told CBS News. While the Postal Service once had 55 remote encoding centers nationwide, the Utah center is now the only such facility left, making it an essential part of the efforts to ensure handwritten notes reach their destinations — personality-filled penmanship and all. As the service continues celebrating its 250th birthday, watch the handwriting detectives at work.
Together With FinanceBuzz
Pause High Interest Until 2027
High-interest credit card payments can make financial freedom feel out of reach — especially if you have significant outstanding debt. But getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances, and FinanceBuzz is here to help you choose the right one. The site's credit card experts have reviewed dozens of cards, and this one stood out among the rest. With a 21-month no-interest period on balance transfers, no late fees, no annual fee, and no penalty rates, it's no wonder it's a FinanceBuzz favorite.
When scientists spotted deep, purplish-black corals during a dive near the Galapágos Islands earlier this year, they confirmed the existence of a species thought to have been extinct for nearly two decades. "It was really a bit of a fluke," Terry Gosliner, a co-author of a study on the recent discovery, told SFGate, adding that the moment was celebrated with "lots of underwater high fives." Called Rhizopsammia wellingtoni, the species was nearly wiped out by the intense 1982-1983 El Niño warming event and deemed "possibly extinct" in 2007. Luckily, the corals didn't just survive, but actually made quite the impressive comeback. Scientists have since found more than 250 live colonies across four sites in the Galápagos National Park coral reefs. As for how they endured, researchers suspect biology is partly to thank. R. wellingtoni is a solitary coral that does not rely on sunlight or symbiotic algae, allowing it to survive in deeper, darker waters and be "more resistant to the impacts of climate change," Gosliner explained to Mongabay. The researchers noted that a recent cooler period between 2020 and 2023, attributed to La Niña, may have also facilitated its recovery, particularly in shallower areas. Now that they've confirmed the corals do indeed exist, researchers plan to continue to study the species, which they describe as a "climate change sentinel." Meaning, because the species appears very responsive to temperature variations, it could serve as an early indicator of future ocean heat waves.
Health
Happily Ever Laughter: The Case for LOLing for Heart Health
Tim Robberts/ Getty Images
What's made you laugh lately? Perhaps your pet, a podcast, or a Seinfeld rerun. Whatever it may be, embrace those moments — they're not only enjoyable, but may be beneficial for your heart health, too. "Bottom line, it just makes you feel better," Dr. Jon LaPook told CBS News, noting that studies have shown a good chuckle can benefit the cardiovascular system. Similar to the effects of exercise, it increases heart rate and sends more oxygenated blood throughout the body. This improves circulation and reduces the risk of heart disease. Other health perks of laughing include: boosting immunity, easing pain, building social connections, and lowering cortisol — making it a much-needed antidote in stressful times. All that's to say, if you needed a sign to turn on your favorite sitcom, attend a comedy show, or call a friend who makes you laugh, this is it. Learn more about the health benefits of laughter, including an anecdote about how Gilda Radner embraced comedy in her battle with ovarian cancer.
In Other News
George Lucas made his first-ever Comic-Con appearance to preview his long-awaited museum (read more)
In Missouri, diapers and menstrual products are no longer subject to a "luxury tax" (read more)
The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted five new members, including the first Japanese player to be selected (read more)
An AI tool is helping historians fill in the blanks of damaged ancient Roman inscriptions (read more)
Wild baby pine martens were spotted by a trail camera in southwest England for the first time in a century (read more)
Inspiring Story
"Paint it forward"
Last month, professional painter Gerard Donaghy put out a call for volunteers to help brighten up an autism resource center in Northern Ireland with a fresh coat of paint. The result? A group of 50 pros ready to roll up their sleeves. "Whenever everybody comes together, that's when the change happens," Donaghy said. "Cheesy, maybe as that might sound, but it's genuine. I can't do it by myself." See pictures of the revamped center.
Photo of the Day
Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images
Congrats to the Lionesses! England's national women's soccer team defended their European Championship title, beating Spain in a nail-biting final that ended with a penalty shootout. Less than 24 hours later, the team flew back to London, where they were honored at 10 Downing Street for a celebratory event hosted by the deputy prime minister. As you can see in this photo from outside Southend Airport, the "welcome home" festivities started as soon as they stepped off the plane.
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With Case Kenny
You know Case Kenny as the host of Nice News' podcast, but now he and his book — The Opposite of Settling —are also the focus of our next book club meeting, taking place Aug. 21. Leading up to the event, we'll be sharing some of the signature, handwritten nuggets of wisdom Case regularly shares on his Instagram. This one is a particular favorite: an important reminder that being kind and generous to our fellow humans doesn't have to mean dimming our own lights. Click here to register for the Nice Book Club and get the book.
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