Shark Week kicks off tomorrow, with seven days of shark-related programming running on the Discovery Channel. But if you're ready to get the ocean celebration started early, we have just the thing: Shark Trust recently released the winners of its annual Shark Photographer of the Year awards, and the images are truly mesmerizing (or a bit terrifying, depending on how you feel about sharks).
Must Reads
Mild cognitive decline is normal as we age — but this advice can help keep your brain functioning optimally
Insects May Listen to Plants' Distress Noises — And React Accordingly
harmonia101/ iStock
Two years ago, researchers at Tel Aviv University found that plants under stress emit noises beyond the range of the human ear — and now, the same team has discovered that insects may be listening. A new study suggests that female moths can hear sounds of distress coming from plants, and use that information to make the "critical" decision of where to lay their eggs. The researchers chose to study female moths since they generally lay eggs on plants for larvae to feed on after hatching. They conducted experiments testing whether moths would respond to plant noises, and if so, whether they'd show a preference between silent tomato plants and ones with nearby speakers playing distress sounds. Not only did the moths indeed perceive the high-frequency noises, but they also made decisions about where to lay their eggs accordingly. The scientists said the findings are the first evidence of acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect, and that this is "just the beginning" of the research diving into this type of interspecies communication. "Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles," the authors said in a press release. "This is a vast, unexplored field, an entire world waiting to be discovered."
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A News Source That Brings Everyone to the Table
America's growing divisions are hard to ignore — and we have all felt the deeply personal rifts, especially when politics enters the conversation at the family dinner table. But what if there was a news source that everyone, from progressives to conservatives and everyone in between, could read without all that partisan spin? Introducing Tangle: a free, independent newsletter that covers one major news story per day from all perspectives. In just 10 minutes, you get a fact-based summary and seven different points of view, so you can form your own opinion. In a world of extreme divides, Tangle helps dial down the heat. Join 400,000 subscribers and sign up below.
Wesley Lapointe for The Washington Post via Getty Images
This year, Baltimore has seen a 22% decrease in homicides and a 19% decrease in non-fatal shootings compared to 2024 — and in April, the city saw five homicides, the fewest of any month since it began keeping records in 1970. So what's the secret to the decline? Mayor Brandon Scott, pictured above on the right, began looking at violent crime as a public health crisis, involving the local community and orchestrating preventative initiatives. Scott's approach views crime through a holistic lens, taking factors like racism, poverty, and prior violence into consideration in addition to making arrests, Popular Information reports. His leadership has provided support for housing, education, and career development programs, and in 2022, his office created the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, which partners with law enforcement, social services, and community members to address the underlying causes of gun violence. "What Baltimore did that's so impactful is really invested in a whole ecosystem of community-oriented interventions," Daniela Gilbert, a director at The Vera Institute for Justice, told the outlet. Moving forward, Scott aims to use the city's successes to reduce crime even further. In a recent statement, he said: "While we acknowledge the historic lows we are experiencing, we must simultaneously acknowledge that there is much more work to do and our success makes me commit even further to doing it."
Health
In "You Are More Than Your Body," a Therapist With Cerebral Palsy Offers a Tool Kit for Self-Acceptance
Richard Drury/ Digital Vision via Getty Images
When Jennifer Caspari set out to write You Are More Than Your Body, she was hoping to deliver aguidebook that would leave readers who struggle with insecurity feeling empowered, like they have "an increased sense of capability." As a clinical psychologist, Caspari is trained in helping others achieve self-acceptance — and as someone with cerebral palsy, she's especially equipped to do so. Published in June, the book offers practical, evidence-based skills and exercises couched in a collection of personal experiences. Though framed through a lens of living with a disability, and thus likely to particularly resonate with others who have chronic illness, it reads like a universal tool kit, helpful for anyone who feels down about their body. "They're just really evidence-based mood skills," the Denver-based therapist explains to Nice News. "How do we improve our mood? How do we become more flexible with our thinking and our behavior? So that can apply to a wide variety of concerns." Caspari recognizes that not everyone can participate in one-on-one therapy — another motivator behind releasing You Are More Than Your Body. The book is split into three sections: Managing Your Emotions, Balancing Your Thoughts, and Caring for Your Body. Along with the strategies, she provides self-reflection exercises, and recommends reading with a writing pad or journal handy. Learn four of the skills from the book.
In Other News
In Yellowstone,a new blue water spring is forming following a hydrothermal explosion — take a look (read more)
Over 50 grocery and convenience store chains accepting SNAP and EBT were added to Uber Eats (read more)
Nearly 800 poems from the world's oldest novel were digitized by college students in a first-of-its-kind repository (read more)
A solar-powered maritime surveillance drone aims to fly for 90 days without landing: See its massive wingspan (read more)
Researchers found a 100 million-year-old "dinosaur courtship arena" in Colorado (read more)
Something We Love
Yiayia and Friends Mini Bottle Gift Set The Yiayia and Friends olive oil collection has been around for a while, but the brand recently released a set of mini bottles, which I think are adorable. The set comes with six flavors, including chili, basil, garlic, and the original EVOO. As a Greek myself, I also love that the brand is based in Thessaloniki and centered on an appreciation for "yiayias," which means "grandmothers." I hope they stick around because I think the mini bottles would be the cutest stocking stuffers! – Marika Spitulski, Writer
In Minnesota, girls ages 7 to 13 are building confidence, fostering community, and having fun through a perhaps unlikely sport: mountain biking. Via free weeklong programs in the Twin Cities, Little Bellas mentors young girls and creates noncompetitive environments that encourage camaraderie on the trail. "To have a peer, a 9-year-old helping a 9-year-old tell them like, 'I was scared, too, and then I went over this rock,' like that is just gold," said founder Martha Flynn. Watch them ride.
Photo of the Day
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Lavender season came early this year at Castle Farm in Kent, England, which grows more than 110 acres of the gorgeous purple flower. The largest lavender producer in the U.K., Castle Farm typically sees blooms from late June through the end of July, and when the season comes to a close, it harvests the plant to make essential oil.
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