Gardening is already a climate-friendly hobby, but if you're looking to make your backyard plot even more sustainable, you might want to consider soil blocking. The practice is a more environmentally minded way to prep seedlings (compared to plastic or peat pots) and involves using a metal tool akin to an ice tray to pack soil into individual blocks. The tool is affordable — you can find them for around $20 — and better yet, should last for decades. Learn more about soil blocking.
Inside a Celebrity Chef's Mission to Make Over Military Food
U.S. Army
Life in the military is known for its structure, discipline, and community — but not necessarily its stellar food options. Robert Irvine, a celebrity chef who's appeared on several Food Network shows, is on marching orders to make over the menu from scratch. His vision is encapsulated in Victory Fresh, a streamlined, health-conscious outpost that offers everything from brick oven pizzas to brisket, as well as DIY "power bowls" and a grab-and-go section with wraps, salads, and such. The fast-casual cafeteria opened last year at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and Irvine hopes to see a variation of it at every military base one day. "The senior leadership is ready to listen," Irvine told The New York Times, "because they know it's a problem." The current options at military bases aren't unhealthy — the meals are designed with nutrition top of mind — but the "problem" Irvine is referring to is that the food is often so unappetizing that many turn to fast food options instead. "We don't want them going to Burger King every day for a meal," said Lt. Gen. Christopher O. Mohan, one of the officials running the food upgrade. "We've got to do better than that." Learn more about what's being done to change things up.
The New Must-Have Smart Home Tech
Alexa, Ring, Nest, Apple, Roku — these brands transformed how we live. They've become standard products in homes everywhere. Now, there's another must-have for the modern smart home. Meet RYSE: the revolutionary way to automate your window blinds and shades. Investors are paying close attention to RYSE. The company has over $10 million in revenue, 200% year-over-year growth, more than 10 patents protecting industry-leading technology, products in 127 Best Buy locations, and a Home Depot expansion planned for 2025. RYSE is positioned to be the next big name in smart home automation — and right now you can invest at just $1.90/share, but only until the next wave of expansion. Invest today and earn up to 25% in bonus shares.
Study Links Shingles Vaccine and Reduced Risk of Dementia
Liuhsihsiang/ iStock
In a recent study, scientists found evidence that the shingles vaccine may boost cognitive health, giving more weight to a link suggested by previous research. After analyzing health records of 280,000 older adults in Wales, they found those who were vaccinated against shingles were 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those who were not, with an even stronger effect seen in women. "For the first time, we are able to say much more confidently that the shingles vaccine causes a reduction in dementia risk," senior study author Pascal Geldsetzer told The Guardian. "If this truly is a causal effect, we have a finding that's of tremendous importance." Although the "how" is still unclear, scientists have some theories about the vaccine's protective qualities. "It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain, or involve other mechanisms," said Julia Dudley, the head of research at Alzheimer's Research U.K. She added: "Understanding this link better, including the reason for any differences between men and women, could open new avenues for dementia prevention and treatment." Get info on who should get the shingles vaccine and revisit some expert tips on reducing your risk of Alzheimer's.
Sports
Figure Skater Earns Team USA Olympic Spot After Competing on a Broken Foot
Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images
Figure skater Danny O'Shea is giving new meaning to the idiom "break a leg." Two days before the Coloradan athlete was scheduled to go to the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston with his partner Ellie Kam late last month, he injured his foot during training. He didn't know then that he was suffering from a bad break of his fifth metatarsal, but O'Shea was committed to hitting the rink, so he powered through with lots of ice and a numbing injection, CBS News reports. And he and Kam proceeded to earn seventh place, with a particularly strong short program performance. In addition to that personal victory, the duohelpedscore Team USA a third Olympic spot for the 2026 Winter Games — a historic opportunity that the team hasn't had in decades. "His biggest motivation was to help Team USA secure three spots at next year's world championship, and give the team the chance to earn a third spot for the Olympic Games," coach Drew Meekins said. "And despite the immense amount of pain he was in and the emotional and psychological trauma this situation caused to both him and Ellie, somehow they were able to perform to a seventh best place in the world." It wasn't until after the competition ended that O'Shea went to a hospital to be evaluated and learned he, in fact, broke his foot, and needed surgery. Now he's in recovery mode, but can rest assured knowing that if he can get seventh with a broken foot, things are looking pretty bright for next year's Games.
In Other News
🇮🇹Two nearly life-size statues were unearthed in Pompeii, possibly representing a married couple (read more)
🇦🇺 An "oddball" bird was heard in west Melbourne, Australia, for the first time in 30 years thanks to AI (read more)
🇮🇳 Once hung in a Norway hospital, a forgotten mural by an Indian painter fetched $13.8 million at auction (read more)
🇵🇰 Taste of Pakistan in California: This chef is serving up all-halal food with a nonalcoholic bar to boot (read more)
🇿🇦 In good news for African penguins, no-fishing zones were put in place across the South African coast (read more)
Something We Love
Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker This device automates the whole process of making bread: You just add the ingredients, then come back a few hours later for a fresh loaf. Cuisinart's compact model fits nicely on the countertop and doesn't take up too much space — but even if it did, you really can't beat fresh bread at the touch of the button. – Kenny Freeman, Director of Partnerships
After delivering mail for 33 years, Maria Smith Agustin got a sweet retirement send-off from her community. As seen in a now-viral video, neighbors tied balloons on their mailboxes, wrote her kind notes, and gathered outside to cheer Agustin on while she walked her final route. Jessica Harris, who made the video, hopes those who watch it feel "inspired to create and grow their relationship with their mail person and neighbors." She added: "Nurturing those relationships is good for the soul."
Cherry blossom season has made it to New York! Last week, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden launched "CherryWatch," a tracker that provides daily updates on the blossom status of the garden's more than 150 cherry trees. Most are still in the "prebloom" stage, so in the meantime you can take a virtual tour of when the site's Japanese Garden was at peak bloom back in 2020.
Brad's Deals: These Are Amazon Prime Perks You Might Not Know About
For many of us, the free shipping perk and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Amazon Prime. But if those haven't yet enticed you to join Prime, maybe some of the lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up. Read about nine of those perks below.
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