If your old phones, tablets, and other tech are gathering dust in a junk drawer somewhere, now's the time to finally clear it out. In honor of Earth Month, the Arbor Day Foundation is partnering with Assurant and AT&T to boost ecosystem restoration in the areas hit by the January wildfires in Southern California. For every device turned in through AT&T's trade-in program in April, Arbor Day will plant a tree in the state's only forest service nursery.
Must Reads
Debunking a common myth about raising kids to be bilingual
Scientists Invented an Edible Coating That Doubles the Shelf Life of Strawberries
Stieglitz/ iStock
We're in the early days of spring, which means strawberries are nearing their peak. But the fragile fruit can be a disappointment in the longevity department, sometimes going from pretty and juicy to moldy and soggy in just a day or two. To keep them fresher for longer, scientists created an edible "biofilm" that can double a strawberry's shelf life, minimize food waste, and keep your favorite strawberry recipes (like this one) in a regular rotation. In a recently published study, researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil compared the fruit's lifespan with and without the biofilm. They found that the strawberries coated with the material grew fungi at around six to eight days, compared to four days for the fruit without the coating. Importantly, the coating didn't sacrifice scent, flavor, or feel, according to a press release. "By applying the coating, it was possible to double the shelf life of strawberries kept under refrigeration and delay the dehydration of the fruit, while preserving the taste, texture, and volatile compounds that give the fruit its characteristic aroma," first author Mirella Romanelli Vicente Bertolo said of the biofilm, which is made from a combination of recycled pomegranate peels, chitosan (a polymer found in crustacean shells), and gelatin. This unique recipe creates a barrier around the fruit, which protects it against microorganisms, moisture loss, and gas exchange to keep strawberries delicious for as long as possible. As for the price, it's estimated the coating would add an extra 2 pennies per fruit. "This is a cost that consumers may be willing to pay for fruit with a longer shelf life and greater usage," Bertolo said.
Together With LMNT
Healthy Hydration Perfected by Science
For decades, sodium has been misunderstood — but the truth is, your body needs it to function at its best. Electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium support energy, cognitive function, digestion, and sleep. In a perfect world, we'd get all our electrolytes from diet, but sometimes that's not enough. That's where LMNT comes in. LMNT delivers a science-backed electrolyte ratio to keep you hydrated, from work to the gym and beyond. With flavors like Citrus Salt and Mango Chili, it's a delicious and easy way to fuel your body. Try them for yourself — get a free sample pack with any purchase and discover your favorite flavor.
Be Kind Online Day Brings Positivity to Teen Social Media Use
Aleksei Morozov/ iStock
It's not just you — teens today seem to be glued to their phones more than ever, and according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, they spend an average of nine hours per day online, excluding schoolwork. This Friday, however, Be Kind Online Day is helping middle school students use their technology in a positive way. The initiative, started by the student-led social justice movement Beyond Differences, narrows in on two specific missions around online kindness: stopping online social isolation, and creating more welcoming digital spaces for middle schoolers. "We know that social media is here to stay," Beyond Differences says on its website, "so how can we empower our students to use it to find community and inspire them to take action in real life?" The organization, which is part of the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, has a few ideas. Teachers can download free resources on its website, including lessons and a training workshop, and parents can sign up to get their school access to a curriculum and student-led leadership guide. Come Friday, students will be using these tools to celebrate this year's theme, "Unmute Your Kindness," across the country. "School safety extends well beyond the classroom," Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, told Nice News in a statement, adding: "That's why it's vital to equip students with the skills to navigate social media in a way that promotes kindness and connections, so that we can drive meaningful change and create cultures of belonging online." Get the free resources and learn more about Be Kind Online Day.
Sports
Best Seat in the House: A Canada Goose Nested in the Bleachers at Wrigley Field
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
You never know what you might see at a baseball game — a proposal, a grand slam, or a gaggle of "geesekeepers" protecting a bird nesting in the stands. If you can believe it, the latter recently went down at Wrigley Field. During the Chicago Cubs' April 5 game against the San Diego Padres, a Canada goose was spotted nestled in greenery boxes around the stadium's outfield bleachers (as you can see in this photo). The team stepped up to the plate to keep the goose safe, blocking off dozens of bleacher seats, adding signs, and designating staff to keep guard of the new fan. "At the Friendly Confines, we truly mean it when we say everyone's welcome, including the goose and her nest who took up residence in the bleachers," Cubs Senior Director of Communications Jennifer Martinez said in a statement to the Associated Press. She added: "Protecting our fans, and our feathered guest, is our top priority." The goose flew off sometime Monday, but not before fans had a chance to name her — some went with Suzuki, in honor of designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, while others dubbed the bird Pete Goose-Armstrong (PGA for short), as a reference to outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Though there's no word on where she's at now, the Cubs community knows there's a good luck charm flying around out there.
In Other News
A biotech company used gene editing tobreed three pups resembling the long-extinct dire wolf (read more)
So long, Styrofoam. California announced it will enforce a ban on the material in food serviceware (read more)
For the first time in the U.K., a "miracle" baby was born to a mother with a transplanted uterus (read more)
One day on Uranus is now 28 seconds longer than it was in the '80s, according to scientists (read more)
Christina's Corner: A video shop owner created a special section for a longtime customer with Down syndrome (read more)
Organization We Love
Altadena Seed Library This is the seed version of a Little Free Library. "Through the distribution of free seeds, we are working to expand equitable access to shade and green spaces, increase food sovereignty, connect neighbors, and restore local ecosystems," the Altadena Seed Library explains on its website. I've stumbled upon a few of the boxes in Los Angeles, and it's truly beautiful to see them so full following this year's fires. – Marika Spitulski, Writer
At 59 years old, Sandra Valls is achieving her lifelong dream of performing on Broadway. After working behind the scenes in theater for decades, she's stepping center stage in the new musical Real Women Have Curves. "I used to walk around Times Square singing to Madonna on my Walkman, dreaming and hoping someday I'll be on Broadway," Valls said. "The other day, I was walking to rehearsal in Times Square singing to Madonna on my iPhone, and it hit me. I'm on Broadway! Thirty-five years later, but I'm on Broadway. I had to step aside, find a nook, and silently cry tears of gratitude."
Photo of the Day
Michael Simon/Getty Images for e.l.f. Cosmetics
Tennis legend Billie Jean King was ranked No. 1 in the world for five years of her career, was the first female athlete to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, and founded both the Women's Sports Foundation and the Women's Tennis Association. And now, you can spot her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"What I love about Billie Jean is that she used her platform to bring about change," basketball icon Magic Johnson said at her star ceremony on Monday, per NBC News. "When we talk about that 'Battle of the Sexes,' it was more than just you beating Bobby Riggs. You were fighting for equal pay for women and all these young ladies that are making all these millions and millions of dollars today should be thanking you for what you did for all of them."
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Meet LMNT Sparkling: the same science-backed hydration blend you love — but with bubbles. Each can delivers 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium. And it's free of sugar, artificial colors, and other dodgy ingredients. LMNT Sparkling is the perfect way to hydrate, ideally while enjoying some spring weather and feeling the sun on your face.
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