Good News to Welcome July’s New Moon

Your healthy dose of feel-good current events in pop culture, fashion, travel, science, and everything in between…

And like a toasty breeze, the latest round of carefree weekly updates has arrived, showcasing 10 topical reports cherry-picked to deliver an opportuuunity to chill out and deeply breathe in that soon-to-be-Saturday scent of easy summer times that lie so very directly ahead.

Take the chance to unapologetically recline, perhaps in a petal-soft robe, and lounge with some harmless (yet fascinating) stories selected to give you some clickable, likeable current events that are finally worth sharing with your favorites.

Peruse, ponder, audibly “awww,” lol a little, and enjoy the good news you might have missed:

What’s a “moai?” According to author Dan Buettner, it’s a practice we should all consider for our wellbeing. Based on the traditions of Okinawa, Japan, where women have the oldest life expectancy in the world, a “moai” is a group of five friends (even three will do!) that maintain contact for life. “I argue that the most powerful thing you can do to add healthy years is to curate your immediate social network,” said Mr. Buettner. “In general, you want friends with whom you can have a meaningful conversation. You can call them on a bad day and they will care. Your group of friends are better than any drug or anti-aging supplement, and will do more for you than just about anything.” 

Biologists and ecologists unite for one common idea: that trees can speak. Perhaps their language is one that we’ll be able to learn, perhaps it’s too complex — but either way, communication is happening. One of the most interesting revelations? That trees create a community support system, where even a 500-year-old stump with no means of creating its own sustenance is still able to survive thanks to neighboring trees sharing nutrients via their root systems. Who’s crying now? 

And speaking of precious, priceless trees, Free People just teamed up with Boxed Water for a stylish collab that benefits #ReTree project. How, you ask? Pick up a pretty pack of the limited edition design, take a pic of the carton and tag @freepeople and #BetterPlanet, and FP will plant five new trees in your honor. That’s basically a forest moai for every Insta post. 

It’s no surprise this video of a penguin couple holding hands romaaaantically on the beach already has over three million views. 

Taking a long hard look at how to improve for the next generation, National Geographic awarded 47% of grants last year to women, and promises gender parity in 2020. In the meantime, 12 female photographers come together to discuss why diversity in storytelling is crucial. “There is value in the quieter stories, they can be just as important and informative as the dramatic ones,” says Kristin Luce, a dreamy blue photograph of Mexican fireflies glowing softly over her words. “When looking for the uncanny in the modern and the familiar, my photos ask more questions than give answers and I hope that communicates to the viewer,” shares Dina Litovsky, perfectly illustrated by her image of a coiffed poodle being misted with hairspray at a dog show. 

In 2018, smaller families have become the norm, meaning “middle children” are disappearing. And while studies on firstborn children have been shown that they’re more likely to become conformists and latter-born children tend to become iconoclasts, middle children are still a bit of a mystery. According to Bruce Hopman, founder of the International Middle Child’s Union, middle children are best known for their “inexhaustible” need for attention. “Britney Spears: middle child, Kesha: middle child. Nicki Minaj: middle child,” he points out, noting that middle children are notorious even for “mastering the art of doing funny things to get attention with their hair.” Take a moment to absorb the opinions, but mostly to learn about the complexities of our central brothers and sisters, and why they’re great. 

Polishing its multicolor fibers clean, someone is washing a carpet, and we allllll care. Perhaps this soothing video experience can be associated with a bit of #ASMR action? Stay tuned for the squeegee — you’re in for a sparkling finish. 

Are they abstract paintings? Are they stained glass windows? These aerial photos of colorful salt pools are like surreal images out of a dream sequence. 

Want your words to really resonate with an audience? Deep down to the core? Then it’s time to drop the cue cards and speak from the heart. When “perception is everything,” holding notes during a speech can come across as “inauthentic” and even less trustworthy. For those that love a script, opt for thoughtful preparation instead of actual print on paper to leave important elements of spontaneity and sincerity in your final message. 

Even the stonefaced are swooning at this clip of a golden retriever singing bravely alongside its owner’s piano on “America’s Got Talent.”