ORA

Feb 11 2025CELEBRITIES

Pete Davidson Teams Up With Reformation for Fancy New Clothes

In a surprising move, sustainable clothing brand Reformation has teamed up with one of Hollywood's most famous guys, Pete Davidson. This is not a romantic relationship, but a partnership to create some fancy new clothes. Sponsored sweatshirts with a very fancy name and boxer briefs with a n

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025HEALTH

Time Twist: How Our Minds Play Games with Time

Intuition is common in our experience. It is our internal gut feeling about things and has a massive role in our impulses. But it seems that intuition is connected to how we perceive time. Or rather, how we mess up our perception of time. You see, when we feel happy, sad, or meh, our brains can mak

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025HEALTH

Walking Away from Cancer

The APPROACH pilot study looked at how well people with cancer could use a smartphone app and extra support to get more exercise. They used a simple app called NHS Active 10, which helped them track their steps and encouraged them to walk faster. On top of that, participants got calls and helpful pr

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025POLITICS

Federal Workers Win a Brief Respite from Unclear Buyout Scheme

The Trump administration has been trying to shrink the federal workforce. A federal judge recently stepped in and paused the deadline for federal employees to accept a buyout offer. This offer, dubbed the "Fork in the Road, " was seen as rushed and unclear by many unions, who argued it was causing s

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025RELIGION

Gods of Cooperation: How Beliefs Shape Our Behavior

Humans have long believed in gods that care about our morals. The reason for this has been debated, with some saying these beliefs help societies grow and encourage teamwork. But recent evidence suggests that these beliefs aren't just for big groups and might not always boost cooperation. Belief i

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025TECHNOLOGY

The Power of Tiny Open Spaces In Lithium Batteries

An interesting thing about lithium-ion batteries is how tiny oxygen holes can boost power. Imagine something really small—that's an oxygen vacancy. These vacancies are missing oxygen atoms in a material. When researchers looked closely at a material called Cu2Nb34O87-x/N-doped carbon composite, they

reading time less than a minute
Feb 11 2025FINANCE

How People React to Gains and Losses in Pay-for-Performance Plans

A lot of companies use pay-for-performance (P4P) plans to motivate their employees. These can be given as rewards, or bonuses, or as penalties, or losses, based on performance. It's interesting because people typically dislike losing out more than they enjoy earning extra. This is a well-known conce

reading time less than a minute
Feb 10 2025SCIENCE

Sweet Surprise: How Extra Food Helps Tiny Insects Grow Fast

In the warm regions of south China, farmers battle a tiny foe of the cowpea plant: Megalurothrips usitatus. This thrips is a real pest. To figure out how to control them, researchers have been raising these bugs in the lab for many generations. But the key to success is making sure they

reading time less than a minute
Feb 10 2025HEALTH

Cigarette Smoke and Saliva Enzyme: The Facts You Need to Know

Let's dive into the surprising link between smoking and an important enzyme found in our spit called alpha-amylase. This enzyme has a big job: it kicks off the process of breaking down food in your mouth. But here's where it gets interesting. The amount of this enzyme in your saliva can change based

reading time less than a minute
Feb 10 2025HEALTH

Older Adults and the Mystery of Slow-Healing Mouth Sores

Imagine a 70-year-old person with a strange mouth sore. But it isn't just any sore. It's caused by a virus that usually lies dormant in the body. This virus, Epstein-Barr, is known for causing mononucleosis. However, in older adults its behavior can change. In some cases, it can cause a rare conditi

reading time less than a minute