New Year’s resolution hack
According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, your odds of keeping a New Year’s resolution might hinge on whether you’re focusing on doing more of something good versus doing less of something bad. Turns out, “eat more vegetables” is a bigger winner than “stop inhaling Sour Patch Kids.” Participants in the study showed a success rate of 59 percent for proactive goals, compared to a 47 percent rate for restraint-focused goals. So, if you’re serious about lasting change, you might want to start with the carrot (literally), instead of the stick.
Surprise! It’s positive pregnancy test time
If it feels like you’re RSVP-ing to an endless string of summer birthday parties, you’re not imagining things — most U.S. babies make their debut as days start getting longer and warmer. Count back nine months and it’s clear that the winter chill creates some heat between the sheets for many couples. Turns out, humans are just playing by nature’s seasonal rules, perhaps fueled by a little festive spirit in the air and some New Year’s Eve bubbly.
Tiny bird backpacks have big potential
In a very cute and high-tech twist on birdwatching, researchers at the University of Washington outfitted hummingbirds with tiny “backpack” trackers weighing about as much as a Tic Tac to study the birds’ movements. The data could help expand protected areas in the region, ensuring these pint-sized pollinators don’t become extinct.
Teens today are burdened by more than just cell phones
According to recent findings by Pew Research, parents are convinced that being a teen today is harder than ever. The main culprit? It’s in the palm of all of our hands. Two-thirds of parents point the finger at technology, with 41 percent specifically blaming social media for everything from body dysmorphia to toxic interactions. Other factors that topped the list: More expectations than previous generations and the sense that the world has changed for the worse in recent years.
Parrot parents play favorites
Scarlet macaws may symbolize fidelity, but when it comes to parenting, they’re more meh than model. Texas A&M researchers discovered these colorful parrots purposefully neglect their youngest chicks, even when food is abundant, favoring only one or two chicks to survive. It’s not a sibling rivalry or scarcity issue — mom and dad just stop feeding the runts. Thankfully, scientists are stepping in to rescue these forgotten chicks, proving that even nature’s most vibrant show-offs could use some parenting intervention.
Bring back Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! challenge for all
To the horror of book nerds across Seattle, Statista recently revealed that just 5 percent of Americans read more than 12 books over the last year. Meanwhile, nearly 30 percent admitted they hadn’t cracked a single title at all.
