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Must Reads

• “She still has stories to tell”: A new Titanic scan into the ship’s final hours
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• Apple is to celebrate the iPhone’s 20th anniversary

Science

Head in the Clouds? There May Be Benefits to Keeping It There, Study Finds

Mind-wandering tends to get a bad rap, especially in an educational context. A recent study, however, found that when it comes to learning a new task — in fact, it may even be helpful.
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Researchers in Hungary fitted 37 people with scalp electrodes to monitor their brain activity. Participants were then given an exercise that involved watching an arrow on a TV screen and hitting a key on a keyboard to indicate what direction it went in, per Australia’s ABC News. Throughout the activity, they were intermittently asked three questions about their attentiveness: if their mind had wandered, if they’d been thinking about anything at all, or if they had been focused on the task.
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Using the data from the electrodes and the participant responses, the scientists determined if their attention had wandered and evaluated whether it affected their ability to complete the task. They found that “mind-wandering while doing the task did not worsen performance, and in some cases even enhanced learning,” per a . Study authors also noted an association between a wandering mind and probabilistic learning, meaning participants used prior experience to assess the likelihood of something happening.
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This study adds to that shows daydreaming can help us solve problems and reach our goals — and suggests that we may need to carve out more time for passive learning, said co-author Péter Simor: “As our brain needs sleep, maybe we also need passive ways of learning, or ‘wakeful rest,’ to recover from tasks that require your brain to be online and engaged.”

Together With StorEn

This Safer, Longer-Lasting Battery Could Be the Next Energy Disruptor

For years, lithium batteries have powered homes and devices, but their drawbacks are hard to ignore: fire risks, short lifespans, and limited recyclability. A is emerging that solves those issues.
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Health

Scientists Have a Potential Plan to Stop Airborne Pandemics in Their Tracks

The COVID-19 pandemic may feel like it was just yesterday to you, but scientists are already preparing to stop the next airborne threat before it strikes. The potential solution on deck is , a form of ultraviolet light that can kill viruses and bacteria in the air, at no harm to humans.
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“UV light really doesn’t care about the details of whether it’s a bacteria or a virus. It can kill all of them, essentially,” David Brenner, a Columbia University physicist, told CBS News. In a , he and his fellow Columbia researchers found that the lights are particularly effective at inactivating pathogens in occupied indoor spaces, reducing infectious airborne viruses by 99.8%. That far surpasses the capabilities of typical air filtration and ventilation devices.
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?More research is needed, which is why Brenner has set up a UVC laboratory to simulate real-life conditions. The tech is also being put to use at a club, a dental clinic, and a rehabilitation center. “I’d say the development has been slow and steady,” Brenner said.
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These are small steps with a big goal: preventing another 2020 from happening. “What we’re hoping is that we can take a bite out of that next pandemic, which you know is gonna come, whether it’s bird flu or whether it’s something we don’t know yet, it will come,” he said.

Culture

NYC Will Celebrate Earth Day With Car-Free Streets

New Yorkers, it’s almost time to put down those car keys and take a breather from Uber. In honor of Earth Day (April 22), the Big Apple will hold on Saturday, April 26. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 54 streets and plazas across all five boroughs will be closed to vehicular traffic — and open to those ready to experience the city by foot, bike, and public transit.
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In the place of cars and yellow cabs, many of the designated areas will feature community programs and public art activations. The NYC Department of Transportation has commissioned five artists to create temporary, eco-focused works along some of the car-free routes. Citi Bike is also getting in on the festivities, offering unlimited half-hour rides for 24 hours.
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“Car-Free Earth Day is a chance for New Yorkers to enjoy our city’s world-class streetscapes as open spaces for all,” NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement. “We only have one planet — temporary public art, programming, music, and other activities at dozens of car-free streets around New York City will help us remember: We must all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and respect our environment.” of the streets that will be closed off.

In Other News

1. Alabama lawmakers unanimously passed a bill that could give more pregnant women access to health care ()
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2. In a first since the 1940s, over 40% of the world’s electricity was generated by clean energy in 2024 ()
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3. The original cast recording of Hamilton was added to the National Recording Registry — see more additions ()
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4. South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach installed matting to improve accessibility for those with mobility challenges ()
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5. Big Lots is back: The chain is reopening stores in six states today, with more locations to follow ()

Inspiring Story

Heroes helping a hero

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Army Sgt. Derrick Bishop has dedicated his life to serving his country. And now his countrymen are stepping up for him: Thousands of soldiers and veterans are getting screened to and save his life. “Initially we were told Derrick did not have a match in the international database,” his wife Veda said. “However, in the last couple of weeks, we have been filled with hope as our military family has stepped up to support us through hosting bone marrow donor searches at military bases across the U.S.”

Photo of the Day

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The Masters at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club — one of the most prestigious golf tournaments and certainly one of the most challenging. But while the elites prepare to tee off for Round 1 of the tournament, we’re still thinking about yesterday’s Par 3 Contest, an annual tradition in which the pros have their families caddie for them. Adorably, that usually involves kiddos donning Augusta’s iconic all-white caddie coveralls, and sometimes even . Bennett and Bear — sons of Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns, respectively — are still a bit too young to wield a club, but they’re looking mighty comfortable on the putting green. ?

Healthy Skin Starts at the Cellular Level With OneSkin

Most skin care is only treating the surface of your skin — but OneSkin goes cellular. The brand’s OS-01 peptide is the first ingredient scientifically proven to reverse the skin aging process at the cellular level by targeting senescent, or “zombie,” cells — the damaged cells that can cause inflammation and accelerate skin aging. The includes face serum, body lotion, eye cream, and SPF products: Explore the options below.

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Odds & Ends

? to your friend who’s gotten really into coffee
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? Introducing: “”
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? Spring wardrobe incoming: by Wantable’s experts*
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? from Krispy Kreme

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Quote of the Day

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

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– J.M. BARRIE