Each of us has an internal community of bacteria located within us that we call the microbiome. If the bacteria were simply swimming around digesting lettuce, this would be small beans. But they’re doing much more than that.
At one time Europeans thought that all swans were white. The phrase “black swan” derives from a common 16th century English expression as a statement of impossibility. Then in 1697, Dutch explorers discovered large numbers of black swans in Western Australia.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top two causes of death are heart disease & cancer (in 2013, 611,000 and 585,000 deaths respectively). What’s the #3 killer today? The answer may surprise you.
When you were young, you lived wherever your parents chose to live. You didn’t give any thought to whether they had chosen a place that was conducive to your overall wellness. Chances are your parents didn’t give it much thought either.
Pizzas are never cut perfectly. And, quite naturally, most of us want to scam the largest slice for ourselves. We seek to maximize the gain (most cheese and pepperoni) and minimize surprises (who ordered the anchovies?).
A bad habit is an undesirable behavior pattern. Common examples include procrastination and overspending. But removing established habits can be a challenge because they are a part of who we are.
Many of us make plans we end up not carrying out. So, Sherlock, why do we fail to follow through on our intentions? It turns out that thinking excessively about our present circumstances and preferences disproportionately influences our decisions.
Seen those swanky infomercials on late night TV featuring botoxed movie stars, washed up politicos, and flabby sports figures? They are pitching to the “Boomer blip.” For the next 20 years, Baby Boomers will swell the ranks of pensioners like water in a sponge.
The dramatic increase in average life expectancy during the 20th century ranks as one of society’s greatest achievements. The possibility that extraordinary life spans could become ordinary life spans no longer seems far-fetched. And that’s good news for Generation NeXt.
For many young persons, the slightest hint that something interesting might be going on in their social media sphere is irresistibly alluring. To avoid missing anything, millions of them bring their phones, tablets, e-readers, and laptops to bed each night.
