The 2025 Nature Photography Contest has concluded, and the winning image is both a stunning snapshot of the wild and a call to action. Tilted “Please spare our home,” the photo by Thomas Vijayan shows an orangutan in a habitat that’s rapidly vanishing due to deforestation. Check out the competition site to read the photographer’s reflection on his image and see more of the winners.
Got old earbuds, laptops, and such? Read this before tossing them
Culture
Medellín, Colombia, Is UNESCO’s Next World Book Capital
JAIME SALDARRIAGA—AFP/Getty Images
Your local library may be your personal “book capital” — but for the world, that title will soon go to Medellín, Colombia. UNESCO recently named the South American city next year’s World Book Capital, following in the footsteps of this year’s honoree, Rabat, Morocco. The literary distinction recognizes a major cultural shift for Medellín, which, alongside a drastic decrease in crime, has seen a 542% rise in bookstores over the past 70 years. Today, the city of 2.5 million boasts over 110 bookstores and 25 libraries, many of which were once prisons and police facilities. “Medellín has become an international reference for urban and cultural transformation, where books and libraries play a crucial role in bringing positive social change,” UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said in a statement. “The designation of Medellín as World Book Capital 2027 is a powerful message on how culture can build peace and social cohesion.”
Together With Green Coffee Company
The Pre-IPO Company Reigniting Juan Valdez
Colombia’s largest coffee producer has plans to IPO as early as 2027. But, the company is giving everyday investors access for just a few more days. Green Coffee Company has grown revenue 37x since 2021. How? Instead of slapping a label on someone else’s beans, they’re actually the farmers. They operate over 10,000 acres and millions of trees, managing the process from seed to cup at unprecedented scale. They have distribution rights to the Juan Valdez brand, and they’re selling at Target, Walmart.com, and NFL and MLB stadiums. Scaling in the U.S. coffee market is a $100 billion opportunity. You have just days left to invest in Green Coffee Company as it reaches thousands of retail doors.
This is a paid advertisement for Green Coffee Company’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.greencoffeecompany.com/. Timelines are subject to change. Listing on the Nasdaq is contingent upon necessary approvals, and reserving a ticker symbol does not guarantee a company’s public listing.
Environment
The Big Apple Is Making a Big Bet on Induction Stoves
Taras Grebinets—iStock/Getty Images Plus
There’s a lot of talk about the perks of using an electric cooktop instead of gas — and now, New York City is starting to walk the walk. Induction stoves may soon be installed in thousands of public housing apartments as part of a commitment to invest $32 million in electrifying cooking appliances. The pilot phase, expected to begin next year, involves conducting performance reviews of 100 battery-equipped, plug-in units. If all goes smoothly, the state intends to purchase and install an additional 10,000 stoves over the following five years. Bigger picture, the goal is to address gas outages and improve indoor air quality. Research shows that gas stoves may leak pollutants even when off, and that replacing them with electric models can lower nitrogen dioxide levels in a home, thus reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma. “We are addressing decades-old infrastructure issues, improving indoor air quality, and reducing harmful emissions all while lowering long-term costs for residents,” New York State Sen. Kevin S. Parker said in a statement last year. “This initiative shows how smart investment and innovation can deliver immediate benefits for working families and move New York closer to a fully decarbonized, equitable energy future.”
Science
Yes, Fashion Repeats Itself — Science Confirms It
Lawrence Schwartzwald—Sygma/Getty Images
It’s commonly said that fashion is cyclical — point to bandanas, baggy jeans, and all things related to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s style showing up everywhere these days. And now, a recent study out of Northwestern has the math to back up that claim. Researchers analyzed about 37,000 garments from runway collections dating from 1869 to today, as well as the University of Rhode Island’s Commercial Pattern Archive. After examining specific features such as hemlines, waistlines, and necklines, they mathematically demonstrated that fashion trends indeed recycle certain themes about every two decades — a phenomenon often referred to as the 20-year rule. “To our knowledge, this isthe first time that someone developed such an extensive and precise database of fashion measures across more than a century,” lead study author Emma Zajdela said in a statement. The researchers noted that the pattern has become slightly less clear in recent years, as fashion evolves to be more diverse and niche. All that’s to say, wear what makes you feel good … it’s likely to be trendy sooner or later!
In Other News
NASA announced a new Mars mission and revamped plans for a moon base where astronauts will live and work (read more)
A bright green flying snake is among new and rare species discovered in Cambodian caves (read more)
Couch in coach: Starting in 2027, United Airlines will offer “relax row” economy seats for long-haul flights (read more)
Archaeologists found a 2,100-year-old rock inscribed with a saying that’s still common to this day(read more)
Gwyneth Paltrow auctioned off accessories, clothes, and furniture to raise money for World Central Kitchen (read more)
Inspiring Story
Speaking through art
At a unique art exhibit in Ann Arbor, Michigan, hundreds of oil paintings, sculptures, and drawings fill the room — each made by an incarcerated artist in the state participating in the Prison Creative Arts Project. “My artwork became my voice of reason,” Kushawn Miles El, one of the artists, said. “It became a platform to speak to people outside of prison and show people a different side of people who are incarcerated.”
Photo of the Day
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Any day now, cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., are expected to hit their peak. Once that happens, the blooms should last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the weather … and then tulips take center stage.
With Oricle, Better Hearing Is Finally Within Everyone’s Reach
For decades, quality hearing aids cost thousands of dollars and required multiple clinic visits. Oricle 2.0 changes that. It’s FDA-registered, nearly invisible, and offers 24-hour battery life — all for under $99. Clearer hearing, on your terms.
