Must Reads

• Can’t stop thinking about how you can’t sleep? Read this
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• ​Step inside a museum filled with signs from America’s small businesses, past and present

Humanity

Martin Luther King Jr. Was a “Star Trek” Fan — And 5 Other Little-Known Facts About Him

Born in Atlanta on Jan 15, 1929, the Baptist minister was one of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, a gifted orator, and a passionate humanitarian.
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Decades after his assassination in 1968, those of us who were not around during his lifetime are still keenly attuned to his legacy. We learn about him in elementary school, watch YouTube videos of his speeches, and share memes of his most powerful quotes.
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Few reading this will need reminding, then, that King was a Nobel Peace Prize-winning proponent of nonviolent activism or that he preached the power of forgiveness. A vast number of us can likely recite some portion of his iconic March on Washington address, and many are even aware that its most famous portion almost wasn’t uttered at all.
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But did you know he was a big-time Trekkie? Yes, that’s right, a Trekkie — as in, a Star Trek fan. The TV series premiered in 1966, and apparently, it was the only one King let his kids stay up late to watch — in part because of its progressive representation of African Americans. Learn five more lesser-known facts like that one to get to know a bit more about the activist’s personal life.

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From a Caltech Garage to a $1 Trillion Market

In 2016, some innovative Caltech robotics students set out to transform fast food. That first garage-built prototype became Miso Robotics.
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Since then, Miso’s robots have worked more than 200,000 hours in live kitchens for brands like White Castle, frying over 4 million food baskets. That traction convinced NVIDIA and Amazon to help refine Miso’s AI and robots.
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Health

College Students Continued to Report Lower Rates of Depression and Anxiety in 2025

Some hopeful news on the mental health front, courtesy of a report published in the fall: The number of college students experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts went down in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of declines.
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The web-based study, conducted annually by researchers from UCLA, the University of Michigan, Boston University, and Wayne State University, analyzed responses from more than 84,000 students from 135 colleges and universities on key aspects of mental health and well-being. Nearly 10,000 faculty and staff from higher education institutions also took part in the survey.
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Researchers found that severe depression among students dropped from 23% in 2022 to 18% in 2025; moderate to severe anxiety decreased from 37% to 32%, and high loneliness levels went from 58% to 52%. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts fell from 15% to 11%. Declines were also seen in the 2023 and 2024 studies.
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“These sustained reductions tell me this is not a blip,” co-principal investigator Justin Heinze said in a release. “Whether it’s distance from the pandemic, better institutional support, or something else driving the change, I think this is a promising counternarrative to what seems like constant headlines around young people’s struggles with mental health.”

Environment

Astrotourism: The Case for Traveling to See the Stars

If you’re feeling a pull to look up at the stars more, you’re not alone. Astrotourism is a rising travel trend, with more people planning trips around taking in the cosmos — whether that’s to see an event like a solar eclipse or simply be in a peaceful spot to reap the health benefits of stargazing for a while.
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One of those peaceful spots is Dark Sky Alqueva, an observatory in Portugal that is home to some of the least light-polluted skies in Europe. The area also experiences clear nights about 50% of the year, making it an ideal celestial retreat for “groups that are seeking a bit of a break from the life they have … they want to come away and step into a bit of tranquility,” Rebecca Slade with the observatory told the BBC. She added: “We get a lot of ‘wow’ moments.”
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Fortunately, there’s no shortage of cosmic delights to look forward to — and potentially travel for — this year, including fiery meteor showers and a rare blue moon. But even without the big celestial events, just looking up can provide an antidote to whatever might be bringing you down, Slade said: “When you’re laying out under the stars, you do have a sense that you’re suddenly very small. And the big problem you had this morning might not be so big after all.” See footage from Alqueva.​

In Other News

1. U.S. mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level in more than three years (read more)
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2. San Francisco is offering free childcare to families of four earning up to $230,000 per year (read more)
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3. Exercise was just as effective as medication and therapy for treating depression in a recent study (read more)​
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4. Kelly Clarkson or Kelly Sharkson? The talk show host found out she has a new aquatic namesake (read more)
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5. A U.S. billionaire is financing a first-of-its-kind binational park between Uruguay and Argentina (read more)

Inspiring Story

Compassion in action

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Albany, New York, is walking the walk to address mental health needs among the homeless community. Through its “street psychiatry” program, a team of trained professionals provides care, including medication prescriptions, to unhoused individuals directly on the streets. “Folks that are living on our streets … we need to meet them where they’re at,” said Brendan Cox, the county’s police chief.

Photo of the Day

The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. is looking even more wondrous than usual this month. For 10 days, the monument is hosting a dazzling light-and-sound installation exploring humanity’s relationship with time. Per the cathedral website, visitors can “traverse wormholes, stand at the dawn of the universe, and witness the birth of our planet — all inside one of D.C.’s most iconic landmarks.” Watch a video of the light show.​

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Odds & Ends

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Quote of the Day

“Don’t allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody. Always feel that you count, always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.”

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– MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.