Why do we love sweets so much? (I ask this while munching on a piece of chocolate from a holiday gift basket after planning out a whole month of Christmas cookie baking.) Part of it is evolution: Scientists posit the ability to detect sweetness helped our human ancestors choose what to eat to give themselves enough energy. Then, there are the obvious cultural connections we make: Throughout history, pretty sugared sweetmeats and honey-covered morsels have signaled good times and abundance, celebration and indulgence. Should you reach for another perfectly decorated homemade Christmas cookie? Only you can decide that. If you do, you'll be connecting to an impulse as old as humanity itself.
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| Our favorites this week Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
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We're all friends here
Charlie's Bar, a little pub in Northern Ireland, is winning hearts because of their tear-jerking, warm-fuzzies-inducing Christmas ad. In it, an older man lays flowers at his wife's grave and then greets passersby as he walks through the town of Enniskillen. None of them take much notice of him. Then, he walks into Charlie's Bar and is greeted by a sweet little dog, followed by the dog's owners, who fall into friendly conversation over a drink. It ends with the oft-quoted words: "There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met." The bar says it's gotten a huge response, and people have even contacted the place to donate money for anyone who may come in alone, in need of a little cheer. I for one think companies are fully aware of how easily our emotions can be prodded during the holiday season, when our souls are already beaten soft by tradition and commercialism and candlelit gatherings and the nostalgic strains of old Christmas songs. But Charlie's Bar is using that power for good. Read the whole story here. |
Puppy dog eyes
Don't let cover girl Dina's sweet, soulful stare fool you — she WILL be quite put out if you bring illegal things to the airport. The winner of the Transportation Security Administration's 2023 Cutest Canine Contest also appears on the front of the TSA's annual canine calendar, which honors the more than 1,000 explosives-detection canines working across the United States. The calendar industry can get shockingly niche (I bought a "Goats in Trees" calendar a few years ago and didn't even need to look further than my grocery store), and "adorable and hard-working pups" may be one of its most pleasant sub-genres. The TSA calendar also includes fun dog facts, such as a dog's nose is "powerful enough to detect substances at concentrations of one part per trillion — about the same as a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools." (That one also doubles as a mild threat to any miscreants. Dina will get you!) Read the whole story here. |
Inside out
OK, I was not prepared for how cool this building would be. The Huizhen High School in Ningbo, Zhejiang province in eastern China was named 2023's World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore. Designed by Approach Design Studio and the Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group, the serene campus blurs the distinction between indoors and out with a rooftop park, treehouses and elevated walkways in a "floating forest." Approach Design Studio said that while teaching prioritizes efficiency, a school's campus should inspire free thinking. In its project description, the firm said its design was intended to let students "release stress, adjust their body and mind and discover beauty" outside the classroom. It makes you wonder how much young people could unlock in themselves if every school was this thoughtfully designed. Read the whole story here. |
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Is this gorgeous purple and green light show the Aurora Borealis? No, it's Steve! Yes, it's really called that, because scientists are still trying to figure out what, exactly, a Steve is. The phenomenon looks like an aurora but occurs at more southern latitudes. Scientists don't think a Steve's colors are a result of electrically charged particles that glow when they interact with the atmosphere, like auroras. Instead, a 2018 study suggested the lights are a visual manifestation of something called subauroral ion drift. Either way, the exploration of Steves is a triumph of citizen science — researchers have relied on everyday people's accounts and photos of Steves (or maybe it's just one Steve?) to further their findings. Read the whole story here. |
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We're just a little over a week away from the reveal of CNN's 2023 Hero of the Year! Reconnect with the stories of the final two members of this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes, and be sure to vote for your favorite Heroes here! This week, we're highlighting Alvin Irby and Tescha Hawley. Alvin Irby is a former teacher who is harnessing the community power of the barbershop to promote reading. His nationwide literacy program Barbershop Books not only provides books, it also trains barbers to interact with young people to unlock their reading potential. Read Alvin's story here. Tescha Hawley is a breast cancer survivor and member of the Gros Ventre tribe. She's improved access to medical care for cancer patients on the Fort Belknap Reservation where she grew up. The Day Eagle Hope Project has now expanded to provide even more resources. Read Tescha's story here. Here's that voting link again. Plus, if you want to donate to any of the Top 10 Heroes' causes, your contribution will go twice as far! The Elevate Prize Foundation will match your donation dollar-for-dollar. You can donate here or from CNN.com/Heroes. The CNN Hero of the Year will be revealed live during "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," hosted by Anderson Cooper on Sunday, December 10, starting at 8 p.m. ET. |
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Have you ever wondered why breeding Chinstrap penguins are so well rested? (Personally, it keeps me up at night.) Research reveals that the little birds from Antarctica survive by taking more than 10,000 "micro naps" a day! These infinitesimal interludes can last all of four seconds and scientists think they're an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to guard their young against predators. Read the whole story here. |
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Rec of the week Brought to you by CNN Underscored |
Kristin Chenoweth shares her 8 holiday must-haves We caught up with Kristin Chenoweth to learn about the products she loves to have in her home around the holidays. Shop her favorite holiday pajamas, her go-to festive candle and more. |
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Shameless animal video There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now. |
She's the star of the Oakland Zoo's live giraffe cam — and recently six-week-old Kendi captured hearts when the long-legged baby tried to drink water. (Click here to view) |
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