Human news has gotten too heavy lately. Thus, here are three random animal stories...

1. The first ever wolf-dog hybrid was spotted in India. It's magnificent looking.

2. "Super Chickens" are taking over Hawaii and they're largely un-catchable.

3. Animals keep evolving into crabs; evolution decided the crab body is ideal.

Ok, on to human news.

As always, please forward IQNEWS to a friend if you're a fan!

In February, new research generated widespread concern over the zero-sugar sweetener erythritol. This week, the equally popular sweetener sucralose is in the hot seat.

(Note: you won't find either sweetener on any of our labels).

Sucralose is everywhere. Name a major zero-sugar product - Quest bars, Monster energy drinks, Trident gum, etc. - and it's likely an ingredient. So what actually is sucralose?

It's an artificial (not found in nature) sweetener that's roughly 500X sweeter than sugar. It adds a remarkably sugar-like taste to any food/beverage product without adding calories, causing cavities, or spiking blood sugar when consumed - hence why it's popular!

So what's the problem? Well, just this week new research dropped that found a chemical formed when we digest sucralose (sucralose-6-acetate), is "genotoxic," meaning it breaks up DNA. That chemical is also found in trace amounts in the sweetener itself.

"We found that gut cells exposed to sucralose-6-acetate had increased activity in genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and carcinogenicity," the author said. The study also references prior research that found sucralose may contribute to a "leaky gut" (holes in the gut wall).

"This work raises a host of concerns about the potential health effects associated with sucralose and its metabolites. It’s time to revisit the safety and regulatory status of sucralose, because the evidence is mounting that it carries significant risks."

Candidly, I do consume a few products with sucralose (to avoid sugar-laden options). That said, I'll likely now be cutting those out of my diet. All-natural sweeteners like stevia plant extract and monk fruit are always the best move (why IQBAR is all in on all-natural!).

You know when you're on a flight, the wifi is down, you can't sleep, and there's nothing to occupy your attention? It's...devastating.

Well, there is something you can do that's surprisingly satisfying and incredibly time-consuming: delete photos and apps on your phone.

We all have hundreds (perhaps even *ghasps* thousands) of entirely unnecessary, non-keepsake photos on our devices. We also all have random apps we never use - looking at you, resort map app from a vacation I went on three years ago.

Conducting some much needed spring cleaning here generates the same stress-reduction benefits that, say, folding your laundry does.

Don't forget to call us when you land...

1. Earth has almost 8 billion people and most of us struggle to find 10 good friends.
2. We are still monkeys that live in trees. We just cut down those trees and reshape them into boxes.
3. For how commonly red and blue are used to represent hot and cold, you never see purple to represent the middle.
4. Red eyes in pictures quietly vanished from our lives.
5. The Netherlands, The Netherworld, and the Nether Regions have nothing to do with each other.

Maya Angelou: "I can be changed by what happens to me but I won't be reduced by it."

Today I learned that a Dominican man survived nearly a month at sea with nothing but ketchup and seasoning. (more here)

flavedo [ fluh-vee-doh ] - noun
the colored outer-peel layer of citrus fruits
The flavedo and white pith (albedo) of a citrus fruit together makes up its peel.

Q: Who named the Pacific Ocean?
A: (see below next section)