Reactions to America from World Cup visitors are too funny.
My favorite is the ranch dressing craze.
A Swedish fan compared it to an addictive banned substance. An English fan's mind was blown that you can combo it with pizza. TSA even put out a statement reminding those returning home with bottles of ranch that it is, in fact, a liquid.
Waffle House reactions are a close second.
As always, please forward IQNEWS to a friend if you're a fan!
STORY OF THE WEEK
Work From Home. Alone.
image: self
Work-from-home, up 4X since 2019, is often framed as a wellness upgrade. No commute, no fluorescent lights, no stodgy suit? Lessgo! Not so fast...
Their analysis covering 500K Americans revealed remote workers spend an extra hour alone each day and don't make up for it after hours.
"We see a decrease in spending time with friends after the workday," writes the author.
Most concerning is that remote workers who live alone spend 10X more time alone than those who live with others and report far higher rates of mental distress.
At a macro level, authors estimate the rise of remote work explains one third of the increase in mental distress in the US in recent years.
BUT, experts say the fix isn't as simple as five-days-back-in-office. It's making sure remote work has scheduled human interaction.
Grab a coffee. Hit a crowded gym. Debate your neighbor on lawncare techniques.
IN OTHER NEWS
Wolverine mice, fear of failure, bone myth...
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Wolverine Mode
Texas A&M may have figured out how to regrow limbs. They regrew bone, joint, ligament, and tendons in mice by flipping a dormant developmental switch.
Zoomer Perfection
A 35-year meta-analysis of 82,939 college students showed fear of mistakes climbing 4x faster than personal standards. Gen Z isn't dreaming bigger, they're terrified of failing.
Fracture Fiction
For years, we've been told calcium and vitamin D build bones. A BMJ mega-review of 153,902 adults found supplementing doesn't actually lower fractures. Calcium ≠ stronger bones.
Electric Schnoz
UC Berkeley built a portable electronic nose that out-sniffs humans on spoiled food and allergens. For instance, it can detect 0.05g of walnut (less than 1/100th of a shelled nut).
Today's the summer solstice, meaning the sun's out a looonnnggg time.
Enter: luke-warm sunscreen and aloe vera. Not that satisfying to apply.
But wait...what if you stored these skin condiments in the fridge?!
Cold sunscreen at the beach cools you down before it even starts doing its main job. And cold aloe on a sunburn feels like 4x the relief.
Chilling also slows ingredient breakdown, so your bougie mineral-based lather actually lasts the whole season.
SHOWER THOUGHTS
1. Bean bags are boneless sofas.
2. In order to fall asleep, we have to pretend to be asleep.
3. When my dog brings me a toy, I wonder if it's his favorite toy or if he thinks it's my favorite toy.
4. You will never stand backward on a staircase.
5. Normally you empty your drink from the top but with a straw you empty it from the bottom.
POST OF THE WEEK
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QUOTE / TIL / WORD / TRIVIA
Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Today I learned The Eiffel Tower grows about 6 inches taller in summer. Iron expands when heated, so on hot days the entire 1,063-foot structure stretches upward. By winter it's back to its normal height. (more here)
tsundoku [ tsoon-DOH-koo ] - noun The Japanese practice of acquiring books and letting them pile up unread. My nightstand has become a shrine to tsundoku, three new books last month and not one of them cracked open.
Q: Which of these is the largest desert in the world by area?
