How to make photosynthesis more efficient, why WHO skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet when they named omicron, and more.

Vivian Le's reads

How to make photosynthesis more efficient. Photosynthesis has helped plants produced energy for millennia now, but the process is both slow and inefficient, resulting in only around 1% of sunlight successfully converted into energy. Writing for the New Yorker, Elizbeth Kolbert explains how researchers have been working to improve photosynthesis to help plants grow better and produce more crops—which could potentially help address a global food crisis.

The isolation of American work culture. Long, and for some, unpredictable, work hours give people little time for themselves, much less their community. This lack of open time means people are less likely to build bonds with others, volunteer their time for causes, and, overall, look beyond their own lives. Writing for Vox's "The Goods," Anna North describes how America's relentless work culture encourages isolation and limits positive communal behavior.

Alyssa Nystrom's reads

Is gluten free bread better for you? It depends. While gluten can cause serious health problems that require some people to avoid it, gluten-free bread often contains more sugar, fat and salt—and can even spoil or become stale more quickly. Writing for the New York Times, Alice Callahan explains why going gluten free may not be the healthiest choice for everyone.

Here's why WHO skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet when they named omicron. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named each new Covid-19 variant using letters of the Greek alphabet in their consecutive order. Writing for CNN, Faith Karimi explains why WHO skipped Nu and Xi when they were naming the latest variant.