Vivian Le's reads

What bears can tell us about human health. Every winter, bears go into hibernation for several months, but this process is more than just a prolonged sleep. In fact, "[h]ibernation is so complex it requires adaptation at multiple levels," according to Elena Gracheva, a neurophysiologist at Yale University. Writing for Knowable Magazine, Chris Woolston explains how scientists are examining the intricate processes involved in bear hibernation, including turning off genes involved in bone breakdown, in the hopes they could help treat a wide variety of human conditions, such as stroke, Alzheimer's, and osteoporosis. 

How regret can improve our well-being. For many people, regret and worry may seem like "wasted" emotions—but examining our regrets and worries may actually make us more productive and help our well-being. Writing for Vox, Sean Illing talks to writer Daniel Pink about his new book, "The Power of Regret," about how people can use regrets to learn from their mistakes and make positive changes going forward.

Alyssa Nystrom's reads

The health benefits of saying no. After two years of pandemic life—with a limited number of invites to decline—most people have become "rustier than usual" at saying no. Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth Bernstein offers suggestions on how to avoid conflict when declining an invitation and explains the health benefits associated with saying no.

How smartphone use impacts the body. Health care providers have seen an uptick in patients suffering from pain and joint issues in their hands, necks, shoulders, and upper backs—an increase many believe stems from the "undue forces" smartphones place on our joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments "that just aren't used to being held in that position for so long." Writing for the New York Times, Melinda Wenner Moyer details some of the negative impacts smartphone use can have on the body.