Why more kids and adults aren't able to eat their favorite foods, how to improve relationships through self-awareness, and more.

Lex Ashcroft's reads

More kids and adults are finding out they can't eat their favorite foods. Why? Food allergies have become increasingly more common in the last few decades, with some experts even describing them as an epidemic. While children often can and do outgrow certain allergies, adult-onset allergies are on the rise. Writing for Vox, Umair Irfan details both the well-known and more recent discoveries of the drivers behind food allergies, current theories that may explain the rise, and how doctors and scientists are working to treat allergy sufferers.

Improving relationships through self-awareness. As an aspect of emotional intelligence, self-awareness is made up of two components: being able to accurately assess yourself and being aware of how you affect others. In a world that is full of more technology and distraction than ever, self-awareness seems to be fading. Writing for the Washington Post, Katherine Kam shares tips offered by experts to build self-awareness (and better relationships of all kinds), including taking time to thoughtfully slow down and reflect, increasing social interactions with both strangers and friends, and exploring therapy.

Allie Rudin's reads

How (and why) to stop saying 'sorry' so much. Do you catch yourself apologizing out of reflex? You're not alone if you find yourself saying "sorry" for something that you didn't even do, but it may be time to take note of your own language. Writing for the Wall Street Journal's "Work & Life," Rachel Feintzeig consults with experts to learn about the effects of excessive apologizing and what steps to take if you want to trim it down from your speech.

Why is this octopus throwing things? Octopuses can now join the small, exclusive list of social animals that throw things at members of their own species. In a new study observing octopus dens belonging to the gloomy octopus species, the cephalopods could be seen projecting silt at each other—a rare interaction in non-human animals. Darren Incorvaia explains for the New York Times' "Trilobites" how the researchers identified this behavior and what it means about gloomy octopus group behavior.