Vivian Le's reads

Why it's okay to ignore food expiration dates. The expiration dates on food can be confusing to understand since there are many different terms, including "sell by" or even "enjoy by." Because of all the different labels, people often misinterpret what the dates mean and end up throwing away perfectly good food. Writing for the Washington Post, Dino Grandoni explains what the dates on food labels really mean and how to tell when it's fine to eat some older food and when to toss it.

How grief became a part of stand-up comedy. For those who follow the stand-up scene, it may seem like comedy has now become one of the stages of grief, as many comedians speak on illnesses, deaths, and other tragedies in their sets. Writing for the New York Times, Jason Zinoman explains why "grief, precisely because it's usually handled with solemnity, jargon and unsaid thoughts, is ripe territory for stand-up."

Alyssa Nystrom's reads

How birds can help improve your mental health. Increased contact with nature is associated with improved body and brain health — but recent research suggests that people with limited contact with nature still "link the songs of birds to vital and intact natural environments." Writing for the Washington Post, Richard Sima explains how mental health can be improved by simply listening to birdsong, both in person and recorded.

Does 'lettuce water' actually help you sleep? A new TikTok trend claims that lettuce-infused water "can help you fall asleep faster — and stay asleep longer." While some evidence supports this claim, experts have noted that it "doesn't really support the hypothesis of the lettuce water doing anything." Writing for the New York Times, Dani Blum discusses why so many people think "lettuce water" is an effective sleep aid — and whether it provides any benefit.