Some chefs have switched from plastic cutting boards to wooden alternatives. One study of plastic cutting boards found that they shed as many as dozens of grams of microplastics per person per year. MyImages_Micha/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption toggle caption MyImages_Micha/Getty Images/iStockphoto It’s a plastic world out there. About 460 million metric tons of the material are made each year, according to the United Nations, and some scientists are growing increasingly worried that microplastics that find their way into our bodies could be harming our health. One way they get in? Food. And not only through food itself — though they…

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, intense, and costly. In 2024 alone, global natural disasters resulted in an estimated $368 billion in economic losses, with 60% of these losses uninsured, highlighting a substantial protection gap (Insurance Business). Looking ahead, a 2024 World Economic Forum report predicts that by 2050, climate-intensified natural disasters could lead to $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide (World Economic Forum). At the same time, corporate exposure to climate risks is expected to triple by mid-century, with over $1.14 trillion in market value at risk for companies listed on major global exchanges (Axios). However, there is…

President Trump, joined by National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., talks about an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images President Trump is taking aim at U.S. drug prices with an executive order geared toward forcing drug companies to match the lower prices paid in other developed countries. If drugmakers don’t do it voluntarily, the administration is threatening to directly tie drug prices paid by government programs like Medicare to those paid in other countries. “Whoever…

Some people are better able to weather life’s storms than others. While factors like genetics, upbringing and coping skills play a role in stress resilience, scientists are uncovering an unexpected player in this complex equation: the trillions of microorganisms residing in your gut. In fact, research suggests the composition of your gut microbiome, the vast community of bacteria, fungi and other microbes inhabiting your digestive tract, may influence how you respond to stress. This emerging field of study is revealing intricate connections between your gut microbes and your mental state, offering new insights into stress management and mental health. The…

MCP for DevOps, NetOps, and SecOps: Real-World Use Cases and FutureInsights In the previous post on MCP for DevOps: Architecture and Components, we discussed what MCP is and is not. We dove into a few architectural components and gently touched on use cases. Now, let’s explore a few possible use cases for MCP in DevOps/NetOps/SecOps. I have cherry-picked a few customer and partner use cases I’ve personally worked with and found appropriate for our discussion. My list will not be exhaustive, but it should give you a solid view of practical uses for MCP. Let your mind ponder the possibilities in…

When we eat carbohydrates like white rice and pasta, we digest them rapidly, causing surges in blood sugar. But there is a way to slow digestion down. Jacobo Zanella/Moment Open/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jacobo Zanella/Moment Open/Getty Images Naughty or nice? That’s often how I think about foods packed with carbohydrates. Whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat, fall squarely into the nice category, while white pasta and rice, well, they’re more naughty. “They’re naughty, in a sense, because we digest them rapidly and that creates a fast rise in blood sugar,” says nutritionist Mindy Patterson, at Texas…

Not getting enough sleep doesn’t just make you tired — it alters your mood, appearance and daily function in ways you might not even connect to lack of rest. Subtle signs like food cravings, low motivation and emotional swings are often your body’s way of telling you your sleep routine is broken. And even when you think you’re getting enough hours of sleep, irregular bedtimes and poor sleep habits may be throwing off your body clock. Chronic sleep disruption shows up in your face, your focus and even your ability to make decisions. Research from Sweden confirms that others can…

1 What’s fueling the rise in chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease? Shifts in diet and inactivity Poor diet choices, like processed foods high in sugars and unhealthy fats, combined with sedentary habits, disrupt your body’s metabolic processes. This fuels conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Learn more. Reduced physical activity Reduced exposure to sunlight Limited access to whole foods 2 If you prefer a natural alternative to aspirin, what can you use? Ginger root, which mimics aspirin’s effects Willow bark, which converts into aspirin’s active ingredient Willow bark contains a compound that your body transforms into the…

Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to reporters following a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 6. Republicans are facing internal divisions over Medicaid as they work to enact President Trump’s domestic policy agenda. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Republican divisions over changes to Medicaid — the federal health care program for poor, elderly and disabled Americans — are becoming the chief hurdle to getting President Trump’s major tax, immigration and energy agenda through Congress. GOP lawmakers who represent swing districts insist they will not vote for any…

After a physical illness, emotional aftershocks are more common than most people realize. Mood swings, irritability and even social withdrawal often surface without warning — and they don’t always go away when the fever breaks or the rash fades. These shifts are frequently dismissed as psychological or stress-related, but there’s more going on under the surface. Emerging science is redefining how we understand these post-illness changes. Rather than being side effects of recovery, they appear to be part of a complex feedback loop between your immune system and your brain. It’s not just about fighting infection. Your body is sending…