News Above the Noise—Week of December 3, 2023
1. Suicide Hits Historic High Among Older Adults
Nearly 50,000 people died by suicide across the U.S. in 2022—the highest tally ever recorded—and rising rates of suicide among older adults drove this number. “People don’t realize that depression is not a normal part of aging,” Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention told LA Times. Click here to read this story.
2. Your Friends Don’t All Have to Be the Same Age
New research shows most Americans don’t have a lot of age diversity in their friendships: For those ages 21 to 30, more than 80 percent of the people in their social circles were born within five years of them. Previous research looking at a broader age range had a similar finding, with 63 percent of adults reporting no close friends who are 15 years older or younger than them. What are the benefits of making more friends of different generations? You can read the answer to that question and more here.
3. Is Yogurt the Key to Fighting Microplastics In Our Gut?
If you’re like most, you’re likely worried about microplastics—a.k.a. forever chemicals that our bodies are exposed to and which take up residence in our bodies. Well, new research suggests probiotics (the bacteria found in fermented foods that promotes optimal gut health) may help us fight some of the effects of these chemicals. To read more about this research and what it might mean for you, click here.
4. How to Become an Air Marshal
The U.S. Air Marshal Service was created in response to a number of plane hijackings in the 1960s and 1970s. These days there are thousands of air marshals traveling with us on planes, trains, and ferries, and working to help monitor unusual activity at airports, train and bus stations—all undercover. Ever wonder what exactly an air marshal is trained to do or how to become one? Click here.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sift through the news to find what Rises Above the Noise, makes sense of what's happening in the world, and provides hope for your week to come. While we do our best to provide our own informative summary of each piece, some publications require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
