News Above the Noise—Week of July 02, 2023
1. Unprecedented Heat Hits the South
Last week, several Texas cities set or tied all-time record-high temperatures. The soaring heat index is thanks to a sprawling “heat dome” that has parked itself over portions of Texas and Mexico. Wondering what, exactly, a heat dome is and what it might mean for all of us? Click here.
2. Think We’re Losing Our Morals? Turns Out That’s a Common Illusion
A new study found that fears about humanity plunging toward new moral lows is a powerful—and persistent—illusion. “This intense feeling we get that all this nastiness that we see today is new—that is an illusion,” Adam Mastroianni, the lead author on the paper, told The Washington Post. However, this illusion does have an impact. For more on what that is, click here.
3. First Malaria Cases Reported in U.S. in 20 Years
It’s been two decades since malaria has spread from mosquitoes to humans inside the U.S., but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that the streak is over. Four cases of malaria have been reported in Florida within the last two months, and one case was also found in Texas. The good news? All patients were improving after receiving treatment. For more on this developing story, click here.
4. A Power Nap a Day May Keep Brain Aging at Bay
A new study that looked at data from nearly 400,000 people found that habitual daytime napping could help preserve brain health and slow down the brain shrinkage that comes with aging. The researchers found that people genetically predisposed to nap had, on average, a larger total brain volume—equivalent to a brain 2.6 to 6.5 years younger. To read more about this research, click here.
5. Why Airline Delays and Cancellations Are So Bad
Hundreds of thousands of travelers were stranded this week as severe weather grounded plans and airlines canceled flights. However, weather wasn’t the only factor playing into the gnarly situation at airports around the country: Staffing shortages at both airline companies and air traffic control operations didn’t help the matter. For a closer look at why these staffing shortages exist and what the Federal Aviation Administration is doing about it, 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.
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