At NPSC we know that one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy is to learn new things. Unfortunately, with all of the information available to us, it can feel almost impossible to find the time to sift through the web to find the gems.

So, we’ve decided to do it for you! Every Friday, you can find five new articles or videos from the week that will stretch your mind, fuel your spirit, and feed your brain.

“HOW EXERCISE MAY HELP US FLOURISH” by Gretchen Reynolds, nytimes.com

“Physical activity can promote a sense of purpose in life, creating a virtuous cycle that keeps you moving.”

“DO ANIMALS LAUGH?” by Mindy Weisberger, livescience.com

“Animal vocalizations made during play are a close analogue to human laughter.”

“OUR DANGEROUS OBSESSION WITH PERFECTIONISM IS GETTING WORSE” by Thomas Curran, ted.com

“Social psychologist Thomas Curran explores how the pressure to be perfect—in our social media feeds, in school, at work—is driving a rise in mental illness, especially among young people.”

“MUMMIFIED SHREW DISCOVERY UNEARTHS ANCIENT EGYPT’S WETTER CLIMATE” by Abigail Eisenstadt, smithsonianmag.com

“Recently, Woodman and his colleagues discovered a mummified shrew belonging to a species that prefers a damper climate than the one Egypt has today at the Queens site.”

“WHY DID ANTARCTIC EXPLORER ERNEST SHACKLETON KEEP ‘CONKING OUT’?” by Gemma Tarlach, atlasobscura.com

“A vitamin deficiency may have changed the course of a continent’s history.”

At NPSC we know that one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy is to learn new things. Unfortunately, with all of the information available to us, it can feel almost impossible to find the time to sift through the web to find the gems.

So, we’ve decided to do it for you! Every Friday, you can find five new articles or videos from the week that will stretch your mind, fuel your spirit, and feed your brain.

“THE FASCINATING HISTORY BEHIND THE POPULAR ‘WAVING LUCKY CAT'” by Rebecca Saunders, nationalgeographic.com

“With an inviting raised paw and pointy red ears, these iconic lucky charms have been bringing good fortune for centuries.”

“WHY DO OLDER INDIVIDUALS HAVE GREATER CONTROL OF THEIR FEELINGS?” by Tim Vernimmen, smithsonianmag.com

“Psychologist Susan Turk Charles talks about findings that reveal the elderly have higher emotional well-being.”

“MAN WHO IS PARALYZED COMMUNICATES BY IMAGINING HANDWRITING” by John Hamilton, npr.org

“An experimental device that turns thoughts into text has allowed a man who was left paralyzed by an accident to construct sentences swiftly on a computer screen.”

“THE OTHER SIDE OF LANGUISHING IS FLOURISHING. HERE’S HOW TO GET THERE.” by Dani Blum, nytimes.com

“Research shows that the pandemic took a toll on our overall well-being and left many of us drained. Here are seven simple steps to get you thriving again.”

“NOW YOU CAN RECAPTURE THE JOY OF READING RAINBOW WITH LEVAR BURTON’S NEW BOOK CLUB” by Walker Caplan, lithub.com

“Generations of readers who fondly recall Reading Rainbow are in luck: LeVar Burton can be your reading guide once again.”

At NPSC we know that one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy is to learn new things. Unfortunately, with all of the information available to us, it can feel almost impossible to find the time to sift through the web to find the gems.

So, we’ve decided to do it for you! Every Friday, you can find five new articles or videos from the week that will stretch your mind, fuel your spirit, and feed your brain.

“BELGIAN FARMER MOVES BORDER WITH FRANCE BY MISTAKE” by Arnaud Siad and Maureen O’Hare, cnn.com

“Luckily, local authorities saw the funny side.”

“WHAT CAUSED THE ROARING TWENTIES? NOT THE END OF A PANDEMIC (PROBABLY)” by Lila Thulin, smithsonianmag.com

“As the U.S. anticipates a vaccinated summer, historians say measuring the impact of the 1918 influenza on the uproarious decade that followed is tricky.”

“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND SUCCEEDING” by John Wooden, ted.com

“With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves.”

“CICADAS HAVE AN EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM” by Ed Yong, theatlantic.com

“The bacteria that live inside the insects can’t keep themselves together.”

“NPR’S BOOK CONCIERGE” by npr.org

“Find eight years of recommendations all in one place: Here are nearly 2,500 titles, hand-picked by NPR staff and trusted critics—with handy filters to help you find the perfect book!”