8/10/26 - Super Flush, Go To The Woods, and S'Mores

Monday 8/10/26

Celebrate:

International Vlogging Day

National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

National Lazy Day

National S'mores Day

National Shapewear Day

National Spoil Your Dog Day

Smithsonian Day

Victory Day or VJ Day

World Lion Day

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Weekend Box Office

1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day  $145.0M the third-best domestic second weekend ever.

2. The Odyssey $31.5M

3. One Night Only $5.7M

4. Super Troopers 3 $4.0M

5. Toy Story 5 $3.9M

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'Tis the season to test toilets at NFL and major college football stadiums, where operators are gearing up to handle the ultimate halftime rush. While annual pre-season prep typically involves facility crews inspecting water pressure, sensors, and valves zone-by-zone, the real spectacle happens before a venue opens for the very first time. New arenas host a synchronized “Super Flush,” recruiting hundreds of volunteers to flush thousands of toilets simultaneously to stress-test the building’s main plumbing lines.

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For those who hate doing laundry, American clothing company HercLeon has released the "HercShirt V5.0". The creators allege that the specialized fabric can be worn daily for up to 30 days without absorbing odors or requiring a wash.

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A new study examining human relaxation found that simply listening to birdsong in a natural forest setting lowers stress levels more effectively than any other environment tested. Researchers noted that while being in nature and hearing birds both help independently, combining the two creates the ultimate biological stress-reliever.

I think adding flowing water adds to the relaxing!

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From the "I've seen movies!!!" file.

For the first time, scientists have used artificial intelligence to generate completely new viruses — ones that don't exist in nature . Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute trained an AI model called Evo on millions of genetic sequences until it learned the "grammar" of DNA. They then prompted it to design new genomes for a harmless virus called Phi X-174, which only infects bacteria. Sixteen of those designs were viable, meaning the AI actually created functional, never-before-seen viruses . While these specific viruses aren't dangerous to humans, the breakthrough raises serious concerns about biosecurity and the potential for future misuse. As one expert put it: "There's just a huge disconnect" between the speed of AI science and the development of safety guardrails

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Here's a wellness win that's actually achievable. A new study published in the journal Aging found that men who consumed 100 grams of plain yogurt daily, combined with dietary counseling and 30 minutes of walking or stepper exercise three times a week, showed a 2.2% reduction in their biological aging rate over 12 weeks . The benefits were independent of weight loss, meaning it's about more than just shedding pounds. The researchers noted that the slowed aging rate appears to be the result of a combined effect — probiotics, diet, and exercise working together . While the study was small and limited to Japanese men aged 50-74, it's a promising sign that small lifestyle changes can make a real difference.

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Today is National S'mores day. You know graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.

We can thank the Girl Scouts for them! 

First published in a 1927 Girl Scouts manual under the name "Some Mores."

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