When was the last time you let your mind wander into fantasyland — no podcasts, no music, no social media? The art of daydreaming is easily lost in the digital age, but psychologists say it's important for our overall well-being. "Daydreaming seems to be one route to having that kind of more meaningful, fuller life," social psychology professor Erin Westgate told The Washington Post. Read three reasons why you should consider swapping mindless scrolling for musing.
Must Reads
Why time seems to speed up as we get older — and how we can slow it down
Horses May Smell Human Fear and React Accordingly, Study Finds
Andyworks/iStock
If you were scared the first time you went horseback riding, you were likely told not to show your fear, as it would also spook the horse. Now, there's new research to back this up — and it explains how the animals pick up on the emotion. In a recent study, researchers found that when horses smelled sweat from scared people, they limited their interaction with humans and were more fearful themselves. To figure this out, the team used cotton pads to collect underarm odor swabs while participants watched scary or joyful videos. They found that horses that smelled samples from the fear group startled more easily and were less likely to touch people or approach unfamiliar objects than those that smelled samples from the joy group. "The fearful odors from humans amplify the reactions of horses," lead author Plotine Jardat told CNN. "The significance is that horses can smell how we feel, even if they can't hear or see us." So what's to be done if you're a new or nervous rider? While you can't always control the smells you emit, you can try to "focus on relaxing, so you can ride calmly and without fear," co-author Léa Lansade said. It's also possible that other emotions — like sadness and disgust — rub off on horses as well, which the researchers plan on looking into next. "Even if [horses] don't feel these emotions precisely, they could smell differences from humans who feel these emotions, and it could mean something for them," Jardat said.
Together With Rad Intel
The Adobe-Selected AI Still Open at $0.85
When the bull shows up, investors look for what's next. RAD Intel is one of those under-the-radar private AI entries that doesn't stay quiet forever. This AI marketing startup just locked in new seven-figure enterprise contracts, and the F1000 pipeline keeps building. Valuation increased more than 5,000% in five years* and sales contracts doubled from 2024 to 2025.* It's backed by multiple Fidelity funds and has raised over $60 million from more than 14,000 investors. The Nasdaq ticker is reserved as $RADI. Shares are open at $0.85/sharefor now through an SEC-qualified Reg A+ offering. If you've been waiting for a private AI entry with real traction behind it, this is a clean window.
This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company's Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker "RADI" has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.
Sports
Venus Williams Is Returning to the Australian Open — And Making Tournament History
Steve Bell/Getty Images
Five years on from her last showing at the Australian Open, Venus Williams is returning to the tournament via a wild-card entry. Tomorrow, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion will compete at Melbourne Park nearly 30 years after her first appearance at the Open. At 45 years old, the athlete will be the oldest woman to ever compete in the tournament's main draw. Last summer, she made a comeback to tennis after taking 16 months off to recover from health issues that required surgery. "I'm still the same player; I'm a big hitter," she said at an August press conference. "There are no limits for excellence, it's all about what's in your head and how much you are able to put into it." The Australian Open, which runs through Feb. 1, won't be a walk in the park for Williams — Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and defending champion Madison Keys are all garnering buzz in women's singles. On the men's singles side, Jannik Sinner will be looking to defend his 2025 title, up against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev. Learn more about the 2026 Open, including how to watch.
Health
Let Them Snooze: Sleeping In on Weekends May Boost Teens' Mental Health
Tetiana Soares/iStock
Instead of opening your teenager's blinds as soon as the sun comes up Saturday morning, you might want to let them keep snoozing. A new study suggests that sleeping in on the weekend to catch up on sleep lost during the week can boost young people's mental well-being. Researchers from the University of Oregon and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University looked at data involving over 1,000 people ages 16-24. They found that those who caught some extra z's on Saturday and Sunday were 41% less likely to experience depressive symptoms than those who didn't. Teens and young adults commonly face sleep challenges and are at a heightened risk for depression — this study offers one of the first glimpses at the connection between that risk and weekend catch-up sleep. It's typical for teens to rack up a sleep deficit during the week because of the many demands on their time and attention, including school, social life, extracurricular activities, and after-school jobs. "Sleep researchers and clinicians have long recommended that adolescents get eight to 10 hours of sleep at a regular time every day of the week, but that's just not practical for a lot of adolescents, or people generally," co-author Melynda Casement said in a press release.
In Other News
The "strong connection" between dental and heart health is spotlighted in a new scientific statement (read more)
An Ice Age wolf pup's last meal sheds light on how the woolly rhinoceros likely went extinct (read more)
Getting those laps in: A kangaroo took an early morning dip in an Australian theme park's lazy river (read more)
A world-first ice core sanctuary will preserve samples from Earth's melting glaciers for future study(read more)
New direct flight options are coming to the Baltimore-Washington airport, including routes to the Caribbean (read more)
Inspiring Story
Crowdfunding kindness
Thousands of South Bend, Indiana, residents poked fun at Mo Riles' severely damaged, but technically still driveable, pickup truck on social media for months, sharing sightings of it as Riles drove around town. But when local auto shop owner Colin Crowel took the time to learn more, he discovered it was Riles' only means of transportation — and created a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $25,000 for a brand-new replacement truck. "This whole thing is not about me," Riles said upon receiving the new vehicle. "It's about this community bonding together."
Photo of the Day
Royal Air Force
Sasha Nash just made history by becoming the Red Arrows' first woman leader. Now the aerobatic display team's most senior officer, Nash commands 150 Royal Air Force and civilian personnel, and hopes to "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds." Watch the Red Arrows soar.
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