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Today:
We Were Wrong About Restrictive Diets, Decades of Research Says
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Research estimates that as few as 20 percent of people who lose weight through dieting manage to keep the weight off long-term. Although the review's authors conclude that this response can be unlearned, it explains why even short-term restrictive diets tend not to work. Nutritionists also agree that short-term restrictive diets aren't great for long-term weight loss success. Since rapid weight loss diets create a large energy deficit and may contain lower amounts of protein, this increases the risk of losing muscle mass. Following evidence-based advice from the fields of psychology and nutrition can help you avoid the restrictive diet trap this January and achieve more sustainable, longer-term lifestyle changes.

Top Stories:
Gigantic Wave in The Pacific Was The Most Extreme 'Rogue Wave' on Record
NEWS | 21 January 2026
A few years later, the four-story wall of water was confirmed to be the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. Scientists define a rogue wave as any wave more than twice the height of the waves surrounding it. "Proportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded," explained physicist Johannes Gemmrich from the University of Victoria in 2022. "The potential of predicting rogue waves remains an open question, but our data is helping to better understand when, where, and how rogue waves form, and the risks that they pose." Unfortunately, a 2020 study predicted that wave heights in the North Pacific will increase with climate change, suggesting the Ucluelet wave may not hold its record for as long as our current predictions suggest.

World:
Cold Weather Doesn't Make You Sick. Here's What's Really to Blame.
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Many people across cultures grow up hearing that cold weather makes you sick. However, modern research shows that the connection between cold weather and illness is more nuanced than the idea that cold directly causes disease. Cold weather encourages people to spend more time indoors, often in close contact with others. Taken together, the evidence paints a clear picture of what cold weather does and does not do. In short, cold weather and illness are linked, but not in the way many people assume.

Current Events:
The Secret to Amazing Coffee May Lie Deep Inside Elephants
NEWS | 21 January 2026
"These findings raised the question of whether the gut microbiome of elephants similarly influences the flavor of Black Ivory coffee." Sanctuary workers later collect the digested coffee beans from the elephants' poop, then clean and roast them for human consumption. The only difference in their diets was a snack fed to the coffee elephants consisting of bananas, coffee cherries, and rice bran. A 2018 study found that Black Ivory coffee has much less of a compound called 2-furfuryl furan than regular coffee beans. "Our findings may highlight a potential molecular mechanism by which the gut microbiota of Black Ivory coffee elephants contributes to the flavor of Black Ivory coffee," Yamada says.

News Flash:
Something About Brazil's Oldest People May Reveal Missing Clues on Longevity
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Scientists are understandably fascinated by these notable survivors, who may hold valuable secrets about longevity. Research has yielded lots of clues, including links to genes as well as to behavior and environment, but clear answers remain elusive. With little representation from such diverse populations, there's a gap in our knowledge that could hinder efforts to find mechanisms behind longevity. The team continues to examine their data, both for contrast with less diverse populations and in hopes of discovering protective adaptations unique to Brazil. To truly understand human longevity, and to ensure our insights help everyone, more research should focus on diverse populations like Brazil's, says co-author Mayana Zatz, a professor of genetics at the University of São Paulo.

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SPONSORED | 21 January 2026
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Latest:
Aurora Watch in Effect as Severe Solar Storm Slams Into Earth
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Earth is currently under bombardment from one of the most powerful geomagnetic storm categories the Sun can unleash. frameborder="0″ allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>A geomagnetic storm is the result of activity on the Sun. When a CME is reinforced by fast-moving solar wind, the result can be a particularly sassy storm. The one from this solar event reached S4, the strongest radiation storm seen since 2003, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress - this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years.

Breaking:
Cutting Gluten Can Lead to Weight Loss, But Not For The Reason You'd Think
NEWS | 21 January 2026
When Matt Damon recently credited his weight loss to going gluten-free, it reignited a familiar debate about this divisive dietary approach. But while The Odyssey star's claims have sparked discussion, the science behind weight loss tells a far more nuanced story than simply cutting out a single protein. Related: Researchers Finally Identified Where Gluten Reactions BeginThen there's gluten intolerance, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, a condition associated with symptoms like bloating and reflux. Despite growing numbers of people reporting such symptoms, gluten intolerance remains hotly debated in terms of its causes and management. Mechanics, not magicThe weight loss many people experience on gluten-free diets often comes down to mechanics rather than magic.

Trending:
One Change to Your Reading Habit Fights Stress And Misinformation
NEWS | 21 January 2026
With their endless scrolling and easy reposting and sharing of content, social media platforms are designed to encourage passive engagement that people use to relieve boredom and escape stress. Based on our work, we believe that deep reading can be an effective way to counter misinformation as well as reduce stress and loneliness. Deep reading does require effort. The important question, then: Why would anyone choose the hard work of deep reading when they can just scroll and skim? Practicing deep reading, such as reading novels, can open you up to new perspectives and ideas that you can explore in conversation with others, in person or even on TikTok.

This Just In:
A Single Molecule May Explain How Blood Flow in The Brain Triggers Dementia
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Fixing the imbalance restored more normal blood flow, offering a hopeful new target for understanding and treating dementia-related brain changes. When this sensor is overactivated, it can disrupt the brain's blood flow. Vascular dementia, in which impaired blood flow to the brain is a key contributor, is one of the most common forms of dementia, affecting millions worldwide. As blood flow controls the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, the implications extend beyond dementia. Even with vascular dementia, it's not clear what all of the contributing factors to blood flow might be.

Today:
A Common Pain Relief Drug Could Have Anti-Cancer Properties
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Ibuprofen's broader potentialIbuprofen's possible cancer-protective effects extend beyond endometrial cancer. It can also alter how DNA is packaged within cells, potentially making cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. A study involving 7,751 patients found that taking aspirin after an endometrial cancer diagnosis was linked to higher mortality, particularly among those who had used aspirin before diagnosis. Despite the promise, experts warn against self-medicating with ibuprofen for cancer prevention. If future studies confirm these findings, ibuprofen might one day form part of a broader strategy for reducing cancer risk, especially in high-risk groups.

Top Stories:
Polar Storms on Jupiter And Saturn Reveal Deep Atmospheric Differences
NEWS | 21 January 2026
The two largest planets in the Solar System – Jupiter and Saturn – have a lot in common. Related: We Might Finally Know How Jupiter's Weird Polar Storms Stay TogetherNow, a pair of planetary scientists thinks that they may have solved the mystery. "I don't think anyone's made this connection between the surface fluid pattern and the interior properties of these planets. These groundbreaking probes revealed that, for all their similarities, the two planets have their own idiosyncratic polar storm configurations. "People have spent a lot of time deciphering the differences between Jupiter and Saturn," says atmospheric scientist Jiaru Shi of MIT.

World:
Positive Thinking May Help You Get More Out of Your Vaccines
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Could the power of positive thinking be enough to boost your immune system? Related: Psychologists Tap Into a Specific Mindset to Stay Positive, Study Finds"These findings suggest that consciously generated positive expectations can engage reward circuitry to influence immune function, a process that may be leveraged for non-invasive immune modulation," write the researchers in their published paper. One group used a neurofeedback system that guided them through mental exercises designed to increase activity in the brain's mesolimbic pathway, known as the reward pathway. Functional MRI (fMRI) neurofeedback allows a person to observe their own brain activity, enabling them to learn and practice mental strategies that activate the target regions. While we've seen similar results in animals, this study provides some direct evidence that consciously driven positive thinking can influence immune function in humans, though there is still much to explore.

Current Events:
Intense 'Darkwaves' Can Cast Ocean in Shadow For Months, Scientists Discover
NEWS | 21 January 2026
Now, scientists have developed a framework for understanding a concept they call 'marine darkwaves' – temporary, but potentially disastrous events that can severely impact light-dependent marine life. "Marine darkwaves allow us to identify when and where these events occur, shedding new light on a critical but often overlooked phenomenon." These intense periods of darkening – the marine darkwaves – can be just as damaging as the slower long-term dimming, the researchers say. Between 2002 and 2023, between 25 and 80 marine darkwaves were detected off East Cape, typically lasting between 5 and 15 days on average. "Marine darkwaves help us understand when these systems are under acute stress.

News Flash:
Exercise 'Snacks' Throughout Your Day Have Real Health Benefits, Study Finds
NEWS | 21 January 2026
"Exercise snacks" are brief bursts of vigorous exercise, typically lasting one minute or less, scattered throughout your day. Exercise snacks are more like grazing throughout the day rather than sitting down for a full meal. Exercise snacks tackle both barriers head-on. The best exercise snacksThe beauty of exercise snacks is their flexibility. Consistency matters more than perfection when it comes to exercise snacks.