Most grandparents will tell you that life changes for the better when their children have their own babies. There’s something about the bond between a grandparent and a grandchild that cannot be replicated. Perhaps it’s the wisdom that comes with age, knowing that childhood truly is fleeting and grandparents take the time to savor every moment. It’s also a beautiful time to reflect on their own children’s youth and how much they’ve grown and matured. Terri Irwin recently shared a throwback photo of her daughter, Bindi Irwin, and a more recent photo of Bindi’s little girl, Grace. It was a proud moment for Terri to see history repeat itself. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Terri Irwin (@terriirwincrikey) Terri Irwin Loves Seeing Grace Enjoying the Same Things Bindi Did Terri Irwin shared the photos of Bindi Irwin on a tractor as a little girl and then a photo of Grace on a John Deere. Though the photos were taken decades apart, the joy is the same. Both Bindi and Grace smiled for the camera, enjoying that innocent childhood moment. For Terri, it was a sweet reminder of days gone by. “I love this so much! First Bindi when she was little, and now Grace. Why does every kid love to pretend they’re driving a tractor?” Terri Irwin wrote on Instagram. “The world needs a few more female farmers! Go get ‘em girls!” A follower wrote. “Because it’s the coolest thing ever,” another person shared. Lots of fans shared their love of tractos with Terri Irwin. “So darn cute! If Grace learns how to drive a tractor now -as I did when I was just a young girl – she will be able to drive anything in the future! She is such a little legend ! Xx,” someone shared. “Even us big kids(47) like to pretend we are driving tractors,” another person agreed. Terri Irwin is soaking up all the fun that grandmotherhood gives her. As she should. What a proud mom moment! This story’s featured image is by David Livingston/Getty Images

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Life expectancy in the United States climbed to a historic high in 2024, reaching 79 years—its highest level ever recorded. The gains reflect a hopeful turnaround after years of decline driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising drug overdose deaths. Early data suggests that 2025 may bring even more improvement. “It’s pretty much good news all the way around,” said Robert Anderson of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which released the updated figures last month. The milestone not only marks a recovery from the pandemic-era dip in mortality but also highlights progress in tackling some of the country’s leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and opioid overdoses. What does life expectancy really mean? Life expectancy is more than a number. It’s a core indicator of a nation’s overall health. The figure represents the average number of years a baby born in a specific year is expected to live, assuming current death rates stay the same. For decades, life expectancy in the US trended steadily upward, aided by medical advances, improved access to care, and public health efforts. It peaked just under 79 years in 2014, then plateaued for several years before taking a sharp downturn with the arrival of COVID-19. In 2021, the worst year of the pandemic in terms of mortality, life expectancy in the US fell to just under 76 and a half years. More than 1.2 million Americans died of COVID-19 overall, and the toll pushed the country’s life expectancy to its lowest point in 25 years. The rebound since then has been striking. Fewer deaths across the board Roughly 3.07 million Americans died in 2024, showing a decrease of around 18,000 from the year before. That drop is significant, especially when considering the population’s aging demographics. Death rates declined across racial and ethnic groups, and in both men and women. COVID-19, once the third-leading cause of death in the US, fell out of the top ten. In its place, suicide entered the top ten causes, though it’s worth noting that suicide rates actually declined slightly in 2024, according to the NCHS report. Homicides also decreased. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the US, but its mortality rate dropped for the second consecutive year, sitting at about three percent in 2024. Dr. Sadiya Khan, a cardiologist and researcher at Northwestern University, credits this to a mix of factors, including better treatments, wider adoption of weight management strategies, and earlier detection of cardiovascular risk. Cancer also saw modest declines in death rates, continuing a positive trend driven by better screening, treatment, and declining smoking rates. Opioid-related deaths show hopeful signs Perhaps most notable is the apparent shift in the long-running drug overdose crisis. Andrew Stokes, a public health researcher at Boston University, pointed out that 2024’s gains reflect not only pandemic recovery but a “lasting improvement” in overdose-related mortality. After years of escalating fatalities tied to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, the data now suggest a plateau, and in some areas, a decline. That’s encouraging news, though experts caution that the crisis is far from over. How 2025 is shaping up The death statistics for 2025 are not yet finalized, but early numbers are promising. Around 3.05 million deaths were recorded last year, and while that total will likely rise slightly as reporting is completed, officials say they expect another improvement in life expectancy. If confirmed, it would mean the US is continuing to reverse the mortality trends that defined much of the last decade. Still, experts note that while 79 years is a milestone, the US continues to lag behind many other high-income nations in overall life expectancy. Countries like Japan, Switzerland, and Australia routinely exceed 82 years. “There’s a lot more to be done,” said Stokes. “But the direction we’re heading in is encouraging.” A moment of momentum and a chance to do more The rise in life expectancy is a rare piece of unambiguous good news in public health. It reflects both individual behavior changes, such as reduced smoking and improved diet, and systemic shifts, including greater awareness of mental health and substance use. To keep the momentum going, experts emphasize continued investment in preventive care, equitable access to treatment, and targeted public health efforts to address the social determinants of health. As Anderson noted, while final data for 2025 is still pending, the progress so far gives reason to believe the upward trend may continue. After years of backsliding, Americans may finally be living longer and healthier lives.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.The post US life expectancy hits all-time high (and it’ll probably keep rising) first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Juice can feel like a wellness wildcard. It’s sweet, colorful, and sits in that tricky middle space between “basically fruit salad” and “sugar in a glass.” But if you’re pouring yourself one small glass a day, is that actually a healthy habit? The short answer is that it depends on what’s in the glass. Not all juices are created equal. Some are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds that can support immunity, circulation, and even mental clarity. Others are more like high-speed sugar delivery systems. The trick is knowing which is which and how much is enough. Let’s peel back the label. The benefits are real (in moderation) One hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice can deliver key nutrients like potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, and polyphenols, those antioxidant-rich plant compounds you keep hearing about. That said, without the fiber of whole fruit, juice also delivers sugar fast. This can cause tooth damage, energy crashes, or spikes in blood sugar if overdone. That’s why most nutrition experts suggest capping your daily juice intake at 150 milliliters. That’s about two-thirds of a cup. Yes, that includes juices labeled “all natural” or “no sugar added.” Sugar is sugar, even if it comes from a beet. Still, when portioned right, juice can be more than a sugary treat. Some varieties offer targeted benefits worth knowing about. When juice becomes functional food Citrus Orange juice is a classic, and for good reason: it’s rich in vitamin C, supports immunity, and may help lower inflammation. One study even linked it to reductions in high blood pressure. But more is not better here; the benefits tend to taper off above 500 milliliters, when the sugar impact outweighs the gains. Lemon juice has similar perks. A glass of water with lemon before meals has been associated with better digestion and lower blood pressure. It won’t transform your health overnight, but it plays a solid (and zesty) supporting role. Pomegranate Pomegranate juice is often considered the MVP of the juice world. It’s packed with polyphenols, which are plant compounds that fight oxidative stress and inflammation. You only need about 200 milliliters to get the benefits, so don’t overindulge. It’s best to think of it as a daily supplement, not a beverage. Beetroot Beetroot juice, on the other hand, may actually deserve more than a tiny serving. Its high nitrate content helps improve blood flow and cardiovascular health, especially in people with high blood pressure or athletes looking for a performance edge. Since it’s lower in sugar than most fruit juices, up to 500 milliliters a day can be helpful for some. Cranberry Cranberry juice is best known for urinary tract health, and science backs that up. Unsweetened cranberry juice can help prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder walls, reducing the risk of UTIs, especially in women and children. But again, go for the real deal, not the sugary cranberry “cocktail.” Prune Prune juice still has its place, especially if digestion is sluggish. While the whole fruit is more effective, a modest amount of juice (about 150 milliliters) can help get things moving. Blueberry  Blueberry juice brings antioxidants, too, particularly for brain and vascular health. But most studies still favor whole berries over juice, especially for long-term cognitive benefits. So… should you drink juice? If you enjoy juice, the good news is you don’t have to cut it out entirely. Just treat it like a health-focused indulgence, not a hydration method. A single glass can be a great delivery system for nutrients, particularly if it’s high-quality, unsweetened, and purposefully chosen. Here’s how to drink smarter: Stick to 150 milliliters per day, unless it’s beetroot, where more may help. Pair it with meals to slow down sugar absorption. Vary your juices to spread out the benefits. Go for citrus one day, then pomegranate the next. Don’t sip all day. That constant exposure is harder on your teeth. Prioritize whole fruits and veggies for most of your fiber and nutrients. Final sip Juice isn’t a villain, but it’s not a miracle cure either. Used thoughtfully, a daily glass can support your heart, immune system, brain, and more, as long as it’s 100 percent juice that’s portioned properly. If you’re craving a little something bright and bold in your day, pour yourself a small glass. Savor it. Let it serve your body well. Then get back to the rest of your beautiful, balanced diet.The post Is one glass of juice a day good for you? Here’s what the science says first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'This is not a hoax'

The French had a 225.82 score, which was only 1.43 points more than the United States

The man who runs Washington, D.C.’s primary water utility said Wednesday that his team is “continuing to assess” a potentially historic January sewage spill into the Potomac River, which provides the lion’s share of the D.C. area’s drinking water. A Jan. 19 sewer system collapse sent over 300 million gallons of bacteria-laden sewage gushing into […]

Altered states of consciousness are often linked to drugs and shamans, but the truth is that the mind can be changed by lots of things. Even everyday activities, when done in the right way, can push the mind out of its normal state and cause new moods, feelings, shifts in perception, and even mild hallucinations […] The post 10 Everyday Activities That Secretly Alter Consciousness appeared first on Listverse.

Helen Lewis: The Tide is Going Out on Gender Affirming Care

Thursday's Final Word

Today, President Trump repealed the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding, which constituted the basis for a slew of regulations that impacted every aspect of daily life and imposed enormous costs on the American people. ABC World News Tonight went into a full meltdown. This is how anchor David Muir introduced the report: Thus @ABCWorldNews sums up President Trump's repeal of the EPA endangerment finding: Trump gave up the power to regulate climate, he has rejected the science, and he will kill you pic.twitter.com/rX2iuMk0Lp — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 13, 2026 DAVID MUIR: Tonight, President Trump has repealed U.S. power to regulate climate in this country. The president officially rejecting the science. And what this now clears the way for. Critics tonight arguing this is not only dangerous for the environment but for your health. “The power to regulate climate”, says Muir. We always knew that the presidential power Donald Trump wields is tremendous, we just didn’t know it was god-like. Does Trump regulate the climate with a thermostat? Does he speak to it? Muir doesn’t specify, further adding that Trump has rejected The Science™. In fairness, The Science™ said that the East Coast should’ve been underwater by now. The Germans seppukued their nuclear program based on, you guessed it: The Science ™. For the final kicker, Muir bleats that the repeal of the endangerment finding will harm your health. He then kicks it over to Mary Bruce, who rehashes these points but with Mary Brucean flair- saying that Trump “wiped out” then “erased” the government science. No pure air and clean skies for you! Why did ABC get so worked up over the repeal? First of all, there is the general Trump derangement that is baked into everything they do. Second, the blunt rejection of a critical component of the leftwing policy pupu platter, as is the idea of anthropogenic climate change. And finally, the perceived erasure of yet another signature Obama legacy item. They can’t contain themselves. Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Thursday, February 12th, 2025: DAVID MUIR: Tonight, President Trump has repealed U.S. power to regulate climate in this country. The president officially rejecting the science. And what this now clears the way for. Critics tonight arguing this is not only dangerous for the environment but for your health. Here's Mary Bruce now. MARY BRUCE: Tonight, in the blink of an eye, President Trump wiping out the government science that was the foundation of the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to fight climate change, to keep the air pure and the skies clean. DONALD TRUMP: This is a big one, if you're into environment. This is about as big as it gets, they tell me. BRUCE: Trump has labeled climate change a hoax. And today, he erased the scientific conclusion that greenhouse gases, pollution from cars and factories, endanger human health. TRUMP: A disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers. BRUCE: Is this a decision based on science? MATTHEW DAVIS: No. This is definitely not a decision based on science. BRUCE: Scientist Matthew Davis, who worked at the EPA under Democrats and Republicans, says Trump's move will have deadly consequences. DAVIS: As there's more air pollution, smog and soot in the air, we see more heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks. All these things. BRUCE: The president was asked what he would say to Americans who worry about that. TRUMP: I tell them don't worry about it because it has nothing to do with public health. This is all a scam. A giant scam. BRUCE: The White House is touting this as the largest deregulation in U.S. history. Clearing the way for major changes to cars, power plants, and oil and gas production. David. MUIR: Mary Bruce at The White House tonight. Mary, thank you.