Finalists Win Big Laughs in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

It’s that time of year when the cutest, most spontaneous snapshots that capture the amusing side of nature compete in a bid to win the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. The Nikon-sponsored awards just released its finalists for the 2026 competition, featuring 40 individual feel-good finalists. This year, the competition received more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries, the highest number in its history. Photographers are competing for the top prize: a once-in-a-lifetime safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya's most celebrated wildlife reserve, along with many great camera prizes from Nikon. Here are some of the favorites.

 

 

Continue Reading...

Why Ambulance Drivers and Cab Drivers Rarely Die of Alzheimer’s

According to the results of a study examining the death certificates of nearly 9 million people in the U.S., taxi drivers and ambulance drivers are less likely to die of Alzheimer’s disease than almost any other job. Researchers concluded that the key to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s wasn’t the driving itself but the continuous real-time navigation — the constant work of locating yourself in space, tracking a destination, and updating a mental map as conditions change. Drivers whose jobs relied on fixed or predetermined routes — like bus drivers and airline pilots — didn’t seem to experience the same advantage. There’s an obvious connection between navigation-heavy work and lower Alzheimer’s risk, and it revolves around the hippocampus — the part of the brain that governs memory and spatial navigation. Both cab drivers and ambulance drivers must memorize thousands of streets, which relies on the hippocampus. The longer someone has driven, the larger that part of the brain is. This study makes a compelling case: Work that intensively exercises the hippocampus may reshape it, and that reshaping may protect against one of the most feared diseases of getting old.

Continue Reading...

Here’s How Much Money People Are Paying Across the Country For a Haircut

For some of us, a quick trip to a chain salon is all we need to get our hair in decent shape. Others treat a haircut as a moment for a long, luxurious pampering session — with a price tag to match. If you’re shopping for a hair stylist in your city, you’ll soon see that prices can have wide ranges, usually dependent on factors like the type of salon, the expertise of the stylists, the type of hair you have, the cut you’re getting, and how much personal attention you’re expecting. The national average cost of a haircut is $56, with the average cost of women’s haircuts being $69 and men’s cuts averaging $43. Geography plays a big role in what you’ll pay. In Omaha, Neb., you’ll have to shell out $31 (the national low), while New York City can drain your wallet of a whopping $148 (the national high). Cheaper haircuts are usually found in smaller towns, at beauty schools, and at chain salons, while pricier ones are at high-end salons in big cities. Remember that the true test of a good haircut has nothing to do with price. If it’s good, the haircut still looks decent at week 6. If it only looks right when the salon does it, that’s not a good haircut.

Continue Reading...

McDonald’s Is Releasing an Exclusive New Item That Will Make You Pucker

McDonald’s is launching a never-before-seen drink, but it might be a challenge to get your hands on it. The Pickle Boost is a convenient, on-the-go electrolyte replacement drink made with the same brine the chain uses for its pickles. It will make its debut this week in Chicago, right before the city’s 48th annual Bank of America Marathon on October 11. There’s no word on whether Pickle Boost will roll out more widely. If you’ve ever experienced muscle cramps, you’re likely familiar with pickle brine as an electrolyte replacement. It packs an impressive punch of sodium, and is frequently recommended for quick relief of muscle cramps. For long-distance runners who might not want to down a 20-ounce bottle of Gatorade, Pickle Boost is an excellent alternative.

Continue Reading...