Storm Names Suggested to the UK's Met Office

The Met Office is the UK’s national meteorological service, providing critical weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, and climate monitoring since 1854. Much like our National Weather Service, the UK names their storms. In fact, the public has been able to suggest names every year since 2015, though only about 20 are typically chosen. Most recently, the two names submitted are Elon Gust and Dame Judi Drench. Others that have been submitted in the past include Stormy McStormFace, David Blowy, and Bruce SpringStorm. Some of the names are clever and funny, but officials say they could never use comedy names for storms, because at the heart of it, naming storms has an important purpose — it reduces confusion and ensures that public alerts are easily understood and acted upon. In 2025, more than 50,000 suggestions were made. Of those, Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Hannah, Oscar, Patrick and Violet were chosen. Storm Chandra hit the UK and Ireland at the end of January, bringing strong winds and persistent heavy rainfall of up to 5 inches in the wettest locations.

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America’s First IVF Baby Says She’s Always Asked a Bizarre Question

Elizabeth Carr is literally the first among equals. At first glance, the 44-year-old from Boston, appears to be average, but unbeknownst to most, she’s the nation’s first baby born via IVF. For Carr’s parents — Judith and Roger — infertility wasn’t the issue. Successfully carrying a baby to full-term was the couple’s problem. After three ectopic pregnancies — when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterine cavity, often in the fallopian tube — her OBGYN told them about a new procedure called IVF — in vitro fertilization. The couple decided they had nothing to lose, and the rest, as they say, is history. Elizabeth was born on Dec. 28, 1981, taking the title of the first baby born via IVF in the United States. Now, nearly 50 years later, the pricey procedure accounts for 2.6% of American births. It’s not a cheap option, with a single round costing upwards of $25,000. At the time of Elizabeth’s birth, her parents were given the option of remaining anonymous, but they felt that people should know. Despite the Carr’s commitment to spotlighting just how normal Elizabeth is, she is often hit with a bizarre inquiry about her anatomy. “A frequent question I get is, ‘Do you have a belly button?’,” said Elizabeth. That’s because people think she was grown in a lab, which is a misconception. While conception happened in a Petri dish, the fertilized egg was implanted into Judith’s womb and nine months later Elizabeth was born, just like anyone else. Today, Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire and works in public relations for reproductive technology companies. She and her husband, Trevor Comeau, have one son who was conceived naturally, without the assistance of IVF.

 

 

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Father and Son Claim Decades-Old Promise of Free Oysters

Since the 1930s, a quirky sign hanging inside a historic oyster house in Mobile, Ala., promised something unusual: free oysters to any man who turned 80 and walked in with his father. It sounded almost impossible, and for decades it was…….until now. Jimmy Rush (above left), who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, walked into Wintzell’s Oyster House with his 99-year-old father, making them the first pair to finally cash in on the long-standing promise. The moment was especially meaningful to the Rush family, as visiting the oyster house has been a family tradition stretching back more than 50 years. Jimmy went on to explain that he and his dad, Jim, would ride in the Mardi Gras parade on Friday nights. “So we would come down here on Friday afternoon and eat oysters,” he said. That tradition started in 1972, and over the years it has been their goal to take advantage of the promise on the sign. When Jimmy finally reached the milestone birthday, the family checked with the restaurant to see if anyone had ever beaten them to it. The answer was no. The special occasion turned into a big celebration. About 60 family members and friends gathered to mark Jimmy’s 80th birthday and to watch the restaurant make good on its promise with a dozen free oysters. For Jimmy, it was a milestone he had been looking forward to for a very specific reason. “Never thought about any birthdays except my 80th,” he said. “That’s the one I was looking forward to — because of the sign.”

 

 

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Are You A Couch Sleeper? It Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep

Falling asleep on the couch can feel like an easy way to unwind after a long day. As mental fatigue sets in, dozing off there can feel effortless and comforting. However, sleep experts warn that regularly drifting off outside the bedroom can undermine sleep health over time. When you’re on the couch, your cognitive control is lower and the nervous system is winding down. People are no longer trying to sleep. They’re watching TV, scrolling or relaxing. Sleep happens there accidentally, which often feels easier and less stressful, but once you’ve drifted off, moving from the couch to bed can be surprisingly difficult. That’s because once you've started a sleep cycle, waking up to move interrupts that process. When you get into bed, your sleep pressure has already been partially relieved, so falling back asleep may be harder. There’s a behavioral component, too. If falling asleep on the couch becomes habitual, your brain starts associating it with successful sleep. Moving to the bed can feel like switching environments from "safe and sleepy" to “stressful and uncertain.” Falling asleep on the couch might feel harmless in the moment, but you're not getting the restorative sleep the body needs. Sleep experts say that occasional couch dozing is completely normal and not harmful, but when it becomes a habit, it’s time for a change. Because this is a learned pattern, it can be unlearned. That involves getting ready for bed before you’re tired, creating a smooth transition from evening relaxation to bedtime. Try a nighttime ritual that helps you wind down for 10-20 minutes before trying to fall asleep. That could be something as simple as dimming the lights, changing into sleepwear, and turning on a sound machine or soft music in the bedroom. Never, ever read, watch TV or scroll through your phone in the bedroom. With a few intentional shifts, your bed can reclaim its role as the place for quality sleep.

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