Thirty years ago, while counting barnacles, limpets, and seaweeds along rocky shores, I started noticing a daily tide of litter, mostly plastic. As a marine biology PhD student at Liverpool University, I kept removing it, but the next day, there’d be more. [Photo: University of Plymouth] I’m now a leading international expert on microplastics, a term I coined on May 7, 2004, to describe fragments of plastic measuring as small as a millionth of a meter. As I work to help reduce the grip of plastic pollution on our planet, the solutions are clear to me. Regulators, governments, and citizens…
Author: insighter
As macro uncertainty hangs over the stock market, investors are searching for sources of income, which can help cushion their portfolios in volatile times. Those who wish to add stocks that pay dividends consistently can follow the recommendations of Wall Street experts. These analysts can guide investors toward the best stocks from a large universe of dividend-paying companies. Here are three attractive dividend stocks, according to Wall Street’s top pros on TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Chord Energy First up is Chord Energy (CHRD), an oil and gas operator in the Williston Basin. Earlier this year, Chord…
No matter where you get your college rankings, there’s a good chance one or more of the Ivy League universities will be on top of the list. Regardless of which metrics are used — employment and salary outcomes for graduates, research contributions or even affordability — the eight illustrious institutions get plenty of commendation from publications and trade groups aiming to help students pick the best schools. The schools are notoriously difficult to get into, though. With an average acceptance rate of around 5.5%, according to the Department of Education’s College Scorecard, it can be a challenge for even the…
Today, it feels like everybody has a brand. From major corporations to celebrities and young entrepreneurs, the digital landscape and social media have democratized brand launches. While capital is helpful, it’s not the decisive factor in a brand’s longevity. For the past 25 years, I have been building brands globally, from iconic transformations to startups taking their first steps. I believe in the power of a brand to embody ideas, inspire change, and sometimes even shape societal norms. How do you build a powerful, enduring, iconic brand? Whether it’s a product, service, space, app, event, or even your personal brand,…
A zebra that has been hoofing through the foothills of western Washington for days was recaptured Friday evening, nearly a week after she escaped with three other zebras from a trailer near Seattle. Local residents and animal control officers corralled the zebra named “Shug” in the community of Riverbend, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Seattle, the Regional Animal Services of King County wrote on its website. “The zebra seemed to be in good condition despite her nearly week-long adventure in the woods,” the agency wrote. Shug was one of four zebras that escaped as they were being transported from Washington…
My husband Martin and I met in Brussels in 2012, when I literally stepped on his toes at my neighborhood farmer’s market. At the time, I was working as a security manager at NATO headquarters, and he was on a business trip from his home in the Netherlands. Three days later, we went on our first date. Five weeks later, I moved to Washington, D.C., to take a post at the Pentagon. Almost a year and a half later, we decided we’d get married and he’d join me in D.C. As a Marine Corps reserve officer, I took advantage of…
Ashish Kothari is the founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, a company launched in 2022 with the mission of helping people integrate the art and science of happiness into their lives. Previously, he spent 25 years in consulting, most recently as a partner at McKinsey & Company where he organized efforts in leadership, well-being, and resilience. Below, Kothari shares five key insights from his new book, Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life. Listen to the audio version—read by Kothari himself—in the Next Big Idea App. 1. Our brains are maladapted to the modern world,…
Cooking with gas poses a health risk, but new research shows that risk isn’t evenly distributed. Poorer Americans and racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately exposed to harmful gas stove pollutants, scientists at Stanford University, Harvard University and the Central California Asthma Collaborative found. Previous studies have shown gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide — pollutants that can cause respiratory issues — at levels deemed unsafe by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. The new findings in Science Advances are the first to measure gas stove nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution across home types, race, income and cooking habits, and…
It can be difficult to maintain high employee morale throughout a major transition, such as a merger or acquisition. Employees are often referred to as the most important assets of a company, and their reaction to change can have a tangible impact on the success of any merger process. According to a 2020 EY report, 47% of employees typically leave within a year of a merger or acquisition, and 75% leave within the first three years. And Gallup has found that highly talented employees, who are not engaged, are usually the first employees to quit. Leaders limit their chances of…
Is the stock market rally here to stay after April’s terrible month? With the Fed, Apple earnings and the jobs report passing with flying colors this week, the runway to more gains looks a lot less cluttered. The main economic update came Friday in the form of a weaker-than-expected April nonfarm payrolls growth. With the market forced to accept that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer, as telegraphed after this week’s central bank meeting, the jobs report was welcome news — still decent hiring and slightly cooler wage inflation. That’s what Wall Street was hoping for…
In late 2019, Kevin MacDonald noticed that his twin 16-year-olds, Allie and Lexi, seemed sad and uninterested in schoolwork. He decided to buy an infrared sauna for the family after seeing research on the potential mental health benefits. For MacDonald’s family, the purchase has paid off. “It’s been therapeutic for the kids in dramatic ways,” he says. As more adults have been incorporating saunas, cold plunges and other hot and cold therapies into their wellness routines, increasingly, they’re encouraging their kids to do the same. Emerging research suggests these therapies offer physical and psychological benefits for adults. But experts warn…
There may be an untapped market for exchange-traded funds. According to Calamos investments’ Matt Kaufman, there are trillions of dollars across CD and money market accounts, and it is a market ETFs should look to capture. “That’s larger than almost the ETF space itself,” the firm’s head of ETFs told CNBC’s “ETF Edge” earlier this week. “There’s a lot of money on the sidelines that could move into this.” Kaufman, who is in the interest rates will stay higher for longer camp, thinks structured and options ETFs designed for risk management and income can provide stability. “We saw it being…