66 New Bikepacking Routes Connect 12 Towns Across West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest
A new network of 66 mapped bikepacking routes has launched in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, branded as the Mon Forest Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network and billed as the largest curated gravel bikepacking network in the Eastern United States. The system links 12 mountain towns and features a 594‑mile “Mon Circuit” that climbs roughly 55,000 vertical feet, creating a loop that visits every corner of the forest. Routes are organized into day rides, overnight options, and six multi‑day backpacking courses, with additional collections that connect to nearby cities and existing trail corridors. The project is a joint effort by Village to Village Trails, Bikepacking Roots, MountainRides LLC, the Mon Forest Towns Partnership and Ride with GPS.
5 of the Best Poetry Picture Books for Kids
National Poetry Month, celebrated each April since 1996, renews focus on poetry across schools, libraries, and homes. The article highlights five picture‑book selections that introduce poetry to children, beginning with two standout titles: Exquisite, a biography of Pulitzer‑winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks,...
Tech’s Acceleration Paves CIOs’ Path to the Corner Office
Digital technology’s deepening role is turning CIOs into a pipeline for CEOs. Deloitte’s 2025 survey shows 67% of CIOs aspire to the top seat, and 65% now report directly to CEOs, up from 41% a decade ago. Leaders like Tony...
Ragnar Kjartansson: Realms of the Real
Ragnar Kjartansson, Icelandic visual artist, narrates his journey in a new Art21 documentary that maps the rise of Iceland’s contemporary art scene from a rural, sheep‑farming nation to a vibrant urban creative hub. The film highlights his eclectic, music‑infused practice...
Travelling at the Speed of Light
ScienceClic released a 15‑minute YouTube video titled “Travelling at the speed of light,” directed by French visual artist Alessandro Roussel. The piece uses polished 3D graphics to illustrate how relativistic physics would appear to passengers on a near‑light‑speed craft, covering time...
Overlook Film Festival 2026 Review - AFFECTION
The Overlook Film Festival 2026 highlighted BT Meza’s feature debut *Affection*, starring Jessica Rothe alongside Joseph Cross and Julianna Layne. Rothe delivers a compelling dual‑identity performance as Ellie, a woman battling amnesia on a remote farm. While the film mixes...
Adidas Searches Spike at JD as Molly-Mae Collab Drops
Adidas Originals launched a limited‑edition capsule with reality‑TV star Molly‑Mae Hague on April 9, featuring reworked Superstar II and Samba sneakers priced at £100 (≈ $125). JD.com reported a 51 % surge in overall Adidas searches on launch day, with “Superstar” queries up 58 %...
Why the Photo Market Is Moving Closer to Painting, With Unique Works Leading the Way
The photography market is gaining momentum, with four works surpassing $1 million and two exceeding $2 million in Artnet’s latest Spring Photographs auction. Specialized fairs such as AIPAD’s Photography Show and dedicated auction blocks are spotlighting unique, one‑of‑a‑kind images that blur the...
Grail’s $824 Liquid Biopsy Test Sparks Debate Over Accuracy and Cost
A first‑hand account of a $824 Galleri liquid‑biopsy screening test from Grail has ignited a fresh debate over the technology’s clinical value and price point. The test, which claims to detect more than 50 cancers, delivered a 51.5% overall detection...
Soaring Gas Prices Fuel the RTO Debate: ‘Is It Ethical…?’
Gas prices in the United States jumped to a national average of $4.14 per gallon, a $0.75 increase from the previous month and the highest level in four years. The rise coincides with a resurgence of return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates, with...
Casual Sex Is Linked to Lower Self-Esteem and Weaker Moral Orientations in Women but Not Men
A new study in *Personality and Individual Differences* examined how willingness to engage in casual sex—sociosexuality—relates to self‑esteem and moral orientation differently for men and women. Surveying 295 U.S. adults (average age 37), researchers found that higher sociosexuality in women...
Ready to Rethink the Bias Embedded in Prevention?
A new paper in *Current Obesity Reports* challenges the entrenched bias that frames obesity prevention as a matter of personal responsibility. It argues that decades of investment in “eat less, move more” campaigns have failed because they ignore the complex...
The Roaring 2020s? Art Deco Gets a Twist
Design houses worldwide are reviving Art Deco, turning the 1920s aesthetic into modern luxury pieces. Gachot Studios launched a 36‑piece collection on Artemest, inspired by the couple’s own Frank Lloyd Wright desk, while Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades reinterpreted Pierre Legrain’s 1920s designs as rugs and textiles....
Simone Bodmer-Turner Grew an All-White Line of Tableware
Simone Bodmer‑Turner, a ceramicist famed for sculptural white vases, has introduced a 12‑piece all‑white tableware collection from her Pioneer Valley studio. The line, ranging from oval plates to candle holders, is slip‑cast in red stoneware and white slip for durability...
Why This Octavia Butler Page-Turner Is the Ultimate Book Club Pick
Octavia E. Butler’s 1993 novel *Parable of the Sower* topped the latest 101 Best Book Club List, earning the most votes for 2026 selections. Founder Nikki High of Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena explains the novel’s renewed appeal, citing its themes...
The Restaurant Inside L.A.'s Best New Food Hall Is a Triumph. It Could Be a Revelation
Rose Previte’s Maydan Market opens in West Adams as a 10,000‑square‑foot food hall featuring seven casual vendors and a full‑service restaurant, Maydan L.A. The restaurant centers around a $95‑per‑person family‑style tawleh menu that showcases Eastern Mediterranean and North African dishes,...
K-Pop Conquered Coachella. Now It's Bini's Turn to Show Off the Philippines
Filipina girl group Bini will become the first act from the Philippines to perform at Coachella, taking the Mojave stage on Friday at 4:15 p.m. The eight‑member ensemble, already a pan‑Asian pop sensation, is leveraging the festival’s global platform to showcase...
There's a Thomas Pynchon Book for Everyone. Here's Which One to Read Next
The LA Times Festival of Books article pairs each of Thomas Pynchon's novels with a specific book‑club theme, from travel to romance, showing his work can serve any niche discussion. It lists titles such as *Gravity’s Rainbow* for travel, *Slow...
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Follow in the Footsteps of the Founders and Have a Drink Where They Planned the Revolution Over a Few Beers
The article spotlights nine surviving colonial‑era taverns that served as political hubs, military planning sites, and social centers during the American Revolution. It details each venue’s historic moments—from Wright Tavern’s militia gatherings to Fraunces Tavern’s George Washington toasts and the...
Zendaya’s On Collection Gets a Surreal Spin From Spike Jonze
Actress Zendaya has unveiled a new footwear and apparel collection with Swiss sportswear brand On, titled “Shape of Dreams.” Co‑created with stylist Law Roach and On’s design team, the line blends modern sportswear aesthetics with performance technology. To promote it,...
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I Travel Abroad Every Year and Have Never Been Pickpocketed—These Are My Top Anti-Theft Crossbody Bags From $9
Travel writer Chaise Sanders highlights five budget-friendly anti‑theft crossbody bags ideal for frequent travelers. The list includes Travelon Classic Mini ($38), Bostanten leather ($19, down from $29), Oprah‑favored Mali+Lili Gail ($46, down from $78), Banelu ($9), and Wander Plus ($27)....
All Eyes on Orion’s Heat Shield: Artemis 2 Astronauts Will Hit Earth's Atmosphere at Nearly 24,000 Mph on April 10
NASA’s Artemis 2 crewed Orion capsule will begin its return to Earth on April 10, entering the atmosphere at roughly 23,840 mph (38,367 kph) from an altitude of about 75 miles. After the heat‑shield damage observed on the uncrewed Artemis 1 flight, mission planners opted for...
These Are the 10 Best Dishes at Maydan Market, L.A.'s Definitive New Food 'Collective'
Rose Previte’s Maydan Market opened in October as a 10,000‑sq‑ft collective dining hub in West Adams, pairing her sit‑down restaurant with six distinct vendor counters and a rotating pop‑up space. The market uses QR‑code ordering to let guests mix and...
ListN Up Playlist: Xavier Emmanuel (April 9, 2026)
Xavier Emmanuel, a Denver‑born PhD candidate at Harvard, launched the “We Rise from Sameness” playlist to investigate how sonic repetition shapes identity. His interdisciplinary practice spans music, poetry, visual art, and scholarly research, with work shown at venues from Harvard...
Canada's Lakeside Park Is A Scenic Gem With Forest Hiking Trails
Hardy Lake Provincial Park, a free non‑operating park 120 miles north of Toronto, offers roughly 10 miles of well‑maintained forest trails along one of Canada’s 2 million lakes. The park’s three main loops—A, B and C—cater to varying skill levels, with...
Cooking at Home Can Help Cut Dementia Risk
A six‑year Japanese cohort study of nearly 11,000 adults aged 65+ found that cooking a meal from scratch at least once a week was linked to a roughly 30% lower risk of dementia. The protective effect was even stronger—up to...
How Cities Can Make Space for Awe
The first episode of *Cities of Awe* chronicles how a 2005 guerrilla‑style parklet in San Francisco turned a single parking space into a temporary public park, sparking a citywide parklet program. Host Dacher Keltner and urban designer Blaine Merker explain the...
Vantor Unveils New Sat Classes: Vantage and Pulse
Vantor announced two new satellite classes—Vantage and Pulse—to boost both imagery resolution and revisit frequency. Vantage will deliver 20‑cm resolution images, with two satellites slated for launch in 2029, while Pulse, a smallsat fleet the size of a refrigerator, will...
Forget the Full-Body Freeze. The Next Big Trend in Longevity Tech Is ‘Brain-Only’ Preservation
Brain-only cryopreservation is emerging as a faster, cheaper alternative to full-body vitrification, sparking debate within the longevity community. The approach gained visibility when UCLA aging researcher Dr. Stephen Coles chose to have only his brain preserved after his 2014 death. Alcor’s...
Emma Straub on AMERICAN FANTASY
In this episode of Poured Over, bookseller and author Emma Straub discusses her new novel *American Fantasy*, a comedic yet heartfelt tale about 50‑year‑old Annie who, after a divorce, joins a cruise full of women and the nostalgic boy‑band Boy...
Essay: Book Club Skeptic? So Was Roxane Gay. Here's What Converted Her
Roxane Gay entered the book‑club world as a skeptic but a 2018 Midwest brunch turned her into a vocal advocate. The intimate setting let her discuss her debut novel, receive enthusiastic questions, and receive a quirky Michigan‑themed gift basket, illustrating...
Ranking the Top Patellar Tendon Exercises by Tendon Load
The 2025 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise study quantified patellar tendon load across 35 common rehabilitation exercises, creating a weighted loading index that blends peak force, impulse, and loading rate. Researchers classified exercises into low, moderate, and high...
These Are the Books We'll Be Cooking From This Spring
A wave of spring cookbooks has hit the market, spotlighting innovative pastries and desert-inspired desserts. Roxana Jullapat’s "Morning Baker" showcases plush chocolate muffins flavored with rye and yogurt, while La Copine’s new title brings its signature lemon polenta cake to home...
At 94, Gerhard Richter Is About to Give the Art Market a Massive Stress Test
Christie’s will auction a collection of Gerhard Richter works from the $65 million estate of late dealer Marian Goodman. The highlight is the 1982 painting “Candle,” projected to fetch at least $35 million, while the 1995 abstract “Poppy” is expected to bring...
Get To Know… Blossom Caldarone
Blossom Caldarone, the classically trained cellist known for her work with English Teacher, has released her solo EP "Might Smash A Window." The six‑track record showcases diaristic, witty lyrics paired with bright keyboards and cinematic strings, delivering modern‑city love stories...
A Cracked Heat Shield Rattled NASA After Artemis I. Now, Artemis II Will Put the Fix to the Test
NASA will put a revised re‑entry trajectory to the test on Artemis II after a heat‑shield crack was discovered on the uncrewed Artemis I flight. The crewed Orion capsule will plunge into Earth’s atmosphere at 32 Mach, using a direct‑entry path that avoids...
Connection Silences Shame; Isolation Amplifies Negative Thoughts
Sometimes the negative thoughts get louder, not because they’re true, but because they’re alone. Shame grows in isolation. It shrinks with safe connection. It grows smaller in relationships.
True Leadership Shines in Storms; Pleasing All Ensures Failure
Two thoughts from Publilius Syrus “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” “Seek to please many, and you seek a failure.”
"Compelling" Spy Thriller with "Edge-of-Your-Seat Action" Leads Netflix's Most-Watched Top 10
South Korean spy thriller Humint surged to the top of Netflix’s global Top 10, amassing over 11 million views in its debut week. Directed by Ryoo Seung‑wan, the film follows NIS Section Chief Zo as he tackles a Russian human‑trafficking ring and a...
Microplastics Found in Human Bile May Be Associated with Gallstones
Researchers detected microplastic particles in human bile for the first time, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) comprising the majority. In a small cohort, patients with gallstones exhibited a markedly higher microplastic load than controls. Laboratory exposure of cholangiocytes...
Lucia & The Best Boys, Factory Floor & More Join Lineup for Sheffield’s Get Together Festival
Sheffield’s Get Together festival has released its full lineup for the sixth edition, scheduled for Saturday 16 May 2026 on Kelham Island and Neepsend. Co‑headliners The Horrors and Fat Dog are joined by new acts including Lucia & The Best Boys,...
This Shoreditch Wine Bar Will Soon Serve Britain’s Greatest Toasties
Shoreditch’s Nekter Deli, a wine‑focused bar launched in summer 2025, is adding a line of high‑end toasties. The inaugural sandwich, called “The Ynyshir”, is a milk‑roll filled with Fat Cow cheese, black truffle and shiitake ketchup, priced at £20 (about...
Leading When Your Agency Is Acquired
Cortney Stapleton, former CEO of The Bliss Group, shares the leadership principles that guided her through the agency’s acquisition by Highwire. She emphasizes transparent communication, cultural alignment, and empowering teams as core to a smooth transition. Stapleton also outlines three...
ASOS Reinterprets Adidas Classics Through Feminine Lens in Latest Collaboration
Adidas Originals and ASOS have unveiled their third exclusive women’s collection, marking the first time the line will appear in a physical retail setting. The drop will be sold online and at a pop‑up inside Adidas’ London flagship store from...
Timing Helps, But Total Daily Protein Still Crucial
This interview explains an important nuance in the pre sleep protein research. Timing may help, but total daily protein intake still matters. Read the blog: https://t.co/3a6pwjH1e3 https://t.co/MVe8MnaPRG
Rosa Walton of Lets Eat Grandma Shares New Single “Halfway Round The World”
Rosa Walton, one half of indie duo Let’s Eat Grandma, dropped her second solo single “Halfway Round The World,” the latest glimpse of her debut solo album *Tell Me It’s A Dream* slated for June 5, 2026 on Transgressive Records. The track...
James Gunn Hits Out at "Shoddy & Incorrect" Superman Casting Report
James Gunn publicly dismissed a Deadline report that claimed Ella Purnell, Adria Arjona and Marisa Abela were testing for the role of Maxima in the upcoming Superman sequel "Man of Tomorrow." Gunn called the story "shoddy & incorrect" on Threads,...
Satirical Cannes Debut Explores Queer Identity Amid Crisis
Premiering at #Cannes2026 - Jim Queen. A gay influencer's life crumbles when a virus turns Paris's gay men straight. He teams up with a twink to find a rumored cure in the Marais district. A satire on identity, fame, queer...
New Research in Rocky Mountain National Park Shows Most People Are Unprepared in the Wild
A Boston University study of 586 day hikers and 68 trail runners in Rocky Mountain National Park found that only a quarter of runners and 16% of hikers met a strict wilderness‑preparedness checklist. Researchers defined preparedness by carrying at least...
How to Make Cancer Therapies BETter: An Insight Into the Distinct Roles of BET Proteins
A new study from the Max Planck Institute reveals that BET proteins BRD2 and BRD4 play distinct, sequential roles in gene activation, explaining why broad‑spectrum BET inhibitors have shown limited clinical success. BRD4 drives the release of RNA polymerase II,...