Good Morning! 🌞 

Some people REALLY love what they’ve built. I’m sure you know a few entrepreneurs that would fall into that category.

I highly doubt however, that you know someone as obsessed about their creation as Fred Baur, the inventor of the Pringles can. Fred liked his invention so much, that he decided to be buried in one!!

Science

Free Medicine

The soothing effect of touch is self-evident. A hug from a loved one can ease the nerves before a stressful event. A massage can unwind the tensions of a tough day. There are many more examples that we could go into.

Despite its significant impact on psychological health, touch has not been a primary focus of psychological research. Although numerous studies highlight the mental and physical benefits of touch, the diversity in methodologies and participant groups makes it challenging to consolidate these findings into general conclusions.

A New Meta-Analysis on Touch and Well-Being

In an effort to systematically compile and analyze existing research on touch and its effects on well-being, Julian Packheiser from the Social Neuroscience lab at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and his team undertook a meta-analysis (Packheiser et al., 2024). This type of study aggregates data from multiple sources to provide more reliable and robust results than individual smaller studies might offer.

The meta-analysis incorporated data from 137 studies and included a literature review of an additional 75 studies that could not be integrated numerically. With data from nearly 13,000 volunteers, the insights gained from this study are considerably substantial.

The Positive Impact of Touch on Health and Psychological Well-Being

The findings from Packheiser and his colleagues revealed several key benefits of touch:

• For both newborns and adults, interventions involving touch markedly enhanced physical and mental health.

• In newborns, practices such as kangaroo care not only regulated stress hormone levels but also improved temperature control, breathing, and even liver function.

• In adults, touch-based interventions like hugs or massages significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and alleviated physical pain. These effects were notably stronger among patient groups than in healthy individuals. The study also explored the efficacy of robotic touch interventions, finding that while robot-performed massages could relieve physical pain, they were less effective at improving mental health compared to human touch.

• Positive outcomes were reported both from touch by familiar individuals, like friends, and by professionals, such as licensed massage therapists.

These findings affirm the substantial benefits of touch for enhancing both physical and mental well-being. So next time you're feeling down, consider the scientifically backed benefits of a simple hug—it just might lift your spirits.

I find it very interesting that they included robot studies. Though I am not at all surprised with the conclusion.

Environment

Your Coffee May be More than a Half Million Years Old

That morning cup of coffee you had? It's been around for about 600,000 years. Researchers traced the ancestry of the world's favorite coffee, Coffea arabica, back to its origins using genetic data from coffee plants worldwide.

Their goal was pragmatic: understanding the plant's genetic history to bolster its resilience against pests and climate shifts. They discovered that Coffea arabica emerged naturally around 600,000 years ago, the result of crossbreeding between two other coffee species.

Before humans intervened, these wild coffee plants grew in Ethiopia and were first cultivated for brewing in Yemen during the 1400s. Legend has it that in the 1600s, an Indian monk named Baba Budan smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen, kickstarting coffee's global journey.
Arabica coffee, known for its smooth taste, dominates the global market, accounting for 60% - 70% of coffee consumed worldwide. The remaining portion is robusta, a more bitter coffee derived from one of arabica's parent species.

To uncover arabica's genetic past, researchers analyzed the genomes of its parent species, Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides, along with over 30 arabica plants, including a sample from the 1700s provided by the Natural History Museum in London.

Their findings, published in Nature Genetics, shed light on arabica's evolutionary journey. They discovered that the plant's population fluctuated over millennia, adapting to environmental changes. However, these fluctuations left arabica vulnerable to diseases like coffee leaf rust.

By identifying genetic markers associated with resistance to coffee leaf rust, researchers hope to develop strategies to protect arabica coffee from future threats. Fabian Echeverria, an adviser for the Center for Coffee Research and Education at Texas A&M University, highlights the study's importance in safeguarding the future of coffee production.

U.S News

Exploring America's Landmarks for its 250th Birthday

An organization is offering an opportunity for 75 school children from across the nation to visit some of America's most famous landmarks and destinations. This initiative is part of a contest celebrating the United States' quarter-millennium.

Participants can explore sites like the Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone National Park, the Library of Congress, and the Golden Gate Bridge. To enter, students just need to answer the question, "What does America mean to you?"

Rosie Rios, chair of America250, highlighted the importance of involving young people, saying it gives them a chance for unique experiences at the nation's historical and cultural landmarks. The prize includes all expenses paid for travel, accommodation, and access to field trip activities for the winning students and their chaperones.

Funded by the Bank of New York Mellon, America250, tasked by Congress with organizing the event, aims to inspire reflection on America's meaning and significance. The contest is open to students of all grade levels for the next 30 days, with criteria adjusted by age groups. Second-place winners will receive a $500 prize.

In addition to the mentioned landmarks, winners will visit the Smithsonian Institute, the USS Constitution, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Bank of NY Mellon, and enjoy a sunset cruise to Spectacle Island.

The announcement of winners is scheduled for June 2024, with field trips starting in mid-July.

Culture

Inside Tokyo’s Oldest Onigiri Restaurant

Near Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple, stands Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku, a venerable establishment founded in 1954, purportedly Tokyo's oldest onigiri (Japanese rice ball) eatery.

Yosuke Miura, the third-generation owner, shares the humble beginnings: "My family started this business out of necessity. My grandfather was unemployed, and my grandmother struggled to support the family financially."

Faced with the challenge of sustaining her household, Miura's grandmother established the rice ball diner, a tale reflected in its name. Asakusa denotes the district, while Yadoroku, translating to "House Six," bears a less flattering connotation. "Roku," meaning "useless person," gives the restaurant its literal meaning, "a useless person's house."

Onigiri, a ubiquitous snack in Japan, comes in various fillings like spicy cod roe or grilled beef with mayo, encased in triangular or oval shapes. Miura remarks, "Rice balls are a staple for all ages in Japan. It's a universal food."

Historically, onigiri's roots trace back centuries. Onigiri has been a companion to travelers and laborers for ages, even appearing in the earliest Japanese train bento boxes in 1885.

Today, Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku draws visitors worldwide, earning recognition in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand Restaurant since 2019.

Miura talks about the importance of balance in a delicious rice ball, utilizing ingredients from across Japan but exclusively sourcing nori from Tokyo.

For Miura, rice selection is paramount. Each year, after the harvest season, he samples grains from various regions to choose the year's rice variety. His dedication extends to crafting each onigiri, selecting fillings from an array of options and wrapping them in crisp nori.

While onigiri's popularity has soared globally, Miura embraces innovation, experimenting with diverse flavors inspired by different cultures. He believes onigiri need not adhere strictly to tradition; instead, it should celebrate individual preferences and cultural diversity.

As the third-generation proprietor, Miura's commitment stems from a genuine love for onigiri, nurtured since childhood. "I've always loved rice balls," he reflects. "If I didn't have a passion for them, I wouldn't continue this legacy."

Check out this video below!

Mind Stretchers

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The answer is “yes” but the intent means “no”. What is the question?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
An anchor.

No one got this one correct unfortunately. However Gerry Moore did have a pretty clever alternative answer of “Recycled materials”. Which is not too far off original prompt.

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.