Lauren Johnson
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Writer of words, lover of birds. 🐦🦉🦜📝 Speculative & Eco-Fiction. Co-host @BabylonSalonSF & @ClubChicxulub. @WriteinDC alumna. Owls for days. she/her
Articles by Lauren Johnson
Missouri joins the nationwide reading of the Declaration of Independence
Across nine time zones, Americans in all 50 states and 16 U.S. territories simultaneously read the Declaration of Independence to public audiences Wednesday, including 11 locations in Missouri. A reading in Columbia took place at 5 p.m. at the State Historical Society of Missouri, with the same document being recited at the same time in Jefferson City, Springfield, Joplin, Rolla, Richland, Cape Fair, Caruthersville, Marionville, Aurora and Clinton.
16 Almond Milk Brands, Ranked Worst To Best
Almond milk's first mention can be traced back to 13th century Baghdad when it was mentioned in a cookbook, according to Vegan Food and Living. It was the drink of choice for Medieval Europe, where it was a status symbol and drank mainly by nobility (via Second History). And, as of September 2020, it was the most popular plant-based drink for those looking for more animal-friendly options, according to Food Dive. Almond milk has a long history, perhaps because it's downright delicious.
Small town, big legacy: Mount Olive celebrates two homegrown icons Original
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (WTVD) -- With a population of just under 5,000, Mount Olive may be small, but its reputation stretches far beyond Wayne County. For 100 years, the town has been known nationwide for one thing: pickles. "For 100 years, Mount Olive, the town, has been known far and wide for its pickles," company spokesperson Lynn Williams said. Pickles are everywhere here - from hats and greeting cards to baby clothes, T-shirts and jars of every size imaginable.
Rising Medical Malpractice Payouts Drive Push for Tort Reform
By Lauren Johnson Medical professionals, insurance companies and government representatives are calling for tort reform, and warning that without it, Alabama is going to struggle economically. Claim severity has increased significantly in the past few years, especially for medical malpractice. According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, total payouts from insurers rose by 140 percent from $9.6 million in 2020 to $23.5 million in 2024.
3 ways PBS, Planned Parenthood, and Minn. Public News fight on amid budget cuts
Lauren Johnson It's a tough time to be a public media company or nonprofit with sweeping changes and cuts from the U.S. government. Executives from Planned Parenthood, PBS, and Minneapolis Public News revealed at ADWEEK's Social Media Week how they're raising awareness and money despite big cuts in funding. Here are three ways the organizations are navigating the challenges.
As My Dad Was Dying, A Tupperware I Found In My Parents' Closet Brought Me The Most Unexpected Comfort
Midnight approached on Christmas Eve 2023, and I was in tears. I was curled up in my childhood bedroom in Tampa, Florida, home for the holidays and staring at the walls of the same room where I’d slept each Christmas Eve from ages 6 to 18. Back then, I’d drifted off to sleep anticipating the rituals of Christmas morning.
Exclusive: DoorDash to sit out Super Bowl 60
DoorDash will not run a Super Bowl ad this year. The food-delivery app has been a staple in recent Super Bowl games, advertising four times during the national broadcast. Last year, the delivery app promoted its membership program with a spot starring comedian Nate Bargatze. The ad was created by Wieden + Kennedy Portland and DoorDash's in-house agency, Superette.
Retail data firm Spins acquires MikMak
Private equity-backed Spins has acquired ecommerce and retail data firm MikMak. Spins provides data and analytics for consumer packaged goods brands aimed at helping brands understand who is buying their products in stores and online.
How Lori A. Cash's Photography Captures the "Soul and Beauty" Of Nature
Lori A. Cash’s journey as a nature photographer is rooted in a lifelong love of the outdoors and a commitment to conservation that continues to grow, just like her furry subjects. What began with an Instamatic camera and summers at Reelfoot Lake has evolved into a distinguished career capturing wildlife and fragile ecosystems across the eastern United States.
Instacart returns to the Super Bowl
Instacart is headed back to the Super Bowl. The delivery app has confirmed that it plans to run an ad in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8. Instacart is working with its internal creative agency Local Produce as well as BBDO and McCann on the campaign. The brand declined to share details about the length of this year's ad or which quarter of the game it will air.
Bio-Artist Selin Balci Cultivates Microbial Life for Art Pieces
Selin Balci’s artwork invites viewers into a hidden world where microbes become storytellers, transforming the smallest life forms into powerful narratives about identity, ecology, and the environment. In this interview with Tomorrow’s World Today, Balci reflects on working with natural elements, why unpredictability has become one of her greatest creative allies, and how her work continues to evolve in tandem with the living organisms that shape it.
Jack Rawlings ACSI Announced as New President of the CISI Essex Branch Committee
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack Rawlings ACSI as president of the CISI’s Essex branch. He takes over the role from David Madgwick, Chartered MCSI, who has led the branch since 2022. Jack brings over a decade of experience in investments, crypto assets, and regulatory compliance.
The RAB27A effector SYTL5 regulates mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism
eLife Assessment This study by Lapao et al. uncovers a novel role for the Rab27A effector SYTL5 in regulating mitochondrial function and mitophagy under hypoxic conditions. Using a range of imaging and functional assays, the authors demonstrate that SYTL5 localizes to mitochondria in a Rab27A-dependent manner and impacts mitochondrial respiration and metabolic reprogramming.
WATCH: Marine Biologists Tagged Humpback Whales With Underwater Cameras
Marine biologists at Australia’s Griffith University tagged humpback whales with underwater cameras during their seasonal migration to learn more about the symbiotic relationship between the whales and the remoras or suckerfish that hitch rides on their backs. The suckerfish hitch rides on whales to eat the sea lice and other crustaceans that also reside on the mammal’s skin. The remora uses its oval-shaped dorsal fin as an adapted suction cup to keep itself stable on the whale.
42,000-Year-Old Crayon Could Rewrite What We Know About Neanderthals Art
Though creating art has always been thought of as a distinctly homo sapiens behavior, the recent discovery of a 42,000-year-old crayon-like piece of ocher suggests that Neanderthals may have also been artists. Researchers investigated 16 pieces of ocher connected to Neanderthals that were found in Crimea and mainland Ukraine.
CISI appoints Rosie Glazebrook, Susan Daniel MCSI and Nick Garnish, Chartered MCSI to the Board
Rosie (left) is a senior independent director at Make UK, where she also chairs the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Her background as an independent chair and non-executive director has enabled her to support organisations in strengthening their governance, developing partnerships and leveraging their impact internationally. She also has experience driving trade and investment initiatives with private sector and government partners.
When and How to Spot the Orionid Meteor Shower This Week
The Orionid meteor shower, which will last until November 22, peaks on the night of Tuesday, October 21, along with the new moon. According to experts, conditions could allow for a night of shooting star sightings.
Scientists Find Gold Nanoparticles Hidden Inside Spruce Tree Needles
A new study published in the journal Environmental Microbiome reports that Norway spruce trees concentrate gold nanoparticles using their own resident bacteria. “Our results suggest that bacteria and other microbes living inside plants may influence the accumulation of gold in trees,” lead study author Kaisa Lehosmaa, an ecologist at the University of Oulu in Finland, said in a statement.
WATCH: teamLab Unveils Immersive Art Museum in Kyoto
teamLab Biovortex Kyoto, a permanent art installation featuring a series of imaginative and immersive pieces, opened on October 7. Located a short walking distance from Kyoto Station, the museum spans 10,000 square meters and features over 50 interactive artworks. This Kyoto facility revolves around the idea of ‘Environmental Phenomena.’ Most of the works aren’t solid in shape and material, as their existence arises from interacting with environmental factors.
Endangered Fossa Pups Born at UK Zoo Take First Steps
A bundle of four fossa pups born at Chester Zoo in the UK have just left their mother’s den for the first time. The pups, two males and two females, are welcomed by parents Shala and Zaza. As the species are born small and blind, they aren’t ready to face the outside world for several months. The fossa is the sole living member of its genus, found only on the island of Madagascar off the coast of East Africa. They measure 6 feet (1.8 meters) from their nose to the tip of their tail.
Paleontologists Have Discovered Fossils of the Oldest Dome-Headed Dinosaur
Paleontologists have discovered the oldest and most complete dome-headed dinosaur fossils to date, pushing back the timeline for their emergence by about 15 million years. Found in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, the fossils are between 108 million and 115 million years old. These dinos lived during the Late Cretaceous period, which was between 86 million and 66 million years ago.
Solar Trees Generate Energy by Mimicking Nature
A new study suggests that vertical “solar trees” could create as much energy as solar farms while reducing forest loss by 99 percent. The potential advantage of solar trees over solar farms is their height, which boosts their efficiency. The study’s findings showed that as few as 63 solar trees could produce 1 megawatt (MW) of power, an output that required a ground-mounted facility to clear 98 percent of the forest on the same site.
ConocoPhillips to slash workforce by up to 25%
ConocoPhillips reported falling Q2 earnings but held dividends steady Energy giant ConocoPhillips announced sweeping workforce reductions of up to 25% of its global staff even as it reported second-quarter earnings. While these earnings were down from last year, they still allowed for billions in shareholder returns.
Scientists Have Created Glow-in-The-Dark Succulents
Could your favorite night light be replaced by a glowing plant? According to a new study, scientists have found a way to create succulents that can glow in the dark. “Picture the world of Avatar, where glowing plants light up an entire ecosystem,” study co-author Shuting Liu said in a statement. “We wanted to make that vision possible using materials we already work with in the lab.
SpaceX Starship Rocket Completes Successful Test Launch
SpaceX completed a successful test flight of its newest generation rocket, Starship. This was the firm’s 10th test flight, and this accomplishment contrasts with the explosive launches that SpaceX has been having so far this year. The world’s largest and most powerful rocket built to date took off from Texas just after 18:30 local time for a 60-minute flight.
Robot Dog Prepares for Moon and Mars Missions by Training on White Sands Dunes
Researchers are testing a dog-like robot across the terrain of White Sands National Park to prepare the bot for a trip to Mars. This area was chosen for the field experiment due to its rippling slopes and shifting surfaces, which resemble those found on the red planet. The trials are part of a NASA-funded effort tied to the agency’s Moon to Mars program, which aims to develop technologies for extended space missions.
Could Magnets Produce Oxygen More Efficiently in Space?
An international team from the University of Warwick, ZARM at Bremen, and Georgia Tech has developed a system that uses magnets to separate oxygen bubbles from water. Producing oxygen in microgravity using traditional systems in the International Space Station (ISS) requires large, energy-intensive machines. The size and lack of energy efficiency make these systems impractical for long missions.
How Do Immersive Learning Environments Improve Classroom Engagement?
Rather than relying on the traditional model of textbooks and lectures to capture the attention of students, teachers, and educators alike are turning to alternative methods. One of these methods is Immersive Learning Environments, which are designed to elevate the classroom experience by creatively using the environment itself to enhance student engagement.
Waymo Launches First Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program in New York City
City officials confirmed that Waymo has received the first permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City. This initiative marks the city’s first autonomous vehicle testing program. The program will adhere to strict safety standards, requiring a trained driver to remain behind the wheel during operations by state law. The New York Department of Transportation (DOT) has also stated that the vehicle testing will follow comprehensive safety guidelines.
World’s First Autonomous Car Designed Specifically for Personal Use
A California-based startup created the Tensor Robocar, the world’s first autonomous vehicle designed specifically for private ownership. The company approached the design differently by building the vehicle with autonomy as its primary function, rather than simply adapting a standard car. “With Tensor, we’re introducing the world’s first personal Robocar, ushering in the era of AI-defined vehicles. This isn’t a car as we know it,” said the company in a press release.
This Otter is Training to Help With Search and Rescue Missions
Meet Splash, the otter being trained to help with search-and-rescue missions in Florida. The latest member of the team at Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, experts are training Splash to help track the scent of missing people through water, where canines’ capabilities are limited. “The saying was that the investigation ends at the water’s edge,” Mike Hadsell at Peace River K9 Search and Rescue told Tampa’s local news outlet WTSP.
World’s First Wireless OLED Contact Lenses For Real-Time Diagnoses
Researchers created the world’s first wireless OLED contact lenses, which can diagnose retina-related problems in real time. It uses an ultrathin organic light-emitting diode (OLED) integrated into a contact lens to perform electroretinography (ERG). The ERG test measures the electrical response of light-sensitive cells in the eyes, which can help evaluate any decline in retinal function or inherited retinal conditions.
Robot Crab Competed in Claw-Waving Displays with Real Fiddler Crabs
A robot crab, nicknamed “Wavy Dave,” infiltrated fiddler crab communities and participated in claw-waving contests, during which males wave one oversized claw to attract females. Taking place on the mudflats of southern Portugal, this type of claw-waving behavior is crucial for fiddler crab reproduction. If a male crab impresses a female crab with this display, the female will enter the male’s burrow, where he will fertilize her eggs.
Researchers Discovered a New Interstellar Object Candidate
A new object in the solar system may have come from interstellar space and is heading toward the Sun. There are only two other known interstellar objects that have entered our solar system before: ‘Oumuamua and Comet 2I/Borisov. Comet 2I/Borisov was a comet from another solar system, and the nature of ‘Oumuamua remains unknown. Our third interstellar visitor, currently named A11pl3Z, is likely a comet or asteroid that didn’t originate from our solar system based on its trajectory.
Nine Wealth Management Achieves CISI Chartered Firm™ Status
www.cisi.org Nine Wealth Management achieves CISI Chartered Firm™ status The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is delighted to confirm that Nine Wealth Management has achieved CISI Chartered Firm™ status. CISI Chartered Firm™ status is awarded when a financial services firm demonstrates commitment to the highest levels of professionalism.
NASA Warns of Massive Solar Flares Causing Blackouts on Earth
NASA is currently warning of heightened solar activity that could lead to auroras and power outages on Earth. The sun itself has weather, and solar flares are like its storms or sudden releases of magnetic energy that can ripple all the way to Earth. The increased solar activity is because the Sun is at the peak of its 11-year cycle, also known as the solar maximum period. This is due to the star’s magnetic poles flipping, resulting in its transition to an active, stormy state.
Fledge Watch Has Officially Begun for Bald Eagles Sunny and Gizmo
Two young internet-famous eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo, are about to leave the nest for the first time. The two birds of the beloved bald eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, who nest in Southern California and welcomed the brood via live webcam in March of this year. The story of this family brood began earlier this year, after three of the couple’s eggs failed to hatch in 2024.
CISI Announces Hylko Zingstra ACSI as New South East Branch President
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment is delighted to announce Hylko Zingstra ACSI as the new South East branch president. He takes over from Suneeta Puranik, Chartered MCSI. Hylko is a director at Munehisa & Co, supporting a diverse client base seeking tax-efficient access to alternative investments across the UK and Benelux markets. He has worked in derivatives broking for over ten years, engaging with regulators, counterparties and investors.
10 Creative Valentine's Day Date Ideas
Whether you’re celebrating with a loved one, family, or friends, elevate your Valentine’s Day this year by planning one of these creative and heartfelt Valentine’s date ideas. Give date night at home a yummy twist by cooking a meal together. This could simply involve crafting a recipe or couples could get more creative by turning it into a game. Make a series of different types of pizzas and conduct a taste test with rankings to determine the best variety.
From Beauty Buzzword to Prenatal Super Nutrient: Collagen’s Surprising Benefits for Moms-to-Be
In recent years, collagen has grown in popularity, gaining a reputation in the beauty industry as a “fountain of youth” supplement that promises glowing skin, strong nails, and shiny hair. Messaging around this dietary supplement has been so effective, in fact, that the collagen market is currently valued at $5.9 billion, and is expected to reach $14.4 billion by 2033.
Mendocino Farms Expands Hoofprint in Seattle Area with New Kirkland Restaurant
Mendocino Farms, the fast-casual restaurant known for turning sandwiches, salads and more into an unexpected culinary adventure, is opening its third Seattle-area location in Kirkland (12540 120th Ave NE, Suite 102) on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Loveland vs Fort Collins
Head-to-Head Loveland won yesterday Loveland 26 25 25 3 Fort Collins 24 18 22 0 The Loveland (CO) varsity volleyball team won Wednesday's away conference match against Fort Collins (CO) by a score of 3-0. Match starts in 28 day The Fort Collins (CO) varsity volleyball team has an away conference match @ Loveland (CO) on Thursday, October 24 @ 6:30p.
New Study Overturns Century-old Theory on the Origins of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone
Where Inspiration and Creation Drive Innovation and Production
Vault on the Moon Could Preserve Earth’s Biodiversity
Where Inspiration and Creation Drive Innovation and Production
Significant Number Of Ohio Counties Finalizing Tax Valuation Changes For Tax Year 2024
The State of Ohio requires counties to reappraise properties for tax purposes every six years. The January 1, 2024 tax lien date value is the basis for the tax bills paid during calendar year 2025. For tax year 2024, several Northeast Ohio counties are reappraising properties. Given the challenge of re-valuing all properties in a county, it can be difficult for the county auditor or fiscal officer to fully understand specific challenges facing a property.
Researchers May Have Found a Way to Predict the Intensity of Solar Storms
Though predicting space weather can be difficult, researchers are now reporting a better understanding of solar storms. A coronal mass ejection erupting from the Sun in June 2015; Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are powerful expulsions of the Sun’s magnetic field and plasma.
MIT Creates a Soft Robotic System Designed to Pack Groceries
MIT’s CSAIL department has unveiled RoboGrocery, a system that combines computer vision with a soft robotic gripper to bag various grocery items gently. Researchers placed 10 unknown objects on a grocery conveyor belt to test the new system. The products ranged from more delicate items such as grapes, kale, muffins, bread, and crackers to sturdier items such as meal boxes, soup cans, ice cream containers, etc.
Researchers Discover Oldest Narrative Rock Art Dating Back 51,200 Years
Archaeologists have discovered the first known example of narrative or rock art that tells a story. The rock painting was discovered in the Leang Karampuang region of Maros-Pangkep in South Sulawesi, Indonesia; Photo: Google Arts & Culture Located among the rock walls in the lowland karst landscape of South Sulawesi, the narrative artwork is one of many studied by researchers from Griffith University and several Indonesian organizations.
Flower Farms Could Supply Nickel For EV Batteries
As the demand for electric vehicles increases, the demand for resources to make them also increases. This includes minerals such as nickel, and while mining more ore can help with the demand, some startups are also using farming as a more sustainable approach. Mining, often powered by carbon-emitting fossil fuels, can negatively impact the environment. For example, mining a tonne of nickel for a non-polluting EV could still generate up to 59 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Celebrate Conservation Day With These 7 Energy-Saving Tips
July 28 is Conservation Day. Celebrate by using these tips to optimize your energy usage, save money, and protect the environment. In addition to being careful with your AC usage, ensuring that you’re performing routine maintenance on your unit also helps with conservation. For example, regularly replacing or cleaning air filters can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption by up to 15 percent.
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