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skims, please.
It’s that time of week… newsletter day!! And you know I would never leave you hanging. 😉
This edition is a little different, intentionally sprinkled with positive news stories in science, health, culture, and politics because… let’s be real… we are all in need of a dose of optimism.
Here’s a glimpse at what you won’t want to miss: the awe-worthy power of our gut’s microbiome, scientists gene-editing mosquitos to be malaria-resistant, the return of social media’s fun side, the psychology of the Labubu craze, whether the Skims face-snatching wrap is worth it, and much more.
What are you waiting for? Let’s go!
🧪 Science stuff
Gut microbes may flush ‘forever chemicals’ from the body – science news
The mere concept of ‘forever chemicals’ – man-made toxins used to make everything from plastic containers to beauty products and non-stick cookware – that never break down in the environment is enough to freak anyone out. But learning they are contaminating pretty much everyone’s body? Yeah, that’s terrifying. In a surprisingly positive twist, researchers have discovered that microbes in the human gut may be able to absorb these ‘forever chemicals’ and expel them. A study on mice found that good gut bacteria is able to absorb forever chemicals when they encounter them, and get rid of them through… well, poop. Considering this is likely happening within the human body as well, it’s just another reason to trust your gut!
Scientists edit mosquito gene to impede spread of malaria – thred
The world-renowned CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool has once again put its mind-blowing capabilities to use. In a study published in Nature, researchers announced that targeting a gene called ‘FREP1’ in mosquitoes essentially rids them of their malaria-carrying capabilities. By modifying this particular gene, the researchers found a way to block malaria-ridden parasites from invading the mosquito’s gut. This method prevents more malaria infections from spreading, while causing no harm to the mosquito itself. Every year, malaria causes the deaths of an estimated 600,000 people globally. The overall idea is for these genetically altered mosquitoes to be released into the wild and breed with wild mosquitoes. If this gene modification is inherited by future generations of mosquitos, it could mean a future that is malaria-free.
📸 Culture corner
The return of the ‘OG Instagram’ aesthetic – dazed
Are we all done with the overly-curated, heavily edited, and performance-like era of Instagram? It seems like it. Celebrities and influencers are still using social media, but they’re posting like it’s 2015 again, and honestly, it’s a welcome change. From mass-posting random shit (if you’re Justin Bieber) and the return of Instagram preset filters (if you’re Steve Lacy), it seems like people are starting to take themselves less seriously online. We may be about to return to an era of social media that was fun, and well, social. All that’s left is for the rest of us to jump on the bandwagon. Less curation, more imperfection, and real random moments captured are what we all need.
On having trash pussy – ivy wolk (via substack)
For the sake of this newsletter, I’ll try to do this tormenting, yet wonderfully witty essay justice. But you could also go ahead and check it out yourself. Alternatively titled ‘Can A Girl With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and a Man With a Normal Libido Live Quietly Beside One Another?,’ this essay is an essential read for women who’ve internalised the unfortunately rife and toxic belief that sex is a form of currency in long-term relationships, one that’s necessary to cough up even when it’s extremely painful or when you simply don’t want to, because that is the only way to keep a man around and/or stop them from cheating. It reads as a letter of solidarity to women who cannot enjoy sex for whatever reason (a topic that isn’t talked about enough), and informative for those who (only by a stroke of luck and bit of biology) are able to. Ivy’s raw honesty made me an immediate subscriber.
💬 Politics + progress
Support for hardline anti-immigration policies linked to ignorance about migration figures – guardian
A new poll conducted by YouGov revealed that most people who hold hardline anti-immigrant views are ignorant about the level of illegal immigration into the UK and over-estimate the extent to which irregular migration contributes to the overall net migration figures. YouGov blames the massive amount of media and political attention dedicated to people arriving illegal in the UK on small boats for fuelling this skewed perception. The poll shows most people support cuts to migration numbers while still allowing some migrants into the country – which is, broadly speaking, what Labour and the Tories both advocate. However, almost half of voters either strongly (26%) or somewhat (19%) support ‘admitting no more new migrants and requiring large numbers of migrants who came to the UK in recent years to leave’. YouGov describes this finding as ‘extraordinary,’ considering that ‘a policy that forces migrants already settled in the UK for years to leave has not been supported by anyone in mainstream politics for decades, and even now it is a cause that is principally being championed by people who are unashamedly racist.’ Maybe it’s time we bring back shame.
Norway to review $2tn oil fund’s investments in Israeli companies – financial times
It seems global pressure on the world’s biggest firms to divest from Israeli companies is working. As people become more inclined to label Israel’s 22-month assault on the people of Gaza a genocide, Norway’s finance minister Jens Stoltenberg has ordered the country’s central bank and the oil fund’s ethics council to look into their ownership of Israeli companies. It comes after a Norwegian newspaper called Aftenposten reported that the country’s wealth fund had increased its investment in the past two years in Bet Shemesh Engines, which it claimed maintains planes Israel has used in its bombing of Gaza. Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s prime minister, stated that he was ‘very concerned’ about the reports and had asked Stoltenberg to contact Norges Bank – the country’s central bank, which houses the oil fund – and get ‘good’ answers. Drag them!!!!!!
💄 Style scoop
The dopamine-driven secret to Labubu obsession – vox
I’ll admit, Labubu almost got me. For about 2-3 business days, I thought I wanted one. Then, I realised, I could live without a creepy little fluffy freak hanging off my purse. I’m one of the lucky ones. Many of you, however, have fallen victim to the craze: the dopamine-inducing impulsive purchase that you hope will give you a sense of belonging and okay-ness in a world that’s (seemingly) more divided, isolating, and insane than it’s been for decades. The Atlantic says Labubus have shot to popularity amongst adults because they are refusing to grow up – or rather, are being given permission not to – thanks to the current popularity of girlish women in mainstream media. Yahoo! says Labubu’s popularity is likely thanks to the ‘Power of Cute,’ a strategy adopted by Japan after WWII to expel its militant and fascist image. Basically, buying and sporting cute stuff makes us feel good when, in the real world, shit is really hitting the fan politically, socially, and economically. Also, some people are into the playful vibe of Labubus in a time that seems pretty bleak overall. Can you blame them?
Is there even a point to facial shapewear? – vogue business
Kim Kardashian’s Skims just launched ‘collagen-infused’ shapewear for your face, because what good is it to have a snatched waist if your mug is sagging to the floor? Let us all join together for a collective sigh. Vogue asked three experts whether face shapewear is effective, and to save you the read, I’ll sum up their responses here. Expert 1 said: ‘Compression wraps can give a temporary de-puffing effect because they squeeze out lymphatic fluid and slightly shift superficial fat pads’ but that any changes will not be long-lasting. Expert 2 said: ‘Collagen in fabric cannot penetrate the skin or significantly impact collagen production,’ so you might get some superficial hydration, but zero long-term structural changes. Expert 3 said: ‘Tight, non-breathable fabrics can trap sweat, oil and bacteria, which increases the risk of breakouts, clogged pores and irritation, particularly for acne-prone or sensitive skin types.’ In sum? Save your coin and your skin, girlie.
