deep sea discoveries + male friendship histories

whatever happened to a little romance between bros?

Hello everyone!

Wishing you a week that has started off excellently, and if not, here’s to hoping this newsletter can shine a little light on it!

Ahead we have some excellent news for women’s health, an exploration of the history of male friendships, a deep dive into how avoidant texting habits are shaping our ability to deal with conflict, never-before-seen photographs of newly discovered marine species, and much MUCH more.

Hope you’re as pumped as I am… let’s go!

News

UK, France, Canada threaten ‘concrete actions’ against Israel over Gaza – al jazeera
‘Horrified’ by Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, leaders of the UK, France and Canada have suggested they will impose ‘targeted sanctions’ on the country. This comes after Israeli Prime Minister launched a new offensive that involved land invasion, relentless bombing, and halting food, fuel, and medical aid in the early days of March. The trio of leaders have called Israel’s actions ‘egregious’ ‘wholly disproportionate,’ with the UK just announcing suspended trade talks with Israel.

Doctors urged to treat pain for IUD insertion and other procedures – npr
Anyone who’s ever had a cervical biopsy or IUD inserted without pain-killers will likely see this news as a tremendous win. For years, millions of women have suffered through in-office gynaecological procedure with nothing more than ibuprofen and white knuckles. In its new recommendations for cervical and uterine procedures, released last week, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there is ‘an urgent need’ for this to change. If implemented, its new recommendations for pain management could change the standard for pain management options during women’s healthcare globally.

Culture corner

How the passionate male friendship died – wsj
For centuries, the most idealised platonic bond was one that occurred between two men. However, today’s depictions of male friendship has portrayed them as struggling with vulnerability or incapable of sustaining long-term bonds. This article explores the history of male friendships – those so close they would probably be deemed romantic today – and when (and why) men suddenly veered into to being detached and hesitant. ‘Photographs from the 1850s to the early 1900s show male friends holding hands or draping their arms around each other; sentimental letters between men in this period also abound. But by the second half of the 19th century, a new narrative about men’s friendships was on the rise.’ And yeah, it has a little to do with homophobia.

“Dry texting,” explained – vox
No doubt, phones, texting, and social media have make it easier for all of us to avoid conflict, offering them new methods and opportunities to passive-aggressively show disapproval of people our social circles. This is especially true for teenagers, who have grown up deploying strategic avoidance techniques and communicating in entirely new digital languages. Leaving someone on read, half-swiping on Snapchat, or turning off location sharing are amongst the long list of behaviours that can send the recipient on the other end into an anxious spiral. While these avoidant-like actions aren’t exclusive to teenagers, it turns out that practicing them from an early age is making young people more conflict-averse.

Style stuff

Cannes Film Festival bans oversized outfits and naked dressing – guardian
The sheer dress has become something of a go-to for stars on the red carpet events, so much so that seeing a sparsely-covered nipple or butt crack at some of the most prestigious recent events hardly evokes any reaction from spectators. Seriously, I never thought I’d never grow tired at the sight of glittery, diamond encrusted gowns, but I have – and I’m apparently not alone. At yesterday’s Cannes Film Festival, organisers banned ‘naked dresses’ and oversized gowns in the name of ‘decency’ – a decision that some read as ‘a push toward the conservative’. It’s also one that several stars ignored. Who knew that what was once bold would become so basic?

Why are we still so hung up on feminine muscles?– thred
The female body has long been asked to shrink – physically and philosophically. Muscularity, on the other hand, has always belonged to men, signifying strength, force, and power. These are all things that imply agency. And agency – as we know – isn’t traditionally the realm of the woman. This is what makes the current rise in female strength training both exhilarating and deeply political. More women are lifting weights, building visible muscle, and reimagining their bodies not as something to be trimmed or subdued, but as something capable. When a woman gains muscle, she doesn’t just gain strength. She becomes harder to overlook. She takes up more space, both literally and symbolically – and it’s unfortunately no surprise that a lot of people have a problem with that.

Nature knows

Travel companies have reported a near 50 percent drop in travel bookings for Asia this summer, with numerous sources predicting a serious natural disaster is to hit in the summer of 2025. A Japanese manga called ‘The Future I Saw’ accurately predicted the 2011 tsunami, and readers are worried its prediction for a catastrophe this year is brewing. This has been compounded by psychics from Japan and Hong Kong who have shared similar warnings, as well as visions from the Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga before her death. All of this has triggered unfounded panic online, leading to a flurry of cancelations of travel plans from destinations in the region. The drop in visitors is expected to continue for the coming months.

See magical new deep-sea photos of coral gardens and thermal vents – euronews
It never ceases to amaze me that scientists learn new things about our oceans every day. Indeed, we know more about outer space than our own planet’s waters, which should give us all the more reason to protect all life within them. Check out these new photos of never-before-seen marine life from a a deep-sea expedition to the South Sandwich Islands near Antarctica. New species are being discovered every DAYYYY!!!!! Come on!

Recommendation

Need a low-effort show to watch after a long day of working, socialising, or working your brain too its capacity? I have the perfect thing. Vanderpump Rules is an 11-season-long Bravo show that is so scandalous, dramatic, ridiculous, and hilarious that you may find yourself watching it for several hours, while you cook, clean, and prepare for bed. As if the loose-cannon cast isn’t enough entertainment, it’s also so fun to watch the evolution of fashion, makeup trends, and the emergence of social media via the show, which started in 2013.

Anyway… I’d recommend starting with season 10 & 11. Then go back to the beginning. This sounds counterintuitive, I know… but trust me.

Thanks for reading and make sure to subscribe for the latest news on Gen Z and youth culture. Also, don’t forget to check out The Gen Zer for a weekly roundup of more trending insights, stories, and discussions.