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13 Things You Need To Know Today (June 27)

Leah Vanderveldt
Author:
June 27, 2016
Leah Vanderveldt
By Leah Vanderveldt
mbg Contributor
Leah Vanderveldt is an author living in Brooklyn, New York. She received her bachelor’s in communications and media from Fordham University, and is certified in culinary nutrition from the Natural Gourmet Institute. She is the author of two cookbooks: The New Nourishing and The New Porridge.
Photo by Stocksy
June 27, 2016

1. The Stonewall National Monument has been designated part of America's National Park System.

Obama has officially designated Stonewall as the first national monument to tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights in America, and we couldn't be happier. (Instagram)

2. Checking Instagram at night might make you temporarily blind.

Two U.K. women suffered temporary blindness (both having difficulty seeing out of one eye) after consistently using their phones just before going to sleep and first thing upon waking up in the morning. If this happens to you, try turning down the brightness on your phone before you start to panic. (Science of Us)

3. Actor Patrick Wilson believes in the meditative powers of running.

Known for his parts in The Conjuring and Watchmen, Wilson regularly trains for marathons, calling the rigorous regimen a kind of "athlete's meditation." He doesn't like to train with headphones either, because he likes the opportunity to "zone out," reinforcing that meditation can take many forms—it's all about what works for you. (Bloomberg)

4. The tampon of the future will be able to detect disease in your blood.

A tampon able to test to for STIs and cancer might be on the way, according to updates from NextGen Jane, a startup focused on putting women’s health in their own hands—erm, vaginas—starting with so-called smart tampons. Their hope is that their tampon will not only test for biomarkers that help diagnose medical conditions like endometriosis, cervical cancer, and fertility, but will also empower those using the product to take control of their health instead of relying on a doctor.

5. The "flavor window" could be the key to getting your baby to eat vegetables.

An analysis of studies shows that the optimal age to get your baby to try new foods and flavors—and actually like them—is about 4 to 6 months. The flavor window closes around 18 months, but you can still get picky eaters to be more perceptive to unfamiliar flavors past that age if you have them try something 5 to 15 times. (Quartz)

6. LeBron James says he'll skip the summer Olympics.

The basketball star, fresh off of his NBA championship win, says he won't be playing in Rio because he "could use the rest." Same goes for Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry. Meanwhile, other top athletes, like golfer Rory McIlroy, said they won't be attending due to concerns about the Zika virus. (NYT)

7. Minority babies are now the majority in America.

For the first time, new Census Bureau data finds that just over half, or 50.2 percent, of all American babies under a year old are racial or ethnic minorities. (Pew)

8. Sensory Processing Disorder might have developed as an evolutionary advantage.

There's a new theory that sufferers of SPD (which makes you especially reactive to both physical and emotional stimulus) are at the extreme end of the spectrum of sensitivity, which humans developed as a survival mechanism. (Quartz)

9. Will you accept Flywheel's challenge?

The indoor cycling sensation is offering its first-ever 7-Day Challenge kicking off today. For $125, you can get five Flywheel or FlyBarre classes across 11 studios (in NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia), a nutrition plan to boost your metabolism, support from an instructor coach, and a free salad or bowl from sweetgreen. Plus, you get to celebrate your success on July 4th weekend. Sounds pretty ideal to us. (Flywheel Sports)

10. Young men rarely get tested for HIV.

The CDC recommends that all adults routinely get tested for HIV. And yet, a new report shows that just 1 percent of doctors' appointments for men ages 15 to 39 included testing for HIV. The researchers suspect it may because doctors might not know it's recommended across all groups or because they think the young men they see aren't at risk. (TIME)

11. Starbucks is holding out on us with these healthy "secret menu" options.

The frappuccino-slinging chain isn't exactly known for being the healthiest, but there are some pretty healthy, vibrantly colored options on its "secret menu" that are taking social media by storm. First, it was the "Pink Drink," and now it's the "Purple Drink," a mixture of Teavana Shaken Iced Passion Tango Tea, soy milk, vanilla syrup, and blackberries. Apparently, purple is the new pink.

12. Edible spoons are a thing. Hey, it's better than throwing away all that plastic, right?

Bakey's sells edible spoons made out of dried millet, rice, and wheat (with gluten-free options available). They're reported to taste like crackers and come in three flavors—sweet, savory, and plain. Even if you don't love the idea of eating your cutlery, at least they're biodegradable. (NPR)

13. Watch this warrior monk share his inspiring philosophy about martial arts.

He also happens to be a major influence on the Wu-Tang Clan. (The Great Big Story)

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