8 Things You Need To Know Today (January 8, 2018)

But before you stock up on a lifetime supply of your favorite chocolate bar, you should know that scientists are working on new ways to defeat the viruses and fungi threatening cacao trees every day. The newest solution? Tools that are capable of editing the genes of cacao plants. (Scientific American)

A new small study published in JAMA Dermatology found that women who performed certain facial exercises, dubbed facial yoga, for 20 consecutive weeks looked about three years younger on average. More evidence of the superpowers of yoga. (Northwestern University)

In Singapore, rising sea levels are threatening coastal communities and the government is taking action in a big way. They're installing walls along an incredible 70 percent of the coast, and changing the requirements on what land is okay to build on. (The Straits Times)

In an effort to expand their sustainability efforts, H&M just unveiled a new line of activewear made of recycled fabrics using production practices that aim to create less waste. It's just another step in the Swedish brand's journey to only sell clothing that is recycled or made of more sustainable materials by 2030. (Well To Do)

A new study, published in the journal Nature, shows that if mothers take folic acid, multivitamin supplements, or both around the time of their pregnancy, their offspring have a decreased risk of autism spectrum disorders. (Medical News Today)

Here's another reason to check your nutrition labels for added sugar: According to new research, the popular dietary sugar trelahose may have been responsible for for the rise of two bacterial epidemics. Yikes. (EurekaAlert!)

Between 1991 and 2014, the cancer mortality rate in the US dropped 25%. According to a recent report by the American Cancer Society, the nation's overall cancer death rate declined again in 2015, indicating we're making progress in fighting the disease. We're on the path to wellness! (Cancer.org)

Whether it's a social activity to do with friends or a way to unwind at the end of a stressful day, the urge to have a glass of wine or two is not uncommon. But if you sense your drinking is tipping into territory you're not comfortable with or you're simply skipping drinking this month, you might want to give mindfulness a try. Don't believe us? Read this woman's account. (Washington Post)