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The Independent •

Researchers find that ‘superpowers’ are real - they’re just not what we expect

Researchers have found that superpowers may be real, but they may not be what we expect.

In research collected for her upcoming book Superpowered, author Erika Engelhaupt revealed that scientists have found what can be considered “superpowers” in humans. Although they may not be endowed with the ability to run faster than the speed of sound or fly high up in the sky, research indicates that some humans possess abilities far beyond the norm that may be considered “super.”

From the Sherpa people
The Independent •

What is ‘CrowTok’? The influencers rehabilitating the misunderstood bird’s reputation

TikTok users have built a niche online community dedicated to normalising humans’ bond with crows.

Nicole Steinke, who posts as @Tangobird on TikTok, has taken her habit of feeding crows and turned it into video content - showing people how to interact with the chronically misunderstood birds. Steinke provides treats for a family of six crows called Waffles, Doc and Dotty, and their baby DocTok - the latter of which was named by Steinke’s 284,000 followers.

She reportedly feeds the family twic
The Independent •

What are ‘friendship snacks’ and why are they important to our relationships?

Researchers have found that adult friendships are often maintained through “friendship snacks”.

With busy schedules often making it harder to spend quality time with friends as an adult, sending quick how-are-you texts, adorable animal videos, or memes can be a simple way for friends to maintain their relationships. Even if these interactions tend to ultimately be unsatisfying, they’re not meant to meet the complete needs of a friendship, and instead act as a stopgap for when plans will ultimat
The Independent •

Punxsutawney Phil becomes a father as he welcomes two newborn groundhogs

Punxsutawney Phil is a new father as he welcomes two newborn groundhogs with his partner Phyllis.

On 27 March, the famous groundhog’s Facebook page announced that he and his wife Phyllis recently welcomed two new additions to their family. In the post, they wrote, “We have Babies!! The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is very excited to announce that Phil and Phyllis have given birth to two healthy baby Groundhogs!”

They shared photos of the adorable baby groundhogs with their mom and dad. A video
The Independent •

Washington DC’s beloved cherry tree Stumpy among 300 trees set to be chopped down

Washington DC’s beloved cherry tree Stumpy is set to be chopped down.

As part of a multiyear restoration to replace the crumbling seawall around the Tidal Basin, an area surrounding the Jefferson Memorial that famously has a high concentration of cherry trees, social media phenom - the weathered cherry tree Stumpy - will reportedly be cut down along with 140 other cherry trees.

Crews are expected to begin the chopping process starting in early summer so that the seawall deterioration can be re
The Independent •

‘Grey divorce’ poses higher financial risk for women than men

Divorces among middle-aged and elderly people pose a higher financial risk to women.

In stark contrast to reports indicating that divorce rates among young adults are on the decline, researchers have noted that divorce rates have alarmingly increased among the middle-aged crowd. “Grey divorces” – defined as divorces among those age 50 and older – have skyrocketed in the past 30 years, according to a 2022 study from The Journals of Gerontology by I-Fen Lin and Susan L Brown.

Typically, divorces
The Independent •

Ozempic patients report higher fertility causing ‘Ozempic babies’

Women are reportedly experiencing an increase in fertility on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

Mothers on social media have been coming forward with their stories of getting pregnant while on weight-loss drugs, saying that the drug made it easier for them to get pregnant. On TikTok, there’s been an influx of mothers sharing their “Ozempic Baby” journeys, with one content creator crediting Ozempic with enabling their pregnancy.

“Thanks to Ozempic…this went from a weight loss journey to a pregnan
The Independent •

Many of the world’s happiest countries are also the best places for women

The countries that are the happiest also tend to have higher levels of gender equality.

Each year, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network produces the World Happiness Report, a list that determines which countries in the world are the happiest. In the annual list of the happiest countries in the world, countries like Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand made the cut.

These countries not only have the honour of being dubbed one of the happiest countries on Ear
The Independent •

Dating coaches spark debate as they push women to embrace traditional gender roles

Online dating coaches are polarising viewers as they increasingly encourage women to embrace traditional gender roles.

In her videos, 24-year-old dating coach Karla Elia often tells her one million followers that they should only date men who can “afford” them, playing into the idea that men are providers while women are receivers.

Elia’s videos have been highly criticised among viewers, but her antiquated advice has resonated among a community of heterosexual women who see relationships betwe
The Independent •

Can you manifest the love you deserve?

There’s a fine line between being a hopeful and hopeless romantic, but that line becomes blurry when practicing manifestation comes into the picture.

Those who practice manifesting believe that they have the cosmic ability to attract whatever they desire through positive thinking and self-talk, visualisation, and symbolic actions. By believing their sheer willpower can change the will of the universe, they believe that they can get what they want - even love and romance.

Over the years, these
The Independent •

Why America’s third places are making a comeback

In the past year, loneliness, isolation, and a lack of connection have all been declared as causes of a major public health crisis, with the US Surgeon General being one of many to raise the alarm that Americans are more disconnected now than ever. Some believe that this crisis - an aftershock of the Covid-19 pandemic - is symptomatic of a decline in physical community spaces where quality connections can blossom.

Sociology professor Ray Oldenburg dubbed these physical community spaces as “thir
The Independent •

Couples are hiring birds of prey to be ring bearers at their weddings

Couples across the United States are hiring birds of prey as ring bearers for their weddings.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the use of hawks, falcons, and other birds of prey as ring-bearers has become popular among animal-loving brides, renaissance fair buffs, and Harry Potter-lovers who developed a fervent adoration for owls thanks to Hedwig from the series.

“Harry Potter obviously did something for this line of work,” falconer Jonathan Gonzalez told the outlet. Gonzalez is one of se
The Independent •

Doctor roller skates into retirement after 40 years of work

A Texas doctor celebrated his retirement by rollerskating during his final shift in the emergency room.

In a viral TikTok video, Dr Phil Masterson roller skated into retirement after 40 years of work, rocking a “retired” sash gifted to him by his staff at a free-standing ER near Dallas.

As the doctor celebrated his retirement and skated to songs such as “Hit The Road Jack,” his daughter Nicole Masterson (@chanelandcoke) reportedly recorded a video of the fun moment and posted it to TikTok. The
The Independent •

Jeremy Allen White in Calvin Klein ad praised as ‘national landmark’

Jeremy Allen White has been praised for his new Calvin Klein underwear campaign, with some joking the photos are “national landmark” worthy.

The 32-year-old Iron Claw actor is the latest actor to front a campaign for the brand’s infamous advertising campaigns, with photos of the actor rolled out across billboards and social media feeds starting 5 January.

White - who got his start starring on Shameless and shot to new heights of fame due to his tour-de-force role on FX’s The Bear - showed off
The Independent •

People are obsessed with the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot

The Pop-Tart Bowl’s mascot named Strawberry captured hearts across the internet at the tail end of 2023.

At the Pop-Tarts Bowl game in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on 28 December, Strawberry charmed viewers as the Kansas State Wildcats football team beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack 28-19.

Because of the Wildcats’ victory, the team won the right to eat some delicious strawberry Pop-Tarts.

Towards the end of the game, Strawberry returned to the top of a giant toaster - where a ginormou
The Independent •

Why does Gen-Z prefer soft-launching their relationships?

As summer comes to a close, be prepared to see a wave of soft launches on your social media feeds.

“Soft launch September” was dubbed by The Cut back in 2021 as the natural precursor to “cuffing season,” defined as the period between fall and winter when lonely singletons get “cuffed” or “tied down” by a serious relationship or at least a relationship long enough to last the cold weather. But unlike cuffing season, the soft launch trend is specific to social media, as summer flings take things
The Independent •

Woman named Barbie Oppenheimer encounters difficulties amid Barbenheimer craze

A woman named Barbara “Barbie” Oppenheimer is reportedly having a tough time checking into hotels.

Barbara Oppenheimer - a retired Boston University professor and grandmother of five based in Newton, Massachusetts - has had quite the summer amid this year’s “Barbenheimer” frenzy.

In an interview with Slate, Oppenheimer revealed that numerous people thought she was joking when she would say her name outloud. The retiree recalled a specifically confusing moment during a recent vacation, saying:
The Independent •

Hugh Jackman asks fans to help him connect with blind student trying to make friends

Hugh Jackman posted to his Instagram story asking fans to help him find a blind middle school student because he wanted to wish him a wonderful school year.

On his Instagram Story, Jackman shared a viral video that The Good News Movement’s account reposted from Our Blind Side’s account. In the video, Hilda Dunford, the mother of blind Utah middle school student, Ashton, asked other parents to teach their children about blind students and encourage them to remember to be kind and inclusive towar
The Independent •

Mercury Retrograde in Virgo has arrived: Here’s what experts say about the phenomenon

As Mercury in retrograde begins on 23 August, be prepared for astrologers to blame the planets and stars for a myriad of communication issues over the next few weeks.

For 400 years, astronomers have long believed it’s a basic fact of the universe that Mercury “goes into an apparent retrograde motion,” according to Vox. But in astrology, Mercury in retrograde is a borderline religious holiday that’s typically forecasted to bring about dysfunction for everyone under the sun.

While the astrologic
The Independent •

Brother and sister who were adopted separately discover they were related all along

Adopted siblings Frank, 22, and Victoria, 19, have recently discovered that they are biologically related.

In the early 2000s, the Staten Island siblings were adopted separately by married couple Angela and Dennis. To their surprise, they found out that they were biological siblings through DNA testing from Ancestry.com, according to reports from CBS News. The family requested that their last names not be used by outlets in order to maintain their privacy.

“We were both found a year and a half
The Independent •

Gen-Z replaces LOL with new acronym IJBOL: What does it mean?

This summer, the acronym LOL has gone out of style amongst Gen-Z-ers and has been replaced in popularity by IJBOL, which stands for “I just burst out laughing”.

With social media users crowning it as the superior acronym, Gen-Z has brought the latest laughing online acronym to the forefront. The acronym IJBOL describes the real-life reaction many have when they laugh. The acronym hones in on the type of laugh that would arise from either surprise or holding it in. It’s relatable and the interne
The Independent •

Should we wear masks again? Here’s what experts have to say

The uptick of Covid transmissions this summer has raised questions about whether or not certain safety measures such as wearing masks should be brought be back.

“It is ticking up a little bit, but it’s not something that we need to raise any alarm bells over,” Dr David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told the Seattle Times. Although many health experts like Dr Dowdy don’t believe people have cause to worry, some have expressed thei
The Independent •

University offers course on the social psychology of Taylor Swift

Arizona State University will be offering eager students a new course this fall, called “The Psychology of Taylor Swift - Advanced Topics of Social Psychology.”

In an article from ASU News, the institution announced the new addition as a “swift” approach to learning psychology, and expressed its hope that, by using the pop star and her fans as a prime example of parasocial relationships, students will be able to explore the topic in a fun and relevant way. The course will also touch upon social
The Independent •

Maui wildfire victim died while trying to shield friend’s golden retriever

As wildfires ravaged the Maui community of Lahaina, one of the victims died protecting his friend’s golden retriever.

In what officials have dubbed the deadliest US blaze in a century, 68-year-old Franklin Trejos had attempted to shield Sam, the golden retriever, from the deadly flames. The dog belonged to retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his wife Shannon Weber-Bogar, Trejos’ friends of nearly 35 years.

Mr Bogar told the Associated Press that he and Trejos had decided to stay behind in an

Recent Articles

The Independent •

Controversial TikTok personality Kyle Marisa Roth dead at 36

In an announcement on Instagram on 15 April, Roth’s sister Lindsay shared with fans that the TikTokker died from unknown causes. “As a family we are still processing and deciding how to properly celebrate and honor her life,” Lindsay wrote. “We don’t know [what] happened yet.”

“So many people with her humor, intelligence, beauty, gossip activism, athleticism and more,” she continued. “She had so many gifts. if anyone wants to connect about Kyle, I'm here to talk and share memories.”

She promis
The Independent •

Repairmen discover 100-year-old time capsule while renovating Michigan home

A repair project in the house of Michigan resident, Jesse Leitch, led to the discovery of a time capsule dating back to 1915.

When a boil water advisory in Grand Rapids caused a Leitch’s heater to fail a few weeks ago, the homeowner was forced to hire some repair people to fix the problem. However, as the repair people began to work on his pipes and heater, they started to cut through the bathroom ceiling only to discover a hidden 100-year-old time capsule.

“Just basically as they were cutting
The Independent •

Surplus of sunscreen and comfy shoes: Here’s how to survive Coachella 2024

Music lovers and influencers alike are descending upon the California desert to join in on the annual revelry and chaos that takes place at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

This year, the first weekend of the 2024 Coachella festival begins on Friday 12 April until Sunday 14 April, followed by its second weekend on Friday 19 April to Sunday 21 April. Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator, and Doja Cat will headline both weekends, along with performances from Gwen Stefani’s reformed ska pu
The Independent •

Designer Roberto Cavalli dies aged 83

The news of Cavalli’s death was first announced by Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that Cavalli had succumbed to an illness and died on 12 April in his home in Florence, Italy. The renowned designer’s death was later announced by the Instagram account of his namesake brand, with the company extending their condolences to the Cavalli family as well as honouring his legacy.

Among a carousel of quotes from the late designer, the brand issued a statement announcing his death. “A life lived w
The Independent •

Family documents pet octopus giving birth to 50 babies on TikTok

According to the Clifford family’s TikTok account @doctoktupus, their Californian adult female octopus bimaculoide - called “bimacs” for short - named Terrance laid 50 eggs in December that began hatching in February. Patriarch Cameron Clifford - affectionately referred to as “octodad” by their 362,200 followers - bought the octopus for his son in October and has been documenting the family’s subsequent octopus-filled hijinks.

Back in March last year, Clifford began sharing their journey to bec
The Independent •

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher announce divorce after 13 years of marriage

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have announced their divorce after 13 years of marriage.

In statements shared on their Instagram Stories on 5 April, the longtime couple announced they decided to call it quits in 2023, and stressed that they intend to prioritise their family throughout the difficult transition.

“After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down,” the couple revealed in a joint statement. “In 2023 we jointly filed to end our marriage.”
The Independent •

What is ‘CrowTok’? The influencers rehabilitating the misunderstood bird’s reputation

TikTok users have built a niche online community dedicated to normalising humans’ bond with crows.

Nicole Steinke, who posts as @Tangobird on TikTok, has taken her habit of feeding crows and turned it into video content - showing people how to interact with the chronically misunderstood birds. Steinke provides treats for a family of six crows called Waffles, Doc and Dotty, and their baby DocTok - the latter of which was named by Steinke’s 284,000 followers.

She reportedly feeds the family twic
The Independent •

What are carefluencers? How influencers are inspiring a generation of caregivers

Carefluencers are highlighting what it’s like to take care of elderly relatives by sharing their day-to-day on the internet.

Grandchildren are increasingly making content on social media showing their grandparents enjoying their old age and going about their lives. Francesca Falzarano - an assistant professor at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology - told The New York Times that her researchers have coined a term for people who are giving a behind-the-scenes
The Independent •

What are ‘friendship snacks’ and why are they important to our relationships?

Researchers have found that adult friendships are often maintained through “friendship snacks”.

With busy schedules often making it harder to spend quality time with friends as an adult, sending quick how-are-you texts, adorable animal videos, or memes can be a simple way for friends to maintain their relationships. Even if these interactions tend to ultimately be unsatisfying, they’re not meant to meet the complete needs of a friendship, and instead act as a stopgap for when plans will ultimat
The Independent •

Travel experts share their best plane seating hacks

Travel experts have shared their best airplane seating hacks. For some travellers, selecting a plane seat can cause analysis paralysis, in which an overwhelming amount of options may lead to further indecision. Thankfully, a few seasoned travel experts have shared with Huffington Post tips and tricks to make the process less overwhelming for new and frequent travelers alike.

“I always book a window seat on flights,” Gabby Beckford, the founder of travel site Packs Light, recommended for those w
The Independent •

Parents call out Shakira over comments that Barbie was ‘emasculating’

Shakira’s comments on the Barbie movie being “emasculating” have sparked backlash from parents.

Nearly nine months after Barbie’s blockbuster debut in 2023, the 47-year-old Colombian pop star has reignited the debate surrounding the film’s feminist themes. In an interview with Allure, she revealed that her sons - Milan, 11, and Sasha, nine, who she shares with her ex-partner and football star Gerard Piqué - felt that watching the film was “emasculating”.

When asked by an interviewer what she t
The Independent •

Hunter Schafer reveals she dated friend Rosalía for five months

Hunter Schafer revealed that she once dated her friend Rosalía for five months.

In an interview for GQ’s Creativity Issue, the 25-year-old Euphoria actor confirmed to the outlet that she and the Spanish pop star, 31, were “once romantically involved” for five months in 2019. After speculation has swirled around the pair for years, with them being photographed together at fashion shows and making appearances on each other’s Instagram accounts, Schafer decided to set the record straight.

“It’s b
The Independent •

Porsche pokes fun at Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Beauty phone cases with April Fools’ ad

In honour of April Fools’ Day, luxury car brand, Porsche, hopped on the trend poking fun at Hailey Bieber’s polarising Rhode Beauty phone cases with their own version in a recent Instagram reel.

Bearing a similar grey colour, the Porsche version has its logo emblazoned on the case as well as a similar compartment to hold things. However, instead of holding Bieber’s popular lip balm, the case carries a set of car keys.

In the video’s caption, the brand wrote: “Phone, wallet, keys? Not anymore!
The Independent •

Bridal parties are increasingly choosing wellness retreats over boozy benders

A new trend points to bridal parties increasingly choosing wellness retreats over boozy benders.

More and more brides are foregoing the rowdy Bachelorette parties of yore, and instead, they’re opting for healthy, calming wellness retreats. According to one bride, a physician’s assistant named Margaret Wilson who spoke to The New York Times, she and her bridal party were drawn to the idea of “a unique experience that wasn’t solely dependent on partying”.

“I had been through a lot of life change
The Independent •

Woman says Delta Air Lines ‘targeted’ her for not wearing a bra

A woman said that Delta Air Lines targeted her for not wearing a bra.

During a news press conference on Thursday, 28 March, 38-year-old DJ Lisa Archbold held a news conference with her attorney, Gloria Allred, claiming that when she showed up to board her Delta Airlines flight at Salt Lake City Airport in January, she was singled out by airline staff. Archbold told the press, “I was targeted and humiliated.”

“It felt like a scarlet letter was being attached to me,” Archbold recalled of being e
The Independent •

Punxsutawney Phil becomes a father as he welcomes two newborn groundhogs

Punxsutawney Phil is a new father as he welcomes two newborn groundhogs with his partner Phyllis.

On 27 March, the famous groundhog’s Facebook page announced that he and his wife Phyllis recently welcomed two new additions to their family. In the post, they wrote, “We have Babies!! The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is very excited to announce that Phil and Phyllis have given birth to two healthy baby Groundhogs!”

They shared photos of the adorable baby groundhogs with their mom and dad. A video
The Independent •

Washington DC’s beloved cherry tree Stumpy among 300 trees set to be chopped down

Washington DC’s beloved cherry tree Stumpy is set to be chopped down.

As part of a multiyear restoration to replace the crumbling seawall around the Tidal Basin, an area surrounding the Jefferson Memorial that famously has a high concentration of cherry trees, social media phenom - the weathered cherry tree Stumpy - will reportedly be cut down along with 140 other cherry trees.

Crews are expected to begin the chopping process starting in early summer so that the seawall deterioration can be re
The Independent •

‘Grey divorce’ poses higher financial risk for women than men

Divorces among middle-aged and elderly people pose a higher financial risk to women.

In stark contrast to reports indicating that divorce rates among young adults are on the decline, researchers have noted that divorce rates have alarmingly increased among the middle-aged crowd. “Grey divorces” – defined as divorces among those age 50 and older – have skyrocketed in the past 30 years, according to a 2022 study from The Journals of Gerontology by I-Fen Lin and Susan L Brown.

Typically, divorces
The Independent •

Ozempic patients report higher fertility causing ‘Ozempic babies’

Women are reportedly experiencing an increase in fertility on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.

Mothers on social media have been coming forward with their stories of getting pregnant while on weight-loss drugs, saying that the drug made it easier for them to get pregnant. On TikTok, there’s been an influx of mothers sharing their “Ozempic Baby” journeys, with one content creator crediting Ozempic with enabling their pregnancy.

“Thanks to Ozempic…this went from a weight loss journey to a pregnan
The Independent •

Parents pledge to ban children from using social media until eighth grade

Parents are pledging to ban children from using social media until the eighth grade.

In an interview with NBC News, a mother from Indiana named Emily Meyer spoke about the “Wait until 8th” movement, saying that she’s pledging to only allow her children to have phones when they reach the age of 13. Meyer said that she and her husband had already agreed to wait for their own family to give their children phones.

“We have made kids grow up in this society way too fast,” the mother of three said.
The Independent •

Many of the world’s happiest countries are also the best places for women

The countries that are the happiest also tend to have higher levels of gender equality.

Each year, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network produces the World Happiness Report, a list that determines which countries in the world are the happiest. In the annual list of the happiest countries in the world, countries like Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand made the cut.

These countries not only have the honour of being dubbed one of the happiest countries on Ear
The Independent •

Woman says those experiencing pregnancy loss need separate waiting rooms

A woman has called for hospitals to have separate waiting rooms for patients experiencing pregnancy loss.

In a TikTok video, India Batson candidly spoke about how she wished there were special waiting rooms for people like her who have suffered pregnancy loss. She reflected on her experience at a recent Ob-Gyn doctor appointment, in which she noted how heart-wrenching it was to be surrounded by pregnant women so soon after having a miscarriage.

“Sitting in that waiting room next to tons of pre
The Independent •

Influencer divides viewers saying men ‘should pay on the first date’

An influencer sparked a debate after saying that men “should pay on the first date” because women spend a lot on makeup.

In a viral TikTok video, beauty influencer Elle McNamara - who goes by BambiDoesBeauty on the platform - took part in an ongoing trend in which content creators break down how much their make-up routines cost. As she did her makeup, McNamara off-handedly said that because the total cost of her look came to £233.07, men should foot the bill on the first date.

Her expensive be
The Independent •

Mother surprises son with Barnes & Noble shopping spree on his birthday

A mother has found herself celebrated on social media after surprising her son with a two-minute shopping spree at Barnes and Noble for his birthday.

In a viral TikTok video, Jaci Moore took her son, Bentley, to one of the bookstore chain’s locations in Illinois on his 12th birthday. She set a timer and gave him one bag from the store to fill up with as many books as he could carry.

“Be nice to the books,” she cautioned him in the video, to which he replied with a smile: “This is your idea.”