How did the bra come to be? It’s surprisingly complicated.

Plus, how superbolts occur; the special properties in octopuses; are you drinking water all wrong?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

WHAT IS POTS? VIEW ONLINE

WHAT IS POTS?

THE STRANGE SCIENCE OF SUPPORT

Saturday, October 7, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we learn the surprising history of the bra, welcome the New Zealand kakapo’s homecoming, learn how this intense lightning occurs ... and question how belief has the power to heal.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUISA RICCIARINI, BRIDGEMAN IMAGES An archaeological find delivered some uplifting news in the world of women’s lingerie—the bra has been around a lot longer than people thought. Also, weirdly, aspects of the recently developed sports bra may have antecedents going back millennia. WHAT’S UP?

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATT ROURKE/AP

Breathing in bad air can cause inflammation (Above, smoke billows from a oil refinery in Philadelphia.) Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day? How the holiday has been shaped by oppression Related: What exactly is colonialism? What is POTS? This strange disorder has doubled since the pandemic Does belief have the power to heal? Even science says it might. Can this big cat be saved? Superbolts are 1,000 times stronger and brighter than average lightning, How do they occur?

Jackie O's big secret: A pioneering designer who is finally being recognized Why the new COVID shot is a game-changer (and why the term ‘booster’ is obsolete)

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID LIITSCHWAGER, QUEENSLAND SUSTAINABLE SEALIFE, AUSTRALIA Honoring Ursula: In recognition of World Octopus Day tomorrow, we take a look at the anatomy of these diverse soft-bodied sea creatures. Which one of these special properties do octopuses (one pictured above) not have? A. They change shape and color. B. They return your scrutinizing stare. C. They have red blood. D. They reproduce only once in a lifetime. CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

Related: Is Ursula from 'The Little Mermaid' an octopus? Sort of.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAM DANIELS Drink up: You need water to survive—but how much? Social media says a gallon a day, but is that accurate? And what about your water needing minerals, alkalinity, or salt—how much do they matter? We have your hydration questions, answered. HOW TO HYDRATE

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAKE OSBORNE Coming home: The kākāpō—a New Zealand-native, flightless, and slow bird—was on the brink of extinction, so three sanctuaries took on the role of bringing the population back. One hundred kākāpō have been born since 2019—and the first kākāpō in half a century just returned home. HOW THEY WERE SAVED

Today’s soundtrack: (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher, Rita Coolidge This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, Cameron Peters, and Jen Tse. Amanda Williams-Bryant, Alisher Egamov, Rita Spinks, and Jeremy Brandt-Vorel also contributed this week. Thanks for reading!

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