TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

AMERICANS WANT FEWER INGREDIENTS IN THEIR SNACKS

If you’ve ever looked at the back of a snack package and wondered if you accidentally picked up a chemistry textbook, you’re not alone.

A new survey finds 60% of Americans think snacks contain too many ingredients, while even more say they trust products more when the ingredient list is shorter. Taste is still the biggest factor when choosing a snack, followed by how filling it is, but protein and less-processed options are also becoming more important.

HOW TO MAKE THE SCHOOL YEAR A LITTLE LESS CHAOTIC

Back-to-school season is here, which means calendars everywhere are about to become works of modern art. Experts say the best way to avoid the chaos is to get organized before school starts by adding holidays, early-release days, school events, testing dates and extracurricular activities to the calendar now. And don’t forget the little things—like packing soccer equipment or remembering who needs a ride. One suggestion is a 15-minute “Sunday Sync” each week to review what’s coming up and catch conflicts before they become emergencies. And yes, experts even recommend putting family dinners, homework, free time and relaxation on the calendar.

THINGS THAT WERE EMBARRASSING AT 18 BUT ARE ATTRACTIVE NOW

Remember when being responsible, going to bed early and packing your own lunch made you officially uncool? Well, congratulations—those things are apparently attractive now. A recent online thread asked people what they found embarrassing at 18 but appreciate as adults, and the answers included helping your parents, being nerdy about your interests, planning ahead, being financially responsible, humility, kindness and even having a weekend with absolutely no plans. Turns out growing up is mostly realizing that the things we thought were boring were actually signs that someone had their life together.

STAT OF THE DAY: MAJOR ALBUM RELEASES AND TRAFFIC DEATHS

Here’s a strange connection between music and driving:

researchers at Harvard Medical School found that fatal traffic crashes increased by about 15% on days when major albums were released compared with surrounding days. The researchers believe the problem may be distracted drivers fiddling with their phones while trying to queue up a new album or song. Their advice isn’t to drive in silence—it’s simply to pick the music before you start driving, hit play and put the phone away. So if your favorite artist drops a new album, enjoy it—but maybe don't turn your car into a mobile DJ booth while you're doing 70

WHO FARTS MORE—MEN OR WOMEN?

Finally, science has tackled one of humanity’s most important questions: who breaks wind more, men or women? Researchers analyzed more than 360,000 recordings from people using a smartphone app. The results were surprisingly close, with men averaging 5.2 and women averaging 4.8. So, technically, men win—but not by much. And considering researchers had to create a “phone app” to get these numbers, this may be the most important scientific breakthrough we’ve ever discussed on this show.

FDA ISSUES HIGHEST-LEVEL RECALL FOR MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION EGGS

The FDA has upgraded a recall involving about 1.6 million eggs to its highest-risk classification because of potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled eggs were sold under several brands, including Kroger, Brookshire’s, Country Morning, Simple Truth and Sunups, with sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through August 17. If you have eggs in the refrigerator, it may be worth checking the brand and date before making that omelet.

NOW YOU CAN FIND OUT IF YOU’VE BEEN “FLOCKED”

Wondering if your license plate has been scanned by one of those Flock surveillance cameras? A new website called “Have I Been Flocked” allows people to check publicly available records showing whether their vehicle has been captured by Flock cameras used by law enforcement. The information isn’t complete because it relies on public records, but it gives drivers a new way to see whether their vehicle may have been picked up by the camera network.

YOUR HOME DECOR COULD BE TRAPPING HEAT

If your house feels like an oven this summer, your thermostat might not be the only thing to blame. Good Housekeeping says some of your decorating choices could actually be helping keep the heat inside. Dark paint and décor absorb more heat, synthetic bedding can trap warmth, heavy window coverings can block airflow and light, incandescent bulbs produce more heat, and even wool rugs can make rooms feel warmer. So if your house feels hotter than the outside, it might be time to swap out some décor.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE A UFO?

If you happen to look into the sky and see something you absolutely cannot explain, experts say the first thing to do is stay calm—and maybe resist immediately posting “ALIENS!!!” on Facebook. Instead, document exactly what you saw, including the time, direction and movement, then check flight and satellite information and try to reconstruct what was happening in the night sky. You can also contact a local astronomy club or use tools that compare your sighting with known objects. And if you’re still convinced you saw something unexplained, report it. Just remember: “I saw a weird light” is a lot more useful when you know exactly where and when you saw it.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2026

A FEW PSYCHOLOGICAL TRICKS THAT COULD HELP YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Experts say there are a few psychological principles that can help strengthen a relationship. The Law of Association suggests creating positive memories together, while the Law of Repetition is all about building routines that reinforce those good feelings. The Law of Dominance says not to let negative traits overshadow the positive ones, while the Laws of Reverse and Delayed Action suggest allowing your relationship to grow naturally and giving challenges time to strengthen your bond rather than trying to force everything.

HALF OF WORKERS NEVER GO OUTSIDE DURING THE WORKDAY

If your idea of a lunch break is eating at your desk while answering emails, you're definitely not alone. A new survey found that 56% never step outside during the workday, while 85% admit they skip lunch altogether on some days. And here's the weird part: 91% say taking a real lunch break is essential, and 63% actually think more highly of coworkers who make time for one. Workers who eat lunch outside report their happiness jumping from 51% to 66%, but when people do take a break, they spend an average of 61% of it staring at their phones or laptops. So apparently, we've mastered the art of taking a break without actually taking a break.

TEACHERS REVEAL WHAT BACK-TO-SCHOOL STUFF IS ACTUALLY WORTH BUYING

Back-to-school shopping can get expensive fast, but teachers say you don't need to buy everything on those giant school supply lists. Educators recommend spending your money on things kids will actually use, including a comfortable backpack, good shoes, binders and organizational supplies, pencils—and even a library card, which is free. On the other hand, teachers say you can probably skip the expensive supplies, fidget toys and even AirTags, because kids also need to learn how to keep track of their own stuff.

WANT TO SLEEP BETTER? PICK UP A BOOK

If your bedtime routine currently involves lying in bed scrolling until your eyes hurt, experts say there's a better option: read a book. Reading before bed doesn't necessarily make you sleepy, but it can quiet your mind, reduce stimulation and help signal to your brain that it's time to wind down. Experts recommend an actual print book or a basic e-reader rather than your phone, since notifications, blue light and endless scrolling can keep your brain wide awake.

TAKING THE STAIRS COULD ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE

Researchers say people who regularly take the stairs have a 39% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared with people who don't. One study suggests that climbing around six flights of stairs a day may provide the biggest benefit. Of course, researchers point out this doesn't prove the stairs themselves are extending your life—but if the elevator is broken, you can at least tell yourself you're doing something good for your heart.

OZEMPIC BABIES? THERE'S A WARNING ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL

There's apparently another potential complication involving the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic: unplanned pregnancies. Scientists say GLP1 medications can affect how the body processes certain medications, potentially including hormonal contraceptives like birth-control pills. The concern is that if those medications aren't absorbed or processed properly, their effectiveness could be reduced. So if someone taking a GLP-1 medication is also relying on hormonal birth control, it's something they should discuss with their healthcare provider.

CHRONIC STRESS COULD ACTUALLY AGE YOUR BRAIN

Stress isn't just something that makes you want to scream into a pillow—it may actually affect how your brain functions over time. Chronic stress can affect memory, make it harder to concentrate, contribute to brain fog and potentially accelerate brain aging. Experts suggest regular exercise, a healthy diet, getting consistent sleep, making time for things you enjoy and practicing meditation.

THESE ARE APPARENTLY THE MOST HATED WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

There are certain words that can make your skin crawl the second you hear them—and according to "Word Smarts," one word continues to dominate the hate list: "moist." It's followed by "phlegm," "squelch," "whatever," "irregardless," "like," "bae" and "panties." That's a pretty impressive collection of words that can make an otherwise normal conversation suddenly uncomfortable.

YES, THERE'S ACTUALLY SELF-CHECKOUT ETIQUETTE

We've all been using self-checkout long enough that apparently we need rules for it. The etiquette experts say pay attention to signs and item limits, don't leave a mess behind, respect other people's personal space, be nice to the employees, actually read the checkout screen and have your stuff ready when it's time to pay. And honestly, that last one might be the most important: if you've spent five minutes scanning 37 items, please don't suddenly act surprised that the machine wants you to pay.