News Above the Noise—Week of December 22, 2024
1. 2024: The Year in Pictures
From a Presidential assassination attempt to continued war in Gaza and Ukraine to the dazzling spectacle of the Paris Olympics, this year was made up of truly extraordinary moments. And Times photographers were there to capture them. Look back on some of the most powerful, evocative and history-making images of 2024.
Why Faith is a Laughing Matter
Are Catholic priests funny? According to Pope Francis, the best ones are. In this New York Times guest essay, the Pope discusses the lesser-known virtue of self-irony and how laughing at yourself is an antidote to narcissism. Here's why humor helps us connect with our humanity.
3. The Holidays Aren’t Mandatory
This may be shocking to some: but, you are not required to participate in family gatherings, neighborhood parties, or RSVP yes to every invite you receive during the holidays. In fact, there is a way to prioritize your needs and still show up for the people you care about on the other 364 days of the year. Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, provides some guidelines for opting out with grace and finding different ways to connect with loved ones outside of prescribed holidays.
4. Your Body is Full of Microplastics
Defined as any plastic particle as small as 1 nanometer and as large as 5 millimeters, microplastics can be small enough to infiltrate a human cell. Just what are these foreign materials doing to our health? Scientists are only beginning to study how microplastics could be affecting heart health, fertility, neurological conditions, our immune system, cancer risk, and more. In the meantime, here are some ways you can reduce your exposure.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sift through the news to find what Rises Above the Noise, makes sense of what's happening in the world, and provides hope for your week to come. While we do our best to provide our own informative summary of each piece, some publications require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
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