The final spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided this month. In Europe, several matches will determine which teams are one step closer to qualifying for this summer’s tournament in North America.
At the end of the day, as the sky begins to darken, many people instinctively retreat indoors, turn on the lights and miss the arrival of dusk.
A small but growing movement suggests people can benefit from doing the opposite: stepping outside and observing the slow transition from day to night. This practice, often described as “dusking”, involves watching the light start to disappear, noticing the changing colours of the sky, the emergence of evening sounds, and the quiet rhythms that mark the close of the day.
This practice is rooted in historical traditions found in places as diverse as the Netherlands and parts of Africa. The idea has recently been revived by artist Lucy Wright and by Dutch poet Marjolijn van Heemstra among others.
Wright performs a style of Morris dance that encourages participants “to dance the old sun down”, drawing attention to the moment when daylight fades.
Van Heemstra describes dusking as taking time to simply watch the sunset and the gradual fading of light as a way of reconnecting with natural rhythms. In a world dominated by relentless digital stimulation, she believes that taking time to look at the sky can help restore awareness of our surroundings. She now organises regular dusking events across the Netherlands. “All you need is a chair and a view,” she said.
Across cultures, dusk marks the shift from activity to rest, from work to home, and from light to darkness; a boundary where social rhythms change. These in-between moments can invite reflection on the environment.
Van Heemstra describes dusking as taking time to simply watch the sunset and the gradual fading of light as a way of reconnecting with natural rhythms (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Across many cultures, dusk has also been associated with uncertainty and imagination. The fading of light has long been linked to folklore, ghost stories and childhood fears of the dark, moments when the familiar landscape becomes slightly unfamiliar.
When the sun goes down
Dusk also marks a particular point in the daily rhythm of the natural world. Many species become active during this transitional period, including bats leaving their roosts to hunt, while moths and other nocturnal insects begin to fly, and mammals such as deer, foxes, and hedgehogs emerge to forage. Biologists often study dawn and dusk because animal behaviour shifts notably during these times of the day.
The idea behind dusking aligns with studies indicating that briefly focusing on natural surroundings can enhance wellbeing and relaxation. Simply observing changes in light, sound, and atmosphere may also encourage a shift from the constant hustle of the work day to winding down, potentially moving people towards sleep.
Sounds of twilight
In our research, carried out in the North York Moors National Park, participants said that while walking at twilight, or in darkness, they became more aware of natural smells and sounds. The group noticed the transitions from daytime birdsong, with the robin last to tweet, to nighttime animal sounds and the hoot of an owl. These moments frequently produced quiet reflection.
About the author
Jenny Hall is an Associate Professor in Tourism and Events, York St John University. Brendan Paddison is a Professor of Tourism Geographies, York St John University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In the last century, the places where people can experience darkness have reduced dramatically because of increasing artificial light glow from homes and office buildings. Now only 10% of the people living in the western hemisphere experience places with dark skies, where there is no, or little, artificial light. And the number of people who can see the Milky Way is reducing all the time.
Previous generations were more accustomed to navigating in low light, using their senses to move through landscapes after sunset. Today, this sensory knowledge has become increasingly rare in our artificially illuminated world.
Artificial lighting frequently masks the subtle environmental cues that once dictated the rhythm of everyday life. Noticing dusk, even briefly, can bring those rhythms back into focus.
The sky darkens, the air cools, birds shift their calls, and the world moves quietly toward night.
To quote the 18th-century poet Thomas Gray: “Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight. And all the air a solemn stillness holds.”
Of course, watching the sunset is hardly a new idea as Gray’s poem shows, but one it seems we may have forgotten to value to our detriment.
A Long Island, N.Y., woman could be in danger after she vanished prior to suddenly jumping out of a moving vehicle and running off last week, her loved ones said.
Brittany Kritis-Garip, 32, was last seen on surveillance footage in Oyster Bay around 8 p.m. Friday before she was reported missing, News 12 Long Island reported.
Her husband, Fernando Garip, said she was in a panicked state, jumped out of a moving car, threw her phone into a bush and ran off.
Brittany Kritis-Garip, 32, was last seen Friday in Long Island, N.Y. (GoFundMe)
That was the last time her family saw her. Garip told Patch that volunteers have searched wooded areas, as well rural and suburban areas.
Niko Kritis, told Patch that his sister was “vulnerable” and asked that residents check their properties for spaces where someone could seek shelter.
“Those small, careful actions could be what brings Brittany home,” he said. “We believe Brittany may be trying to isolate or avoid contact, and it’s possible she could be sheltering in secluded or hidden areas.”
Brittany Kritis-Garip, 32, jump out of a vehicle and ran on foot, her loved ones said. (GoFundMe)
He also asked homeowners to check their security cameras.
“We believe she was disoriented and frightened, and may think she is in danger,” search organizer Sarah Castor wrote on an online crowdfunding page. “She is not dangerous — she needs help.”
Volunteers have searched a one-mile stretch shoreline near Oyster Bay Harbor after Kritis-Garip’s wallet was discovered on a road leading down to the water, Castor wrote on Facebook Wednesday.
“Brittany is an incredible, kind person and any efforts are appreciated by all who knows her,” she wrote.
Brittany Kritis-Garip was still missing as of Thursday, authorities said. (GoFundMe)
The New York Mets season began Thursday night on quite a hilarious note — because why wouldn’t it for the Mets?
After the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates‘ 2026 rosters were announced, Tony Award winner Chris Jackson, who played George Washington in “Hamilton,” was brought onto the field for the national anthem.
Things got off without a hitch until he moved onto the fourth line of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Bo Bichette, Juan Soto, and Francisco Lindor of the Mets listen during the national anthem before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in New York.(Dustin Satloff/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Jackson was supposed to sing “O’er the ramparts we watched,” but instead went in reverse and repeated, “What so proudly we hailed” before moving on to the rest of the anthem.
The mishap started off as a bad omen for the Amazin’s, who choked away the best record in the major leagues on June 13 last year and missed the postseason, as they fell to a 2-0 hole with new ace Freddy Peralta on the mound before recording an out.
Citi Field before the New York Mets take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26, 2026, in the Queens borough of New York City.(Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
However, they stepped up with a five-run first inning, with the help of shoddy Pirates defense, and stunningly knocked reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes out of the game. It was the first time Skenes had failed to get out of the first inning in his career, having always thrown at least two frames in his previous 55 starts.
Jackson also played “Benny” in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” He made his Broadway debut in 1997 in “The Lion King.” In an ironic twist, Jackson also played Derek Jeter in the former Broadway show “Bronx Bombers,” which lasted less than a month.
Chris Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda in “Hamilton” on Broadway at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on July 9, 2016, in New York City.(Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
It’s a new look for the Mets after last year’s debacle. They moved on from Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo and brought in Peralta, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco. Top prospect Carson Benge also made his MLB debut on Thursday.
Simple measurements taken during routine blood pressure checks could predict dementia risk years before symptoms appear.
That’s according to new research presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Louisiana.
The findings draw on two studies led by researchers at Georgetown University, which suggest that monitoring how blood vessels age and stiffen over time can provide a window into future cognitive health.
Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age, and half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (hypertension).
Scientists believe that efforts to better address hypertension, a key contributor to heart disease and a risk factor for dementia, could affect both cardiac and brain health.
Data shows rates of dementia and aging-related cognitive decline are expected to increase as populations age. Meanwhile, half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.(iStock)
“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health,” Dr. Newton Nyirenda, the study’s lead author and an epidemiologist at Georgetown University in Washington, said in a press release.
The research focused on two metrics, the pulse pressure-heart rate index and estimated pulse wave velocity. Both were calculated using data collected during standard doctor visits, such as heart rate, age and blood pressure.
“Blood pressure management isn’t just about preventing heart attacks and strokes; it may also be one of the most actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health.”
Researchers examined five years of data patterns for more than 8,500 people in the SPRINT trial, a large study of adults 50 years and older with hypertension. In the follow-up, 323 of the participants developed probable dementia.
In one study, the team found the pulse pressure-heart rate index was a strong independent predictor of dementia risk in adults over 50. For participants under 65, every one-unit increase was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia.
For participants under 65, an increase in the pulse pressure-heart rate index was associated with a 76% higher risk of developing dementia.(iStock)
The second study found that adults with consistently elevated or rapidly increasing pulse wave velocity were more likely to develop dementia than those with stable velocity, even after accounting for factors like smoking, gender and cardiovascular history.
“Our findings suggest that vascular aging patterns may provide meaningful insight into future dementia risk,” said Nyirenda. “This reinforces the idea that managing vascular health earlier in life may influence long-term brain health.”
The team emphasized that clinicians should tailor risk assessments and treatment strategies to the individual.
Further studies are needed to confirm these parameters and determine whether changing vascular aging trajectories reduces dementia risk.(iStock)
“You don’t want to wait until a patient starts manifesting cognitive decline before you act,” said senior study author Sula Mazimba, an associate professor at the University of Virginia.
Researchers noted the study could not establish causation. Other limitations included the fact that participants already had hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risk, meaning the findings may not apply to people without those conditions.
Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine whether improving blood vessel health over time could reduce dementia risk.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.
MADRID — Noelia Castillo, a Spanish woman who sought euthanasia and fought a protracted legal battle with her family over her right to do so, received life-ending medicine on Thursday in Barcelona. She was 25.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, international helplines can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts.
For a year and a half, Castillo pursued her right to die after her father put up a lengthy legal battle when a medical body in Catalonia approved his daughter’s request for euthanasia in 2024.
As the family’s struggle unfolded, Castillo’s case was closely followed in Spain, which passed legislation in 2021 enshrining the right to euthanasia and medically assisted suicide for patients meeting certain conditions. Castillo’s young age, the public battle waged by her family to stop her and the circumstances that led her to seek euthanasia animated public opinion as the courts ultimately ruled in favor of her right to end her life.
“At last, I’ve managed it, so let’s see if I can finally rest now,” Castillo told Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 in an interview that aired Wednesday, a day before her death. “I just cannot go on anymore.”
Castillo’s parents opposed her decision up until the end, and were represented by the conservative Catholic organization Abogados Cristianos in their fight to stop their daughter’s euthanasia. The Catholic group on Thursday confirmed that she had died.
Attorney Polonia Castellanos said Castillo’s family was deeply disappointed with the outcome, and believed the Spanish government had abandoned and failed their daughter by allowing her to die.
“Death is the last option, especially when you’re very young,” Castellanos said.
Castillo tried taking her life twice before her death by euthanasia on Thursday, she said, the second time after she was sexually assaulted. The injuries she suffered from her second suicide attempt in October 2022 left her unable to use her legs and in a wheelchair.
In April 2024, Castillo solicited euthanasia with an independent body in Catalonia made up of doctors, lawyers and bioethics experts who deliberate on the application of Spain’s law.
The body approved Castillo’s request based on assessments that evaluated her condition as serious and incurable, and that the 25-year-old had severe, chronic and debilitating suffering.
Spain legalized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in 2021 for long-suffering patients from incurable diseases and for people with unbearable permanent conditions. The process for patients to get approval to die involves submitting two requests in writing followed up by consultations with medical professionals not previously involved in the case.
Castillo’s father appealed the Catalan body’s decision, which in August 2024 suspended the euthanasia request while it deliberated. Through Abogados Cristianos, Castillo’s family argued that she suffered from mental illness that rendered her incapable of making the decision to end her life.
When the Barcelona court ruled in favor of Castillo’s right to euthanasia, her father’s lawyers appealed again, taking the case to Spain’s Supreme Court, which in January upheld Castillo’s rights. Abogados Cristianos tried to halt the procedure again by appealing to the European Court of Human Rights, which earlier this month denied the request to put it on hold.
On Thursday, Castellanos repeated her client’s arguments that Castillo had a personality disorder and held up Castillo’s case as an example of the law failing citizens.
“It is a person whose will (was) altered by that disorder,” Castellanos said. “I think this is proof of the failure of the law and that it has to be urgently repealed.”
Speaking to Spanish TV Wednesday, Castillo said she did not want her family to be around when she died, claiming that she was misunderstood. She acknowledged the glaring media spotlight that her case had drawn.
“None of my family is in favor of euthanasia, obviously, because I’m another pillar of the family,” she said, adding, “but what about the pain that I’ve suffered all of these years?”
Spain is among nine European Union countries that have laws allowing those experiencing unbearable suffering to access assisted dying, according to Dignity in Dying, a U.K.-based rights group that advocates in favor of euthanasia and medically assisted dying. That involves patients themselves taking a lethal drink or medication that has been prescribed by a doctor to patients who meet certain criteria. The criteria vary by country.
Euthanasia, on the other hand, involves doctors or health practitioners, under strict conditions, actively killing patients who meet certain conditions by giving them a lethal injection at their request.
Since Spain adopted its euthanasia law, 1,123 people have been administered life-ending medicine up until the end of 2024, according to Spain’s Health Ministry.
Castillo said she never questioned her decision as she had to reassert her desire to die over the past year and a half. The calculus for her was simple.
“The happiness of a father or a mother should not take precedence over the happiness or the life of a daughter.”
Back-to-back verdicts this week against Meta and YouTube could usher in a new chapter in accountability for tech companies, while opening the door to fresh legal challenges, experts tell CBS News.
Two cases, decided in New Mexico and California, are the first to hold social media companies liable for harming young people.
On Tuesday, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for failing to protect young users from predators and misleading them about the safety of its apps.
In a separate verdict issued Wednesday in Los Angeles, a jury ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent in how they designed and operated their platforms, resulting in mental health harm to the plaintiff, a 20-year-old named Kaley, or “KGM.” Jurors in that case ordered the companies to pay a total of $6 million in damages.
Meta and YouTube told CBS News they disagree with the verdicts and are planning to appeal.
While the ultimate impact of these cases remains uncertain, experts say the mounting legal and public pressure could portend major changes in how companies design their apps, deliver content and integrate safety features into their platforms. That would mark a victory for American parents, a majority of whom support stricter restrictions on their children’s social media use.
The verdicts could also set the stage for how thousands of similar cases — brought by individual plaintiffs, state attorneys general and school districts — play out.
“This is a watershed moment,” said J.B. Branch, the AI governance and technology policy counsel at Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization. “This is the crack that could potentially open the floodgates to some accountability that Americans have been looking for.”
These rulings could reshape tech accountability in several ways, experts say.
A focus on product liability
Internet companies have long been protected by Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields them from liability for third-party content posted on their platforms.
However, lawyers in the Los Angeles case took a new tack by focusing on product liability, arguing that Google and Meta’s design and operation of their platforms caused addictive behavior and harm.
“This is the first time that anyone has won a judgment against these companies for the very design and the features, as opposed to what other people post,” Devorah Heitner, a researcher who studies young people’s relationship with technology, told CBS News in an interview.
Legal experts anticipate an increase in product liability cases against social media companies after the Los Angeles trial showed that the legal theory resonated with the jury.
“I believe this is the path forward,” said Matthew Bergman, the founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center. Bergman’s firm represented Kaley and has filed 1,500 other cases on behalf of families who say they were adversely impacted by social media in some way.
Deeper scrutiny on AI
In addition to social media platforms, this week’s verdicts could also put artificial intelligence tools developed by big tech companies under the microscope, especially if product liability arguments gain traction.
Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have rolled out AI-powered chatbots at lightning speed in the last few years. But some argue that the rush to get into the market has come at the expense of safety. Multiple families have filed lawsuits alleging that AI chatbots were responsible, or played a role, in their loved ones’ suicides.
“We are indeed in a new era of Internet law litigation,” Jess Miers, an assistant professor at the University of Akron School of Law, told CBS News in an email. “We can and should expect the majority of cases against online services (and now generative AI companies) to be product liability cases.”
An increase in lawsuits
ByteDance, Google, Snap and Meta are facing thousands of other lawsuits alleging that their platforms caused harm, including from dozens of state attorneys general. Individual plaintiffs and school districts have also filed litigation against the tech giants.
Because thousands of families have filed similar lawsuits, KGM and a handful of other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury, eventually leading to a broader settlement reminiscent of the Big Tobacco and opioid trials.
Bergman said a group of cases that have been consolidated in California state and at the federal level are “currently awaiting outcomes of these bellwethers to determine whether there’s a path to a negotiated resolution, or whether trial is in the works.”
In addition to influencing the body of existing cases, Bergman said these verdicts could embolden more children and their parents to come forward, opening the door to more litigation against big tech companies.
“I think there are many families that have been afraid to take on big tech despite the injuries that their children have sustained,” he said. “It is our hope and expectation that this verdict will assuage their reluctance and encourage them to seek the same kind of accountability that they would seek if their child were injured by any other dangerous product.”
Changes to social media platforms
As part of the Los Angeles trial, Meta and YouTube were ordered to pay damages, but were not required to make any specific changes to their platforms. However, legal experts say the decision could compel social media companies to reconsider their app designs and how they deliver content in order to insulate themselves against future liability.
Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow in technology policy studies at the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute, said he expects the pressure will only mount if the cases are held up on appeal and if other pro-plaintiff verdicts follow.
The changes could uproot some of the central components of apps, including the algorithms that decide what types of content users see in their feeds, experts tell CBS News. Companies could also move to limit screen time, provide warnings to children who use the apps as well as their parents and introduce stricter age verification rules.
“These trials are likely to result in changes to endless scroll and changes to the algorithm, potentially for everyone,” Heitner said.
A JLR spokesperson said: “Due to a part supply challenge with a supplier, we are temporarily pausing production on certain vehicle lines at our Solihull manufacturing facility. We are working closely with that supplier to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimise any impact on our clients or our operations.”
There’s nothing more disgusting than a bad-smelling toilet. Imagine your guests complaining of foul smells from your freshly clean bathroom, sounds unhygienic and embarrassing, right. The main cause behind the bad odor is usually poor ventilation, bacteria buildup or trapped waste in pipes, among others. It is not always dirt that can be seen with naked eyes. So what can be done to eliminate this smell in a jiffy and keep your toilet fresh. Here are five effective ways to remove bad toilet odour instantly.1. Always clean under the toilet rimThe rim is probably one of the most ignored parts of your toiler. It is very important to keep it clean as the most common cause of bad smell is bacteria buildup inside the toilet. Riya Gupta, a cleaning expert in Noida, says, “Even if the bowl looks clean, hidden areas like under the rim can trap germs.” It can make your washroom smell bad for long hours.To eliminate this problem, always use a strong toilet cleaner. You must apply it everywhere, especially under the rim of the seat. Let it stay for a few minutes longer. Then scrub and flush. You’ll notice the aroma of the toilet change instantly. 2. Baking Soda and Vinegar to the rescue and for instant solutionThe combination of baking soda and vinegar work like magic.All you need to do is pour one cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Then pour half a cup of baking soda. Let the solution sit there for 10–15 minutes. Scrubbing and flush and your toilet smells fresh as ever. This method is easy on pockets, chemical-free, and effective.3. Clean hidden areas Sometimes the smell is not from the bowl but from waste trapped in the S-bend (curves of pipe). It can lead to odours even after cleaning. It is important to remove excess water and clean the pipe. Similarly, the toilet tank is often ignored and holds stagnant water and buildup which can create a musty smell. The solution for this again is vinegar or detergent.4. Ample Ventilation
canva
Another big reason behind foul smell would be bathroom’s poor ventilation. Moisture and foul smell, gets trapped inside. It create an extremely unhygenic condition because bathrooms are naturally humid.All you need to do is:Use exhaust fanKeep windows open Air circulation is must5. Use natural odour absorbers It is important to maintain freshness by using toilet natural air fresheners.Keep some baking soda in a glass bowlCoffee grounds or lemon slicesEssential oilsThese help absorb foul smell instead of just eradicating them for sometime. Eliminating toilet odour is not just about masking the smell—it’s about taking care of the source of foul smell.
