What's Happening

Health

Melatonin Might Be a Heartbreaker

What's going on: There is nothing wrong with needing a little help falling asleep — whether that’s counting sheep or mixing up a “sleepy girl” mocktail. Some people reach for melatonin, but a new study is highlighting the potential long-term effects of the sleep aid. After analyzing the data of more than 130,000 people, researchers found those with insomnia who consistently took prescription-level melatonin for more than a year were at a higher risk of heart failure. The rates were relatively low, with nearly 5% of consistent melatonin users developing heart failure, compared to roughly 3% of those in the group who didn’t take it.

What it means: No need to panic or toss your sleep gummies just yet. Researchers said there’s no proof that melatonin itself harms the heart. One outside expert said it’s more likely that poor sleep itself drives the risk, but more research is needed. Meanwhile, doctors have long known that poor sleep can take a toll on your heart, potentially raising your blood pressure and heart rate. If you need melatonin regularly just to fall or stay asleep, that could be your body’s way of signaling that something’s off — possibly even cardiac stress. The study had limits: It didn’t track how much melatonin people took, whether it improved their sleep, or if some in the control group used their own supplements.

Related: The Magic Number of Daily Steps To Delay Alzheimer’s (CNN)

Relationships

From Main Feed to Main Squeeze

What’s going on: The app you swore you’d never open again — yes, that one your uncle keeps oversharing on — is suddenly the quiet winner of the dating game. Facebook Dating, launched in 2019, now boasts more than 21 million daily users (outpacing Hinge’s 15 million) at a time when other apps are starting to stall, according to The New York Times. The biggest draw? It feels more real. Users can see who someone actually is — mutual friends, shared interests, even that rock climbing friend-of-a-friend from college — instead of discovering mid-date that a “chill, outdoorsy vibe” was AI-generated. Maybe a little context might be the new secret to connection.

What it means: Even if Facebook’s feed has become white noise, Marketplace and Dating are keeping the platform relevant in 2025. The New York Times said it was “mostly popular with people over the age of 30” (which feels like a mildly offensive cutoff for “old”). But the company also reports nearly 2 million active US users in their 20s, with hundreds of thousands joining monthly. Like most apps, scams still pop up — as one user told The NYT, "Many of the people on there are looking for money, or drugs, or a sugar daddy. But some of them are like me, looking for love.” Still, after enough AI bros and human catfish, a platform that comes with some receipts could be worth a try. If nothing else, it’s a promising start…at least until the chat starts. 

Related: If Dating Apps Aren’t Your Thing...How About an AI Matchmaker? (NYT Gift Link)

Culture

Women Are Repainting the Art World — With Their Wallets

What's going on: Gen Z and millennials have made it no secret that they love to spend their money on sweet treats, blind boxes, and matcha lattes. But women with a bit more in the bank are splurging on something else: art. A new report shows younger women are becoming powerhouse art collectors — taking up more space on the canvas than men. It’s not just that women spent about 46% more last year. They’re also (obviously) more intentional about what they buy, supporting more emerging and female artists and diverse mediums than their male peers. Brava.

What it means: Women are reshaping the art industry with the power of their wallets — driving what experts call “market feminization.” For many young women, collecting art is more about cultural identity than price tags. That also helps explain why they’re less risk-averse when it comes to investing in high-level pieces. It’s hardly shocking, considering women now control a third of the world’s wealth and continue to earn more each year. As the art world adapts, it’s not just who’s buying that’s shifting — it’s what and why they’re buying that’s redefining cultural capital.

Related: What Going to an Art Gallery Can Do for Your Stress (The Guardian)