Landmark Study Retraction, 2026 Predictions and the Case for Boredom: What I’m Reading This Week

It’s a new year, but I am still trying to get caught up after unexpectedly getting sick a few days before Christmas, which completely upended my holiday plans.

My body forced me to rest, but I suppose you could say I was blessed with hours of opportunity to go on a reading binge, during which I read four novels. I eventually did get to spend a few quiet days with immediate family, exchanging gifts, savoring delicious food and enjoying each other’s company.

I’ll call it the universe reminding me of what’s truly important, but I am optimistic for a brighter 2026. That said, I’ve found a few items to be mindful of.

Until next time, stay safe, healthy and kind!

Landmark Study Retraction

A few months ago, I read Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” which helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the banning of DDT. Carson’s book is evidence of the positive influence that good research can have on our environment. When I saw concerns about bad research on our environment, I knew I needed to call your attention to the matter.

Last month, the scientific journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology retracted a reknown and frequently cited 2000 study that said glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, was not a human health risk. In other words, the journal has indicated that the weedkiller isn’t as safe as once thought because of concerns surrounding the authors’ conflicts of interest.

Glyphosate is used extensively in farming, including on soybeans, corn, wheat, almonds and cotton as well as home lawns and gardens. Any investigations or interventions could have widespread and cascading effects for the agriculture industry. 

The EPA still considers glyphosate safe, but the government will have to review the herbicide as a result of legal action and calls from the Make America Health Again movement. Notably, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once served as co-counsel in a lawsuit against Roundup’s then-parent company Monsanto over exposure to the herbicide. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015.

I encourage you to read this article to give you a primer for a story that will likely dominate headlines in 2026.

2026 Predictions

Not surprisingly, I’ve seen a bevy of forward-looking pieces lately. This one from The New York Times caught my attention in a way that others haven’t, I think, because it focused on attitudes and vibes.

For example, one prediction is for marketing with the film characters, not movie stars, front and center. As with many aspects of our society, it feels like what we’re doing and the metrics we’ve traditionally used just don’t cut it anymore. Since reading this prediction, I have seen a commercial for deodorant featuring the characters of the 2000s show “Scrubs,” which is getting a reboot next month.

It’s possible that I’m late to the party—I don’t have cable, nor do I watch much TV with commercials—but it could also be the latest attempt to be part of the zeitgeist.

I’m eager to see how the other nine trends fare, or don’t fare. More than that, I’m eager to see just how these trends might affect our culture. From the ongoing talks of an AI bubble to a flurry of mergers and demergers to the midterm elections to a whole host of things not yet on our radar, this year is likely going to be another wild ride.

Read the rest of the predictions here and feel free to share your own predictions in the comment section below.

The Case for Boredom

For the last few years, boredom has been the enemy, banished to those fleeting moments between browsing on our smartphones and other devices. Now, social media influencers are making the case for doing nothing.

One college student told The New York Times that he feels more energized after letting himself be bored. Make no mistake: these influencers are still doing something. They’re trying to reclaim their attention and peace of mind from devices that they fear will otherwise co-opt us.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this latest viral trend is catching the attention of others, ranging from experts who study how we spend our time and energy; other, non-social media influencers who want to hawk products to help you be bored; and other folks who yearn for bygone times.

One thing to note about boredom is that it doesn’t have to mean locking yourself in your room and doing nothing, says James Danckert, a professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It can mean pursuing hobbies or other leisure activities, such as reading or gardening.

It seems the key to boredom is to not constantly stimulate the brain with screens or multitask to the extreme. We’re humans, not machines, after all. It’s time we start acting like our forefathers and foremothers who understood that after hard work, we need ample rest and respite.

I encourage you to read the full article here, then find a way to get bored.