PFAS and Bone Density, JPMorgan’s Settlement Offer, and 1990s Nostalgia: What I’m Reading This Week

I’ve dug into my garden this week (pun intended), and already it’s been a joy to see the fruits of my labor.

I’m once again reminded of just how important our hobbies are for our health and well-being. Of course, prioritizing our whimsy can be challenging. That said, I can’t think of an instance where relaxing has led to worse outcomes.

So, perhaps when you are about to play a round of golf, read a book or watch a movie, tell yourself you’re doing it for your health or career development. I hope you find a way to make time for yourself.

Until next time, stay safe and be kind!

PFAS and Bone Density

We know people are more susceptible to bone injuries as they age. It’s why injuries can result in fractures and breaks more easily for older adults than younger adults. However, a recent study shows that children are increasingly vulnerable, and it’s because of plastics.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals, and they are ubiquitous in our daily lives. A growing body of research shows that these so-called forever chemicals are accumulating in our bodies.  A recent study found that PFAS may disrupt the process by which children accrue bone density, which happens rapidly during adolescence and peaks around age 20.

“We found that PFAS chemical exposure in children tended to be related to lower bone strength when they’re younger teens,” said Jessie Buckley, first author of the study and professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In other words, PFAS might prevent children from reaching their full potential for bone density. That could raise the risk for fractures and conditions such as osteoporosis—and they might occur earlier in life. More research and time are needed to gain better knowledge of the potential impact of PFAS on bone density.

But one thing is clearer than ever: We don’t fully understand, and therefore can’t fully appreciate, what our endocrine systems do for us—or how important our hormones are for our overall health and well-being.

Read more here.

JPMorgan’s Settlement Offer

JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest banks in the world, tried to settle a lawsuit brought by a former employee over allegations of discrimination, race-based harassment and sexual assault.

The plaintiff, a male who is of Asian descent, is suing the bank and a female executive for the treatment he endured while an employee. He started at the bank in May 2024. One year later, the plaintiff allegedly filed an internal complaint and was placed on administrative leave. He left JPMorgan in October 2025.  

Lawyers for the female executive said the accusations were false and “entirely fabricated.” A JP Morgan spokesman said the bank had conducted an internal investigation and found the claims meritless.

Still, lawyers for the plaintiff and bank spent weeks in mediation talks. The Wall Street Journal reported that JPMorgan offered $1 million to settle, an amount equivalent to less than two years of the plaintiff’s compensation at the bank. In the end, two parties could not come to an agreement, so the lawsuit will go to trial.

As reported in The New York Times, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Daniel Kaiser said: “In my 30-plus year career as an employment litigator I have never had an employer defendant make such a substantial offer if they truly believed the allegations to ‘have no merit.’”

If news of this suit is any indication, this trial is bound to be the talk of Wall Street for months. But beyond salacious headlines, the allegations belie serious accusations of employee conduct and corporate culture.

A number of outlets have been tracking the developments in this case, including Reuters.

1990s Nostalgia

The 1990s are everywhere. If you’ve already lived through them once, you might be wondering what the fascination is, especially among Gen Z who were born after the turn of the century.

Novelist Emma Rosenblum ponders the nostalgia: “Why all the love for the '90s, and why now? The easy answer is that the decade marked the last time we lived offline, before iPhones and social media, a past that's appealing to those of us who remember it but also to young people who yearn for it—according to Pew Research, nearly half of teens say social media has negative effects on themselves and their peers.”

I’ve watched many a slow, quiet, screen free morning videos on social media. (Yes, I am aware of the irony.) There’s a quality, a quaintness that’s difficult, if not impossible, to replicate these days. At a time when individuals, telemarketers and tech companies can track your whereabouts at any given moment, of course it’s appealing to escape to a time where that wasn’t possible.

That’s got me thinking about the past few decades—what I liked and didn’t like then, and what I like and don’t like now. I’ve decided that I’m going to try and bring the best parts of those years into the present: kitschy décor, relaxed fit jeans, less connectivity and less screen time. I’m not going to be nostalgic; I’m going to live it.

Rosenblum recognizes her own agency and comes to a similar conclusion. She decides to buy a vintage North Face fleece and, with the benefit of hindsight, realizes that it’s just as ill fitting now as it is then. Perhaps some things should be left in the past, after all.

Read the delightful essay here.