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WHY CAN’T WE QUIT SUGAR?

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we discover why we crave sugar, look at the aftermath of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, find out why feeding raccoons is dangerous ... and learn that frozen bubbles could be sending a terrifying message.

Sweets, like these candies at La Boqueria Market in Barcelona, release dopamine in our brains on levels similar to nicotine and alcohol.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

We crave sugar. Indulgent dishes enticing us with it can feel impossible to avoid, especially around the holidays.

Foods rich in sugar, candy (like those above) and fat can increase dopamine levels in our brains by as much as 200 percent above normal—a bump similar to what’s observed with nicotine and alcohol, the two most common addictions in the U.S.

Here’s exactly how that works.

Related: Sugar doesn’t actually make kids hyper—here’s why so many believe it does

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Raccoons approach the camera in their search for food left by humans at Golden Gate Park.

PHOTOGRAPH BY COREY ARNOLD

Even if you think raccoons (like those above) are cute, feeding them is not. Related: Wild animals are adapting to city life in surprisingly savvy ways

The 7 principles of Kwanzaa—and why they matter

How to find the most effective whole grains

This book vanished when Anne Boleyn was executed. Now it reveals her secrets

Nearly all women suffer from hot flashes during menopause. Researchers have finally figured out what triggers them

How did Jesus' parents become a couple? Here’s what biblical scholars say

We're finally learning the stories of these 5 vanished cities

These foods will help fight inflammation

How to keep your gut healthy during the holiday feasts

How do you avoid the crowds in national parks? Visit during winter

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

An aerial view of the evacuated town of Grindavik, with smoke and lava seen emerging from a nearby fissure.

PHOTOGRAPH BY VIKEN KANTARCI, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The awakening of a millennium: On the night of December 18th, Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula exploded in its fourth volcanic eruption in three years– one that experts are worried could be more dangerous than those we've seen so far. With this being the largest string of eruptions on the peninsula since the 13th century, the seismic activity is capturing worldwide attention (pictured above, an aerial view of the evacuated town of Grindavik, with smoke and lava seen emerging from a nearby fissure).

READ THE FULL STORY

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Frozen bubble formations in ice

PHOTOGRAPH BY RYOTA KAJI KAJITA

Bubbles trapped in ice (like those pictured above) can be mesmerizing. But they should also serve as a terrifying warning. “Everything—even if it appears to be insignificant—connects to larger aspects of our Earth,” photographer Ryota Kajita, who worked on a project called Ice Formations, tells Nat Geo.

What are these trapped gases beneath the layers of ice?
A. Nitrogen
B. Methane and carbon dioxide
C. Oxygen
D. Argon

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

LAST GLIMPSE

A female bonobo shares a fruit with her son and another youngster at Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Bonobo bonds: When shown a photo of her sister next to a stranger, a bonobo named Louise—who had been separated for her sibling for 26 years—showed clear signs of recognition toward her sister. Using data collected by a harmless infrared camera, researchers saw that Louise had little to no interest in the other bonobo, a stranger, in the image. Her focus was on her sister Loretta.

Here's what we know about the sharp memories of bonobos (pictured, above).

Today’s soundtrack: Luz de Luna, Natalia Lafourcade

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! It was curated and edited by Jen Tse, Nishita Naga, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard. Thank you for joining us!

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