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Burial Pods Might Not Be as “Green” As You Think
The issues with this “ecologically friendly” alternative to traditional burialsThe death care industry struggles with some problematic ecological issues. Traditional burial methods waste tons of valuable nonrenewable resources, deposit millions of tons of chemical and material pollution into the ecosystem, and graveyards problematically occupy arable tracts of land. One proposed method, which has gained immense popularity over the last few years, is to memorialize…
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Funding from Billionaires is Seeding Promising Research on Longevity
What some see as the indulgence of elites may benefit us allBillionaires who’ve been spending millions on longevity research to significantly extend lifespans – even “solve aging” – have been criticized as selfish and potentially foolhardy by some. But their efforts may end up producing just-in-time breakthroughs as humanity draws closer to one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century – an aging worldwide population.
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“Time in a Bottle”
Singer captures love, memory and impermanence in a still-resonant song from the ’70sFrom its minor-key opening chords, the song “Time in a Bottle” tugs at melancholy. Blended with lyrics embodying true love, the Jim Croce classic is a marriage of seemingly disparate elements. It’s made ever more poignant by the singer’s own untimely death, which propelled the single to a rare posthumous number one on Billboard’s Top…
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“Mortality”
Abraham Lincoln’s favorite poem expresses how death is the great equalizerIn his book “Brief History of Gilead, and Prose and Poetic Writings,” George W. Chapman related a story as told to him by the American painter F. B. Carpenter. The artist had been commissioned to paint a portrait of Abraham Lincoln during his tenure in the White House, and they spent many evenings together passing…
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Massive Biomolecular Shifts Affect Humans During 40s and 60s
A new study has found that our molecules and microorganisms experience significant changes at two key points in the aging processHave you ever suddenly felt “old?” Scientists have discovered that there may be a reason for this, particularly if it occurs in one’s 40s or 60s – a massive biomolecular shift.
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A Life Lesson in Shedding Guilt Over My Father’s Death
It took me a long time to recover from my regrets at not having been there for himThis is the story of Cassandra as told by Elizabeth. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief and, ultimately, to aid them in their healing process. In this post, Cassandra tells the story of…
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Alexithymia: Why Some People Feel Nothing When Someone Dies
People with alexithymia struggle to recognize emotionsWe expect someone who loses a loved one to be overcome with grief and express that sorrow through tears, words and body language that convey deep sadness. So it’s vexing to people when someone appears to feel nothing. The cause may be alexithymia.
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Artist Adam Tendler’s “Exit Strategy” Displays “Accidental Inheritances” Left by the Dead
Personal items left behind are repurposed into thought-provoking artworkAfter putting out the call for artifacts of all kinds left behind by the dead — ranging from a piano to friendship bracelets to VHS tapes — Adam Tendler’s “Exit Strategy” displays nearly 100 such items contributed from the community in Brooklyn, New York. An added twist to the already-unique exhibit is that it’s on…
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“Change”
Big Thief paints a welcoming picture of change and deathThere is no change without death. What once was must die to transform. It doesn’t have to be negative; it’s just part of the process. Big Thief embraces this truth and gently sends the message home on the band’s song “Change.” The song navigates themes of loss and transformation, presenting death not as an end,…
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