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Newsweek
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
The Good Life: Mother-in-Law Mayhem
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. MIL Mayhem: Our Top 5 Mother-in-Law Horror Stories By Cameron Schoppa Let's be honest—when you hear the words "mother-in-law," your brain probably short-circuits to a variety of opinions. Stereotypically, those opinions might not be positive. Sure, not all MILs are monsters of course... but some truly could star in a horror flick. From announcing births before the parents do, to ending weddings over a white wedding dress, these mothers-in-law aren't just crossing boundaries—they're bulldozing them. Buckle up as we dive into five of the most unhinged, jaw-dropping, "did she really do that?" MIL moments the we've ever seen. Stock Image Stock Image Tero Vesalainen/iStock/Getty Images Plus A woman faced serious backlash after she jumped the gun and announced the birth of her grandchild on Facebook—before the baby's own parents had the chance. The story was shared by a frustrated new mom who explained that after a traumatic pregnancy and birth—so difficult she had kept it quiet for fear of losing the baby—she and her partner finally felt ready to share the news. But when she logged onto Facebook to make the announcement, she was stunned to find her mother-in-law had already beaten her to it. She had posted a photo of the baby—one the mom hadn't even seen yet—calling the newborn "her grandbaby" and saying the birth had "just happened." The post spread quickly, and so did the outrage. This mom decided to ban her mother-in-law from visiting after she refused to use her grandson's real name, and this is no ordinary nickname. The mother explained that she and her husband had lovingly chosen the name Elijah for their baby boy. But from the moment the mother-in-law met him at the hospital, she ignored that entirely. "She looked at him and said, 'Oh little David, you're so perfect,'" the mom wrote. "I thought I misheard her, so I ignored it." But it wasn't a one-time slip. Despite repeated corrections, the grandmother kept calling the baby "David"—a name the couple hadn't even considered. The situation left many divided over whether cutting off visits was too harsh—or completely reasonable. What do you think? A stock image of an old woman holding a toy. A stock image of an old woman holding a toy. lucigerma/iStock / Getty Images Plus A pregnant woman received praise after standing up to her overbearing mother-in-law—who not only referred to the unborn baby as "hers," but even threw herself a baby shower to celebrate. She shared how her husband's mom had been calling the baby "her baby" for months, leaving the expectant parents both confused and uncomfortable. At first, she tried to brush it off. But things came to a head when her mother-in-law organized a baby shower—not for her, but for herself. "I asked if I could invite my friends," she wrote. "She said no, this was for her friends. If my friends wanted to throw me a shower, they could." To make matters worse, the mother-in-law ignored the gift registry and instead picked items she personally wanted for the baby. The mom-to-be said she "rolled with it" at first—but when it came time to open gifts, she was stunned by what she saw. A bride's decision to wear a white wedding dress instead of following her in-laws' tradition of blush-colored gowns led to a complete breakdown in her marriage. She had just gotten married when everything unraveled over her choice of dress. Her husband's family has a long-standing tradition of brides wearing blush-colored gowns. "They told me about this before," she wrote, "and I respectfully said I would wear whatever color dress felt perfect for me." She ended up choosing a classic white dress—something that didn't sit well with her in-laws. Her mother-in-law was reportedly "seething" at the sight of it, and her new husband was "disappointed." Feeling unsupported and blindsided by the reaction, the bride planned to leave the marriage and file for an annulment. A stock image of a woman opening a door. A stock image of a woman opening a door. Oppdowngalon/iStock / Getty Images Plus And finally, a baffled daughter-in-law shared that her mother-in-law took it upon herself to write directly on their back door—with a green pen. She posted a photo of the handwritten message: "Lock The Doors" with an arrow pointing to the handle. According to her, both locks on the door had been secured the entire time—something she emphasized. "She didn't even try to open the door," she wrote. "She just assumed it was unlocked because the bottom one looks like it isn't." She added that her mother-in-law, who's over 60, was visiting when she left the unsolicited note. The kicker? The door had been locked during the entire visit—and still was. Tap here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Researchers at the University of Florida are moving closer to developing what they have described as a "universal" cancer vaccine. Dr. Elias Sayour, co-author of the study, director of the Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Initiative, and principal investigator at the RNA Engineering Laboratory at the University of Florida, believes the vaccine would apply to all types of cancer, because the treatment would result in the immune system being able to "recognize and reject all forms of cancer." "In active cancers, the immune system has been fooled or lies dormant," he told Newsweek. "This approach can wake it up, restoring it in the fight against cancer." Read more from Newsweek's Jasmine Laws. In other news... U.S. birth rates reach new low: The United States' total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2024, dipping below 1.6 children per woman, according to new federal data released Thursday by the CDC. This marks a significant demographic milestone for a country that once stood apart among developed nations for maintaining a replacement-level birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman. Here's the latest . The United States' total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2024, dipping below 1.6 children per woman, according to new federal data released Thursday by the CDC. This marks a significant demographic milestone for a country that once stood apart among developed nations for maintaining a replacement-level birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman. . Men and dating: You know what they say... "shoot your shot." Apparently, some men are shooting really high. Researchers found that men tend to express interest in women who were "more desirable" than themselves on dating apps, and it's not working out so well. Read more. This is a preview of The Good Life—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
The Good Life: Are These the Worst Airplane Neighbors Ever?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Are These the Worst Airplane Neighbors Ever? By Cameron Schoppa Have you ever been stuck on a long, exhausting flight, only to end up next to a terrible seatmate? That happened to me recently—and it was miserable. On a 10-hour flight, the passenger next to me took off his shoes, touched me with his toes, and eventually fell asleep leaning on me. I actually had to shove him off. But I know I'm not alone. So I went looking for some of the worst plane neighbor horror stories Newsweek has reported. And of these encounters definitely top mine by a long shot. Have any bad seatmate stories? Let me know at But for now, check out the list below of perhaps the worst plane neighbors ever. @quintenaje/TikTok Imagine boarding a 5 a.m. flight expecting some quiet, serenity, sleep maybe—only to be surrounded by utter chaos. That's what happened to this man as he recounted his experience online. The video contains audio of passengers shouting each other's names and one of them asking for a speaker, with dance music heard playing later on in the clip. And sleep was out of the question. Yikes! An airplane passenger revealed an unsettling incident that left her with a new hairstyle mid-air when a fellow passenger braided her hair while she was asleep. Yes you read that right. Check it out. This one might depend on if you're a Taylor Swift fan. On a flight packed with Swifties en route to the Eras Tour, passengers broke into a full-on singalong of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" midair. While some joined in the fun, others weren't so thrilled—calling it a loud, inconsiderate disruption. What do you think? Ah yes, the dreaded manspreading problem. A woman shared a video of herself wedged between two men aggressively "manspreading" into her seat. Her post went viral, igniting a conversation over personal space. When it comes to manspreading, this might be the worst I've seen personally. An image of a woman's hair dangling over the back of a plane seat, covering the in-flight entertainment screen the person seated behind her. A post about the incident has sparked debate among users on... An image of a woman's hair dangling over the back of a plane seat, covering the in-flight entertainment screen the person seated behind her. A post about the incident has sparked debate among users on Reddit. More thekingofyoutube on Reddit Enjoying that in-flight movie? Think again. A Reddit user posted a photo showing a woman's long hair draped over the back of a plane seat, blocking the screen of the passenger behind her. Here's what the passenger told Newsweek. Finally, this one might be contentious. A Reddit user shared that after refusing to switch seats on a plane, the man next to them reached over and shut their window. The post sparked a fiery online argument over who "owns" the window view—those seated beside it or the entire row. Tap here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox. Getty Remote work has surged in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 33 percent of white collar workers being fully remote as of late 2024, according to OnePoll. However, the trend could be fostering a mental health crisis, new research suggests. A new study from the Headway app found that 56 percent of remote workers go entire weeks without leaving their homes, and one in four do not speak to anyone for days. This has led to concerns over social isolation and even depression for employees who have become used to working all day from their bedroom or home office. Read more from Newsweek's Suzanne Blake. getty images A new study has found a striking increase in appendix cancer in Americans born after 1945, with older millennials experiencing the most dramatic rise. The study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that appendiceal adenocarcinoma diagnoses have more than tripled in those born around 1980 and quadrupled in those born around 1985. While older millennials were those with the highest number of diagnoses, researchers believe that as higher-risk birth cohorts continue to age, it is likely that AA incidence rates will increase in the future. Read more. This is a preview of The Good Life—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Newsweek
15-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
The Good Life: Can Certain Audio Frequencies Help you Focus?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Welcome to the Good Life! In this week's edition, we're talking how an auditory illusion could potentially make you more productive, rethinking the way we eat, Americans' growing concerns about retirement and more! Tap here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox. Hz to Help: Can Audio Frequencies Make You Productive? By Cameron Schoppa I use an internet browser called Opera, and the other day I got an interesting pop-up: Download Opera Air. It was promoted as "the world's first browser with mindfulness at its core," promising a "focused, balanced, and stress-free web." I thought, sure—why not. I've been diagnosed with ADHD before, I could use all the help I can get when it comes to focus. The browser's main feature? A tab that implements ambient music mixed with certain audio frequencies. That caught my attention. I used the feature and I kind of started to believe there were some magical focusing powers being pushed into my brain. But then I noticed a mobile app in my Instagram feed pushing the same concept just a few days later—using sound frequencies to boost productivity—which got me questioning: Can frequencies really improve focus and productivity? After some research, the answer seems to be: potentially yes. And these tones might even be able to help in more ways than expected. While the scientific evidence is mixed, one commonly discussed method is the use of binaural beats. These are auditory illusions that occur when you listen to two slightly different frequencies—one in each ear—through headphones. In return, your brain perceives a third tone. So what does that have to do with productivity? According to some, binaural beats can lead to something called brainwave entrainment—essentially using sensory stimulations to affect brain's electrical activity. This could help calm a cluttered mind, which many of us experience in our day-to-day lives. Frequencies between 14 and 30 Hz are believed to enhance beta brainwave activity, which is associated with focus and productivity. A commonly cited 40 Hz tone is linked to gamma brainwave activity, which some claim supports memory, attention and mental clarity. But that's not all. We've long known that white/pink noise can aid sleep, but some evidence suggests certain binaural beats—using theta (4–7 Hz) or delta (<4 Hz) waves—may promote deep sleep or meditative states. One preliminary study found that listening to 6 Hz theta binaural beats for 10 minutes daily over a few weeks may "enhance certain aspects of cognitive function." So, let's get to the most important part of this 'binaural beats journey.' Do these tones actually work? It depends. Music incorporating rapid amplitude modulations, especially within the beta frequency range (~14–30 Hz), was found to improve attention, particularly in those with ADHD. But here comes a potential problem with this. Some trials suggest these strategies may have the opposite effect—potentially impairing cognitive performance rather than enhancing it. A study from 2023 found that regular use of binaural beats actually decreased performance on fluid intelligence tests, scoring lower than those exposed to silence or control sounds. On its face, it seems like a life hack; a cheat code to enhance your everyday life. But experts actually suggest treading lightly against viewing this method as a cure-all. "While I can appreciate the fact that a lot of the strategies that are most strongly supported by research take time and consistent effort (two things people might be frustrated with if they want immediate alleviation from their symptoms) before substantial results are seen," Jessica McCarthy, PsyD, said in a comment to health and wellness website VeryWellMind, "a sole and passive strategy such as this one will not yield the results that people are looking for." There's plenty of research still left to be done. But If you're curious and want to give this strategy a try, here are some tips to get started: Use stereo headphones Don't turn up the volume very loud, lower volume is better. Set a timer. 15–30 minutes is generally recommended for a session. And of course, be in a quiet room while doing this. At the end of the day, despite the debate, if it works for you—maybe that's what matters most. marilyna/Getty Images Rethinking What We Eat By: Alex Backus You've probably seen the videos: Americans in Europe indulging in croissants, cheese, pasta, wine—yet somehow feeling lighter, less bloated, and even healthier. That was the case for Kayleigh Donahue. The 27-year-old grew up in Rhode Island and experienced a remarkable transformation in her health and lifestyle upon moving to Ireland. "For some reason, the weight started falling off of me. I ended up losing close to 50 pounds within the first six months of living in Ireland," she told Newsweek. "I was shocked by this because I didn't feel like I drastically changed my eating." Donahue credits both the higher food quality and a different mindset around eating, where better products are more accessible and affordable. "I felt so much healthier," she said. "My skin was glowing and I lost the weight I was struggling with my whole life." Pictures from the viral video posted by Kayleigh that showed the difference in her appearance after a year living in Europe. Pictures from the viral video posted by Kayleigh that showed the difference in her appearance after a year living in Europe. @kayshaynee/TikTok Back in the U.S., the contrast is stark. American food has become increasingly processed and expensive—and our medical system often defaults to prescriptions instead of prevention and holistic solutions. One-minute ads showing a smiling man or woman spinning in circles thanks to (insert prescription drug here) are the norm. That doesn't happen in Europe. The issue goes beyond "just" food, but let's refocus there. While making meaningful changes to a nation's entire food supply is a mammoth undertaking, it starts small. This is one area where we've seen common ground when it comes to RFK Jr.'s Make American Healthy Again agenda. A YouGov survey found most Americans agree with Kennedy on at least one health or nutrition-related issue. The agenda includes fake additives and the Trump administration announced a plan to phase these eight synthetic food dyes out of the nation's food supply by the end of 2026. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new natural color additives as part of a push to eliminate synthetic dyes from the food supply. "For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. "We're removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives—to protect families and support healthier choices." KarinaBost These dyes include galdieria extract blue, derived from red algae, and calcium phosphate, a white coloring. What's being phased out? Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Citrus Red 2 and Orange B. You've likely seen these in the ingredient list of various processed foods, like cereal, candy and desserts. Some have been linked to hyperactivity, allergic reactions and cancer risks in animal studies. Fixing America's food system will take more than cutting synthetic dyes, but it's a step in the right direction. Clean, healthy food shouldn't be a luxury, or something you have to fly to Europe to find. CLOSE X I started experiencing symptoms of endometriosis when I was just 12 years old. And after 15 years of being ignored, I was finally diagnosed last year, at 27. Now, I have had collapsed lungs and lost parts of my bowels. I've had to have six organs removed due to hemorrhaging from endometriosis: at 26, I had to have my gallbladder removed as well as part of my cystic duct. At 27, I had my uterus, cervix, both fallopian tubes, and parts of my bowels removed. When I was little, there were so many things I dreamed of being. Most little kids say they want to be an astronaut, a princess, a firefighter. Mine was always being a mom. Read the full story >> In other news... Retirement concerns: As Americans confront the realities of longer life expectancies, a new study finds only 29 percent of adults want to live to see their 100th birthday. Most cited fears about financial instability and deteriorating health in old age. Read the story. As Americans confront the realities of longer life expectancies, a new study finds only 29 percent of adults want to live to see their 100th birthday. Most cited fears about financial instability and deteriorating health in old age. Read the story. Psychopaths are more attractive, study: Researchers found that individuals with high levels of the so-called "dark triad" traits—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—were consistently rated as more trustworthy. Why? The answer lies in looks. Read more. This is a preview of The Good Life—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
