Seasonal Depression, Chernobyl, and the Real-Life 'Marty Supreme'

Can the seasons really make you depressed?

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that repeats during predictable seasonal shifts, impacting an estimated 5% of the global population—predominantly women. Symptoms of the condition occur with significant cyclical changes in daylight hours, with prevalence increasing in regions north of 40 degrees latitude (less commonly in the Southern Hemisphere). Its etiology—or root cause—remains unclear to researchers.

Though “winter blues” are commonly reported, SAD is a distinct, diagnosed subtype of major depressive disorder first formally described in 1984 (see criteria). Key symptoms—lasting roughly four months each year—resemble common depression: fatigue, increased sleep, carbohydrate cravings, and social withdrawal. Researchers argue most cases develop from a circadian rhythm phase delay disorder resulting from reduced daylight, disrupting the production of serotonin and melatonin—key neurotransmitters that regulate mood. SAD often arises as part of a broader complex of mood conditions.

Effective forms of treatment include bright light therapy—where individuals bask in strong artificial light for at least 30 minutes each morning—cognitive behavioral therapy (attempting to rewire negative thoughts about winter), and antidepressants like bupropion.

... Read what else we learned about the condition here.

Also, check out ... 

> Ten percent of SAD cases occur in the summer. (Read)

> SAD's timing is uniquely predictable among depressive disorders. (Listen)

> Women are four times more likely to be diagnosed with SAD. (Read)

> How a civil engineer in the '70s tracked his seasonal moods and catalyzed the first human blood test for SAD. (Read)

In partnership with Noom

Is the Future of Weight Loss Microdosing?

By now, most of us are familiar with GLP-1 medications for weight loss – but what about their side effects? Studies show that many people who go on a standard GLP-1 dose may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues. That’s less than ideal, but Noom has discovered a solution: Microdosing. 

Noom Med’s new Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program is the easiest way to start (and stay) on a GLP-1. The program is designed to minimize side effects¹ and keep pricing affordable (starting at just $99), while still seeing the kind of results that could help you lose up to 17 pounds in 60 days². It’s trustworthy, it’s affordable, but most of all, it’s sustainable – and if there’s one thing we love, it’s long-term results. 

Take this quiz to find out if you’re eligible for Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program through Noom Med.

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Making sense of the Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl disaster was the worst nuclear accident in history. During a late-night safety test on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in present-day Ukraine, a combination of design flaws and operator errors triggered a massive power surge, leading to a pair of explosions that released radioactive material across large parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

The Soviet government initially downplayed the incident, waiting 36 hours to evacuate the nearby city of Pripyat, home to 50,000 people. An exclusion zone spanning 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the reactor was eventually established, displacing more than 300,000 people, while over 500,000 "liquidators" worked to decontaminate the site. A steel and concrete sarcophagus was then built in about seven months to contain the damaged reactor.

Chernobyl undermined trust in Soviet leadership and contributed to the USSR's eventual collapse five years later. Its legacy includes not just environmental damage, but lasting physical and psychological harm for those affected and lasting uneasiness over nuclear power.

... Read our full explainer on Chernobyl here.

Also, check out ... 

> Unpack the chemistry behind the catastrophe at Chernobyl. (Watch)

> The "Elephant's Foot" in Chernobyl is part of the largest documented mass of corium. (Read)

> See eerie footage of the abandoned city of Pripyat a year after the event. (Watch)

> Attempts to suppress information about Chernobyl led to conspiracy theories. (Read)

Madison Avenue, explained

Named after the New York City avenue that was once home to the world’s most powerful ad agencies, Madison Avenue is a catch-all term for the advertising industry. In other words, Madison Avenue is to advertising what Wall Street is to finance.

The phrase “Madison Avenue” was first used in reference to the advertising industry around 1923. By the late 1930s, roughly 37% of the American Association of Advertising Agencies' New York members had offices on the street, largely due to its proximity to their large corporate clients' headquarters.

From three-martini lunches to office romances, the corporate culture on Madison Avenue was notorious for its debauchery—so much so that it inspired the popular TV drama “Mad Men.”

While many of the top advertising agencies (such as Ogilvy & Mather in 1989 and Young & Rubicam in 2013) have since moved their headquarters away from Madison Avenue for various reasons, the term is still used as a synonym for the ad industry today.

... Read our full write-up on Madison Avenue here.

Also, check out ... 

> Explore some of the best advertisements of all time. (Read)

> Consumerism took off in the US after WWI. (Read)

> The "Got Milk?" campaign didn't result in a very impressive sales boost. (Read)
> Jane Maas was one of Madison Avenue's first female executives. (Watch)

In partnership with Noom

Micro Dose for Macro Change

That’s the idea behind Noom Med’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program, which manages to combine the best of both worlds: The weight loss aided by standard GLP-1 use, paired with a low-dose personalized plan that is designed to minimize side effects¹ while improving affordability.

Everyday people like you have successfully lost up to 17 lbs in 60 days² on this new program, designed so that people can see real results with minimal side effects. Take their quiz right here to find out if you’re eligible for Noom’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program.

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Best of the Week

We added 163 resources this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of our favorites.

How information overload can lead to the unavailability bias: If there's no documentation, it must not exist. 

Even failing to meet your New Year's resolutions helps define your goals. 

The US has tried to buy Greenland at least three times in its history.

Find where your generic prescription drug was made.

The name "January" comes from the two-faced Roman god Janus. 

Discovering how the dinosaurs went extinct may have helped avert nuclear war.

Your pet might eat you if you die.

Learn what the 12 Jungian archetypes reveal about you.

High-heeled shoes only became associated with femininity in the 18th century.

How musicals use motifs to tell stories.

Visualizing the global Venezuelan diaspora.

"Planet Money" played "Family Feud" to discuss the financial indicators that defined 2025.

Polling shows why Americans stay in or leave their childhood religion.

Visualizing the AI investment wave.

Meet the real-life "Marty Supreme," table tennis bad boy Marty Reisman. 

📞 1440 Explores ... The Birth of the Mobile Phone

Historybook: Alexander Hamilton born (1755 or 1757); Grand Canyon becomes a national monument (1908); First use of insulin to treat diabetes in humans (1922); Mary J. Blige born (1971); Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, dies (2008).