Quick hits: Canned bread nostalgia; loneliness primer; python teeth inspire improved shoulder repair; fall skies

B&M introduced canned bread to America in 1928.
(Photo by Kaleigh Brown, The Takeout)

Canned bread might fit nicely on a list of non-perishables that are nostalgic and still worth making or buying. "Canned bread's legacy is tied to the survival instincts of early New Englanders," writes Kaleigh Brown for The Takeout. "When the first settlers arrived in Massachusetts, they hoped to grow wheat, but the local climate made it difficult. Instead, they turned to more affordable and resilient grains like rye and corn. . . .Lacking ovens, they steamed their bread over open fires, often using cans as makeshift molds."

Loneliness is a common experience across the United States, but some Americans are more susceptible to the harm long bouts with the emotion can cause. "Loneliness is more than just isolation: It’s the subjective experience of craving more social interaction than you currently have. It isn’t binary, either, and no one is immune," reports Allie Volpe of Vox. "Chronic loneliness has severe negative physical and mental effects. . . . Rather than point to certain populations as explicitly lonely, understanding what increases someone’s risk for loneliness can help address it on a population level."

Python teeth are uniquely curved and sharp, which helps
them grip their prey without tearing. (A.S. photo)

Picking fruit, baling hay and moving or handling food animals can all end in a farmer or farm worker tearing their rotator cuff, which hurts like heck and normally requires shoulder surgery to repair. The surgery is tricky and often fails, which is why a "python-like surgical implant" could help, reports Eric Niiler of The Wall Street Journal. "Medical researchers at Columbia University designed and built a python-tooth-inspired implant to better mend rotator cuff tear. . . . [The snake's] prey-grabbing method was the inspiration for the device."

Failing to have end-of-life discussions can leave important decisions to a time when there is no time. "Morbidity, mortality, and the many grey zones in between are ever-present in healthcare, writes Nidhi Bhaskar for MedPage Today. "I believe it is crucial to equip future physicians with the skills to navigate these conversations, especially in acute situations where time is limited and patient capacity for decision-making can quickly change. . . . Multiple studies have highlighted the positive impact that early exposure to palliative care and end-of-life goals can have on patient satisfaction at the end of life."

Remember to star gaze this fall; there's going to be a lot to marvel at. Mars and Jupiter will be easily visible on Aug. 27 and "will be accompanied by the crescent moon, creating a dazzling pack in the sky, according to NASA," reports Juliana Kim of NPR. If you missed August's super 'blue' moon, don't despair, "next month’s supermoon will be on Sept. 18. It will be a super harvest moon. It’s called a harvest moon because of its proximity to the autumnal equinox: An equinox is when the Earth’s equator is most directly in line with the sun. This supermoon will also undergo a partial lunar eclipse, reports Mansee Khurana of NPR. "The next two supermoons will occur on Oct. 17 and Nov. 15."