Turbo boost

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Walmart using light-up tech to make items easier to find in-store; study finds omega-3 fatty acids inhabit cancer immune response; and the ridiculous origin of the word “OK”…👀

But first, our weekly poll!

Walmart recently introduced a feature that lets customers make item labels light up in-store to make them easier to find.

The retail giant said customers can search for an item in the Walmart app, then proceed to the aisle the item can be found in. Once there, they can press a button in the app that connects with the label on the shelf, causing it to light up and reveal its location immediately.

“We are people-led, tech-powered,” said Greg Cathey, Walmart’s senior vice president of digital transformation. “But the way we look at it is AI as a way to help associates do their job and free up time to allow them to invest in what they love to do most, which is spend more time with customers and their fellow associates.”

The feature is called Shop to Light, and it’s part of a broader suite of features the company introduced to help both customers and employees navigate the store better.

“We don’t look at it as technology for technology’s sake,” Cathey said. “So we always have a human in the loop, and we’re very focused on human judgment and their ability to make decisions.”

Human beings have been in pursuit of knowledge since deciding to come out of the cave. “Philosophy” is itself a word that’s roots translate to “love of wisdom.”

However, as ancient wisdom advanced and societies became exponentially wiser, one deeply religious Dane named Søren Kierkegaard pivoted, and instead of pursuing knowledge, began pondering what he’s supposed to do with himself.

It was the foundational question of what became known as existentialism, and though the school of philosophical thought is often only associated with malaise, its roots remain a necessary starting point.

Everyone needs their “why?,” but what stumps millions everyday is that it’s their life and their choice to determine what they think and what they do.

In a piece on the topic of a life well-lived, Ira Bedzow, Ph.D., discusses the questions he often asks students: “whose life are you living?” and “who should determine how it’s lived?”

Folks of all ages and backgrounds live their lives without asking these questions, ironically leaving them for someone else to answer. Perhaps just as ironically, some of the brightest thinkers have been asking for hundreds of years why free people choose not to act.

Omega-3 fatty acids are part of a broader group of compounds called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They’re widely believed to provide loads of health benefits, but a study recently published by the Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program at Yale University School of Medicine suggests these compounds have a downside.

PUFAs are known to reduce inflammation, and are good for cardiovascular health, brain development, and cognitive function. But the study found they also may directly inhibit the immune response to cancer, slowing natural killer cells and allowing tumor growth to proceed.

"Given the widespread promotion of polyunsaturated fatty acids as beneficial dietary supplements, greater public awareness of their potential unintended effects is warranted," writes Dr. Yi Luan, lead author of the Yale research published in the journal Science Signaling.

PUFAs are mostly found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils, but some are found in animal products like pork and eggs.

Dieticians and nutritionists all but universally promote the health benefits of these compounds, prompting the researchers to highlight the potential need for targeted dietary advice, particularly in those being treated for cancer.

15 treasured artifacts were returned to Greece last week after an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office determined they’d ended up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after decades of fraudulently changing hands.

Five of the objects were initially stolen from the Greek island of Crete in 1964, when looters pillaged the tombs at the sanctuary on the hill of Prophet Elias at Afrati.

The objects consisted of 2 helmets and 3 mitrai (belly guards) that were donated to the Met by a collector who likely didn’t realize they’d been peddled with false provenance for decades. Collectively, the items are worth about $2 million and are around 2,750 years old.

The oldest two items are believed to have originated between 2750-2700 BCE, including a marble figurine of a woman and a marble box cap.

The DA didn’t reveal the total value of the 15 items recovered, but the Met has cooperated with several investigations in recent years that have collectively retrieved $95 million worth of ancient treasures.

The term “OK” is probably the most recognized word, not just in the English language, but in the entire world.

Some may think its origins are murky, but thanks to author and professor Allan Metcalf, the complete history of the word has been well-documented.

It started in the 1820s, when newspapers were playing around with trends that you might think weren’t around until very, very recently. We’re talking the intentional misspelling of words (kewl, rite, thx), and the acronymizing of phrases (IDK, IDC, LOL, LMAO).

The papers adopted the misspelling of words as a humorous jab when mocking other newspapers. This meant “no go” became “know go,” and “no use” became “know yuse.” When abbreviated, they’d turn “no go” into “K.G.” and “no use” became “K.Y.”

Then came the term “all correct,” which was intentionally misspelled as “oll korrect.” That’s how “O.K.” was born.

Quizmaster’s choice

You know the drill, Staker! It’s Friday, so it’s time for a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and another round of à la carte for today’s trivia!