Tuesday, 12 July 2022

A stunning glimpse 13 billion years into the past. Plus, how to get Prime Day's best deals. Here's the latest.

July 12, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

Your day starts here. The latest in news, pop culture, wellness and more.

The most contagious Covid variant yet is upending summer plans, and NASA releases a stunning color photo of the distant universe. Plus, how to get the best deals on Amazon today as Prime Day kicks off.

THE LATEST

A new Covid variant is an unwelcome summer surprise. Are mask mandates coming back?

Doctors are warning of BA.5, a new omicron strain of COVID-19 they are calling the most contagious one yet, as cases, hospitalizations and deaths tick up. Infections are climbing in nearly half the states, and experts believe the wave could be bigger than reported because many people test themselves at home and don't report positive cases. The variant doesn't appear to cause more serious illness, and deaths are still a fraction of what they were compared to last year. Some cities, including New York and Los Angeles, are considering a return to mask mandates, but for now have only issued advisories.

✨NASA shared the James Webb Telescope's stunning first image of distant galaxies, and more are coming today.

President Biden unveiled a photo he called "a historic moment for science and technology" at a White House event yesterday. The color shot of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, shows thousands of galaxies. "The light that you are seeing on one of those little specks has been traveling for over 13 billion years," a NASA administrator said at the event. The full set of images will be released today at 10:30 a.m. ET during a live broadcast on NASA TV.

🛒 Prime Day is today. Here's how to get the best deals on Amazon.

Amazon's biggest sale of the season starts today and goes through tomorrow, with discounts as big as 55% off select Amazon products like Fire TV as well as other brands like Dove and SodaStream. Here's all you need to know to get shopping, as well as plenty of deals on everything from charcoal grills to Apple AirPods.

🍋 The trendy 'internal shower' drink supposedly relieves bloating and curbs hunger. But does it work?

A drink made out of water, chia seeds and lemon juice has gone viral on TikTok as the #internalshower, with some claiming it helps battle constipation and reduce bloating while also suppressing hunger. Does it live up to the hype? Here's what a registered dietitian told us, what to know if you're going to try it out, and other ways to get the health benefits of chia seeds (without having to drink them 🥴).

GIVE IT A SHOT

Achieve your life goals with this easy tip.

Being stuck at a desk or in a car all day can lead to nagging lower back pain from poor posture, strained muscles or weak abdominal muscles. These 5 daily habits can help prevent back pain or reduce discomfort from an existing issue with a few simple movements throughout the day. Our TODAY personal trainer also shares tips to strengthen your core right at your desk and ideas for ways to get moving during your lunch break.

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Ever heard of a "dry tai" or an "Arnold Palermo?" These booze-free cocktails from TODAY culinary producer and food stylist Katie Stilo are refreshing summer versions of popular drinks that deliver delicious taste without the alcohol. A dry tai puts a twist on the traditional Mai Tai thanks to sweet orgeat syrup, and an Arnold Palermo combines the iced tea of an Arnold Palmer with the lemon of the Sicilian drink limone e sale (lemon juice and carbonated water). Katie also has a summer mule and a frozen version of a Shirley Temple to cool you off on a hot day.

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

A bartender and single mother who said that she lives "paycheck to paycheck, tip to tip" recently received a tip she'll never forget from a woman she calls "a gift from God." Chelsea Lantrip was working her regular shift at Chances Dance Hall in Cleburne, Texas, last week when an unidentified woman left her a $4,000 tip on a tab that was $179.50. "I believe in guardian angels, I believe in people coming into your life at the right time that you need them," Lantrip told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. "And she was definitely one of them."