For 22 years, Jason Mazzola’s life was defined by Fragile X, a genetic condition that often causes autism and intellectual disability. Jason, who is 24 now, needed constant supervision. He had disabling anxiety, and struggled to answer even simple questions. All that began to change when he started taking an experimental drug called zatolmilast in…

Teenage boys have a new hair style obsession. You’ve probably seen a variation of the “alpaca” cut, as some are calling it, on the likes of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, internet personality Jake Paul and pop megastar Bad Bunny. The look can vary, of course, but it has three signature traits: a close…

The Red Sea, sandwiched between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is teeming with life, including octopuses and more than a thousand species of fish. Every day, the goal of these creatures is the same. “Anything that is smaller than them and can fit their mouth, they’re going to try to eat,” says Eduardo Sampaio,…

Motel 6, the economy budget motel that has existed for six decades, announced that it will be acquired by Oyo, an Indian-based travel company, in a multi-million dollar sale. But there is no need to worry; the motel chain will still leave its light on for you. Motel 6’s parent company, Blackstone, released a statement…

Boeing said Monday it made a “best and final offer” to striking machinists that includes bigger raises and larger bonuses, but the workers’ union said the proposal isn’t good enough and there won’t be a ratification vote before Boeing’s deadline at the end of the week. The union complained that Boeing publicized its latest offer…

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. One summer day in 2009, Megan Atherton was driving to her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa., with a friend. She was 23 years old and had just…

Around 60 miles west of Las Vegas, Pahrump, Nevada’s fall festival and rodeo were in full swing on a recent weekend. The dry desert heat had broken by sundown. The amusement park rides swung fest-goers around. Families played carnival games — including one basketball challenge that advertised “cheating allowed.” Rodeo fans in the stands donned…

It was two years ago. Morningside Heights resident Carl Mahaney was walking with his kid to the first day of school, when they came across heaps of trash bags lying on a sidewalk. “The rats would come from where the rats come from, and they would just tear the bags apart, Mahaney said. The trash…