News Sidequest

A 95-year-old traveler says staying curious and exploring the world is the secret to staying sharp — which raises the question: what does a good life at 95 actually look like? Plus, a new poll finds most Americans admit to being nervous about flying, even though it’s statistically one of the safest ways to travel. We also cover alien civilizations, Pokémon card heists, a baby spider monkey naming contest, and a Yellowstone geyser waking up after years of silence.

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Teachers are working second jobs just to stay afloat — but is this really a teacher crisis, or a broader middle-class reality? Plus, a new blood test claims it can predict whether you’ll still be alive in two years. Would you want to know? We also cover deepfake phone calls, Gen Z finding love at wrestling matches, and a sinkhole that accidentally revealed a wine cellar.

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With major global headlines dominating the news cycle, today’s News Sidequest offers a brief detour. A new poll says more than half of Americans now consider health care, a weeklong vacation, and even a new car unaffordable — so what quietly feels out of reach in your life? Meanwhile, most Americans say they feel fine personally… but think the country is falling apart. Is that media-driven anxiety or something deeper? Plus lab-grown brains, popcorn-scented tomatoes, and microwave lasers in space.Take a look at Justin Robert Young’s podcast on everything that happened in the middle east this weekend: War with Iran. What Happened and What's Next?

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If America buried a time capsule for 250 years, what should go inside? A smartphone? A meme? A Costco receipt? And while we’re at it — should airports draw the line at pajama pants? Today on News Sidequest: how we want to be remembered, the great airport dress code debate, Neanderthal ancestry surprises, and why podcasts officially beat talk radio. We want your answers — email us at [email protected] or weigh in in the comments.

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Does having kids actually make you happier — or are we doing a terrible job selling parenthood? And in the dating world, is “ghostlighting” a real trend or just flaky behavior with better branding? Today on News Sidequest: parenting, modern romance chaos, dodgeball fitness for adults, why podcasts just beat talk radio, and a rare Florida nudist real estate opportunity. Parents and single people — this one’s for you.

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A new study says you’d need $400,000 a year to make childcare “affordable” — so is parenthood becoming a luxury item? Meanwhile, police are increasingly using Google search histories to identify suspects, raising big questions about privacy in 2026. Today on News Sidequest: the cost of kids, searchable curiosity, rogue AI real estate monsters, and why Waffle House remains undefeated.

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A new study says you’d need $400,000 a year to make childcare “affordable” — so is parenthood becoming a luxury item? Meanwhile, police are increasingly using Google search histories to identify suspects, raising big questions about privacy in 2026. Today on News Sidequest: the cost of kids, searchable curiosity, rogue AI real estate monsters, and why Waffle House remains undefeated.

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Gen Z is hitting life milestones later — and more women are choosing to stay single by choice. What does “adulthood” even mean anymore? Today on News Sidequest: redefining grown-up life, the new relationship calculus, flirty chimpanzees, rogue robot vacuums, and why you should live your life in a way that doesn’t make jury selection impossible.

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A Republican senator backs his Democrat wife for office — and somehow that’s national news. Meanwhile, U.S. fighter jets can apparently be “jailbroken” like an iPhone. Today on News Sidequest: loyalty vs. party, military software at Mach 2, and why stealing an ambulance is harder to get away with than you’d think.

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A new study says college students who spend 16 hours a week on social media are more likely to feel lonely — which raises an important question: what are you all doing for two hours a day? Meanwhile, a 32-year-old couple retired to live full-time on cruise ships for less than $10K a year. Today on News Sidequest: loneliness, logging off, boneless wing justice, pickle assault, kung fu robots, and the growing threat of a coffee shortage.

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