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A powerful 360° immersive video tour of Alaska's gorgeous melting glaciers, narrated by Jared Leto.

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Sierra Club

Jared Leto: Is there anything he can't do?

Aside from being the lead singer and guitarist for the award-winning rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars...



GIF from the music video for "A Beautiful Lie" by Thirty Seconds to Mars, which was actually filmed on a glacier.

...he's also an Academy Award-winning actor (and occasionally punching bag)...

GIF from "Fight Club."

...and a former teenage heartthrob.

GIF from "My So-Called Life."

Now he can add "Virtual Reality Tour Guide" to his resume as well.

Perhaps you've felt emotionally or metaphorically transported by the sound of Jared Leto's voice.

But thanks to a new collaboration between RYOT and the Sierra Club, you can be physically transported as well.

GIFs via RYOT/Sierra Club.

This short interactive film, titled "Act in Paris," immerses the viewer in a 360° tour of Alaska's gorgeous melting glaciers.

Don't worry — you don't need one of those big clunky virtual reality helmets or Google Cardboard or any other extra-fancy tech to enjoy the experience.

As with all YouTube 360 videos, you can use the directional buttons on the screen or the arrow keys on your keyboard to guide your way around the glacier while you listen to the mellow tone of Leto's voice.

You can also download the RYOT VR app and experience the whole thing on your smartphone, either by touching the screen...

...or by literally spinning around the room (although you might get some weird looks).

Pretty cool, right? But what does a VR tour of Alaska have to do with Paris?

This December, the United Nations is hosting a massive climate action conference in Paris with the goal of bringing the world together to enter into a universal and legally binding agreement to fight climate change before it's too late.

As for Alaska, it's ground zero for climate change damage, along with the rest of the Arctic Circle.

As Jared Leto's serene voice will tell you during your immersive video tour, melting glaciers and rising temperatures have had a devastating impact on the Arctic, and it's only getting worse.

The inside of a melting glacier.

Alaska's scenic landscapes show us just how bad the damage is — and what's in store for the rest of us if we don't act.

The Arctic Circle might seem remote, but the effects of climate change have left their mark on the rest of the world as well. It's not quite as apparent yet, but it is happening — and it's happening exponentially faster as the Arctic gets worse.

So as you soak in the sights on your virtual tour, consider what would happen if it all just disappeared.

And if by some chance you aren't feeling moved by the jaw-dropping beauty of the Arctic Circle, consider that wherever you live, the exact same things are happening all around you, whether you notice them or not. Check it out:

The time has come for us to make a difference — because we might not have another chance to stop the damage.

Visit ActInParis.org to find out more and to demand that the world's leaders come together with an action plan while they still can.

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Dad's heartfelt lunch message shows how simple, everyday acts can change lives

You can make a huge difference by using O Organics.

via Meg Sullivan (used with permission) and Canva/Photos

A volunteer hands out food in a food bank and Meg Sullivan shares her dad's kind gesture.

When we consider people who have had a positive impact on the world, we often think of those who have made grand gestures to improve the lives of others, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Greta Thunberg, or Mahatma Gandhi. Unfortunately, that type of effort is out of reach for the average person.

However, O Organics would like to remind everyone that they can positively impact the world through small, consistent acts of kindness that add up over time. Much like how a small creek can create a valley over the years, we can change lives through small, consistent acts of kindness.

O Organics is dedicated to the well-being of all by nourishing people everywhere with delicious organic foods grown by producers who meet USDA-certified organic farming standards.

Upworthy's Instagram page recently posted a touching example of everyday kindness. Meg Sullivan shared how her father, Tom, peeled oranges for her lunch just about every day from kindergarten through high school. But on the final day of her senior year of high school, he sent his 17-year-old daughter unpeeled oranges with a touching note about how she’d have to start peeling them for herself.



“It’s Time Baby Girl,” he wrote on a wikiHow printout on how to peel an orange with a drawing of himself crying. For the father, this daily ritual was about more than just making lunch; it was about showing that he cared by going the extra mile. “I could have put money on her lunch account,” Tom told Today.com. “But it’s one of those little things I thought was important, that she knows somebody’s taking the time to take care of her.”

The small, daily gesture taught Megan an essential lesson in kindness.

The post reminded people how their fathers’ small acts of kindness meant so much to them. “My dad peeled my oranges until I graduated high school, too. Now, I peel my daughter’s oranges and will for the next 7 plus years,” Katie wrote in the comments. “Love this. My dad peeled mine, too. When I moved out, he gave me an orange peeler gadget,” Mary added.

o organics, albertson's giving backO Organics has a wide array of foods and flavors covering almost everything on your shopping list.via Albertson's

Did you know that every time you go to the supermarket, you can also change the world through small gestures? O Organics not only allows you to feed your family delicious and nutritious organic food, but each purchase also gives back to help people and communities facing food insecurity.

Through contributions from customers like you, O Organics donates up to 28 million meals annually. The company’s contribution is essential when, according to the USDA, 47.4 million Americans live in food-insecure households.

O Organics has a wide array of foods and flavors covering almost everything on your shopping list. “Over the years, we have made organic foods more accessible by expanding O Organics to every aisle across our stores, making it possible for health and budget-conscious families to incorporate organic food into every meal,” Jennifer Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Albertsons, one of many stores where you can find O Organics products, said in a statement.

O Organics now offers over 1500 items, from dairy products such as eggs and milk to packaged meats and breakfast staples such as cereal bars, granola and oatmeal. You can also enjoy affordable organic produce with O Organics’ fresh salads and fruit.

Everybody wants to make the world a better place. With O Organics, you can feed your family healthy, organic food every time you go to the market while paying it forward by contributing to the company’s efforts to end food insecurity nationwide. That’s a small, daily gesture that can amount to incredible change.

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Fans applaud Sabrina Carpenter's sweet response to a joke Dolly Parton made about aging

“If we treated older women like this more often maybe younger women would be less petrified of aging."

Kristopher Harris/Wikipedia,Condé Nast/Wikipedia

Dolly Parton (left) Sabrina Carpenter (right)

Fans are applauding Sabrina Carpenter for the incredibly sweet moment she shared with one of her biggest idols—the one and only Dolly Parton. The two were recently out promoting a new duet version of Carpenter’s “Please Please Please,” which appeared on her new Short n’ Sweet album, when Parton made an innocent (yet all too familiar feeling) self-deprecating joke about aging.

As the two posed for the cameras, Parton referred to them as “befores and afters,” before quipping “You’ll be this old one day,” to Carpenter. Parton was obviously being lighthearted, but it’s hard not to feel a twinge of sadness when you really think about it. Because, generally speaking, growing older has been something women have been made to fear for, well, their entire lives. So “you’ll be this old one day” almost comes across as an ominous warning, even though that was not really the intention. And you half expect Carpenter to shudder in utter terror at the thought of it all.

But instead, Carpenter quickly replied, “I know, I can’t wait! I hope I look like you,” with such genuine enthusiasm, it really shook people. The complete absence of fear seemed to reflect a refreshing shift from previous attitudes about aging, and viewers took note of its significance.

One person even likened Carpenter to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, referring to the iconic acne where the titular doll calls an older woman “beautiful.”


By and large, folks hoped that older generations of women would adopt this newfound perspective of celebrating their age rather than bemoaning it. As one person wrote on X, “This is so important to tell older women. I never let older ladies talk down on themselves near me, it breaks my heart how they don’t see their beauty just because of their age.”

And sure, as some pointed out, Parton—with her virtually unlimited access to cosmetic procedures—might not be the prime example of wholeheartedly welcoming aging. But we’re not even really talking about her POV in this scenario anyway. It’s Carpenter’s sincere adoration that’s impactful.

As one person tweeted, “If we treated older women like this more often maybe younger women would be less petrified of aging,” which really hit the nail on the head.

And clearly, judging by other posts, folks share similar sentiments.

“I want more of us to welcome aging like this instead of shunning it and pretending it’s the worst thing that’s going to happen,” one person shared. Another said, “It truly is a privilege to live such a long and fruitful life, I hope more people express this sentiment so younger girls can start to feel this way too.”

It would be naive to think that societal standards have done a complete about face. After all, youth-enhancing cosmetic procedures are on the rise, even for those as young as 20-years-old. But even still, the fact that we are seeing more women, both young and old, tear down this outdated societal mindset shows progress is still being made. And all progress is worth celebrating.

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Neuropsychologist shares the one sentence boys need to hear (over and over again)

This inoculates them against the negative messages they may be receiving from other boys.

via Canva/Photos

A young boy withdrawn from is mother.

There are countless reasons why having the ability to talk about your feelings is great for your mental health. One of the big ones is that discussing feelings helps us understand them better. It also prevents us from bottling up our emotions, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and unplanned emotional outburts, which can be incredibly destructive.

The problem is that at a young age, boys are told to bottle up their emotions, and they are frequently told that “boys don’t cry” or that they should “take it like a man” when they become upset. When men are faced with tremendous grief, such as the death of a friend or family member, they feel that they must “be strong” and show a brave face even though they might be dying inside. This can prevent them from ever completely coming to grips with their loss.

Male emotional repression is widespread, and every time a young boy is taught not to cry or talk about his feelings because it’s “girly,” we are creating mental health problems in real time. It also directly teaches the child how to emotionally withdraw from others and encourages them to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms.

emotions, psychology, healthy emotionsA young boy sits with his feelings.via Canva/Photos


What's the number one thing that boys need to hear?

Dr. Sanam Hafeez, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind, says that the most important sentence that parents need to tell their young sons, especially those in middle school, is: “Talking about your feelings is strong, not weak.”

"Talking about your feelings is strong, not weak."

Hafeez told PureWow the message needs to be shared consistently because “middle school boys often absorb societal messages that discourage emotional expression….[and] suppressing emotions can lead to stress, anxiety and difficulty forming healthy relationships.”

Another big reason boys should consistently be reminded to discuss their feelings is that they may not have many examples of healthy male emotional expression. Sure, they can see men fighting and shooting each other all day on TV, but how often do you see men being honest with their feelings?

“Men do not tell boys to talk about their feelings, and boys do not always see emotions demonstrated by men. Furthermore, they do not learn from men the benefits of emotional expression and how it makes them feel afterward,” Lisa Liggins-Chambers, Ph.D. writes at Psychology Today. Further, it’s also important to make boys aware of the peer pressure they may feel to repress their emotions and to bully other boys who express theirs. This can give them strength to push back against these unhealthy expectations.

From a parents’ perspective, it’s also essential to exhibit healthy listening skills so their child feels free to open up to them.

emotions, psychology, healthy emotionsA mother and child disuss his feelings.via Canva/Photos

How to listen when boys express their feelings

Here are five things to consider when your child discusses his feelings.

  1. Let them know that their emotions are valid.
  2. Give them your full attention by practicing active listening, and show your interest by asking questions.
  3. While they’re opening up, encourage them to consider the emotions of others as well.
  4. Normalize the idea that we all experience a range of emotions from happiness to sadness, anger to anxiety.
  5. Be an example. Model healthy emotional expression to provide a good example of how to manage feelings.

Ultimately, it is essential to understand that boys may be getting an unhealthy lesson about emotions from the kids at school or their family members. Parents tend to encourage their daughters to show their feelings naturally and should show the same consideration for their boys. By consistently reinforcing the idea that emotional expression is a strength, not a weakness, parents can help their sons develop emotional intelligence and resilience.

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For the first time ever, a 13-year-old boy has been cured of a deadly brain cancer

The boy’s tumor disappeared after participating in a new clinical trial.

Lucas Jemeljanova, then aged 5, with his parents and sister a year before he was diagnosed with DIPG. (via Facebook)

Lucas Jemeljanova poses with his family a year before being diagnosed with cancer (Facebook)

Few things strike fear in the heart of parents and doctors more than a cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG. Primarily found in children, DIPG is a highly aggressive brain tumor that is uniformly fatal, with less than 10 percent of children surviving longer than two years after diagnosis.

But for the first time ever, a 13-year-old boy from Belgium named Lucas Jemeljanova has beaten the odds. Diagnosed with DIPG at age six, Lucas’ doctor Jacques Grill told Lucas’ parents, Cedric and Olesja, that he was unlikely to live very long. Instead of giving up hope, Cedric and Olesja flew Lucas to France to participate in a clinical trial called BIOMEDE, which tested new potential drugs against DIPG.

Lucas was randomly assigned everolimus in the clinical trial, a chemotherapy drug that works by blocking a protein called mTOR. mTOR helps cancer cells divide and grow new blood vessels, while everolimus decreases blood supply to the tumor cells and stops cancer cells from reproducing. Everolimus, a tablet that’s taken once per day, has been approved in the UK and the US to treat cancers in the breast, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, and others—but until the BIOMEDE clinical trial, it had never before been used to treat DIPG.

Lucas Jemeljanova poses with his motherLucas Jemeljanova poses with his mother(lesja Jemeljanova / Facebook)

Though doctors weren’t sure how Lucas would react to the medication, it quickly became clear that the results were good.

“Over a series of MRI scans, I watched as the tumor completely disappeared,” Grill said in an interview. Even more remarkably, the tumor has not returned since. Lucas, who is now thirteen, is considered officially cured of DIPG.

Even after the tumor was gone, Grill, who is the head of the Brain Tumor Program in the Department of Child and Teenage Oncology at Gustave Roussy cancer research hospital in Paris, was reluctant to stop Lucas’ treatments. Until about a year and a half ago, Lucas was still taking everolimus once every day.

“I didn’t know when to stop, or how, because there was no other reference in the world,” Grill said.

While Lucas is the only one in the clinical trial whose tumor has completely disappeared, seven other children have been considered “long responders” to everolimus, meaning their tumors have not progressed for more than three years after starting treatment.

Lucas Jemeljanova poses with his mother to mark cancer awareness monthLucas Jemeljanova with his mother (Facebook)(lesja Jemeljanova / Facebook)

So why did everolimus work so well for Lucas? Doctors think that an extremely rare genetic mutation in Lucas’ tumor “made its cells far more sensitive to the drug,” Grill said, while the drug worked well in other children because of the “biological peculiarities” of their tumors.

While everolimus is by no means a cure, the trial has provided real hope for parents and families of children diagnosed with DIPG. Doctors must now work to better understand why Lucas’ tumor responded so well to the drug and how they can replicate those results in tumor “organoids”—artificially-grown cells that resemble an organ. After that, said Marie-Anne Debily, a researcher in the BIOMEDE trial, “the next step will be to find a drug that works as well on tumor cells.”

In the meantime, however, Lucas’ doctors are thrilled.

“Lucas’ case offers real hope,” said Debily.


Lucas Jemeljanova poses with his familyLucas Jemeljanova with his parents and sister(lesja Jemeljanova / Facebook)

This article originally appeared last year.

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Mom shares some pretty epic hacks for when your kid catches a nasty stomach bug

It's gonna happen. Be prepared.

@galpractical/Instagram

Ever parent has to deal with it some time.

Stomach bugs—they happen to all of us. And one of the many *joys* of parenting is that you get to also experience them secondhand through your kiddos. That means enjoying a soundtrack of retches, cleaning up unsightly messes, and more. Yay!

But while no parent can avoid these inevitable icky moments, one mom has a couple of tried-and-true tips for making them much more tolerable. And honestly, even if you’re living the child-free life, these hacks could come in handy next time you, or someone you’re sharing space with, is having tummy issues.

“I've seen a lot of throw up in my nine years of being a mom,” said Abby of @galpractical in a recent Instagram video. According to her video's caption, she even dealt with it “several nights ago.” Apparently one of her kids came in whimpering, "My tummy hurts."

“3 seconds later...🤮. Any parent knows the sound & the drill 🤢” she wrote. Yep, we needn’t any further visuals.

Knowing that “no one likes talking about it, but we all gotta deal with” inevitable vomit, Abby decided to offer her “best puke pointers” she’s gained from hard won experience.

Pointer #1: Disposable tablecloths. Whip these bad boys out the second someone ralphs, Abby says. Put em’ near the bed, couch, and near every trash can, everywhere the sick child could potentially be. Why? Because when they miss that trash can, you can wad it all up and throw it away, versus trying to scrub it out.

Pointer #2: Proper receptacles for…you know. Abby prefers a pitcher, which she says is more little kid-friendly thanks to the handle. That said, she also approves of disposable barf bags, especially for older kids who tend to have “better aim.” These are also great to keep in the car, since they store flat.

Pointer #3: Glow sticks in said receptacle. Invaluable at night for probably obvious reasons. Just place them under a plastic bag in the bucket and you’re good to go.

Pointer #4 Have your grade-A cleaning products at the ready. Specifically, Abby uses Lysol Laundry Sanitizer for dirtied clothes and sheets, which she also washes on the hot setting (this wouldn’t affect norovirus, she admits, but can help with other germs and odors). For carpets that have fallen victim to wayward vomiting, she swears by Folex Carpet Spot Remover

Pointer #5 Grape fruit juice. “People claim that if you drink it before you have any symptoms, it can change the pH levels in your stomach and prevent the flu.” Is there any research backing this? No. Abby merely listed it because anecdotally, “every time I've done it, I haven't gotten sick.”

And she’s not the only on to have had this experience. One person shared, “As an early childhood educator and being exposed several times over 10 years, have tested the grape juice theory and although people say it's false, I swear by it with other staff. As long as you're not vomiting yet, chug it! If you already vomited, too late. We believe there's a science to it. Also have to chug at least 1 glass a day for a full week after being exposed because it stays dormant. The grape juice lining prevents the bugs from sticking."

Still another astutely suggested, “Welch's 100% WHITE grape juice! Because if you do end up puking, it's not purple!”

So there you have it—this last one might just be a preventative measure if you’ve been exposed to a stomach bug, or if you want to justify your grape juice habit.

And if these tips don’t leave you feeling better prepared, several other parents chimed in with their own hacks, from clean-up strategies to recommended supplements:

“Glow in the dark Halloween buckets from target are my best barf bowl mom hack- they are only used for barfing.”

“I also like to put some paper towels in the bottom of the bowl so avoid any splashing 😅”

“I use gallon size zip lock bags! Easy to keep everywhere or even in your pocket! Just close it up and throw it away! No mess to clean!”

“Boiron Nausea Calm for everyone, nausea or not, and extra vitamin c, vit d3k2, and magnesium.”

While none of us can avoid this less-than-ideal aspect of being alive, thank the almighty Internet for enabling folks like Abby to share these hacks so that it can at least be a smoother process, even if it is still disgusting.

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Young dad tearfully seeks advice on going from one child to two and gets the best advice

We don't talk enough about this enough.

@kidds_dad/Instagram (Screenshots used with permission)

Eric Jensen and his wife recently had a second child and are having a hard time with the transition.

We talk a lot about how having a child changes your life, from how you spend your time and energy to how you view life and the world in general. What we don't talk about as much is how having another child changes things all over again, throwing whatever stability you found after adding a baby to your life into disarray.

Only this time, you have a little person you love more than you ever thought possible who is also affected, which can cause conscientious parents much concern and consternation. Questions like, How will I love another child as much as my first? Will my first baby be hurt by my divided attention? What if they both want me at the same time? How am I going to have the energy to give each child what they need? can haunt you as you await a second baby.

Until you have more than one child and see how these questions get answered firsthand, it's easy to feel worried. And even after it happens, the transition to more than one child can take a little time to even out, which is what prompted dad of two Eric Jensen to reach out to experienced parents for help navigating it in a video that's been viewed over 3 millions times.

Jensen and his wife recently had their second child, and the young dad expressed the difficulty he and his 4-year-old were having with the change.

"I'm not really sure how people go about handling the transition from one to two kids," says Jensen. "I feel like it's really hard, in so many different ways. One is that I can really tell that my son is having a hard time. Like obviously, his whole life has changed."

Jensen explained that he had recently suggested that he and his first son go for a walk with the new baby—a "brother walk"—but his son asked if they could go without the baby. Jensen teared up as he recounted his son saying, "You're my best friend, can you please just hang out with me?"

"The first night he slept in his own bed, he just kept waking up silently crying to himself, and I was like 'What's wrong?' and he's like 'I just want someone to snuggle me'…and so I spent the last two nights in his little tiny bed that's like three feet long."

"It's hard because obviously I'm trying so hard to take care of him and make sure he's feeling like accepted and okay," Jensen added, "But every time we leave our little baby, I like die a little bit inside, like, that's just so hard for me to miss out on those little moments. It's a really hard transition for me. I know it's really hard for him. I know it's hard for my wife, too."

Jensen said their family was figuring it out, but if anyone had any tips he'd love to hear them. And boy, did experienced parents deliver.

First, people offered words of praise and encouragement for Jensen's emotional attachment to his kids and his consideration for their feelings.

"You are THE example of what a dad is supposed to be. We’re all here for you. You’re going so good brother."

"I’m crying 🥹 this father is so sweet my heart can’t even handle it."

"Sounds like you’re doing great. The children are fortunate to have such a loving father. ❤️"

"IMAGINE having a father this attuned and considerate! Please give yourself grace!!"

"Youre sensé of emotional awareness is STRENGTH."

"First time I have ever actually seen dad guilt. I felt this in my soul. You are a great dad!"

"It takes time for the whole fam to adjust, sometimes it may seem like you’re not doing enough for them, but you are and they will remember it and appreciate it when they’re older."


But some people also offered helpful, practical advice for attempting to meet everyone's needs and create the bonds parents hope for their children to have growing up.

"Include your older one in everything and instead of it being 'I need to go do xyz for your baby brother or sister' it’s 'can you help me with xyz?' Then praise of 'you’re such a good helper, you’re so kind, you’re such an amazing brother or sister.' Then naturally he or she will want to help. Make them feel included during bath time, feedings, even play. Remember that they are still a baby in their own right so refrain from telling them how big they are or how they should act and carve out 1:1 time for just the two of you. Make dinner or lunch together, watch a movie and snuggle, take a drive/ go to the park. 'Let’s go get mommy something special.' Build your older one up, make them feel really included in everything you do and validate their feelings. Also don’t force a bond right away with the sibling, but encourage it. 💙❤️"

"I feel this SO much bro… it’ll get better, I promise you that. Keep doing your 1-1s with your wife, and your baby, and your boy. It’s all about finding a healthy balance of love, laughter, sadness, gratefulness, and peace. You’ll find your rhythm. He’ll start to understand things more, just stay the course. You’re already doing a good job and I don’t even know who you are 💯💯💯 Keep pushing dad!"

"Really feel for you! We’re going through the same but from 2 to 3 and our middle child has struggled. What we’ve done is intentionally bought him lots of new things and told him everything we bought was from his baby sister and anytime we get him any of his favourite snacks we tell him it’s from her too, it’s helped him see her as an ally rather than someone that’s come to take dad and mum’s attention from him. ❤️❤️"

"The best thing I did when my daughter was 2.5 when my son was born, I would say out loud to the baby that he needed to wait and I needed to help her. It made her feel really important and reminded her."

"Little buddy is grieving his old life. Once he can make baby laugh and smile things get 1000x better I promise. Give him lots of choice ‘do you want me to get you out of the car first or baby?’…"

Having more than one child is hard, there's no doubt about it. But part of the parenting journey is the learning that takes place as you go and the support you get from other parents as you meet the challenges along the way. It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise a parent. Kudos to this father for providing a space for experience and wisdom to be shared with anyone who might need it.

You can follow Eric Jensen (@kidds_dad) on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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