study – Page 2 – Topical Fruit

Have You Ever Wondered How Many “Miles” You Scroll on Your Phone?

If you’ve ever wondered how much exercise your thumb is getting, the answer is… well, probably more than your legs.

A new study just calculated how far people “travel” each year with all that endless phone scrolling. Yeah, they somehow figured out how far your thumb moved, across your screen, in the process of scrolling. Weird times, amirite?

Here are the results, broken down by state:

Topping the list is Arizona, where people scroll an average of 115.4 miles a year. To put that in perspective, that’s about the distance from Phoenix to Tucson.

In other words, Arizonans are essentially hiking the desert with their thumbs. That also works out to nearly nine hours of screen time per day. Nine. Hours. A day.

The rest of the Top Five states are: Washington (108.2 miles), Kentucky (105 miles), Missouri (102 miles), and New Mexico (96 miles). Rounding out the Top Ten are: Texas, Maryland, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Georgia. Clearly, the South is putting in some serious screen work too.

On the flip side, the study didn’t officially rank the least-scrolling states, but data suggests Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Massachusetts are down near the bottom. Congrats to them, I guess… they’ll be the ones still making eye contact in public.

In total, the average American now spends 6 hours and 35 minutes per day on screens, which adds up to a wild 2,403 hours per year. We’re also checking our devices an average of 58 times a day, which is either dedication or a collective cry for help.

For the record, the “scroll miles” were calculated by converting screen time into seconds, factoring in the average 6.3-inch phone screen, and then tallying the virtual distance. So yes, science just proved your thumb is basically an endurance athlete.

Turns Out Most of Your Days Are Better Than You Think… Literally

Feeling like life’s been a blur of blah lately? You might be selling your days short.

According to a new nationwide survey, the average American racks up 252 “good days” per year. That’s about five out of every seven days. Not too shabby for a population that frequently doom-scrolls and stress-snacks.

The study, commissioned by Icelandic Provisions (yes, the yogurt people), dug into how we define a “good day” and found that the mood-boosting magic often comes down to a few small things: a positive outlook, laughing at the little stuff, quality family time, exercise, and eating healthy.

And most of us know how our day’s going to go by 8:30 a.m., which honestly checks out.

The Happiest States in the U.S.

Here’s where it gets interesting… your zip code might play a role in your daily mood stats.

Florida (yes, Florida) tops the list with the most good days per year at 276, or about 76% of the time. Who knew gator country was secretly thriving?

Other states with above-average good vibes include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Georgia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Hawaii.

On the flip side, Kentucky, Vermont, and Connecticut reported the fewest good days at 228 a year… still a solid 62%, but noticeably lower.

Some other big-name states like California, Texas, and Pennsylvania fell below the national average, along with 10 others including Ohio, Virginia, and Iowa. The rest of the country? Smack dab in the middle.

So What Counts as a Good Day?

The biggest takeaway? You’re probably having more good days than you realize. They might not always involve champagne corks or Instagram-worthy sunsets… but if you’re laughing, moving your body, eating decent food, and spending time with people you care about, that counts.

Coffee Can Add Years to Your Life

Turns out your cranky uncle was right all along: coffee is the nectar of the gods… as long as you don’t ruin it with a bucket of cream and a pound of sugar.

A new study out of Tufts University found that drinking one to three cups of black, caffeinated coffee a day is linked to a lower risk of dying, especially from heart-related issues.

So, not only does it not “stunt your growth,” like your grandma warned you about, it might actually extend your life.

But there’s a catch: we’re talking about real, honest, grown-up coffee. Not the 700-calorie dessert disguised as a beverage that you just ordered from Starbucks with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and a misspelled name.

Researchers say the benefits are mostly tied to black coffee, or coffee with only tiny amounts of added sugar and fat. People who drank it this way had a 14% lower risk of death than non-coffee drinkers.

For the record, “low sugar” means about half a teaspoon per cup. And “low fat” means something like one tablespoon of light cream, or five tablespoons of 2% milk if you’re feeling fancy.

Two to three cups a day seems to be the sweet spot, but don’t bother doubling that and expecting to live forever.

Drinking more than three didn’t give any added benefits… except maybe the ability to hear colors.

Scientists think the credit goes to bioactive compounds in coffee that help your heart, fight inflammation, and possibly make mornings bearable.

So go ahead, pour yourself another cup of black gold. Just don’t let the barista turn it into a milkshake.

Sleep? Not in These Cities. See Who’s Losing the Most Zzzs

If you’ve been hitting snooze a little too often lately, you’re not alone—especially if you live in Norfolk, Virginia. A new study analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the most sleep-deprived cities in the U.S., and Norfolk claims the dubious honor of landing at the top of the list.

The research examined sleep patterns across 100 major metropolitan areas and ranked cities by how often residents report getting insufficient sleep. Norfolk leads the nation in sleepless nights, followed by New Orleans, and Detroit. Rounding out the top ten are Toledo, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Laredo, Cleveland, and Memphis.

While the rankings may raise eyebrows, the geography of sleeplessness is telling.

Most of the top 10 are located in the eastern half of the country, and Ohio stands out with three cities on the list—an indicator that sleep issues may be more regional than random. Whether it’s work schedules, stress, or late-night football heartbreaks (looking at you, Browns fans), some cities clearly aren’t catching enough Zs.

On the flip side, if you’re hoping for better shuteye, you might want to head west. The ten least sleep-deprived cities include Minneapolis, Seattle, and San Jose. Also making the well-rested list are Madison, Boise, St. Paul, Denver, Lincoln, Oakland, and San Francisco.

Notably, California and Minnesota each have multiple cities among the best sleepers list, suggesting that lifestyle, environment, or perhaps even local policy might play a role in promoting better rest.

With sleep deprivation linked to serious health concerns—including heart disease, obesity, and depression—this isn’t just a ranking to laugh off. Experts recommend that adults aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night, though a third of Americans regularly fall short.

So whether you’re sleepless in Norfolk or a snoozer in Seattle, it may be time to rethink those late-night scrolling habits. Your body—and maybe your city’s reputation—will thank you.