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Emma Watson beatboxed for gender equality — but only after turning bright red


People can't stop Instagramming the perfect poached eggs at the Momofuku restaurant empire

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The slow-poached egg is one of the staples of David Chang's Momofuku restaurant empire. The eggs come out silky and delicious and beg to be mixed in with the rest of the dish. It's no wonder that diners can't resist pulling out their phones and taking Instagram videos before digging in.

Story by Tony Manfred, editing by Kristen Griffin. 

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Two of the world’s best cliff divers jumped off the world’s largest waterfall

These are the only jeans a man should wear in spring

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Levi's Jeans

When it comes to denim this spring, there are only two things you need to concern yourself with: light and relaxed.

Though dark jeans have been the predominant trend for the last decade or so, it seems we're seeing a bit of reversal — especially in warmer months where dark colors are traditionally shunned. Light wash jeans offer a bit more of a relaxed vibe, and their rise in popularity (they've been trending since at least 2013) means they now come in a variety of styles and fits.

The trend has boosted the popularity of relaxed fits in jeans too. Gone is that super-skinny look for spring, and guys are taking note.

“A key style for [spring and summer 2016] is the more relaxed, straight or tapered fit,” Robyn Ferris, a denim buyer at at MrPorter.com, told Fashionbeans.com.

Now I know what you're thinking: this means dad jeans are in.

Well, hold your horses — we're not quite in dad jean territory yet. More relaxed fits don't exactly equate to the relaxed fit that you're used to seeing. We're talking the difference between slim and skinny, which is measurable but not extreme. So no, these aren't dad jeans quite yet — but that is the direction we're heading.

Here are some good examples if you're ready to get on board:

spring jeans

From right to left: Acne Studios Van Slim-Fit Tapered Stonewashed Japanese Denim Jeans ($290), Levi's Made & Crafted Needle Narrow Slim-Fit Stretch-Denim Jeans ($180), Levi's 511 Slim Fit Jeans ($68).

SEE ALSO: Here's how often you should wash your jeans

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NOW WATCH: The real estate trick billionaires use to sell their penthouses faster and for more money

Business Insider is hiring a science editor

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Business Insider roof group shotAre you obsessed with science? Do you have a knack for translating complex ideas into stories for a general audience? Do you find yourself full of story ideas, ranging from photo features on the latest consumer genetics test to deep dives into the status of space exploration?

Business Insider is looking for a talented editor to join our science team. This person will focus on a range of topics, from space and engineering to health, fitness, and nutrition.

As our science editor, you’ll manage a team of reporters and interns who are as obsessed and talented as you are. In addition to editing, planning content, coming up with story ideas, writing will be a top priority.

Apply if:

  • You thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting.
  • You have experience managing and inspiring a team.
  • You know how to stay on top of a beat and quickly produce awesome, high-impact stories.
  • You can decrypt complex developments and make science exciting for a general audience.
  • You can bring unique context to trending news and make those stories your own.

Our style is smart, conversational, and geared toward non-scientists. Careful attention to detail and an ability to be efficient in a quick-turnaround environment are skills that are absolutely required for this job. We also prize agility in and enthusiasm for tackling wildly different topics — from the latest fitness trends to the growing problem of climate change to new developments in space and medicine.

Our aim is to help readers engage with the world around them in as many smart, creative ways as possible. Science is everywhere.

As the leader of a small team, talents for efficient delegation and guidance are key. The role will also help the team establish and nurture productive, attention-grabbing beats.

While this position has regular office hours, the ideal candidate is always keeping an eye out for the next big story. After-hours duties may also include helping retain our Science Friday trivia champion title over rival publications.

Apply here if interested. Please include a resume, clips, and a cover letter telling us what excites you about science reporting.

Business Insider offers competitive compensation packages complete with benefits. This is a full-time position based in our NYC office.

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Here's how often you should wash your jeans

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jeans

There's been a lot of discussion over how often you should wash your jeans.

Levi's CEO Chip Bergh claims machine washing is completely unnecessary, but science demands that you should wash your jeans every four to six days, according to Tech Insider.

Which one is correct? The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

After just one wear, your jeans are covered in microbes, including bacteria, skin cells, your natural oils, and traces of whatever was on that park bench you were sitting on.

Most of these microbes are technically harmless. So not washing your jeans isn't going to be hazardous to your health.

Good, but that was never the real issue. The real issue is smell. You don't want your clothes to smell — that's pretty gross. 

jeans

Bergh and other denim heads recommend sticking jeans in the freezer, but that's just not going to work. The freezer isn't actually cold enough to kill the bacteria that collect on your jeans, and it'll do nothing to get rid of the oils and dead skin cells hidden in the cracks and crevices. When they heat up to room temperature, they'll just start to smell again.

When the pants get really dirty, Bergh says he hand washes his jeans. Unfortunately, that may not be quite enough to clean them. Denim is not a delicate fabric, and should not be treated as such. It should be worn into the ground, and then cleaned, and then pummeled again, until it's so faded and hole-filled they need to be replaced. As Tech Insider says, there's just no substitute for a good scrubbing. 

By not washing your jeans, you're actually subtly changing the weave of the denim fabric. As you wear them, the fibers and weave loosen. That's why they start to stretch out, and jeans fit looser as you wear them more and more. This might make the fabric more prone to breakage. At the very least, they'll fit pretty differently.

levi's jeans

Bergh's primary reason for not washing is jeans is conserving water. But most guys who don't wash are looking to set fades into their raw-denim jeans — jeans that haven't been washed before wearing and will fade according to the creases they themselves have put into the jeans. Well-worn jeans with a stark, contrasting fades is a kind of badge of honor in the denim-head community.

So, after all of this, how often should you really wash your jeans?

Basically, when they smell — no sooner and no longer. Depending on how much you sweat, how often you wear them in a week, and how dirty the area you live in is, that could be once every two to six months.

Never is just way too long for any type of garment.

For more information on the subject, check out Tech Insider's video below.

SEE ALSO: 14 apps every modern gentleman should have on his phone

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NOW WATCH: Levi's CEO says you should never wash your jeans — here's the truth


This man created a real-life version of the floating house from "Up" with 600 balloons, and it's getting major attention

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Cameron Balloons pilot Simon Askey has been making waves over the internet this week thanks to his whimsical hot air balloon that looks exactly like the one from the Oscar-winning Pixar movie “Up”.

While Askey has flown the balloon over destinations like the Tower Bridge in London, its playful design has been getting attention thanks to its appearance at the Canberra Balloon Spectacular in Australia this week. 

A photo posted by Gaynor Shaw (@gaynorny) on

Its design includes 600 tiny colorful balloons sewn to its fabric. Officially known as the Cameron TR-84, the balloon is one of 40 hot air balloons displayed at the festival, which runs from March 12-20. 

A photo posted by Trevar Chilver (@tachilver) on

It has been spotted flying over the stunning landscapes of Canberra throughout the week, with spectators taking to social media to document the incredible sight. 

A photo posted by Lydia (@lrlc82) on

Askey plans to continue using the balloon to travel, with destinations like Japan on his radar. 

“It was created to support the Disney/Pixar movie, "Up". And we’re hoping to send the balloon to Japan later this year,” Askey said in an interview with Buzzfeed

A photo posted by Dian Lutfiana (@deelutfiana) on

 You can spot it at the Canberra Balloon Spectacular until this Monday, when it will once again take to the skies.

SEE ALSO: This man spent 12 years digging a home that's 63 feet underground in Costa Rica—here's what it looks like inside

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NOW WATCH: This couple ditched their 9 to 5 jobs to make a living traveling the world

6 rules to actually look good in a suit

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suit fit rules

Sometimes, it can seem like we at Business Insider are a little obsessive about fit when it comes to suits.

But it really is the most important thing when wearing a suit (besides confidence, but that's more a byproduct than a requirement).

For a suit to look as good as possible, all these different parts of the perfect fit need to come together just so, presented as a cohesive package.

We've decided it's high time to enumerate all these intricacies of fit one by one, as modeled on Eddie Redmayne, the best man wearing suits alive today.

Redmayne has fit down pat, so there's no better teacher.

Let's take it from the top and break it down:

  • Shoulder alignment. This is the most important thing you're checking to see if a suit jacket fits correctly. Everything else can be tailored except the shoulders. The jacket's shoulder should end before the end of your actual shoulder. A good way to test this is by leaning against a wall. If the shoulder pad of your jacket hits before your actual shoulder, it's too big. Redmayne's jacket fits well.
  • High armholes. Armholes are the subtle difference between a well-fitting modern jacket and a poorly fitting, more conservatively cut jacket. You want them high, but with no restriction of movement. When you move your arm, your whole jacket shouldn't move. This is another thing can't be tailored, and you must check before purchase. You can tell by the fit of Redmayne's jacket it has high armholes.
  • Slim fit. The fit of your suit should be close to your body, but not so close that it looks like you're being smothered. A tailor will usually need to take in the sides of your suit to create a trimmer silhouette, as Redmayne has done.
  • Jacket length. This is one of the easy ones. The bottom of your jacket needs to be long enough to cover your entire butt in the back as well as the entire front fly in the front — and no longer. Some guys with shorter torsos might need to go for short sizes, and they shouldn't feel embarrassed about that — they'll end up looking taller. Redmayne's got it perfect.
  • Shift cuff and sleeve length. There's no hard-and-fast rule for sleeve length and how much cuff should be showing. A good rule of to have about half of your shirt cuff showing, with your suit sleeve hitting just before your wrist. Short guys should have more cuff showing, like Redmayne has done, while taller guys should have less.
  • Little or no pant break. Your pant break refers to how much fabric is left over after the leg ends that drapes over the shoes. Right now, fashion favors little to no pant break, and that tends to look the best with the slim fits that are popular now. Our recommendation is a small break, as that tends to walk the best line between trendy and appropriate, as exhibited by Redmayne.

SEE ALSO: 11 articles of clothing no man should wear after college

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NOW WATCH: This robotic tailor can put you in the perfect suit in less than 10 seconds

10 ways airlines are improving first-class flights that will make you desperate to upgrade

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singapore airlines mealCustomers have come to expect an increased level of comfort when it comes to business and first class.

That's why airlines have introduced innovations to further elevate a luxurious flight experience.

Including fully stocked in-flight bars and lounges to lie-flat massage seats, here are 10 things airlines are doing to make flying business and first class more enjoyable.

SEE ALSO: 10 things airlines are doing to make flying coach more comfortable

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In-flight chefs are creating special meals on board.

Some airlines have started bringing quality chefs aboard flights to cater meals to passengers in person.

Turkish Airlines offers "Flying Chefs" on its long-haul flights and some shorter flights.

Gulf Air has a team of about 100 Sky Chefs who serve customers on their Falcon Gold class on long-haul flights, and Austrian Airlines employs chefs from the gourmet catering company Do & Co for business-class customers. These chefs will also recommend drink pairings with your meal, from wines to vintage Champagnes.



There are in-flight bars and lounges.

In-flight bars are getting increasingly decked out. 

Qatar Airways' lounge on its A380 model includes fresh flowers, canapés, and snacks, while Virgin Atlantic's in-flight bar on its A330 Upper Class stretches a little over 8 feet. 

On Emirates' Onboard Lounge, you are treated to appetizers and drinks curated by bartenders, while Etihad offers The Lobby on its A380. The fully serviced lounge and bar includes a large flat-screen television.

Korean Air also offers the Celestial Bar at the rear of its business-class upper deck on all A380s.



Amenity kits come stocked with designer products.

Emirates' amenity kits contain Bulgari-designed bags with Bulgari body lotion, after-shave cream, perfume, and nourishing face emulsion.

International business travelers on Qantas receive Kate Spade bags for women and Jack Spade bags for men. Inside are skincare products from the Australian spa company Aspar by Aurora Spa.

Qatar Airways' black silk Armani amenity kits include Giorgio Armani "Si" lotion and perfume, and the "Acqua di Giro" cologne for men.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 12 best stretches for staying flexible and fit

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Physical Therapy Stretches 13

When it comes to stretching, there's a wide world filled with all kinds of different moves: Yoga, Pilates, dance classes — and each one seems to have its own system.

But what are the best everyday stretches for anyone looking to avoid sore muscles, get more flexible, andprotect themselves from injuries?

We turned to Marilyn Moffatt, a professor of physical therapy at New York University and author of "Age Defying Fitness," to go over some of the best basic stretches for everyone.

Note: If you have existing muscle problems or if any of these stretches is uncomfortable, don't do it. Instead, consult a physical therapist.

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To start off, it's important to be conscious of what you're doing with your neck. Having good posture will help you do these stretches correctly, so bring your chin back and down and make sure your neck isn't jutting out. And for the first set of stretches, take a seat.



First up is neck rotations. Slowly move your head to the right. Moffat recommends holding any pose for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat on the left.



The next one gets a little more complicated. Looking straight ahead, tilt your neck to the right and drape your arm so that it rests near your left ear. Your left hand will extend down toward the floor, either grabbing onto the chair or just pulling down. Repeat on the other side.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Ivanka Trump describes her life as the daughter of a potential US president, running the Trump empire, and building her own brand

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Ivanka Trump

You saw her introduce Donald Trump when he formally announced his presidential candidacy last year, and since then you've seen her at his side on the campaign trail.

But Ivanka Trump has a lot more going on in her life than politics.

As executive vice president of development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization, she's taken over running Donald's real-estate empire with her brothers, Donald Jr. and Eric, while her father focuses on campaigning.

And as head of the Ivanka Trump lifestyle brand, she's aiming to inspire women with articles about #WomenWhoWork while promoting her clothing, jewelry, and accessories line geared toward young professional women.

Business Insider recently spoke with her about her life, what it's like running the Trump empire, and the challenges of building her own brand.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Rachel Gillett:This must be an exciting time in your life. What is it like to be Ivanka Trump at this moment?

Ivanka Trump: It is rather busy, although that seems to always be true, or at least has been for the past several years, having two kids at home. We now have one on the way that's due literally any day now, so we're all very excited about that. And then obviously in a work capacity I've been tremendously busy running The Trump Organization now that my father's on the campaign trail and my own company and the growth of that. So it's been an amazing time, a wild experience, and an incredible one.

Gillett: You've also been campaigning with your dad. What's that been like?

Trump: Well, in the capacity of a very proud daughter. Obviously to be able to see this transpiring, to watch him achieve so much as a politician — and we're certainly not a family of politicians, and politics is certainly not our family business — it's been amazing.

So it's exciting for me to be able to be with him for major moments and stand by his side, and I'm very proud of him as a daughter and as somebody who's worked beside him for the past decade at The Trump Organization.

Gillett: What does a typical day look like for you?

Ivanka Trump

Trump: There is no typical day, and that's especially true these days and part of what is exciting about my life, both personally and professionally.

Having toddlers always means that there's a fair amount of chaos at home, but that's part of the fun. And from a work perspective, we have projects under construction all over the world, including many right here in the US.

We have the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue — the most sought-after hotel and redevelopment opportunity in the country, which we were awarded a couple of years ago — that's under construction and opening in the next six months in September. So that is a project that I am very, very focused on.

For me professionally as well I've built an incredible business that I'm very proud of that is my own brand and that is both creating incredible content to empower and inspire this next generation of working women through a digital platform, mainly through my website, IvankaTrump.com, our email newsletters, and our social-media platforms.

We're generating an enormous amount of content geared at this young professional woman, which has been resonating strongly. We also have been creating solution-oriented products for that same person that will help her transition in life through her many roles, whether they may be mother, girlfriend, professional, and really everything in between.

So there's no typical day, but I transition through the course of my business day by doing everything from construction meetings on the development project under construction to design meetings for an upcoming apparel delivery to acquisition meetings about projects we're looking to acquire. It's very diverse in terms of content, substance, and what I address on a typical day.

Gillett: Do you have any productivity hacks that help you balance everything?

Trump: From a productivity perspective, prioritization is key. And it's very easy to focus on clearing the decks of minutia, especially when one's very busy. It's almost easy to want to sit down at your desk when you have a free five minutes and try to clear out some of the incoming emails rather than address things strategically and foundationally and deal with the most important objectives for you and the company. To the extent I can, I try to maintain a laser focus on what needs to get done from a priority standpoint.

And not just from an urgency standpoint, but from a value-added standpoint. So where can I add the most value? Where is my time best spent?

Ivanka Trump

Part of being able to make great decisions around that and to really grow a business and scale a business comes down to people. I spend a lot of time building teams at both businesses — both The Trump Organization and my own — and thinking about who to hire to supplement the team and allow us to best achieve our goals.

Hiring great people is almost the most important thing you can do as a leader because they enable you to scale, and they create better leverage for you and your time.

Gillett: How do you find great people to hire?

Trump: We want self-starters. We want people who are optimistic, who see challenges as opportunities. People who are dedicated, who really are accountable to one another and toward achieving shared goals, who are ambitious. I like people who aren't shy about the use of that word.

Traditionally women have been more reticent to acknowledge their ambition and to say it with pride. So I like having people who work for us who are ambitious, engaged, respectful.

Ivanka Trump

Mis-hiring is a huge mistake. It's a tremendous opportunity cost throwing the position to the wrong person.

If there's one single thing that I do every single time, it's require references and, ideally, at least one reference from every company they've worked at. It's always a huge red flag for me when somebody's reticent or reluctant or a little slow in providing thoughtful references that are a testament to them as a person and their professional accomplishments.

Gillett: How would you describe your leadership style?

Trump: I set very bold goals. It's how I've always been. I'm definitely somebody who swings for the fences, and I expect very high performance.

Gillett: You've worked with your family most of your life. What do admire about them and what have they taught you along the way?

Trump: Working in a family business, which obviously The Trump Organization is, is an incredible thing, but it's complicated. It's complex.

I've seldom met somebody who is merely satisfied working alongside siblings. You typically have a binary outcome. They either are miserable and everyone starts to hate each other, which is an unfortunate outcome that we see too often, or it is really incredible, and there's tremendous energy and mutual respect, and the parties work really well together. I've found that the middle road typically doesn't happen.

Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump

Working in a family business, you just have to be cognizant of being respectful to one another, treating each other in a professional way when you're in an office environment, because it's very easy, especially with siblings, to let down your guard and say exactly what's on your mind when maybe that doesn't serve the situation well and can create ill feelings. It's important to be honest with and respectful of each other and deal with issues as they arrive, as opposed to letting them simmer.

I have the good fortune of working with two brothers who are very accomplished, incredibly smart, and very capable. So thankfully there is not an issue in that regard where somebody isn't pulling their own weight.

We collaborate all the time. We tend to take different paths, but we tend to reach very similar conclusions. It's actually great because it allows us to be much more creative in the process of getting things done. We all have different perspectives but we tend not to disagree with each other very often in terms of where we want to get or where we want to be. So it's been amazing working with my brothers.

And my father is incredible. He's an amazing leader. He's built an enormous business. He's employed tens of thousands of people over the years. It's incredible to watch how he is able to inspire people. He has a very clear vision for each of his businesses in terms of what he wants to accomplish. He will lay out bold goals, and then he will enable people to work very hard to achieve them. And he'll encourage them and he'll support them in those efforts. So he's taught me a tremendous amount about how to be an inspiring leader and how to try to do that as well.

Gillett: If your father wins the presidency, what will the new Trump Organization look like? Will one of you become CEO?

Trump: We're taking it one day at a time. But right now my adult siblings and I run the business. My father is very focused on the campaign and his goal of making this country great again. So that is his primary focus, and we're running the business.

In terms of the logistics of that from a title perspective, we have not talked about that nor do we typically care very much. We're not large on bureaucracy. My brothers and I said to each other when we started in this business that as a collective we can do far more than any one of us can do individually. And that's really what guides our relationship — this sense of camaraderie. And it is a family business, and we work together collaboratively as a family.

Ivanka Trump

Gillett: How does the Donald Trump brand affect your brand?

Trump: My father has created an enormous business and he's created an enormous brand for himself, and I'm contributing to the business that he's built every day at The Trump Organization.

But I've also built my own business, and obviously it's a brand that I've built and it's wholly owned by me and something that certainly my experience observing him and working with him and for him has informed how I make business decisions around my brand. But it's my company.

Gillett: For all the supporters your father has, he also has detractors. What are your strategies for dealing with the backlash that comes your way?

Trump: I don't have a strategy. I am my own person. So if people disagree with the opinion of my father and want to dislike me because I'm his daughter, then I'm probably not going to be able to discourage them from that.

I haven't seen too much of that, though. And people respect the fact that my father is very honest with his opinions, and they respect the fact that I am my own person and I have my own opinions. So I don't give a lot of thought to what detractors might say. And I'm a human being who stands on my own two feet.

SEE ALSO: Millionaire Ivanka Trump says following these 6 negotiation rules can get you anything you want

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The CEO of ClassPass — a New York startup that's generating $100 million in revenue — reveals her favorite work out routine

Business Insider is launching a new work advice column!

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Ashley Lutz

We now spend the majority of our waking hours at work, and it can be a combat zone.

Making the wrong move can affect the salaries we depend on, the promotions we're considered for, and where we go next in our careers. 

Luckily, Business Insider is launching a new advice column to help you solve your toughest workplace conundrums

I'm Ashley Lutz, senior business editor. Over the years, I have become an unofficial advisor to my friends, spending hours deciphering their existential problems. 

I'm here to provide guidance on all your office issues, occasionally bringing in a panel of experts to help.

Have you spent hours analyzing how to approach your office crush? Are you losing sleep over a toxic relationship with your boss? Do you debate whether to tell a colleague her provocative outfits have become the talk of the office? 

Inquiries can be anonymous, and any questions we find especially interesting will be featured in this column.

Send your questions to asktheinsider@businessinsider.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.  

SEE ALSO: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health

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NOW WATCH: Katie Couric learned to be a leader by following this humble advice from her mom


This Japanese alarm clock is the best — and weirdest — way to wake up

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In a recent episode of HBO's "Girls," Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) moves to Japan. You might have noticed an odd, talking alarm clock in her room. While it doesn't look real, it actually is, and you can buy it on Amazon.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Carl Mueller

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Nutritionists took us through the $200 'Moon Dust' smoothie Gwyneth Paltrow drinks every day — and it's every bit as bogus as it sounds

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Would you shell out $200 for a daily smoothie you had to blend at home?

Probably not. What about a $10 equivalent that comes in a bottle?

If the answer is "yes," or even "mayyyybe," please read on.

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow recently shared the recipe for her daily breakfast smoothie on her blog Goop.com. And Daily News writer Micaela Hood called out its hefty price tag: about $200 a glass.

At first, the recipe sounds fairly typical as far as smoothies go — almond milk, almond butter, a pinch of optional vanilla powder — but then you get to the mushroom powder and the hard-to-pronounce ingredients such as ashwagandha and cordyceps.

Before we get to those odd additions to her morning beverage, let's nip a blossoming but nasty health rumor in the bud.

First things first: Swapping out a regular meal for a liquid blend does not necessarily make it healthier.

Here's what you might be thinking: OK, so Gwyneth's smoothie is bogus and overpriced. No surprise there. But smoothies and juices overall are super-healthy, right?

Smoothie in BlenderAfter all, they pack the vitamins and nutrients in whole fruits and veggies without the added inconvenience of (loudly) chewing your way through them.

While the gist of this is true — liquid fruits and veggies still contain the whole versions' vitamins and nutrients — juicing them doesn't necessarily mean you're getting more of the good stuff and eliminating the bad stuff.

On the contrary, juicing up a fleshy orange or starchy carrot merely removes most of its fiber, the key ingredient that helps keep us feeling full and also aids in digestion. And it leaves us with the full sugar content of the original food; this is why a glass of orange juice can pack nearly the same sugar content as a glass of Coke.

But what about all those mysterious, fancy-sounding ingredients in Gwyneth's breakfast blend?

It turns out they have zero proven health benefits. In fact, most of the research on them has been done in mice. And mice, as we know, are not people.

"There aren’t really any clinical trials to even say what they do," Andy Bellatti, a registered dietician and the co-founder of the group Dietitians for Professional Integrity, told Business Insider. "Could they potentially have benefits? Could they potentially help lower your cholesterol? Maybe. But we just don’t have that information."

The ones Paltrow says she adds are mostly powders called Moon Dust— yes, Moon Dust — or tonics, and they're made by a company called Moon Juice. The blends are available in over a dozen varieties and claim to help improve everything from sex to sleep.

Beauty Dust

AsDomingo J. Pinero, the director of undergraduate studies at New York University's School of Nutrition and Food Studies and a clinical assistant professor of nutrition, put it to Business Insider:

"From the perspective of nutrition, there's nothing special there," he said. "Almond butter is what it is. Vanilla mushroom powder ... the ingredients are 'activated brown rice protein' with a mix of mushroom, so even the name is misleading. And coconut oil. Those are the only things with nutritional value. The rest are dietary supplements that you can buy in Chinatown for a fraction of the cost (and probably with adequate instructions for use). I'm not impressed."

With that in mind, we took a look at some of the most popular ingredients Paltrow includes in her daily smoothie. Here's the lowdown on each:

  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Allegedly helpful for soothing anxiety, improving sleep, and boosting virility. According to the research though, there's just not yet enough evidence— aside from some promising studies in animals— to say it does any of that.
  • Ho Shou Wu (Fo-Ti root): Allegedly helps boost "youthfulness," reproductive function, and sex drive. But experts say there's not enough evidence to verify any of these claims.
  • Cordyceps (a special type of mushroom that attaches itself to a caterpillar and uses its carcass as food): Allegedly boosts strength and energy. Evidence of this, though, is limited. A study from Brigham Young University researchers of endurance-trained cyclists found that cordyceps did not increase aerobic capacity or physical performance, while other studies have suggested potential benefits in mice but not people.
  • Vanilla mushroom (brown rice protein plus some of the other ingredients above): Allegedly boosts the immune system, builds muscle, supports the liver, nourishes the heart and spirit, relieves stress, and imparts "feelings of centeredness." The brown rice protein should help build muscle — protein is key for muscle maintenance and growth — but the other ingredients are probably unnecessary.

So there you have it. You don't need a $200 smoothie to get healthier. Or a $10 one, for that matter. Instead, check out these tips:

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The best private high school in every state

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The Potomac School

America's best private high schools have a reputation for providing a top-notch education and preparing students for life at an elite university — and these great schools can be found all across the country.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, recently released its 2016 rankings of the best private high schools in the US.

Niche looked at performance on the SAT and ACT, college-matriculation rates, quality of colleges that students consider and attend, school culture and diversity, and student and parent reviews. It combined these metrics to reflect "overall excellence," measured on a 100-point scale.

Business Insider searched the ranking to find the best in each state. Sufficient data wasn't available for Alaska, North Dakota, or Wyoming, so they do not appear on this list.

Read on for the best private high schools in each state:

SEE ALSO: The best public high school in every state

ALABAMA: Indian Springs School

Location: Indian Springs

Overall rating: 88.20

Student-teacher ratio: 9:1

"Because we have a student disciplinary panel, we are self-accountable," reported one Niche user.

Another commented on the status of Indian Springs School alumni: "We've got astronauts, lawyers, and John Green. I'd say graduates are doing well."



ARIZONA: Phoenix Country Day School

Location: Paradise Valley

Overall rating92.19

Student-teacher ratio: 7:1

"The teaching staff is very well liked by the students and parents," commented a Niche user. "They are very welcoming and available for the students when they need them."

A Phoenix Country Day School parent agreed: "The headmaster greets everyone with a handshake and a smile everyday and the teachers are phenomenal, the best of the best."



ARKANSAS: Pulaski Academy

Location: Little Rock

Overall rating84.68

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

"The teachers, education, school spirit, sports, and friends have made my experience exciting and life changing," shareda Pulaski Academy senior. "I feel more than prepared for college and am excited that the faculty and teachers have guided me to graduation."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is the best steakhouse in America, according to Yelp

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steak2Charleston, South Carolina, is the heart of decadence in the South, so it would make sense that this city by the sea would have the best steakhouse in America.

Yelp recently released its list of the top-rated restaurants in the US, and the top steakhouse was Halls Chophouse in Charleston.

Halls was only founded in 2009, but the Hall family (who run it) has been in the restaurant and hotel business for over 40 years.

What makes Halls so special?

First, there are the steaks, which Yelp commenters regularly describe as “perfect,” “perfection,” and other variations on the theme. A particular favorite is the dry-aged New York strip steak, but don't think you have to go into Halls knowing exactly what you want. If you don’t know much about the different cuts of meat, the Halls staff will bring some examples out for you and talk you through it.

“So no fear for any of you who aren't sure what to order,” one Yelp commenter wrote.

chop

Hospitality is a huge theme at Halls, where the proprietor will personally welcome you to the restaurant, and there is live music every night. If you’re in town on a Sunday, you should drop by Halls' "Gospel Sunday Brunch," which features soulful live music along with menu items like Steak and Eggs.

And if steak isn’t your thing, Halls also has a wealth of delicious sides and nonsteak entrees, according to Yelp commenters. One that pops up again and again in reviews is the Lobster Mac and Cheese.

Steak frites, Halls Chophouse

SEE ALSO: This is the best taco spot in the US, according to Yelp

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We're about to experience the earliest spring since 1896 because of something unusual that happened in 2000

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Spring Flowers Boat Ride Canal

If you Google "First day of of Spring" it will tell you March 20. But don't be fooled!

For many people in the US, the first day of spring will actually take place on March 19.

As it turns out, this year marks the earliest spring we've seen since 1896.

That's thanks to the fact that 2000 was a leap year, which was unusual since most century years, like 1700, 1800, and 1900, were not leap years.

Don't worry, there are no unnatural forces at work. It's simply a consequence of our imperfect Gregorian calendar system that can't quite account for Earth's annual revolution around the sun.

Long ago, our ancient human ancestors decided that spring officially began when the sun shone directly on Earth's equator (illustrated below). As a result, the first day of spring is sometimes referred to as the spring, or vernal, equinox.

Ecliptic_pathHowever, there is one problem with establishing seasons based on Earth's movement through space, which is that the time it takes Earth to complete one revolution around the sun is not exactly 365 days.

In fact, it actually takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds.

The Gregorian calendar tells us, however, that one year is equal to 365 days exactly — no more and no less. That is, unless we have a leap year, in which case it becomes 366 days.

Leap years are a great way to account for this discrepancy and keep our calendar, as well as our seasons, in check. Without leap years, we'd quickly fall out of step. Within 100 years our calendars would be 24 days off schedule.

Special exceptions

calendarHosting a leap year every four years, however, doesn't quite cut it. That's why there are two special exceptions:

  1. There's no leap year at the turn of the century. The years 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, even though they fell within the regular 4-year cycle.
  2. Unless the turn of the century is divisible by 400. This is why the year 2000 was a leap year.

"Our calendar system is set up in a 400 year cycle so that it makes up for all the little fractions that are left over since Earth doesn't spin in 365 and a quarter days," astronomer Bob Berman — who runs Overlook Observatory in New York and owns a giant book containing tens of thousands of past and future equinox dates — told Business Insider.

"What this tends to do," Berman continued, "is make leap days reset themselves so that the equinoxes and solstices all happen [on schedule]."

Berman is a regular guest on presentations hosted by Slooh, which is a collection of observatories around the world that stream live cosmic events online. Slooh will be hosting a special presentation on Sat. March 19 at 5 pm ET where Berman and other experts will discuss this year's unusually early spring equinox.

The big difference about the 21st century was that the year 2000 was a leap year. While this didn't affect our daily lives, it did make one difference:

"Instead of everything being reset so that all the dates of the equinoxes and solstices get knocked back to their usual dates ... that did not happen," said Berman.

The result is that the first day of spring will be moving to earlier times throughout this century.

This year, the spring equinox officially starts at 4:30 UT March 20, which means it will take place at 12:30 a.m. March 20 ET and 9:30 p.m. March 19 PT.

Before 2100 rolls around, it won't just be the US — everyone across the globe will experience spring equinoxes on March 19.

By the time we reach the 2300s, however, we'll be back on track and most spring equinoxes will fall on March 21st, again, according to Berman.

"This is all part of the plan to keep the dates from getting too far out of whack," Berman said. "And because of this, it really keeps everything accurate to about one day in 4,000 years. It's very impressive."

If you want to check out the Slooh presentation, tune in here, or below at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 19:

 

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