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New York City's 'Billionaire's Row' is dead — and a record-breaking foreclosure could be the 'nail in the coffin'

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one57 from the sky

A full-floor penthouse in the landmark One57 condo building is headed to the auction block after it was seized under foreclosure, Bloomberg reported.

This is most likely the largest foreclosure in the history of high-end real estate in New York City, experts say.

"I don't know of a foreclosure that's larger than that," Donna Olshan, president of Olshan Realty, told Bloomberg.

The apartment, which was the eighth-priciest sold in the building, will go to auction on July 19.

It was purchased for $50.9 million in 2014, with a $35.3 million mortgage loan from Banque Havilland. It was due to be paid in full a year after purchase, but no such payment was made by the shell company the unit was registered under. Havilland is now forcing the auction to recoup the funds it's missing, plus interest, according to court filings.

One57 is emblematic of New York City's Billionaire's Row, a stretch of 57th Street near Central Park, which in recent years has become a magnet for new condos courting high-priced investment. One57 is considered the most expensive of the new buildings, with record-breaking sales that included a $100.5 million top-floor penthouse.

This is the second apartment in the building to face foreclosure in the last two months. A unit on the 56th floor, which sold for $21.4 million in July 2015, hit the auction block on June 14. It's unclear if the property has changed hands yet.

One57

The foreclosures come as another sign that Billionaire's Row is dead as the Manhattan real estate market above $10 million continues to cool.

A glut of units available with no buyers, combined with an increase of scrutiny on shadowy, identity-hiding corporations by the US Treasury Department, cooled the market considerably last year. With new regulations on capital outflow abroad (especially in China), it's becoming harder for foreign investors to use these apartments as investment properties. Pair that with an uncertain global market, and it's clear why the developers of these unique buildings are feeling the pinch.

On Billionaire's Row, "it's not just slow — it's come to a complete halt," Dolly Lenz, a real-estate broker catering to super-rich individuals, told the New York Times last year.

SEE ALSO: The Obamas just shelled out $8.1 million for the DC mansion they've been renting since leaving the White House

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NOW WATCH: Learning to celebrate failure at a young age led to this billionaire's success


Apple is crushing the Swiss watch industry — and one brand is particularly vulnerable (AAPL, FOSL)

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swatch wristwatch

Smartwatches are taking over our wrists, and it's likely to get worse for traditional Swiss watchmakers, according to UBS. 

The Apple Watch is bigger than every Swiss watch brand except Rolex, analysts at the bank said in a note on Monday. And Swatch is most vulnerable in this environment, according to Helen Brand and her colleagues. 

Swiss watchmakers recognize the demand for wearables, but are reluctant to dive in because they would need to rely on the tech companies that make the microprocessors that replace the mechanical parts, UBS said.

Also, the high-end companies could hurt their status when they sell wearables cheaper than they would traditional timepieces. That puts Swatch at the most risk because it leans more heavily towards entry-level products than its peers, Brand said.

"Market share may be further eroded for the Swiss industry as smartwatches improve in functionality," Brand said. "The wider wearables market is now likely 30-40 million in volumes in total with Swiss watches industry volumes at 28m." 

Swatch's biggest threat is from China. 

"This has been a region where we have seen strong momentum, notably for Tissot and Longines driven by the emerging Chinese middle class," Brand said. "If this consumer prefers the Apple Watch over these brands it could be a threat to Swatch's medium-term growth prospect." 

Bloomberg reported that Swatch was working on a smartwatch to launch around the end of 2018. 

US watchmaker Fossil has already entered the smartwatch market, but its foray has not prevented a sales decline. Kosta Kartsotis, Fossil's CEO, cited "a watch category undergoing significant change" when the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings in the first quarter. 

This chart shows that traditional watchmakers' sales peaked right as the first-generation Apple Watch launched in Q2 2015. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 1.26.28 PM

More wearables are shipping than Swiss watches. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 1.53.33 PM

A redeeming factor for Swiss watchmakers is that their products are essentially jewelry, meaning they are timeless and can hold emotional value when gifted. A smartwatch, however, would become obsolete after a few years if the battery goes flat or its maker stops providing operating-system updates.

Also, there remains the perception that the Apple Watch is a smartphone on your wrist, which it arguably isn't. UBS' survey of nearly 8,000 smartphone users in May found that the biggest reason why people didn't want an Apple Watch was that they thought it wasn't needed. 

Screen Shot 2017 06 26 at 2.02.01 PM

 

SEE ALSO: The most important charts in the world from the brightest minds on Wall Street

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NOW WATCH: An economist explains what could happen if Trump pulls the US out of NAFTA

Why the author of '36 questions to fall in love' signs a yearly relationship contract

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Young couple kissing on the background of a suns

For all the emphasis we place on romantic relationships, they seem to involve a lot of guesswork.

Look at the language we use to describe love: Instead of choosing to love someone, you fall for them. When you're attracted to someone, you say you're into them, or you're feeling it. Spontaneity is key too — one partner is expected to initiate sex and marriage proposals when the feeling is right. They're not things partners sit down together and plan.

Relying on intuition and surprises can be romantic, but that also creates ripe terrain for miscommunication in a relationship. In a recent New York Times "Modern Love" column, writer Mandy Len Catron wrote that she and her partner have found a better way.

It involves something she calls a relationship contract.

For the last two years, Len Catron and her boyfriend have signed and dated a four-page, single-spaced document titled "Mark and Mandy's Relationship Contract." Inside are stipulations on everything from how long house guests can stay to who's responsible for paying a certain bill.

couple view anonymous mountain"Our contract addresses much of what must be negotiated in any relationship," Len Catron wrote.

While it might not sound as fun whimsical as most conventional approaches to relationships, being more active and collaborative could have a range of positive results for some couples.

Studies suggest that couples who make big choices as a team, for example, are happier individually, feel closer to one another, and stay together longer. A report from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia looked at more than a thousand adults, and found that couples who took time to talk through big decisions together were more happy later on. In contrast, couples who slid through relationship milestones were more likely to feel dissatisfied and break up.

"Deciding rather than sliding revolves around commitment — not just to each other, but to the decision itself," Galena K. Rhoades, a University of Denver psychology professor and licensed marriage counselor who co-authored the report, wrote in an article for The Atlantic.

Similarly, couples who speak openly about the physical and emotional parts of their relationships tend to trust one another more and feel more satisfied with the relationship.

Two years ago, Len Catron wrote an article titled "36 questions to make you fall in love with anyone." That article was based on a 1997 study by Arthur Aron, a psychologist at the State University of New York. Aron split pairs of people into two groups, and gave one group increasingly probing questions to ask and answer in order to see if they'd feel more intimate at the end of the session. (They did.)

Initially, a lot of attention Aron's work received focused on whether his question method could be used to make people fall in love. But several of his questions are pretty similar to what couples getting ready to make big decisions together might do. 

One question on Aron's list, for example, asks couples to "Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it." His findings could therefore also be seen as support for the idea that an active approach to relationships can make both partners more satisfied in the long term.

Ultimately, it all comes back to seeing love as a choice or action and taking responsibility for building and maintaining a relationship. That's precisely where Len Catron says her marriage contract comes in.

"Writing a relationship contract may sound calculating or unromantic, but every relationship is contractual; we’re just making the terms more explicit," she wrote. "It reminds us that love isn’t something that happens to us — it’s something we’re making together."

SEE ALSO: These are the questions one writer says can make you fall in love with a stranger

DON'T MISS: A psychologist who’s studied couples for decades says this is the best way to argue with your partner

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Can strangers fall in love after asking each other these 36 specific questions?

The head judge of the World's Ugliest Dog competition reveals how he picks 'winners'

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martha world's ugliest dog 2017

In the high-stakes world of competitive dog shows, veteran judge Brian Sobel says first impressions make all the difference.

"I'll see the animal and say, 'Oh boy. Now this one gets my attention — from bulging eyeballs to growths to a tail that looks like it comes from another species. Maybe a tongue hanging out,'" Sobel told Business Insider.

The World's Ugliest Dog contest, which Sobel has judged for about 10 years, celebrates the pooches whose faces only a mother could love.. On Sunday, a panel of judges crowned Martha — a 125-pound Neapolitan mastiff with bloodshot eyes, buckets of drool, and baggy skin — the 2017 contest winner.

"This is 125 pounds of dog and 300 pounds of skin," Sobel remembered thinking when he first saw Martha. "It looked like something you see after someone has weight loss surgery."

Martha, who is three and a half years old, is a sight to behold. The so-called "gentle giant" stands on oversized paws. Fuzzy folds of skin hang over her eyes — and every other part of her body. Despite having two corrective surgeries on her red and saggy eyes, Martha remains blind in one of them. She lives with her rescuer, Jessica Burkard of Penngrove, California.

world's ugliest dog 2016

At the World's Ugliest Dog competition, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, contestants walk on a runway before the judges. Sobel said he evaluates the dogs on three categories: personality, appearance, and audience reaction. There are no scoring sheets or physical examinations.

"This isn't the Westminster Dog Show. It's the polar opposite of that. If a dog walks straight and looks perfect, like my former Labrador Retriever, he's not going to make it," Sobel said.

martha 2017 world's ugliest dog

Sobel said when they announced Martha as the winner, she laid down on the stage and remained totally unfazed by the photographers swarming around her.

"The jowls spread out three feet on each side of its face. It was really a unique dog," Sobel said.

The winning pup and its owner receive $1,500, a trophy, a free trip to New York City for media appearances, and bragging rights on the next trip to the dog park.

SEE ALSO: The best flea prevention and treatment for dogs

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NOW WATCH: Here's what popular dog breeds looked like before and after 100 years of breeding

The Obamas have been touring the world since leaving the White House — here's where they've been so far

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The Obamas white water rafting in Indonesia, summer 2017

The Obamas are making the most of their vacation time. Since leaving the White House in January, they have been hitting up some of the most exotic destinations imaginable.

After spending a few days on American soil in Palm Springs, Barack and Michelle Obama jetted off on a tropical tour that started at entrepreneur Richard Branson's private Necker Island.

They then headed to French Polynesia to check in to The Brando, an exclusive island resort that can be reached only by boat or by two-engined Air Tetiaroa planes.

In May, the Obamas took a six-day vacation in Tuscany, Italy, where they stayed at a luxurious villa and sampled the food of one of the world's best chefs. More recently, the entire family was spotted whitewater rafting in Bali, Indonesia.

Take a look at the incredible places they have visited so far. 

SEE ALSO: The most exclusive resorts for 'people who care about the planet,' according to National Geographic

DON'T MISS: The 13 best adults-only, all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean

After eight years in office, the Obamas headed off on a well-deserved break in January.



The first stop (after a very brief stint in Palm Springs) was Necker Island.



This 72-acre island — located in the British Virgin Islands — is owned by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.



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Here’s what it’s like inside St. Louis' Gateway Arch — the tallest man-made monument in the US

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We took a trip to St. Louis’ Gateway Arch — the tallest man-made monument in the US. The arch is 630 feet high and its foundations are about 60 feet deep. It's made of 142 stainless steel sections, concrete, and structural steel.
The monument honors Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and St. Louis' role in westward expansion of the US. 
It's often called "the gateway to the west".

From 1947-1948, city officials held a design competition for the monument. Eero Saarinen's arch design won and construction began on Feb. 12, 1963. The arch was completed on Oct. 28, 1965

 

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Disturbing before-and-after images show what major US cities could look like in the year 2100

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washington dc memorials climate change

In January, a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency hinted at the possibility of an "extreme" sea-level rise scenario that would put some American landmarks, towns, and cities underwater during this century.

That scenario is considered unlikely, but possible. If the worst climate change predictions come true, parts of the US will be devastated by flooding and greater exposure to storm surges.

Research group Climate Central took the projections laid out in NOAA's report and created a plug-in for Google Earth that shows how catastrophic the damage would be if the flooding happened today. You can install it (directions here) and see anywhere in the US.

Here's what major US cities might look like in the year 2100.

SEE ALSO: 37 incredible drone photos from across the globe that would be illegal today

In a worst case scenario, flooding caused by polar melting and ice-sheet collapses could cause a sea level rise of 10 to 12 feet by 2100, NOAA reported in January.



Here's Washington, DC today. The famed Potomac River runs through it.



And here's what Washington, DC, might look like in the year 2100 — as seen on Climate Central's plugin for Google Earth. Ocean water causes the river to overflow.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

4 grooming mistakes you should stop making in the warmer months


Nobody wants to buy the most infamous house in the Hamptons, but American Express is renting it for the summer

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Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens has gone corporate. The home — perhaps one of the most infamous in the Hamptons — will be rented all summer by American Express, which plans to use it for special events, according to the New York Post.

The Michelin-starred restaurant Eleven Madison Park is said to be involved in the deal, but details, including the monthly rental price, are scarce.

It's still up for sale with a discounted price of $18 million — $2 million less than the owners of the home originally asked for when it listed in February. The Corcoran Group has the listing.

Anyone who saw the "Grey Gardens" documentary or Broadway play would most likely balk at living in the home it was inspired by — it was in incredibly poor shape during the filming of the documentary, and it's even rumored to be haunted.

However, the East Hampton mansion now looks nothing like it did in the 1975 documentary, which showcased the lives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis' former socialite relatives.

The journalist and author Sally Quinn purchased the mansion with her husband, the Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, for $220,000 in 1979. They rehabilitated it to its current splendor, according to The New York Times.

SEE ALSO: New York City's 'Billionaire's Row' is dead — and a record-breaking foreclosure could be the 'nail in the coffin'

The home has the slate exterior typical of Hamptons homes.



Walk past the sizable porch ...



... and enter a home of stately beauty.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Archaeologists unearthed a massive 1800-year-old mural

The biggest mistake people make when they decide to eat healthy, according to experts

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buffet food woman outside

No matter which diet you pick — ban gluten, say good-bye to sugar, give up carbs — the problem remains the same: Eventually it ends.

Most of us who try lifestyle changes like limiting carbs or sugar only keep it up for a period of time. Research shows the vast majority of people who diet to lose weight end up gaining back some or all of the weight they lost, typically within a few years.

We asked two experts — registered dietitian Andy Bellatti and exercise scientist Philip Stanforth — what people should do if they want to lose weight and keep it off.

Both experts said one principle should guide any change you make to what you eat. It comes down to doing something you can maintain for the rest of your life.

"You know we tend to say you go on a diet, but that also implies you’re going to go off of it," Stanforth said. "And that’s not how we should be looking at this."

healthy eatingInstead, he and Bellatti suggest you develop healthier eating and exercise patterns that you can keep up long-term.

“I’d say nine times out of 10 the people who change slowly and do manageable goals are the people who three years out still have success," Bellatti said. "I know many people who’ve gone on some kind of crash diet for a week and lose a bunch of weight and a few months later they’re back to square one.”

For this reason, Bellatti recommends clients give themselves two to four years of consistent behavioral changes. These could include things like adding more vegetables to each meal, walking instead of driving to work a few days a week, and cutting back on sugary drinks like soda.

"Sometimes people are looking for the latest fad, but oftentimes it’s the fundamentals that are the most important and that make the biggest difference," Stanforth said.

SEE ALSO: A new show features ‘Biggest Loser’ winners who regained weight — and reveals a deeper truth about weight loss

DON'T MISS: The first thing to cut out of your diet if you're trying to lose weight, according to a nutritionist

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: More trouble for Subway's Jared Fogle...

The new king of New York power lunching has arrived — here's what it's like to eat there

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o

New York City's Four Seasons restaurant, famous for its power lunch and influential clientele, officially closed its doors last July. In early May, a new restaurant called The Grill opened in the space in the Seagram Building that was once home to the Four Seasons.

The three men behind the reopening — Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick — together form Major Food Group, which also operates the restaurants Carbone, ZZ's Clam Bar, Parm, Sadelle's, and Santina.

They introduced a new lunch menu at The Grill last week, and it's sure to draw its fair share of famous diners. 

Ahead, take a look inside the storied space in Midtown Manhattan, and see what the next iteration of power dining looks like. 

SEE ALSO: Stunning photos show how American food consumption has changed in the past 100 years

Scores of celebrities have been stopping by the new restaurant, including Gwyneth Paltrow.

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Nas was there for the soft launch in early May.

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 Source: Eater



Even Kellyanne Conway has dropped in.

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The best type of sunglasses for every face shape — and how to figure out which one you are

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BI Graphics_Best sunglasses for your face shape 4x3

Everyone wants a pair of sunglasses they'll look cool in — but not everyone knows how to go about buying one.

There's lots of confusing information out there about face shapes and frames. We took the six most common face shapes and gave our professional recommendation for each one. 

Most faces will fit one of these shapes, so figuring out which one is most like yours should be easy with the help of this graphic.

SEE ALSO: 17 things every guy needs in his closet for summer







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This gorgeous $250 ring can replace your wallet, your keys, and even your train pass

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Token

In Token's world, you'll never need to carry your wallet. You won't need house keys, or a transit pass, or even to remember your computer password. 

All you'll need is a ring. 

Token is a fledgling hardware company that just launched its first product: The Token ring, an identity ring that stores your credentials and secures your privacy with a fingerprint sensor. 

The Token ring starts at $249 and is available for presale beginning now. The first Token rings will start shipping in December. 

Here's how it works. 

SEE ALSO: Brooklinen's new line of bedding completely solved one of my biggest sleep issues

Token was founded by husband-and-wife duo Melanie and Steve Shapiro. They met at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, which is where the ring is being manufactured.



Token comes in three finishes: Brushed stainless steel, which costs $249...



...Black rhodium, which costs $299...



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

32 cities around the world where the most rich people live

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wealthy couple anonymousNew York City remains the wealth capital of the world.

According to a new report from Wealth-X, a firm that does research and valuations on ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals, the New York metro area counted the highest number of residents with $30 million or more in assets in 2016. The number of wealthy residents rose 9% from 2015 to 8,350, just under 1% of the city's total population.

Two other global financial hubs, Hong Kong and Tokyo, rounded out the top three, proving financial centers are a magnet for the ultra wealthy. New York and Hong Kong also have the highest number of billionaire residents.

Wealth-X used its database of UHNW individuals to estimate the total population of rich people in the world's major metro areas, which include suburbs beyond the city limits. The final population results are rounded to the nearest 10.

Notably, American cities dominated the list claiming more than half in the top 32, while cities in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, or the Pacific regions didn't make the cut.

Below, check out the top 32 cities in the world where the most rich people live.

SEE ALSO: How much money you need to be happy varies wildly depending on where in America you live

DON'T MISS: One chart shows how many millionaires and billionaires graduated from Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and 17 other top colleges

30 (TIE). Shanghai, China

UHNW population (2016): 960

Year over year change: +9.1%



30 (TIE). Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona

UHNW population (2016): 960

Year over year change: +7.9%



30 (TIE). Moscow, Russia

UHNW population (2016): 960

Year over year change: -4%



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These are the watches worn by some of the most powerful men in finance

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Since it was invented over 200 years ago, the wristwatch has been an integral component of men's fashion.

In addition to their practical functionality of telling time, a watch serves as a collectible piece of art that communicates the personality and style of its wearer.

With the help of Crown and Caliber, an Atlanta-based preowned-luxury watch marketplace, we've put together a list and commentary about the wristwatches worn by some of the most powerful men in the financial services industry.

Join the conversation about this story »

The real reason you get a 'runner’s high' from a long run

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runner at sunrise

There's possibly no better feeling than the calm and happiness that follow the completion of a long, tough run.

So where does this this so-called "runner's high" come from?

You've probably heard it get chalked up to a rise in endorphins, the "happy" chemicals that induce feelings of pain relief and pleasure. But it's actually more complicated than that. 

The 'endorphins make you happy' idea

The idea that increased levels of endorphins are responsible for that post-workout happy feeling came out of 1980s research that showed endorphin levels in the blood spiked after prolonged exercise. Some researchers assumed these chemicals must also produce the sense of euphoria we feel after a workout.

But recent studies in mice suggest that endorphins actually might not have anything to do with the runner's high. The problem with the endorphin explanation is that they're very large molecules — so large, in fact, that they can't move from the blood into the brain.

The blood-brain barrier is key to keeping the brain safe, since it stops certain pathogens and molecules from passing from the blood into the brain. Because endorphins can't get through, it's unlikely that they are the sole chemical responsible for the feelings associated with vigorous exercise.

Instead, scientists think the effect can be attributed to other chemicals in the body that produce similar pain-relieving and happy feelings.

Turning to endocannabinoids

Levels of a chemical called anandamide also increase when you exercise, according to a 2015 study in mice and a small 2004 study in people. Anandamide is a type of endocannabinoid, a chemical that's part of the system that moderates the psychoactive, feel-good effects of marijuana. And unlike cumbersome endorphins, anandamide can smoothly make its way from the blood to the brain

For the 2015 paper, researchers at the Central Institute of Mental Health at the University of Heidelberg medical school compared the effects of endorphins and endocannabinoids on mice as they ran on running wheels.

The researchers found that, in addition to appearing more calm less sensitive to pain after running, the mice had higher levels of both endorphins and endocannabinoids. The animals also spent more time in well-lit parts of their cage, something calm, less anxious mice tend to do. They were also slightly more pain-tolerant after their stints on the wheel.

lab miceTo measure the effects of each chemical individually, the researchers gave the mice drugs that blocked the effects of each. When they blocked the endorphins, nothing happened — the animals remained more relaxed and pain-tolerant. But when they blocked the effects of the endocannabinoids, the symptoms of the mice's runner's highs disappeared. 

These findings suggest that the mice's elevated endorphin levels had little to do with their post-workout buzz.

This research has one obvious caveat, however: Mice aren't humans. And the study also revealed, disappointingly, that you probably need to run pretty far to experience a runner's high. The mice ran an average of more than three human miles per day (a long way for a mouse).

If you're interested in learning more about the connection between endocannabinoids and runners' highs, this video from YouTube channel SciShow walks through some of the evidence.

Other factors at play

Other studies, however, suggest that neither endorphins nor endocannibinoids are the cause of the runner's high. A 2015 study, for example, found that mice with low levels of a hormone called leptin tended to run farther than mice with normal levels of leptin.

Leptin, otherwise known as the "satiety hormone," inhibits the feeling of hunger in order to regulate our energy levels. The idea is that the less full (or more hungry) you feel, the more motivated you are to keep running. And that increased motivation might make it easier to get a runner's high.

"Ultimately, leptin is sending the brain a clear message: When food is scarce, it’s fun to run to chase some down," lead study author Maria Fernanda Fernandes told Outside Magazine in 2015.

But again, the fact that these results have been demonstrated in mice doesn't mean the same effects will necessarily be found in humans. And because there might be a combination of factors at play, definitive evidence of what exactly causes a runner's high might continue to elude scientists for a while.

An earlier version of this post was written by Tanya Lewis

NEXT UP: 8 killer arm workouts you can do virtually anywhere

SEE ALSO: 13 exercises to keep your legs strong at any age

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Scientists say this may be the best exercise for your brain health

The bizarre and controversial 'Flintstones House' reportedly sold for $2.8 million

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Flintstone house

In May, after several years on the market, a unique house situated in the affluent town of Hillsborough, California, finally found a buyer.

We now know, thanks to Curbed SF, exactly how much the new owner ended up paying for it: $2.8 million.

Known by Bay Area locals as the "Flintstones House" for its kooky attributes, the house was originally listed for $4.2 million in 2015. It underwent several price chops and was most recently listed for $3.19 million.

Many neighbors call the home an eyesore, especially after it was painted orange and purple, according to Business Insider. But others in this wealthy suburb of San Francisco consider it a landmark that's beloved for its quirkiness. 

Take a look around the home that has divided a community. Judy Meuschke of Alain Pinel Realtors had the listing.

SEE ALSO: Nobody wants to buy the most infamous house in the Hamptons, but American Express is renting it for the summer

Even from far away, it's easy to see that the Flintstones House isn't a normal property.



It's made from concrete that's been painted orange and purple, though it was first finished in an off-white color when it was built in 1976.



The odd shape of the house was created by applying shotcrete to both a steel rebar structure and a series of mesh frames held up by inflated balloons typically used for aeronautical research.



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The foreclosed $50.9 million penthouse on Billionaire's Row is reportedly owned by a Nigerian tycoon who could be hiding on his yacht

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one57 from the sky

The man behind what could be the largest foreclosure in New York City real estate history may have just been revealed.

A full-floor penthouse in the landmark One57 condo building is headed to the auction block after it was seized under foreclosure, and according to the New York Post, Nigerian energy tycoon Kolawole "Kola" Aluko was the buyer of the unit in question. 

The 79th-floor apartment, which was the eighth-priciest sold in the building, will go to auction on July 19. It was purchased for $50.9 million with a $35.3 million mortgage loan from Banque Havilland in 2014. 

Aluko reportedly hasn't made his payments, and Banque Havilland has repossessed the home.

Aluko's yacht, the Galactica Star, was listed as collateral on the loan, but neither he nor the yacht has been seen in some time. This has fueled speculation that he is hiding out on the yacht, according to the Post. Aluko is reportedly on the run from Nigerian authorities seeking to question him on allegations of money laundering. Authorities have attempted to freeze Aluko's assets, but the tycoon claims residency in Switzerland and owns properties all over the world.

Aluko and the Galactica Star were last seen in the Bahamas during Ja Rule's failed Fyre Festival in April. 

SEE ALSO: New York City's 'Billionaire's Row' is dead — and a record-breaking foreclosure could be the 'nail in the coffin'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This $35 million NYC penthouse is located inside a clock tower

Why reports of fecal bacteria in iced coffee suggest bigger health problems

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coffee

To the question, "Would you like anything else with that?" no one answers "fecal bacteria."

Unfortunately, it may be accompanying orders of iced coffee drinks at three coffee chains in the UK anyways, according to a recent BBC investigation.

The BBC reports that it found "varying levels" of the bacteria in samples of iced drinks from Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Caffe Nero.

All three companies told the BBC they'd "taken action" on the findings. Starbucks also told the BBC it was also conducting its own investigation and maintained that it takes hygiene "extremely seriously."

The presence of fecal bacteria — which can cause diarrhea if ingested — could be a sign that there are nastier germs also present, said
 Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at New York University. 

"Where there are fecal bacteria present it is an indicator that there could be other germs that are pathogenic [or illness-causing] like Norovirus or hepatitis A or Salmonella that can make you sick," Tierno told Business Insider.

It also suggests that workers at the chains are not keeping themselves clean, that they "have dirty bare hands," he said.

In addition to sampling the ice at 30 of the chains, British researchers also studied their tables, trays, and high chairs. London chain Costa Coffee ranked worst, with seven out of 10 samples "found to be contaminated with bacteria found in feces."

Starbucks and Caffe Nero also tested positive for fecal coliforms in three out of 10 samples.

Business Insider reached out to all three companies but did not immediately hear back.

SEE ALSO: How often you should wash your bath towel, according to a microbiologist — and what happens when you don't

DON'T MISS: A BBC investigation found fecal bacteria in iced drinks from Starbucks and 3 other chains

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