Today’s Big Story

Coral Reefs Pushed to Brink

84% of the world’s coral reefs hit by worst bleaching event on record

This is concerning. Harmful bleaching of the world’s coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean’s reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, the International Coral Reef Initiative announced earlier today.

According to the Associated Press, this was the fourth global bleaching event since 1998. And this has now surpassed bleaching from 2014-17 that hit some two-thirds of reefs, said the ICRI, a mix of more than 100 governments, non-governmental organizations and others. What’s more, experts say it’s not clear when the current crisis, which began in 2023 and is blamed on warming oceans, will end.

Here’s what happens: Coral turns ghostly white under heat stress and the world's oceans have warmed over the last two years to historic highs, driven by humanity's release of planet-warming greenhouse gases—with reefs across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans affected. It causes corals to expel the colorful algae living in their tissues. And without the algae's help in delivering nutrients to the corals, the corals cannot survive. Reefs can rebound from the trauma but scientists told AFP the window for recovery was getting shorter as ocean temperatures remained higher for longer.

Coral reefs are known as the rainforests of the sea because of their high concentration of biodiversity that supports about a third of all marine species and a billion people. But record high ocean temperatures have spread like an underwater wildfire.

Even reefs considered by scientists to be refuges from the ocean’s rising levels of heat have been bleached, Dr Derek Manzello, the director of Coral Reef Watch, told The Guardian. “The fact that so many reef areas have been impacted, including purported thermal refugia like Raja Ampat and the Gulf of Eilat, suggests that ocean warming has reached a level where there is no longer any safe harbour from coral bleaching and its ramifications,” he said.

Musk Steps Back From DOGE

As Tesla profits plunge 71 %, its CEO says he will reallocate his time to the automaker next month

As Tesla's sales and profits plunge, CEO Elon Musk says he will take a major step back from his work as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency—but that he has no plans to stop his work with DOGE entirely. Musk said on Tesla’s earnings call that “my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly” likely starting in May, but added that he will have to “continue doing it for I think the remainder of the President’s term just to make sure the waste and fraud that we stopped does not come roaring back, which it will do if it has the chance.”

He also, without evidence, dismissed protests against Tesla as being “paid for,” and said that demand for the company’s vehicles remains strong despite a sharp decline in sales. Tesla’s quarterly earnings report, released about an hour before the call, showed that the company's net income plunged by 71% year-over-year and that revenue from selling cars dropped by 20%. CBS News reports that the company’s stock price has also sunk more than 53% this year.

Analysts had been expecting bad news: They already knew Tesla's deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 were down 13% from a year ago. That was the company's biggest-ever quarterly decline in sales. Meanwhile, electric vehicle sales in general rose 7% over the same timeframe.

Teens vs. Social Media

New Pew data shows nearly half of today’s teens believe those apps are harmful to their generation

The conversation isn’t new. The impact of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being is a growing topic of concern among parents, educators, health care professionals and regulators. And now, nearly half (48%) of U.S. teens say social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age—and almost the same proportion (44%) say they’re cutting back on social media use.

That’s according to a Pew Research Center report published Tuesday that asked American teens and parents about their attitudes around social media and smartphones. The report also highlighted the increasing time teens are spending on these platforms and how they're aware of this change. About 45% of teen respondents said they spend “too much time” on social media, compared to 36% in 2022.

According to CNET, the findings come as lawmakers and the U.S. Surgeon General warn that social platforms pose a serious threat to young users, particularly as mental health issues continue to rise among teens. The report suggests that the effects of social media vary somewhat by gender and race and ethnicity. Teen girls, for example, are slightly more likely than teen boys to say social media has hurt the amount of sleep they get, their productivity, their mental health and their confidence. That’s consistent with research from 2019 that has suggested the link between social media and depression may be stronger in teen girls than boys.

The Changing Landscape of Fragrances

They’re pricey and more of them are solid

Bottles of perfume and cologne can be notoriously expensive. And they’re about to get more pricey. French fragrance manufacturer Interparfums plans to raise prices in the United States by 6% to 7% beginning August 1 in response to the new 10% tariffs imposed on imported goods. The company manages the perfume lines of several global fashion brands. The only thing worse than shelling out more money for your favorite fragrance is finding out that it’s been discontinued.

But now both is happening as the market for retired perfumes is heating up. According to the Financial Times, there are now perfume dealers who are tracking down rare scents for clients who spend from $170 to more than $3,500 per bottle. As one put it: “Some buyers only wear one perfume. When that is discontinued by a brand, from one day to the next, they find themselves orphaned of their olfactory identity. These people then turn to all possible ways to find their perfume again.”

And while fragrance oils and sculptural bottles are trendy, it seems the latest thing in scents is solid fragrances. Vogue says that solids have moved from niche status to the forefront of the category over the past year. Once hard to find, these fragrances deliver more intimacy and longevity than the typical mists, allowing for a subtle scent that lasts longer than their liquid peers. And if you’re looking for men’s solid colognes, Men’s Health has some suggestions.

$10 a Month Can Protect You From Expensive Vet Bills

We all want the best for our pets, but premium care comes at a premium price. Whether it’s an unexpected emergency or a chronic condition, veterinary costs can pile up quicker than doo-doo at a dog park. That’s where pet insurance comes in—it’s not just about cutting costs, but ensuring you can say “yes” to critical treatments without straining your budget. Check out Money’s top pet insurance picks, with plans starting at just $10 per month.

Self-talk as poison or power.