2 . Victor Borge once wrote, “Laughter is the closest distance between two people.” Yet laughter isn’t always positive for relationships. Think of your friend laughing at your embarrassing mistake. This kind of unshared laughter can have the opposite effect.

Now, a new study explores when laughter works as a social glue. While all genuine laughter may help us feel good, shared laughter may communicate to others that we have a similar worldview, which strengthens our relationships.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina found a way to produce shared laughter to measure experimentally how it might impact a relationship with a stranger. Participants watched a funny, not-so-funny, or not-funny-at-all video while video-chatting with another same-sex participant. Unknown to them, the video chat displayed a pre-recorded clip (片段) of someone laughing the same amount for each of the two funny videos, but only smiling occasionally during the unfunny video. This produced more shared laughter in the first situation, less shared laughter in the second, and no shared laughter in the third. Afterwards, the participants then filled out questionnaires about their sense of similarity to their video partner, and how much they liked or wanted to get to know their video partner.

Results showed that, across the different videos, the amount of shared laughter had consistent (一致的) effects on the participants’ sense of similarity to the video partner — and that this, in turn, increased how much participants liked their partner and wanted to affiliate with him or her. “For people who are laughing together, shared laughter signals that they see the world in the same way, and it momentarily improve their sense of connection,” says Sara Algoe, co-author of the study.

How can we put these findings into practice? Algoe suggests that relationship partners may want to find opportunities to laugh together in order to boost closeness, especially before having difficult conversations. Likewise, shared laughter could be introduced into staff meetings to make people feel more on the same page and thus become more productive.

4 . Recently, I was asked to discuss the connection between Human Resources and Artificial Intelligence. One speaker noted that the most amazing thing about Generative AI is that it can mimic (模仿) human interaction and can even teach us social skills.

This got me thinking: If AI could be as near-human as she said, could it be my friend?

As yet another 24-year-old affected by the loneliness epidemic that arose from a digital-heavy, interaction-light, post-pandemic world, I suffered the all too common problem of having too few friends. In the span of a year, texting began to replace face-to-face conversations and plans to meet up were often canceled or delayed.

Was I supposed to embrace AI friendships as the new norm? Though skeptical, I found myself on Chat GPT the next day. It’s a straightforward platform: Type your question and AI   answers. Don’t like the answer? Refine your question, and it will adjust its answers to what you’re looking for.

I decided to test the theory by chatting with AI as if it were a friend. Surprisingly, I received sympathetic and supportive responses. After 20 minutes of chatting, I asked, “Will you be my friend?” Following   a pause, it politely declined, ending with, “If you’re looking for human connections, it’s always great to reach out to friends, family, or people around you.”

The rejection from AI was expected and natural. I believe that AI can never offer what humans can: that humanness. Every person in your life does, at some point, screw up. They may ignore you, hurt your feelings or speak sharply, and they never, ever let you ask the question again to get a different answer. AI, on the other hand, can never be your friend, because it will never show up late for your lunch. It will never hurt your feelings and it will certainly never be the one to reach out first to apologize. AI lacks fault and the surprising joy and pain that comes with it.

To end the group discussion, I raised a question. I asked the group who, when calling a customer service hotline, did everything they could to skip the robotic prompts (提示) to speak to a real person. Everyone raised their hand. We all desire the same connection. And I know that we still have a chance.

5 . Trees communicate. They migrate. They protect. They heal. This year for Arbor Day finds our favorite fiction, nonfiction books relating to trees.

The Overstory by Richard Powers, 2018

The Overstory begins with the nine characters whose lives will come together as the fiction unfolds. Their stories set the stage for a tale about a few environmentalists who are determined to protect an old forest. Richard Powers pulls you into their lives and fills you with astonishing facts about trees.

Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard, 2021

Finding the Mother Tree describes Simard's research on cooperation and coexistence in the forest. “Trees in a forest are often linked to each other via an older tree called a ‘mother’ tree,” Simard said. “And the old trees would help the little seedlings survive at crucial times.”

Twelve Trees by Daniel Lewis, 2024

There are tens of thousands of tree species on Earth, but writer Daniel Lewis focused in on just a dozen in his book, Twelve Trees. Lewis believes trees and people have more in common than you might think. “These twelve trees reflect aspects of ourselves. We coexist with them, and thus have a responsibility to understand them better.”

The Tree Doctor by Marie Mutsuki Mockett, 2024

A woman helps tend her mother's garden, leading her to confirm what she already knows: Her life as a wife and mother has caused her to ignore herself, and she must prioritize saving herself even more urgently than caring for her mother's flowers. The Tree Doctor is an excellent novel, showing one woman's response to life-changing crises.

7 . Long before Friends made its official debut (首次亮相) in China, the show was a word-of-mouth phenomenon in the country. After Matthew Perry’s death at 54, a Wednesday evening memorial at a cafe in Shenzhen was packed with people and floral (鲜花的) arrangements as the TV mounted in the corner played an episode of Friends. Fans in China are mourning the loss of the star, who felt less like a distant celebrity and more like an old friend.

“There were more people who showed up than we expected,” said cafe manager Nie Yanxia. “People shared their own memories about the character Chandler and Friends and many teared up.” “I remember the first time I saw Friends,” said 24-year-old Zhuo Min, who was from Nanjing. “I was shocked to find that people could be so friendly and funny. I started to cherish my friends and family more,” Zhuo said. “Life is short, and we should treasure every moment.”

The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia and emotion as fans recalled the impact the show had on their lives. The strong emotional connect ion people felt with the show’s characters led to the larger-than-expected turnout at the cafe. Perry’s photo poster, which read “We love you, friend” at the bottom, was a painful reminder of his influence.

The popularity of Friends in China, despite its late arrival on official platforms, is a witness to its timeless appeal. Chinese fans, who had long been introduced to the show through unofficial channels, quickly adopted it as a cultural touchstone, learning English and gaining insights into American life. The show’s vision of urban life resonated (共鸣) deeply with Chinese youth finding their own identity and independence in a rapidly changing society.

The passing of Perry has stimulated a wave of emotional reflections. The Central Perry-themed cafes have become gathering places, where people can immerse themselves in the show’s world and share their memories with fellow fans. The impact of Friends and its cast, including Perry, continues to live on in the hearts of its loyal followers.

10 . Here’s What Paris’s Most Luxurious Hotels Are Serving Up for the Summer Olympics.

Hôtel Barriere Fouquet’s Paris

Hôtel Barriere Fouquet’s Paris, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, is delighting guests with a special treat in honor of its landmark neighbor: a chocolate creation copying the Arc. This sugary masterpiece will be placed in all guest rooms for the entire duration of the Games. To celebrate both Paris and the Olympic spirit, atop the arc stands a graceful gymnast, frozen in mid-air, symbolizing athletic professional skills.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée

The Hôtel Plaza Athénée is the place to see and be seen during Fashion Week, and the two weeks during the Olympics will be no exception. The hotel has partnered with Mathieu Forget, a celebrated photographer known for a unique collaboration bringing together the worlds of art and sports. Forget has created five fascinating photographic compositions featuring athletes seemingly defying gravity within the hotel’s iconic spaces.

Le Meurice

In celebration of the Summer Olympics, Le Meurice, known as the original Parisian Palace hotel, is celebrating wellness on the inside and outside. The hotel’s spa is offering a limited-time treatment to refresh guests both physically and mentally. To further enhance the wellness experience, guests can enjoy wellness specialties created by famous chef Clémentine   Bouchon.

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris

Located just steps from Arc de Triomphe, Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris is launching a menu of cocktail s drawing inspiration from past host cities of previous Summer Olympics. The hotel is also hosting a few exhibitions in honor of the Olympics, including photographs featuring legendary athletes, Muhammad Ali’s boxing glove, a basketball signed by the NBA’s   Dream Team, and torches from previous Olympiads.