Heartbeat

A science commentary circulating online argues that DNA outclasses billionaire-funded data centers as an information system: just four chemical letters encode the instructions for building and running a human body, from eye color and heartbeat to the senses and brain. The comparison is being shared as a reflection on how compact and efficient biological storage is compared with the vast industrial infrastructure of modern computing.

Health outlets are warning that eating large amounts of black licorice can disturb heart rhythm, a concern that resurfaces each year as licorice candies fill Halloween trick-or-treat bowls. The ingredient glycyrrhizin in real licorice root can lower potassium levels and, in excessive amounts, trigger irregular heartbeats. Adults over 40 and people with heart conditions are considered most at risk, and consumers are advised to check candy labels before the holiday.