Beck & Beck - July 2025

SWIPE RIGHT AT ANY AGE

ONLINE DATING TIPS FOR OLDER ADULTS

Online dating can be intimidating at any age, but it can feel like learning a new language and culture for older adults who didn’t grow up using technology. While dating might seem like a younger person’s game, plenty of people your age (and older) are messaging, swiping, and making new personal connections online daily. A common misconception is that online dating is only for the tech-savvy, but most apps are user-friendly and designed to help you learn as you go. Various apps are available — like Bumble, Hinge, or Match — so you can find one that matches your specific goals. Whether you’re looking to meet new friends or want long-term companionship, there’s a platform for you.

Create a profile once you find a dating site that feels like a good fit. Your profile doesn’t need flashy language or complicated details, but it should highlight your values. You’ll also need to include photos. Focus on current pictures that reveal a bit about your personality and interests. After setting up your profile, you’re ready to look for potential dates. This is where things get exciting, but don’t forget to prioritize safety. Early conversations are best kept within the app itself, and always meet people you connect with in public places. Also, don’t let rejections discourage you. Online dating can take some patience, but it can also be fun. Stay open, stay safe, and you just might find someone special.

Nature’s Hidden Network How Plants Talk to Each Other Underground

You probably don’t think of plants as chatty, but they have a lot going on underground. Scientists have discovered that thin fungus threads in the soil connect many plants — nature’s version of the internet. These threads help plants share nutrients and even send messages to one another. The fungi grow around and between plant roots, building a bridge from one plant to the next. If one plant gets sick or bug-bitten, it can send a warning. Neighboring plants “hear” that signal and might boost their defenses. It’s somewhat like a heads- up before a storm.

nutrients around, especially from bigger, well-fed plants to smaller, struggling ones. In return, the fungi get sugars and energy from the plants. It’s a win-win. This hidden teamwork has real-world effects. Farmers and gardeners who know about these underground networks can change how they treat their soil. If the fungi are wiped out — say, by chemicals or heavy digging — plants lose their lifeline. But if the networks stay intact, crops tend to grow better and fight off threats more easily. This is still a growing field of research, but it’s changing how we see plant life. If you want to dig a

little deeper, check out a recent book, “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth” by Zoë Schlanger. What looks like a quiet patch of greenery might be a neighborhood full of chatter. You just have to know where to look.

It’s not just gossip, either. These fungal helpers also help shuffle

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