It's no secret that everything is bigger today. Whether it's houses, televisions, or cars – compared to decades ago, things have become oversized. That includes food portions and waistlines.

In 2024, 43 percent of Americans are classified as obese, compared to just 13 percent in the 1960s.

Experts blame the increased intake of ultra-processed foods and higher-calorie meals, warning that obesity can lead to a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer – writes Nova.

Now, California-based nutritionist Autumn Bates has shared her opinion on the causes of the obesity epidemic, outlining four reasons why people used to be slimmer, even though they exercised less and had no access to smartwatches or fitness trackers like the Apple Watch and Fitbit.

She said her interest in researching this phenomenon was sparked by a recent YouTube video asking: “Why were we so skinny in the 1960s?”

The nutritionist said: “It’s a fair question, because in the 1960s, the obesity rate in America was around 13 percent. To compare that to today – in 2025, the obesity rate is nearly 43 percent – and that’s pretty incredible, because people in the 60s weren’t exactly known for their healthy eating habits. So why was body fat percentage so much lower back then?”

Although it's easy to view the past through rose-colored glasses, scientists say it's a fact that we used to be thinner.

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• Why Everyone Was So Skinny in the 1960s

Home-cooked, freshly prepared meals used to be the norm, not the exception.

They traditionally included: some form of quality protein, fruit, bread, vegetables, and probably milk.

Autumn Bates explains that this same nutritional pattern applied to children's school lunches, so kids also had a more balanced diet back then.

Based on research on what people ate in the 1960s, Bates notes that popular meals included: roast chicken, meatloaf, beef stew, steak, and potatoes.

Fast food was barely mentioned, whereas today's portion sizes are drastically larger – the calorie content of popular burgers and fries can reach up to 2,000 calories per meal.

Benefits of Home Cooking

Bates highlights several benefits of home-cooked meals, including:

• lower sugar intake
• more protein
• higher vegetable intake

A study from Johns Hopkins University showed that people who cook at home frequently consume fewer carbohydrates, sugar, and fat compared to those who cook less often.

Second Reason: Explosion of Ultra-Processed Foods

Next, Ms. Bates mentions that another reason today's society is more obese than ever is the explosion of ultra-processed foods.

Photo: TopFoto.co.uk / Topfoto / Profimedia

Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) refers to products with a long list of ingredients or those containing artificial additives such as coloring, sweeteners, and preservatives that extend shelf life.

Ready-made meals, ice cream, and ketchup are some of the most popular examples of UPF, today almost synonymous with foods of very low nutritional value.

This category differs from “regular” processed food, which is modified to last longer or taste better – such as cured meats, cheese, or fresh bread.

Explaining why UPF is harmful, Bates says: “Ultra-processing is the next level of food modification that really reduces the feeling of fullness – you eat, but don’t feel satisfied, so you need more food. These are mainly products with ingredients you don’t recognize, often containing a long list of items you couldn’t simply buy at a store and cook at home.”

Some studies have shown that this food can cause us to consume up to 800 more calories per day because it doesn’t satisfy hunger.

The nutritionist advises replacing such products with healthier alternatives – instead of packaged snacks with added ingredients, eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Third Reason: People Were “Accidentally More Active”

Bates notes that people in the 1960s were much more active, but unintentionally so.

“A large portion of the workforce had more physically demanding jobs. They didn’t do structured exercise – they just moved more throughout the day. My dad always said he was embarrassed because his father was a ‘health nut’ who ran, and his friends teased him – because physical activity was already part of everyday work. Days back then involved movement, unlike today’s sedentary lifestyle in front of screens and commuting by car.”

Bates points out that people have become more homebound and screen-bound, and physical activity has decreased.

For those working at a computer, Bates recommends getting up and walking several times a day.

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She also recommends 3 to 4 days of physical activity per week, such as strength training.

Fourth Reason: Lack of Sleep

Finally, Bates emphasizes lack of sleep as another major factor contributing to the obesity epidemic.

Today, the average American sleeps about 7 hours and 10 minutes. However, in the 1960s, average sleep duration was about 8.5 hours.

Commenting on this change, Bates says: “Lack of sleep is strongly linked to obesity and weight gain. Sleep deprivation increases hunger hormones, so your appetite is much stronger the next day. It also increases cravings for sweets and larger portions.”

The nutritionist blames technology for disrupting sleep quality, with numerous evening distractions such as laptops, TVs, and phones.

“We need to reintroduce bedtime routines, because there are too many temptations now – to stay up watching Netflix or scrolling on our phones. We must set boundaries for when we go to sleep,” she concludes.

There is growing evidence that a great secret lies beneath the dusty red expanses of Mars. A secret that could completely redefine our view of our closest neighbor – a massive reservoir of liquid water buried deep beneath the surface.

Mars is covered with traces of once vast water flows. But the puzzle of where all that water went when the planet cooled and became desolate is still incomplete, writes RTS, as reported by Sombor.info.

A new study offers a potential answer. Using seismic data from NASA's "InSight" mission, evidence was found showing that seismic waves slow down in a layer between 5.4 and eight kilometers below the surface, which could indicate the presence of liquid water at those depths.

Where did all the water go?

Mars wasn’t always the barren land it is today. Billions of years ago, rivers carved valleys, and lakes and seas shimmered under the sun’s rays.

As Mars' magnetic field weakened and the atmosphere thinned, much of the water disappeared – some into space, some froze in the polar caps, and some remained trapped in minerals to this day.

However, evaporation, freezing, and entrapment in rocks cannot explain the full amount of water that once existed on the Red Planet. Calculations suggest that the "missing" water is enough to cover the planet with an ocean between 700 and 900 meters deep.

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One hypothesis is that the water drained deeper into the crust. In its past, Mars endured heavy meteorite bombardments, which could have created cracks through which the water escaped.

Deep beneath the surface, higher temperatures than at the surface could maintain the water in a liquid state.

Seismic Image of the Martian Crust

NASA’s "InSight" lander touched down on Mars in 2018 to listen to the planet’s interior using an ultra-sensitive seismometer.

By studying a specific type of vibration, scientists discovered a significant underground anomaly – a layer between 5.4 and eight kilometers deep where vibrations moved more slowly.

This slower wave propagation layer is most likely highly porous rock filled with liquid water, similar to a very wet sponge. Something akin to Earth’s aquifers.

They calculated that this Martian aquifer could contain enough water to cover the planet in a global ocean 520 to 780 meters deep – several times more water than is found in the ice of Antarctica.

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This volume matches estimates of Mars' "missing" water (710 to 920 meters of global ocean depth), after accounting for losses due to evaporation, freezing, and water trapped in minerals.

Meteorites and Marsquakes

Scientists made this discovery with the help of two meteorite impacts in 2021 and one quake in 2022. These events sent seismic waves through the crust, similar to when a stone falls into water.

The seismometer on the "InSight" mission registered these vibrations and used them to map hidden layers in the planetary crust.

Why This Matters

Liquid water is essential for life as we know it. On Earth, numerous microbes thrive and live in it.

Could similar forms of life – remnants of an ancient Martian ecosystem – survive in such underground reservoirs?

Water could also support higher and more complex forms of life – such as future human explorers. Once processed, it could provide drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket fuel.

Of course, drilling kilometers deep on another planet is a major challenge. However, other data reveals the possibility that closer to Mars’ equator, near the surface, there are more water-rich zones – such as a frozen mud reservoir in the Utopia Planitia region.

The time has come for a new change in football rules. This time, it's about the offside rule. Moreover, there might also be a (new) change in the Champions League competition system.

UEFA General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti spoke about this.

Speaking first about the positive aspects of the elite European club competition, he emphasized that "the excitement is now greater" because teams (instead of facing only three opponents in the group stage) now had to face a larger number of rivals in the initial phase of the Champions League. Let us remind you, each participant played eight matches.

The drama around who advances to the knockout phase also increased – key matches were played until January and February, which was not the case before, as the top two clubs would quickly separate in four-team groups.

According to Marchetti, "the obvious downside for teams was that they now had to play more matches." Fans enjoy it, but in an already packed competition calendar, the new format meant even greater physical exhaustion for players.

However, the UEFA General Secretary stated that the European football governing body is "very satisfied" with how the changes turned out, but announced that this is not the end:

- We wanted to make the format more exciting and unpredictable. The entire group stage was interesting, practically without any boring matches. Then we also saw some incredible clashes in the knockout stage, like Inter's matches against Barcelona.

Marchetti made it clear that "the format is not temporary."

- It was designed not to be time-limited. This will be the format of football's future - he said, adding that "although the new system added unpredictability, we will discuss some minor detail changes with the clubs."

He then commented that "VAR is fundamental," thus dismissing some arbitrary announcements that it would be abolished.

- It is very important, but it must be handled with extreme care. Simply, to avoid turning the game into something fans don't want to see.

Marchetti noted "that we have reached a point where, due to a millimeter determined by technology," football can sometimes suffer.

He revealed that "IFAB and FIFA are testing a possible drastic change so that offside is no longer based on such a small part of the body."

- Disallowing a goal for three centimeters is tiresome for the spirit of the game. So, let's see if this will change in the near future...

But if the changes in the Champions League will be "minor," what exactly are the planned changes regarding offside?

Well, drastic ones.

What is Offside Anyway?

For those who always found this term confusing, perhaps the simplest explanation (although not exactly a paraphrase of the FIFA Laws of the Game, but a very simplified version) is that an attacker must not be behind the defense when a teammate passes the ball to him, as this is considered gaining an unfair advantage over defenders. In other team sports with goals (like handball, basketball), you can stay alone on the opponent's side of the court and score when your team passes you the ball. But in football, you must not be behind the defense when the ball is played towards you.

Alright, maybe this isn't the perfect explanation for those who don't know what offside is, but we believe it's simpler than the official FIFA wording, which starts like this (we'll cite just two or three paragraphs):

"1. Offside Position"

Being in an offside position is not an offense by itself. A player is in an offside position when: any part of the head, body, or feet is in the opponent’s half of the field (excluding the halfway line) and any part of the head, body, or feet is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The hands and arms of all players, including goalkeepers, are not considered. For offside purposes, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.

A player is not in an offside position if level with: the second-last opponent or the last two opponents.

2. Offside

A player in an offside position is penalized at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate if they become involved in active play by:

• interfering with play by playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a teammate;
• interfering with an opponent by:
• preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision;
• challenging an opponent for the ball;
• clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts an opponent;
• making an obvious action which clearly impacts the ability of an opponent to play the ball;
• gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when the ball has:
• rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official, or an opponent;
• been deliberately played by an opponent, including deliberate handball, unless it was a deliberate save.

This is just the introductory part of the rules.

It seems a bit more complicated than our initial sentence, right? But it has to be so that referees know exactly when to stop an attacking action due to offside, maybe even disallow a goal.

The most important thing in all this is, of course, who is closest to the goalkeeper when the ball is played towards the attacker. If it’s the attacker, the play stops. If it’s a defender, the play continues and what the attacker does next with the ball is up to him.

Arsène Wenger, the legendary French coach best known for his time with Arsenal, is now FIFA’s "Chief of Football Development" and has proposed a revolutionary rule change.

He explained that "in 1990, the rule was changed (before that, an attacker couldn’t even be level with the last defender), and it was then allowed for both to be in line when the ball was played." However, with the introduction of VAR, many goals are now disallowed because of millimeter advantages by attackers – for example, if a toe, knee tip, or nose is closer to the goal than the last defender.

Wenger announced the following:

- That’s why I proposed a rule change: as long as any part of an attacker’s body is in line with the defender, it’s no longer offside. Within a year, IFAB will confirm this decision.

So, until 1990, an attacker couldn’t be in line with the last defender. Since then, they can be level. And according to the new "Wenger Rule," an attacker could even be a step closer to the goalkeeper than the last defender, but if, for example, his heel is in line with the defender, it’s not offside.

In the current rules, the attacker in red is offside because part of his body is behind the last defender, but under the new rules, he wouldn’t be offside as a larger part of his body is in line with the defender.

All of this – to increase the number of goals.

So, what do you think about that?

But that’s not all...

Some new rules are already in effect, while others are "just about to come."

Let’s first recall that the International Football Association Board, known as IFAB – which Wenger mentioned – is the international body that determines football rules. They have introduced several new ones.

In a recent statement, they said, among other things:

"IFAB has approved a series of changes to the Laws of the Game for the 2025/2026 season.

After trials showed a significant positive impact of the proposed rule change regarding goalkeepers holding the ball too long, IFAB unanimously decided to amend Article 12.2 (Indirect Free Kick).

The amendment states that if the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds (with the referee using a visual five-second countdown), the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team (instead of the current indirect free kick for holding the ball for more than six seconds)."

Thus, if the goalkeeper holds the ball longer than allowed, the opponents will take a corner kick.

And since this will be applied from the new season, it wasn’t necessary to wait for autumn (when new championships start in our region). This rule was already applied – in Brazil.

There, new season battles begin in the spring, and this new rule was seen in action at the end of the match between Paysandu and Atlético.

Namely, Atlético goalkeeper Mikel held the ball in his hands for 13 seconds, and referee Jefferson Ferreira de Moraes awarded a corner kick to Paysandu.

The question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) will make our children smarter is not mere speculation. It reflects current developments in cognitive science, education, and digital technology.

Intelligence is a complex and multidimensional construct shaped by both biological and external influences, including educational interventions and exposure to stimulating experiences, writes PsychologyToday.

To understand the potential role of AI in this context, we must first consider the Flynn Effect—the historical rise in IQ scores during the 20th century—and how AI could extend or even reverse this trend.

Understanding the Flynn Effect

The Flynn Effect, named after philosopher James R. Flynn who studied intelligence, describes the significant and lasting increase in IQ scores across generations during the 20th century. Research shows that children's intelligence scores steadily increased, especially in problem-solving and reasoning abilities, less so in acquired knowledge over time. Broader societal changes have made mental demands on new generations more complex.

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These factors include better nutrition, access to education, urbanization, smaller families, and more complex environments. Technology, such as television, video games, and the internet, supports these advances by requiring higher levels of spatial-visual reasoning, working with symbolic systems, and abstract thinking. Thus, technology is already quietly enhancing intelligence.

How AI Positively Influences Intelligence

AI is not just another technological shift—it represents a paradigm change that can fundamentally reshape intellectual development. One of AI's strongest features is its ability to personalize learning. AI can tailor educational content to each child's pace, strengths, and interests.

Another advantage of AI is access to unlimited knowledge. With generative AI and natural language models, children can explore complex topics through conversational formats, encouraging deeper, curious learning. Asking a chatbot about a scientific concept, a math problem, or writing a poem facilitates self-initiated learning and creativity.

AI environments such as virtual laboratories and strategic games enable experiential learning where children apply reasoning, experimentation, and hypothesis testing. These digital activities develop cognitive flexibility, systems thinking, and planning skills. Perhaps most importantly, AI offers unique opportunities to support neurodivergent children. AI-based tools can be adapted for children with dyslexia, ADHD, or autism, providing alternative learning methods that traditional classrooms cannot. This could democratize cognitive development access for children previously neglected by the system.

Will AI Really Make Children Smarter

Despite its potential, AI's impact on cognitive development is not unilaterally positive. There are legitimate concerns about unintended consequences, including over-reliance on technology. If children become passive AI users rather than active problem-solvers, their critical thinking skills may stagnate or decline. The ease of obtaining answers through AI can diminish the importance of cognitive effort necessary for deeper learning and resilience development.

Another challenge is digital distraction. Devices that enable AI learning also provide access to social media, games, and constant notifications. All this can reduce attention spans, cause information overload, and weaken working memory. Research shows that overly stimulating environments can harm intellectual development.

There is also the issue of socio-emotional development. AI inherently lacks emotional intelligence. While it can simulate conversation, it cannot provide empathy, connection, or moral guidance. If children spend too much time with AI instead of people, their empathy, conflict resolution, and collaboration skills may suffer—all skills equally important as IQ.

The "Negative Flynn Effect" as a Warning

Adding complexity is the fact that the Flynn Effect is reversing in some parts of the world. Recent studies have recorded a decline in average IQ scores in several developed countries (Dutton, van der Linden, and Lynn, 2016). Possible causes include changes in education, more screen time, and less time spent reading or engaging in free play. The "Negative Flynn Effect" is a warning—if AI is used predominantly for passive consumption rather than exploration and creation, it could contribute to intellectual decline rather than progress.

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Recommendations for Parents: The Key is Balance

Parents should adopt a thoughtful approach to AI use. It's important to choose quality tools—not every AI is educational.

Equally important is encouraging real human interaction. Conversations, joint problem-solving, and physical play help children develop socio-emotional intelligence that AI cannot replace. Human connection remains the foundation of healthy development.

It is also necessary to monitor AI usage. Healthy habits include limited screen time and balancing online and offline activities such as reading, nature outings, and free play. Children need to face challenges, not always seek instant solutions from AI.

Helping children recognize their learning styles, strengths, and challenges fosters intellectual agility throughout life. This metacognitive awareness is the foundation of adaptive intelligence in an AI-driven world.

Conclusion

The tools of the future will shape not only how our children learn but also how they think. AI has enormous potential to enhance intellectual development, but only if used wisely, respecting human values, relationships, and critical thinking. Intelligence is more than information—it is the thoughtful application of knowledge, curiosity for exploration, and empathy towards others. AI should be our children's ally, not their architect, writes Sam Goldstein, PhD, Clinical Director of the Center for Neurology, Learning, and Behavior, and faculty member at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Satellite images released by NASA show a strange fluorescent glow appearing somewhere in the Great Australian Bight and the Tasman Sea – so intense that it is visible even from space.

According to a report by EcoNews, this vivid, glowing sea creature was spotted via satellite from orbit.

NASA’s space-based observations, through the Earth Observatory, have long been monitoring oceanic conditions around the globe, transmitting high-resolution images of the planet and oceans in real time. Their satellites are equipped with sensors that measure light emissions, and scientists have confirmed that the glow is actually the result of blooming algae.

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On the NASA Ocean Facebook page, the following was posted earlier this year:

"Phytoplankton is blooming in the waters between the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania, in an area known as the Bass Strait. The region is known for its rough waters and numerous shipwrecks. The Bass Strait is the most direct sea route between the Great Australian Bight and the Tasman Sea, and the only access to the economically important Port Phillip."

Photo: Jordan Robins / SWNS / SWNS / Profimedia

The image of the glowing turquoise and green shades of blooming algae was captured by the OCI sensor on the PACE spacecraft in November of last year. However, this is not the first time that these plant-like filaments have been observed from space.

The VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor on the Suomi NPP satellite recorded this phenomenon in January of last year, while NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites captured the first signs of the glow at the end of December 2023.

"The green trail we see is definitely blooming phytoplankton spreading along the edge of the continental shelf, at a depth of about 150 meters," said Jochen Kaempf, an oceanographer at Flinders University, who has previously published studies on phytoplankton in the area. "The blue trail could be sediments in shallow waters or another type of phytoplankton."

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Phytoplankton feeds on nutrients from the deep ocean, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which originate from decomposed remains of marine organisms. When this nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, the light from the so-called photic zone stimulates the growth of phytoplankton populations. This process leads to high concentrations of chlorophyll – the green pigment involved in photosynthesis, which causes the glow.

Marine ecosystems depend on phytoplankton, as it produces oxygen and forms the base of the food chain for many marine species.

Along the Bonney Coast, marine biologists estimate that algae blooms attract up to 80 blue whales each year, which come to graze, while crabs, sardines, anchovies, tuna, and other fish species also breed in these waters.

A new threat to human health is spreading across the world, caused by microscopic fungal spores that live in and on the human body, as well as in soil and air.

A man named Torrens Irvin believes that the deadly fungus “Coccidioides” entered his lungs in June 2018 while he was relaxing in the backyard of his home in Patterson, California.

“I was sitting in a lounge chair, enjoying a beautiful summer day, playing games on my phone and drinking a cocktail,” recalls Irvin, who was on the brink of death before a specialist made the correct diagnosis – nearly a year later – writes Nova.rs.

During that period, Irvin lost more than half of his body weight, dropping from 130 kilograms to just 68.

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Spread of infection to the brain

Rob Purdy suffered a similar fate, believing he inhaled “Coccidioides” spores in 2012 while working in his garden in Bakersfield, California. In his case, the infection spread to his brain, causing fungal meningitis – a dangerous inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

“In about 3% of infected people, the fungus spreads beyond the lungs, affecting the skin, bones, joints, and other organs – even unusual places like the eyeball, teeth, or little finger,” explained Purdy, founder of the nonprofit “MYCare,” which focuses on education and research on fungal diseases.

“In half of those cases, the fungus goes to the brain, as it did with me,” he added. “To survive, I have to receive lifelong injections of a toxic drug that’s 80 years old and slowly poisoning me.”

Art imitates life – and vice versa

The popular HBO series “The Last of Us” depicts a fictional mutated fungus “Cordyceps” that spreads through bites from the infected. In the series, the parasite quickly attacks the victim's brain, turning them into aggressive predators with tendrils protruding from their mouths.

In reality, “Cordyceps” infects only insects – such as ants, bugs, and spiders – while the rest of the plot is science fiction. However, dangerous fungi that seriously threaten human health are not fictional.

Increasingly difficult-to-treat fungal infections

According to global estimates, there are 6.5 million invasive fungal infections and around 3.8 million deaths annually – and many of these infections are becoming increasingly resistant to existing medications.

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Due to growing resistance to existing fungicides, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a list in April of 19 critical fungal species that are the highest priority for new drug development. The list includes fungi from the “Coccidioides” genus.

Most dangerous resistant fungi

At the top of the critical fungal pathogens list is “Cryptococcus neoformans,” which causes a potentially deadly form of meningitis. The mortality rate from this infection can reach up to 61%, especially in patients with HIV.

The second on the list is “Aspergillus fumigatus,” a mold that attacks the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body.

Bill Gates has announced that he plans to donate nearly all of his wealth, estimated at $200 billion, within the next 20 years, before closing his Gates Foundation.

Bill Gates says he has decided to close his foundation on December 31, 2045.

When he founded the foundation in 2000, the plan was for it to continue long after his death, but he now wants to accelerate the donation process, reports CNN.

Gates expressed a desire to use his donations to accelerate global initiatives in health and equal rights, hoping his example would inspire other billionaires to join the "Giving Pledge", an initiative he launched with Melinda and Warren Buffett in 2010.

This initiative now has over 240 signatories.

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Gates believes the time to donate is now, due to urgent global challenges. His foundation has already donated over $100 billion, including funding for vaccine development and the fight against global diseases.

He wrote about all of this in a personal essay published on the foundation’s website.

“When I first started thinking about how to give away my wealth, I did what I always do when starting a new project – I read a lot of books. I studied the lives of great philanthropists and their foundations to make the right decisions about giving back to society. I also read about global health to better understand the problems I wanted to solve.

One of the best texts I read was an 1889 essay by Andrew Carnegie called The Gospel of Wealth. It argues that the rich have a responsibility to return their resources to society – a radical idea at the time, which laid the foundation for modern philanthropy.

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The most famous line from that essay is: “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that line lately. People will say many things about me when I die, but I’m determined that ‘he died rich’ won’t be one of them. There are too many urgent problems to hold onto resources that could help others.

That’s why I’ve decided to return my wealth to society much faster than I originally planned. Over the next 20 years, I will give away nearly all of my wealth through the Gates Foundation, to save and improve lives around the world. And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will permanently close its doors.

In the next two decades, I will donate nearly all my wealth through the Gates Foundation, to save and improve lives around the world.

This marks a shift from our original plan. When Melinda and I established the Gates Foundation in 2000, we included a clause in its original charter: the organization would wind down a few decades after our deaths. A few years ago, I began to question that approach. More recently, with guidance from the board, I now believe we can achieve the foundation’s goals in a shorter timeframe – especially if we double down on key investments and provide more certainty for our partners.

In its first 25 years – partly thanks to the generosity of Warren Buffett – the Gates Foundation has donated over $100 billion. Over the next 20 years, we will double that. The exact amount will depend on markets and inflation, but I expect the foundation will spend over $200 billion by 2045. That includes both remaining endowment funds and my future contributions.

This decision comes at a moment of personal reflection. In addition to the foundation’s 25th anniversary, this year marks several other milestones: my father, who helped me start the foundation, would have turned 100; Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary; and I turn 70 this October.

That means I’m now officially at the age where many people retire. And while I respect anyone who chooses to spend their days playing pickleball, that life isn’t for me – at least not completely. I’m fortunate to wake up every morning full of energy and excited to work. I look forward to continuing to fill my days with strategy reviews, partner meetings, and learning trips, as long as I can.

The mission of the Gates Foundation is still based on the idea that where you are born should not determine your life chances. I’m excited to see how our next chapter continues to move the world closer to a future where everyone, everywhere, has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life,” he wrote at the beginning of his letter.