Every week, we scour the web to bring you interesting bits and pieces from around the world. Enjoy!

On Love And Grief

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of Lean In, shares her struggles following her husband’s recent death. Be prepared to tear up; we did. A poignant and heartbreakingly reflective look at grief, it’s a remarkable example of handling personal tragedy with aplomb and dignity as well as a good reminder to appreciate what we have while it’s still around. Now, excuse us while we go hug our families.

How Ads Influence Eating

While the study and article is very US-focused, it’s still food for thought that child-targeted ads for unhealthy foods can cause children to be confused about nutrition into adulthood. Especially here, where childhood obesity is on the rise and snack food commercials are everywhere. We’re not convinced that the solution is to advertise more fresh subzi (how would that even work?); perhaps limiting TV viewing is the better way to go? Discuss in the comments!

Love Comes Full Circle

Comedian Aziz Ansari’s essay is a hilarious and surprisingly thoughtful look at modern romance. From his parents’ arranged marriage 35 years ago to today’s Tinder he argues dating and relationships have come full circle after the explosion of online dating sites in the early 2000s opened up a literal world of romantic opportunities.

A Wake Up Call On Sleep

Getting enough sleep can actually be a matter of life and death. It’s certainly a matter of life and memory degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. From sleep apnea to simply staying up too late, not getting enough sleep has now been proven to have serious and prolonged effects on the body and mind. No school exam or work presentation is worth that, is it?

Say Good-bye To Stains?

We love everything about this story: From women entrepreneurs, to solving women’s problems, to the cute undie designs, THINX is a brand to watch, and maybe even try. The absorbent, washable, leak-proof underwear was designed by Radha and Miki Agarwal and a friend to replace tampons, pads and cups. (If anyone tries a THINX underwear, be sure to share your opinion of it at contact@theswaddle.com!)

Window To Your Thoughts, At Least

Eyes have long been held to be the “window to the soul,” but now there’s some scientific proof to that idiom. This article describes how eyes give clues to the thought process behind a person’s decisions and statements. From pupil dilation to infinitesimal eye movements, it’s becoming clear that our eyes are used for more than just vision.

Words To Live By

Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a favourite here at The Swaddle, as much for her prose as for her eloquent speaking in real life. Her address to Wellesley College’s graduating class of 2015 is pure magic, touching on everything from sexism to class privilege, from make-up to online shopping, with humor and care. You may have graduated years ago, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to read this speech.

The Language Map

This infographic is a neat peek into which languages, of the 7,000+ in the world today, dominate the world’s tongues. Only 23 are depicted — representing the native languages for more than half of the Earth’s inhabitants. Indian languages are well-represented!