7 Things You Need To Know Today (March 13)

We'll do anything to get those coveted eight hours per night. But are trackers really helping us sleep better? According to new research, sleep trackers are actually causing a new wave of anxiety over getting the right amount of sleep. Looks like that one backfired. (Science Of Us)

In spring 2018, Nike's Pro Hijab will go on sale for an estimated $35. Made of breathable lightweight, stretchy mesh, the headwear will come in gray, black, and obsidian. Figure skater Zahra Lari, runner Manal Rostom, and Olympic weight lifter Amna Al Haddad helped test the new product. (NYT)

If you feel like spring has sprung a little earlier this year, you’re not alone. It’s been a mild winter across most of the U.S. and spring temperatures have arrived up to three weeks early. New research models identify climate change as the driver of this shift. While the warmth may seem like a reprieve, it could cause huge problems for farmers who depend on steady weather patterns for harvest. (NYT)

Dendrites are structures in the brain that help neurons (nerve cells in the brain) communicate with each. It's always been thought that they work by passively transmitting currents, but new research from UCLA shows that dendrites are WAY more active than suspected, which could force scientists to entirely rethink the way the brain computes information. (Science Daily)

Coral bleaching results from algae in the coral being expelled as a result of stress faced by the coral from extreme temperature changes. The expulsion of the algae turns the coral white and puts it at risk of dying. A second subsequent year of bleaching is a sign scientists see as indicative of the perilous state of our climate. (DailyMail)

It might not be Harry Potter-cloak levels, but a new house in California is made completely of mirrors (inside and out), allowing it to seemingly disappear into the desert landscape. The installation, which is unfortunately temporary, is part of a desert art exhibition. (Daily Mail)

Research says yes, people can guess the names of strangers with accuracy that's better than chance—in fact, subjects were accurate 25 to 40 percent of the time. Scientists hypothesize that powerful cultural stereotyping of names could be at play, including gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. (Science Daily)