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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 14h

Your TBR pile just got bigger: The finalists for the National Book Awards are in.

Here are the finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards

This year's short list features novelists Rabih Alameddine and Megha Majumdar as well as five first-time nominees for nonfiction, including journalists Omar El Akkad and Julia Ioffe.

www.npr.org

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 17h

A monarch butterfly was gifted a second chance to fly, thanks to clever wing transplant.

Here are the finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards

This year's short list features novelists Rabih Alameddine and Megha Majumdar as well as five first-time nominees for nonfiction, including journalists Omar El Akkad and Julia Ioffe.

www.npr.org

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 21h

This week, California became the first state in the nation to pass a law that phases out — and eventually bans — ultraprocessed foods from public school meals.

California becomes the first state to phase ultraprocessed food out of school meals

The law, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Wednesday, sets a 10-year deadline for the change to take place.

www.nbcnews.com

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 1d

Rare “pink meanie” jellyfish that look like cotton candy are turning heads along the Texas coast.

Rare 'Pink Meanie' Jellyfish Are Blooming Off the Coast of Texas

The large, vibrantly hued creatures can weigh up to 50 pounds and have tentacles up to 70 feet long

www.smithsonianmag.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 1d

Science’s coolest moments aren’t always visible to the naked eye, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s appropriately named Cool Science Image Contest is here to show them to us.

See Winning Shots From the Univ of Wisconsin’s Cool Science Image Contest | Flipboard

Nice News - Science’s coolest moments aren’t always visible to the naked eye, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s appropriately named Cool Science Image …

flip.it

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 1d

Medical students in Texas Christian University’s class of 2026 have one less thing to worry about next semester. Thanks to an anonymous family’s $1.8 million gift, their entire spring semester’s tuition is covered.

TCU class of 2026 medical students get spring semester paid for by anonymous $1.8 million gift

On Monday, students in the class of 2026 at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU got a welcome surprise: their spring tuition was covered.

www.cbsnews.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 1d

Deep off the coast of Western Australia live two new-to-science species that look like they may have been conjured up just for Halloween.

Newly discovered deep-sea lanternshark glows in the waters near Australia

The tiny shark and a ghost-like crab are two of the latest species uncovered in a yearslong expedition.

www.popsci.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 2d

If you’re intimidated by meditating, you might benefit from the concept of mini-mediatations — particularly as a tool for finding moments of peace during the workday.

Mini-meditations are a way to foster peace of mind at work

The idea of meditating can be intimidating to beginners. Beginners may find the prospect of trying it at work embarrassing.

apnews.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 2d

Animal shelters are implementing programs that allow people to take dogs and cats on “field trips.” These rendezvous can benefit both the pets and the people chaperoning them — most profoundly, by helping the animals find their forever homes.

Love Animals But Can’t Adopt? Take Shelter Pets on a Field Trip | Flipboard

Nice News - When most dogs jump into the back seat of a car, they excitedly pop their head out the window, eager to take in a tail-wagging display of new sights …

flip.it

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 2d

Barbie’s going to have to get a rugby pitch to go with that Dreamhouse. Mattel is gearing up to launch a Team Barbie collection featuring four professional rugby players from around the world — including U.S. Olympic medalist Ilona Maher.

Barbie Unveils Ilona Maher Doll to 'Reflect the Build of Many Strong Athletes'

The Olympic medalist is now part of Team Barbie.

www.today.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 2d

Starting next year, New York will become the first state to require private insurers to cover scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients, a method for reducing hair loss during cancer treatment.

New York law will give breast cancer patients a chance to keep their hair

In 2026, New York will become the first U.S. state to require private insurance companies to cover scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients.

abcnews.go.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 3d

Four Caribbean nations took a cue from the European Union, making a historic agreement to allow their citizens to move freely across borders without visas or work permits.

Caribbean nations launch EU-style deal to let citizens work freely across borders

Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent agree landmark pact letting citizens live and work freely across their borders

www.theguardian.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 3d

England’s Chester Zoo just announced a major breakthrough in a world-first trial that could help boost the population of endangered Asian elephants.

World-First Elephant Vaccine Is Safe and Effective: Study

In a small trial, scientists found that a world-first vaccine targeting a deadly virus in Asian elephants was safe and effective.

nicenews.com

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 3d

Diets tend to come and go, but a recent landmark study revealed one that could benefit human health for the long haul — and the planet’s health, too. 🌎

Landmark study recommends 'Planetary Health Diet' for saving lives and the planet

Changing how the world eats could reduce premature deaths, save trillions of dollars and slow the impacts of climate change, according to a new study.

abcnews.go.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 3d

It’s Nobel Prize week! The first award, for medicine, was given yesterday, and the prize for physics is awarded today — stay up to date on the winners.

What to Know About the 2025 Nobel Prizes

www.nytimes.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 4d

How can you help protect your home from wildfires? Consider adding these fire-resistant plants to your garden.

This One Type of Plant Can Actually Protect Your Home from a Wildfire

These fire-resistant plants prove that the best landscaping choices may be about more than just aesthetics.

www.rd.com

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 4d

A new study has revealed how your individual personality could also impact your lifespan. For the first time, researchers identified specific nuances within each Big 5 personality trait that they connected to longevity.

Being Organized Among Personality Traits That May Help You Live Longer, New Study Finds | Flipboard

Nice News - We previously covered that gender equality may help increase longevity for both men and women — but while society continues making progress toward …

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 4d

ICYMI, Stanford claimed the top spot in the @wsj.com’s 2026 college rankings — see the full list.

The 2026 Best Colleges in America: Stanford, Babson and Yale Take Top Spots

The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings focus on how well colleges set their graduates up for financial success

www.wsj.com

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 5d

“Nothing is permanent — least of all hate”: At a tattoo parlor in Springfield, Missouri, hateful images are covered up for free.

Inside a tattoo parlour where hateful images are covered for free | Aeon Videos

As their hateful tattoos are covered up with colourful flowers and birds, three men reflect on catharsis and redemption

aeon.co

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 5d

Learn what secrets this (rather terrifying-looking) vampire fish may unlock about the human brain.

This Invasive Vampire Fish Is Helping Researchers Understand the Human Nervous System in Jaw-Dropping Ways

The sea lamprey looks like it’s from another planet, but this ancient creature has a surprising amount in common with humans

www.smithsonianmag.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 5d

Meet the Los Angeles property manager who is helping unhoused people by buying them one-way tickets home.

To Get People Off the Street, He Pays for a One-Way Ticket Home

www.nytimes.com

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 5d

In honor of World Teachers’ Day today, we’d like to recognize what it takes to be an outstanding educator — and maybe even encourage you to give the profession a try yourself.

Incredible Teachers Share These 4 Traits

Research shows that, in addition to understanding their subject matter, many incredible teachers share these four traits.

nicenews.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 6d

Major milestones are taking place in the conservation arena: UNESCO announced it has designated 26 new biosphere reserves in 21 countries, the highest number in two decades.

26 new Biosphere Reserves: UNESCO’s continues unprecedented expansion

UNESCO designates 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries – the highest number in 20 years. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 784 sites in 142 countries, with an additional

www.unesco.org

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Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 6d

Over the last few decades, Venice, Illinois, has lost two-thirds of its population and its sole grocery store due to a decline in steel and manufacturing jobs — but a retired school superintendent is helping to breathe new life into the small town.

Once left behind, an Illinois town finds hope in a new school and grocery store

When steel and manufacturing jobs dried up over the last several decades in Venice, Illinois, the town lost two-thirds of the population.

www.cbsnews.com

Nice News @nicenews.bsky.social · 6d

ICYMI, sweaty saunas (and the ice baths that follow) are the hottest way to network.

How the Sauna Became the Hottest Place to Network

Sweating in elite new supersize saunas like Othership and Bathhouse—with anywhere from one to 90 other people—produces a unique sort of connection.

www.wsj.com