For most people, sleep and exercise are like peanut butter and jelly: They go perfectly together, each bringing out the best qualities of the other. But for those struggling with insomnia, balancing the two can be a bit trickier, per a recent article from The New York Times. Learn more about why vigorous exercise sometimes leads to worsened rest, and how to tailor your workouts for better sleep.
It’s always exciting when we get to share news about newly found species, rather than disappearing ones. And it’s extra exciting when there are hundreds of said newly found species. In a report released this week, the World Wildlife Fund announced that researchers identified 742 wildlife and plant species in the Congo Basin over the last 10 years, highlighting “the remarkable biodiversity and urgent conservation needs of one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.” “I spent my early career carrying out wildlife surveys in many parts of the Congo Basin and was always astonished by its biodiversity. So this report does not come as a surprise to me but rather as a call to action,” Allard Blom, the WWF’s vice president for African forests, said in a press release. “We need to do more as the Congo Basin remains one of the least researched places on the planet and urgently needs additional protection.” The species include the Central African slender-snouted crocodile, pictured here; a dragonfly named after a Pink Floyd album; and a unique white orchid. Explore them all in the 80-page report.
Together With Incogni
Remove Your Personal Data From the Internet
Lots of people have security systems for their homes, but what about protecting your data online? Personal information like Social Security numbers, contact details, and addresses are commodities for many companies, putting you at risk of scams, fraud, and identity theft. Thankfully, Incogni can help. Incogni is an automated service that removes your personal information from databases, helping ensure that your private details don’t wind up in imposter profiles or on people search websites. Take advantage of Incogni’s Cyber Monday deal and get 58% off right now with code NICENEWS. Act fast — this offer is only available for a limited time.
We’re often hard on ourselves when it comes to what “counts” as a workout, but a new study found that even tiny bursts of movement can have positive health effects. Everyday activities like walking the dog around the block, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, scrubbing the floors, and raking the leaves all fall into the bucket of “incidental exercise.” Researchers from the University of Sydney analyzed the value of these activities when it comes to preventing major adverse cardiovascular events, like heart attacks. Women who got 1.5-4 minutes of daily incidental exercise had a nearly 50% lower risk of cardiovascular issues compared to those who said they never engaged in such activities. The results were slightly less dramatic for the men in the study: Those who got 5.6 minutes of incidental exercise per day saw a 16% reduction in their risk of major cardiovascular events. “Doing something is likely better than nothing is the take-home message about incidental exercise,” cardiologist Luke Laffin, who was not involved in the research, told Yahoo Life, noting that it’s still ideal to have a more robust workout routine. Get some ideas on how to incorporate incidental exercise into your daily life.
Culture
Labor Department Proposes Ending Subminimum Wages for Workers With Disabilities
Edwin Tan/ iStock
The Department of Labor proposed a rule to phase out a program allowing employers to pay certain workers with disabilities subminimum wages. The Depression-era program, established under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, issues certificates to businesses that enable them to legally pay less than $7.25 per hour, under the assumption that disabilities hinder productivity. Taryn Williams, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment, told reporters that some workers are earning “just pennies on the dollar,” CBS News reports, and emphasized the need to pay them fairly. The proposal must still undergo a public comment period, but if enacted will kick off a three-year process of gradually phasing out subminimum wages. “With this proposal, the department expects that many workers currently paid subminimum wages under section 14(c) will move into jobs that pay full wages, which will improve their economic well-being and strengthen inclusion for people with disabilities in the workforce,” Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su said in a statement. Several states have already ended their subminimum wage programs, and others are currently in the process of doing so, including Illinois, California, Virginia, and Nevada. An investigation by The Washington Postpublished in August found that states that ended their programs before 2022 saw employment rates for adults with cognitive disabilities increase by at least 14%, when adjusted for overall employment rate growth.
Global Good
🏴 The bumblebee population in Denmarkfield, Scotland, increased 116 times over thanks to a rewilding project (read more)
🇵🇱 While going for a swim in Poland, a military museum worker happened upon a ninth-century sword (read more)
🏴 London will host a sumo wrestling event next year as the sport enjoys an international moment (read more)
🇬🇷 A family in Greece is keeping old traditions alive by creating replicas of ancient instruments(read more)
🇧🇹 Ed Sheeran’s tour is heading to Bhutan, in what will be the country’s first major international concert (read more)
Inspiring Story
Changing the world, one column at a time
At just 8 years old, Aneeshwar Kunchala was named the world’s youngest newspaper columnist by Guinness World Records. The young environmentalist from the U.K. has a column for First News in which he writes about endangered animals. “What I’m trying to do with this column is to inspire young children around the world to love amazing animals,” he said. Meet Aneeshwar.
Photo of the Day
@officialslystallone/ Instagram
The first RockyFest is underway in Philadelphia to mark the 48th anniversary of the iconic film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. The actor is of course involved in the celebrations, loaning out this statue of Rocky Balboa so it could be placed at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. The original statue from the third movie, Rocky III, was initially placed at the top of the so-called “Rocky steps” in 1982, but later moved to the bottom. “The Rocky statue is now at the VERY TOP OF THE STEPS where it once stood and shall remain there during this month celebrating Rocky Fest!” Stallone captioned his photo of the second cast.
Horizon IX: Your Secret to Better Hearing
What if you could hear every detail of life with clarity and ease? Now you can with Horizon IX by hear.com! These tiny, rechargeable hearing aids connect to your phone for simple adjustments, and the sound is so natural, you’ll forget you’re wearing them. Plus, with award-winning support and flexible payment options, hear.com makes the process effortless. No stress, just better hearing.
