House hunting in New York City is a notoriously difficult affair, so when Frank DiLella found an Upper West Side apartment he loved in 2020, he was ready to buy. And that was before he learned about the hidden treasure above him. Under DiLella’s seemingly normal ceiling was a brick and stone archway designed by Rafael Guastavino — the man behind landmarks like Carnegie Hall, Grand Central Terminal’s Oyster Bar, the Queensboro Bridge, and more. “It was like finding dinosaur bones,” Ray Romano, the contractor hired to unearth the archway, told The New York Times. See what it looks like and explore Guastavino’s work.

Must Reads

Get ready for Wicked on the big screen: The first full trailer for the upcoming movie dropped yesterday
Emergency plane landings aren’t usually cause for panic — here’s why

Health

A Single Pill With a Day’s Worth of Medications May Be on the Horizon

Despite the many pill organizers out there and the best of intentions, it can still be a challenge to keep up with daily medicines. To help streamline pill routines, engineers and pharmacists are working on 3D-printed “polypills” that could potentially fit a day’s worth of medications into one tablet.

Researchers formulated a new ink with molecules that become water soluble when printed, and designed the tablets with customized geometric patterns. “This is an exciting step forwards in the development of personalized medication,” Yinfeng He, who co-authored a new study on the technique, said in a statement.

Although the study focused solely on aspirin, the researchers envision future designs incorporating additional drugs. The idea is that each pill could be personalized to individuals, with multiple medicines, specific dosages, and different release times. Until the streamlined pill is ready, here are some tips for remembering to take your medication.

Together With Incogni

Remove Your Personal Data From the Internet

Lots of people have security systems to protect their homes, but are you protecting your data on the internet? Social Security numbers, contact information, addresses, and other personal details can be commodities for many companies, putting you at risk of scams, fraud, and identity theft.

Incogni is here to serve as the online security system you need to lower that risk. It’s 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. And Nice News readers can take 55% off today with the code NICENEWS.

Why It’s Important

Please support our sponsors! They help us keep Nice News free. ♡

Environment

Car-Free City in Brazil Sets an Example for the Region (and Maybe the World)

In Afuá, Brazil, you won’t find taxis, trucks, or cars, but you will see plenty of pedestrians, bikers, and boaters. It’s all by intention, as this city on the banks of the Amazon River has been off-limits to motor vehicles since 2002. The car-free policy was a necessity, as Afuá is built mostly on stilts, but it’s had significant environmental benefits, per NPR.

The outlet reports that Afuá is (literally) a breath of fresh air compared to much of the rest of the region, noting the tailpipe fumes and gridlock that are common in many fast-growing Amazonian cities. By contrast, Afuá is striving for net zero emissions.

“Afuá is an example for the Amazon and Brazil, and maybe for the world,” said Mayor Odimar Wanderley Salomão, known to locals as “Mazinho.” He added: “We want people to come see for themselves.” Explore more of Afuá, dubbed the “Venice of the Amazon.”

Tech

Virtual Reality Could Help Reduce Stress Among Teens, Study Finds

From talk therapy to exercise and journaling, there’s a range of ways to help teens and adolescents reduce stress. Another tool to potentially add to a stress-management toolkit? Virtual reality, recent research says.

For a three-week study involving nearly 50 Seattle teens, scientists at the University of Washington designed a “snowy” virtual world with evidence-based, calming activities, like stacking rocks and painting. The teens used the technology an average of twice a week without being told to, and reported lower stress levels and improved mood at the end of the research period.

“We know what works to help support teens, but a lot of these techniques are inaccessible because they’re locked into counseling, which can be expensive, or the counselors just aren’t available,” lead author Elin Björling said in a statement. “So we tried to take some of these evidence-based practices, but put them in a much more engaging environment, like VR, so the teens might want to do them on their own.” Take a peek at the VR games.

In Other News

There was a 3% decline in overdose deaths in the U.S. last year, the first drop in five years.
Astronomers believe they’ve spotted planet-making ingredients swirling around a star, which may help them learn more about “the birth and evolution of worlds beyond our own.”
“We’re adding public land”: A Texas family opted to turn most of their ranch into a public park after declining offers from developers.
Meet the Youth Mental Health Corps: a first-of-its-kind program that will train hundreds of young adults to support their peers.
A TSA screening dog named Rex is retiring from his official duties — and he had a ball at his celebratory send-off. Watch the video.

Something We Love

Avaline Wines

If you’re in need of the perfect wine to drink al fresco all spring and summer long, Avaline checks every box. In addition to tasting delicious, each bottle is made with organic grapes, has zero sugar, and has no unwanted additives. But you don’t just have to take our word for it: The company includes the ingredients and nutrition facts right on the label. Check out the full collection below (and take 15% off your order with code NICE15).*

Learn More

*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Inspiring Story

Girl power

Up-and-coming pilot Emma Bryan was brought to tears when she saw that three women were piloting her Delta flight. See her moving reaction to meeting them.

Photo of the Day

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Seoul, South Korea, this week for the Lotus Lantern Festival, a celebration of Buddha’s birthday. The festival dates back more than a millennium, the Associated Press reports, and is included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Scroll through more photos.

Exercise with XWERKS: Science-Based Nutrition

XWERKS is here to power you through your entire exercise session, from start to finish. Kick things off with the Ignite pre-workout blend, replenish your electrolytes with the Motion fuel, and help your body repair with Grow protein powder, made of 100% whey protein isolate sourced from New Zealand grass-fed cows.

See the Products