If you feel like diving into a niche, oddly satisfying corner of the internet this weekend, let us introduce you to the hydraulic press. Yes, hydraulic presses are used in manufacturing, but videos of the machines crushing everything from watermelons to crayons frequently go viral online. And these clips have garnered a loyal following of viewers: One popular YouTube channel has nearly 10 million subscribers. Happy watching — but don’t say we didn’t warn you if you find the vids addictive.
Must Reads
These delightful watercolor worlds can fit in the palm of your hand
The Balance of Darker Nights and Brighter Days Leads to Longer Lives, Study Suggests
Aerial_Views/ iStock
It’s not just you: 5 p.m. is starting to feel like 10 p.m. With daylight saving time over and winter on the horizon, it’s getting darker out earlier, and whether or not you like the transition, we at Nice News like to see the bright side. And dark nights do, in fact, have a bright side, according to new research. Scientists tracked 90,000 people in the U.K. via wrist-worn activity devices equipped with light sensors and then predicted their risk of dying over the following eight years. They found that study participants experiencingdarkness between midnight and dawn had a health edge over those experiencing brighter nights, with the latter having a 21%-34% higher risk of premature death. Come sun up, this is reversed, and those soaking up brighter days had a 17%-35% lower mortality risk compared to those in dim daytime environments. “It’s a very powerful study,” Dr. Charles Czeisler, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, told NPR, adding that the window between 2:30 and 3 a.m. is “the most important time to avoid light.” These findings may seem obvious — darkness at night and sun during the day are basic facets of life on Earth — but modern humans often stray from this combination. Many are exposed to plenty of artificial light at night, and get limited natural light during the day. “The study is highlighting that you really need this contrast,” said neuroscientist Laura Fonken.
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Van Gogh-Inspired “Starry Night Retreat” Invites Visitors to Engage the Senses Through Living Art
Almin Tabak
In a profound marriage of art and nature, a Vincent Van Gogh-inspired retreat in the Balkans is set to start welcoming visitors next spring. The dazzling landscape is the pet project of Halim Zukic, who planted 130,000 herb bushes in various shades to emulate those iconic celestial swirls in the artist’s 1889 painting “The Starry Night.” Halim first conceived of Starry Night Retreat six years ago after noticing twisting wheel tractor marks left in a meadow on his central Bosnia-property. Reminded of Van Gogh’s iconic work, he began envisioning a unique escape where visitors could “reconnect with essential elements of their being and engage their senses,” his daughter Merjem Zukic, hospitality manager for the project, tells Nice News. Spanning 25 acres, the garden is just one element of the sprawling plot, which encompasses a total of 173 acres and features13 lakes and thousands of trees. Halim hopes the retreat will attract artists from around the globe, and plans for it to serve as an open-air museum and cultural hub. “Ultimately, this retreat is a unique homage to Vincent Van Gogh and to all those who dared to be different, and who bravely followed their inner callings, despite the material sacrifices such a path may bring,” Merjem shares. See more photos.
Culture
NBCUniversal’s LA Headquarters Is Getting a New, College-Inspired Look
Lever Architecture
NBCUniversal has a lot going on right now, and we’re not talking about Wicked. The media conglomerate is in the thick of a 25-year plan to revamp its Los Angeles headquarters, all 400 acres of it. So far, the new grounds are quite a departure from traditional asphalt-covered studio lots, looking more like a modern museum or college campus. That’s by design, as the team behind the renovation is aiming to give employees a different kind of film-centered environment, dotted with grassy lawns, native plants, succulent gardens, a wood deck, and even a waterfall, Fast Company reports. “There are folks in the film industry who are working in black boxes a lot,” Sarah Weidner Astheimer, a partner at the landscape architecture firm behind the project, told the outlet. “They’re editing, they’re in the sound booth. We really wanted to create an outdoor environment where people would just get up from their desks.” Among the highlights are a new communal dining room and screening room in a building dubbed “the Commons,” as well as a main street for gathering and, ultimately, creating. “People do their best work when they’re collaborating, and when they’re excited about the work they’re doing, and they’re excited about the place they’re doing it in,” said architect Thomas Robinson. Take a look at the renderings.
In Other News
13 bison were released on tribal lands in Nebraska, a boost to the species’ U.S. recovery (read more)
Spotted in deep space: a bewildering neutron star that spins “faster than a blender” (read more)
Amber fragments were found on Antarctica, offering a glimpse into the continent’s long-gone warmer days (read more)
Droves of birdwatchers are gathering on a quiet U.K. street in hopes of laying eyes on a rare songbird (read more)
Louis Armstrong’s life story made it to Broadway — get a look (and listen) at the bio musical (read more)
Something We Love
Flower Mountain Sneakers I was gifted a pair of Flower Mountain shoes by a very chic friend, and I’ve simply never loved a sneaker more. Every detail has been thought out — from the flowery eyelets to the eclectic color combinations and the surprisingly cute cork insoles. They’ve held up on plenty of walks and hikes, leaving my feet happy and blister-free. — Marika Spitulski, Writer
When parents Kimberly and Devon DowDell asked a handful of kids if they wanted to play kickball with their 14-year-old son Jack, who has Down syndrome, they had no idea what the simple invitation would turn into. Before they knew it, kickball games became a summertime highlight for their Salt Lake City neighborhood, and a priceless gift for Jack. “The cool thing for us is that Jack now has relationships with all the kids in the neighborhood,” Devon said. “Whenever they see him, they wave and say, ‘Hey, Jack.’”
Photo of the Day
Leon Neal/Getty Images
Each year, London’s Natural History Museum marks the start of the holiday season by dressing its animatronic T. rex in a festive Christmas sweater (or “jumper,” as they say in the U.K.). And this year’s outfit has an environmentally friendly twist: It was crafted from 100% sustainable organic cotton by an ethical garment factory in Manchester.
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Imagine hearing everything with clarity and ease, whether you’re in a crowded restaurant or a small group setting. The Horizon IX by hear.com has all the benefits of a modern hearing aid — like Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity — in addition to cutting-edge technology that delivers crystal clear sound for effortless and enjoyable conversations.
