It can often feel like the news is all about problems these days, so we love to tell you when solutions are making headlines. That’s why we want to put “50 States, 50 Fixes” on your radar. The new, yearlong series from The New York Times will highlight one thing that’s working in every U.S. state from an environmental perspective. Some of the features so far include a car-free community in Arizona, wildlife crossings in Colorado, and a serene medical clinic in Hawaii, where “nature is the medicine.”
Must Reads
The moon took a “bite” out of the sun during Saturday’s partial solar eclipse — scroll through the pics
There’s a new-to-us word in town that we can’t wait to drop into conversation: gigil (pronounced ghee-gill). It’s one of those words without an exact English equivalent, and it’s among a batch recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary. It essentially means to witness something overwhelmingly cute, but it’s more about the feeling than the subject of the cuteness. The closest English translation is probably “cute aggression.” Originating from the Philippines’ Tagalog language, gigil is “a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable,” according to Oxford. So while gigil is hard to put into a straightforward definition, you’ll know it when you experience it. It might be the perfect word to describe the all-consuming swell of adoration you feel when you see your dog’s floppy ears, a little one smiling with their whole face, Boo from Monsters Inc., or a love-at-first-sight vintage find you never knew you needed in your life. It can be used as a noun for the feeling itself or an adjective for a person experiencing the feeling (i.e. “she’s so gigil”). Cute, right? We only wish we knew it sooner! Check out some of the other recently added words, including alamak and kaya toast.
Together With Pacaso
He’s Already IPO’d Once — This Time’s Different
Spencer Rascoff co-founded Zillow, scaling it into a$16 billion real estate giant. But everyday investors couldn’t invest until after the IPO, missing early gains. “I wish we had done a round accessible to retail investors prior to Zillow’s IPO,” Spencer later said. Now he’s doing just that. Spencer has teamed up with another Zillow exec to launch Pacaso. Pacaso’s co-ownership marketplace is disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. And unlike Zillow, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company. With over $100 million in gross profits and rapid international expansion, Pacaso is scaling fast. Investors like Softbank, Maveron, and more are already on board. Join them as a Pacaso shareholder today for just $2.80/share.
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Environment
Pro Surfer Josh Kerr Catches Waves on First Surfboard Made From Retired Wind Turbine Blade
Courtesy of Acciona/Draft Surf
You can ride the waves, you can ride the wind, and now you can ride the waves on the wind — turbine, that is. Or at least, you could if you were one of the lucky few who got to test the world’s first surfboards made from a retired wind turbine blade. The boards are the result of a collab between renewable energy and infrastructure company Acciona and Australian pro surfer Josh Kerr's brand Draft Surf, as part of an initiative exploring novel ways to transform decommissioned turbine blades into new products. Ten prototypes, all made out of one blade formerly used on Acciona’s wind farm in Victoria, Australia, were handcrafted by Draft Surf on the Gold Coast. They were unveiled in early March at a launch event in Sydney, where Kerr, several influencers, and some surf industry reps tried them out in a pool. Prior to the event, Kerr also put one to the test in the ocean to ensure it could hold up to some truly gnarly waves. Next stop for one of the surfboards is the Australian Boardriders Battle April 12-13 on the Gold Coast. An Acciona rep tells Nice News: “Josh is planning to use the board in the competition and we’re hoping to be able to make this not just a world-first, but also an award-winning surfboard.” Watch Kerr ride.
Humanity
These Retirees Bond Over Helping Young Men and Kiddos
Leticia Lopez/ iStock
Finding community is a common hurdle after retirement — and so Jim Isenberg, who’s in his late 70s, made one himself. Enter: Grandpas United, a group of around60 “volunteer grandpas” based in White Plains, New York, who use their life experience to help mentor boys and young men, teaching them everything from the art of shaking hands to how to play chess. “A lot of guys don’t play golf,” Frank Williams, who co-founded Grandpas United with Isenberg, told NPR. “What do you do? You can give back, you can serve.” He added: “So many children are growing up without a male figure or a father. And here we have men who are retiring from work and careers. They have skills.” One of the Grandpas United initiatives is called JumpStart for Dads, in which older folks help young fathers adjust to parenthood. Another small group spends lunchtime with fourth grade boys. All the while, the “grandpas” (some have grandchildren, some don’t) get to know each other and build camaraderie. That’s no small thing from a wellness perspective, as retirement can be quite an isolating time, especially for men, explained sociology professor Dawn Carr. This type of volunteering checks all of the boxes for avoiding that sense of loneliness, she said: “You’re able to do something where you feel like you have meaning and purpose, but you’re doing it alongside other people who have a similar shared purpose.”
In Other News
Illinois returned 1,500 acres of landto the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, after it was stolen in the 1830s (read more)
In a bipartisan push, many states are restricting dyes used in some brightly colored foods and drinks (read more)
“Gigil” moment: 19 rehabbed sea turtles returned home to the Atlantic Ocean — see the pics (read more)
Once hung in a family’s living room, a painting of lions is expected to fetch six figures at auction (read more)
Walt Disney World dropped ticket prices for children age 3 through 9 this summer (read more)
Something We Love
Yoga Wake Up Do you wake up and immediately start doomscrolling, or wish you could just go back to sleep? Yoga Wake Up can reframe your mornings, helping you start the day with positivity, intention, and a break from all the noise. The Nice News partner (and sponsor of our upcoming book club!) is offering a full year of morning meditations and gentle yoga — for just $20. Click the link below to claim the 75% off deal — and if you’re not ready to subscribe just yet, get a taste of Yoga Wake Up with the free Happy Place meditation, a visualization that takes you on a journey to the place in your mind that brings you the most joy.*
After Sarah Wang witnessed her grandmother having a seizure, she wanted to help others in a similar situation. So the middle schooler invented the Hand Band: a wearable that can detect seizure-related hand movements and alert caregivers in real time. The moving display of innovation and compassion earned Sarah the title of National STEM Champion — and offers up a beautiful life lesson we can all learn from. “If you see a problem, if you see something happening, just think about what you can do to help the situation,” she said.
Photo of the Day
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Following a dazzling free skate and a standing ovation from the crowd, 19-year-old Alysa Liu became the first American women’s figure skating world champion in almost two decades on Friday night. Her program at TD Garden in Boston was set to Donna Summer’s disco cover of “MacArthur Park” and culminated in her first-place finish with a cumulative 222.97 points at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships. Liu, who came out of a two-year retirement to compete, called it “the best run-through I’ve ever done,” adding: “I’m so happy.” Watch her winning routine.
Knix Swim Is Here — And It’s Worth the Hype
Summer is on the horizon, and what better way to prepare for the season than investing in a new swimsuit? The Swimwear Collection from Knix is crafted from the brand’s most confidence-boosting fabric yet. The collection features inclusive styles like high-cut bottoms, asymmetrical silhouettes, and busty-friendly string bikinis — all available in a luxe color palette. Select styles include discreet leakproof protection and premium UPF 50+ fabric, so you can move through your day with ease.
