March is Women’s History Month, so Nice News’ latest Cause of the Month is highlighting an organization that has been on a mission to support women for quite awhile. In 1858, nearly 15 years after the YMCA was established, the YWCA came about. Since then, it’s been working to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for everyone through three main areas of focus: racial justice and civil rights; empowerment and economic advancement; and health and safety. That last one is particularly essential. As the largest network of domestic violence service providers in the U.S., YWCA is committed to supporting survivors and reducing violence against women and girls. Click here to donate, learn more, and find your nearest YWCA.
March Napness Is Underway! Competition Will Determine the World’s “Sleepiest Bear”
Four Paws USA
Around October, Fat Bear Week takes over the internet as wildlife enthusiasts rush to vote for their favorite chunky bear at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve.But there’s another bear-based competition you should know about that will tide us all over until the fall. Hosted by the global animal welfare organization Four Paws, March Napness aims to determine the world’s “sleepiest bear.” This year is the second March Napness event, with 23 rescue bears in sanctuaries around Europe (metaphorically) battling it out to see who can hibernate the longest. The last one to emerge from its den will be crowned theSleepiest Bear of 2024. “While the competition might seem all fun and games (and that’s a big part of it), sadly many of the competing bears were unable to hibernate for many years before they came to us because of traumatic or otherwise improper keeping conditions,” Four Paws wrote on Instagram. “Thus, this competition was born to celebrate the incredible resilience of bears who have found a way to return to their natural behaviors and settle down for a long winter’s nap!” Among the contenders is first-timer Brumca, otherwise known as “the Queen,” pictured above. Aged 32, she was rescued from a Slovakian zoo in 1998 and is described as “very particular.” Four Paws anticipates March Napness to extend into mid- to late-April, per People. Click here to download a March Madness-style bracket and learn how to track the progress of the competition with weekly updates.
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Tech
There’s an App for That: Inuit Elders Created a Social Network to Share Knowledge With Youth
SIKU
It’s not hard to come up with reasons why social media is increasingly viewed as a stressful corner of the internet, so it’s especially exciting when we come across platforms that seem to be having the opposite effect on its users: making communities feel safer and more empowered. One of those apps is SIKU, named after the Inuktitut word for “sea ice.” It’s a social network that allows Inuit communities from Alaska to Greenland to share photos and notes about wildlife sightings, ice conditions, and weather, as well as access knowledge that is traditionally shared orally. The mission? “Facilitatingself-determination in research, education, and stewardship for Indigenous communities.” According to Hakai Magazine, the idea began with a group of Inuit elders and hunters from Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, who wanted to “document and understand the changing sea ice they were witnessing.” After starting out as a web-based platform, SIKU evolved into an app to meet younger people where they spend much of their time — on their phones. Over the past two months, about 25,000 people have made over 75,000 posts on SIKU, per the outlet. Aside from the connection aspect, the app could prove to be an essential research tool. “Having the people who are already the eyes and ears of the land use the platform to share that information will revolutionize the way we make decisions,” said Stephanie Varty, a wildlife management biologist at the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board.
Science
Teen Discovered a Walrus Fossil on the Beach — Now the Species Is Named After Him
If you’ve ever dreamed of stumbling upon something cool and newsworthy while out and about, this will give you one more reason to look a little closer on your next walk. In January 2011, 13-year-old Forrest Sheperd was fossil hunting with a friend on a Santa Cruz, California, beach when he noticed a boulder that he thought might be encasing a skull. Turns out, he was right — he had found the complete skull of a nearly 5 million-year-old walrus species. Thirteen years later, Robert Boessenecker, a paleontologist who has spent that time studying the skull, is honoring Sheperd’s contribution to his research. In a paper published last month, Boessenecker and his fellow authors revealed that the teen had actually discovered a previously unknown species of walrus, and they named it accordingly: Valenictus sheperdi. Sheperd, who now considers himself an amateur paleontologist, reflected on his discovery in an email to SFGate. “I owe a lot of where I am today to those who allowed my interest in science to flourish. I was fascinated by the fossils I could find near where we lived, and my parents took every opportunity to support this passion,” he wrote. “I think it is so important for parents to foster their children’s interests, and for professionals to take opportunities to mentor the next generation, even if they are ‘just a kid.’”
Scientists measured gravity at the microscopic level, marking a significant advancement in understanding how the force behaves in the quantum realm.
A rare, 14-karat gold Lego piece, one of only 30 ever made, was discovered at a Pennsylvania Goodwill and sold for over $18,000 at auction.
Brazilian flea toadsmay be the world’s smallest vertebrates,recent research revealed. The species’ adult males average only 7.1 millimeters long, and females just 8.15 millimeters.
Something We Love
Smartwool Socks If you’ve suffered from one too many frozen toe situations this winter, Smartwool is your solution. The company makes an array of ultra cozy merino wool clothing items, but their socks stand out from the rest. And contrary to what you might assume, wool isn’t just for cold weather — Smartwool’s hiking socks are a great choice for mid-summer temps, too. The eco-conscious brand also offers resale items and sock recycling through its Second Cut Project.
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Inspiring Story
“Ready to take over”
Black women comprise only 7% of uniformed personnel in the Baltimore City Fire Department, but those who have joined the service are working to close the diversity gap and foster a supportive sisterhood. “I just woke up one day and decided I wanted to get into something my little girl could see and be proud of me,” said Captain Shanntel Wilkins.
Chicago is known for its unpredictable weather, but this past week was wackier than most. The Second City was treated to a false spring on Monday, with temperatures rising above 70 degrees — which explains why these intrepid swimmers took a dip in Lake Michigan. The warm weather didn’t last long, though, as wind-chill temps were back in the single digits by Wednesday morning.
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