As another fierce hurricane brews in the Gulf of Mexico, one young person is serving as a “calm in the storm” for many who experienced the devastation of Helene just two weeks ago. Ethan Clark, 21, is the founder of North Carolina’s Weather Authority, providing forecasts and updates to residents of his home state. And with Hurricane Milton set to hit Tampa today, he’s also keeping Floridians up to date on the latest weather patterns. “Forecasting weather is my passion,” Clark, who now has hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook, told People magazine. For any of you who are recovering from Helene or in the path of Milton, know that the Nice News team is thinking of you.
From Orbit to Ballot Clerk: How NASA Astronauts Vote From Space
NASA
With election day less than a month away, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your voting plan. Some choose to vote at the polls, others by mail, but what happens for those up in space, far, far away from polling places and the Postal Service? Thanks to a combination of tech and thoughtful coordination, NASA astronauts are able to perform their civic duty by casting absentee ballots from low orbit. Much like other data transmitted between the International Space Station and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the astronauts’ electronic ballots go through the Space Communication and Navigation Program, which is a network of satellites that communicate with an antenna on Earth — or more precisely, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Instead of being sealed in an envelope, the ballots are encrypted (accessible only to the astronaut and clerk) and get transferred to the Mission Control Center, where the county clerk processes them. This effort to ensure astronauts have “the opportunity to participate in democracy” has been underway since 1997. “It’s a very important duty that we have as citizens and [we’re] looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool,” Sunita Williams, one of the astronauts stranded on the space station until February, told reporters last month.
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The Brain Has Waste-Clearing Pathways, and It Cleanses Itself During Sleep: Study
nopparit/ iStock
In the fight to prevent and better understand Alzheimer’s disease, a research team is investigating the link between mental “waste” and cognitive decline. It turns out, our brains are not so different from our homes in that they need a good cleaning from time to time to stay in tip-top shape. For the study, published Monday, scientists used special imaging to observe people undergoing brain surgery. They found that their brains created efficient cleaning channels to help move waste out of the brain, particularly during sleep. While this plumbing network of sorts was previously discovered in mouse brains and suspected to exist in human brains, it wasn’t confirmed until this paper. “Nobody has shown it before now,” senior author Juan Piantino said in a statement. “I was always skeptical about it myself, and there are still a lot of skeptics out there who still don’t believe it. That’s what makes this finding so remarkable.” The information tracks with other studies that note chronic sleep deprivation as a risk factor for dementia, and provides further evidence for the importance of lifestyle interventions when it comes to preventing cognitive decline.
Environment
The Story of Appalachian Ginseng Is Starting a New Chapter of Recovery
skyjo/ iStock
You may have seen ginseng sold as a supplement or in teas at specialty food stores, but did you know that it grows in America’s own Appalachian Mountains? The root has been cultivated for medicinal purposes for millennia and has soared in popularity in recent years, leaving the plant overharvested in the U.S. The good news is that the Forest Service is intervening to save Appalachian ginseng through a holistic approach. The agency’s efforts include monitoring ginseng plots across national forests and restricting harvesting permits, so more of the historically and culturally importantplants have time to grow, Grist reports. The service is also partnering with a seed nursery at the North Carolina State Extension to help restore ginseng populations by planting more seedbeds in nutrient-rich soils. “It’s very important to look at that and try to preserve some of that culture,” Forest Service botanist Gary Kauffman told the outlet. “To think of how we can preserve it in the future, so our kids and grandkids can also go out and see ginseng, and maybe in the future, harvest some ginseng.”
In Other News
Before and after photos show the Klamath River flowing freely again, now that California’s historic dam removal project is complete.
Researchers found life inside a 2 billion-year-old rock,the oldest known example of living microbes in ancient stone.
Coming soon: EV charging stations that aim to feel more like gas stations, complete with restrooms and convenience stores.
Starting tomorrow, Burger King is offering a Halloween menu inspired by The Addams Family.
Who could turn down this invite? Bottlenose dolphins ask each other to play by flashing open-mouth “smiles,” according to a recent study.
Something We Love
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After secretly taking Armenian language lessons, a bride surprised her groom by speaking his native tongue for their wedding vows, saying, “I promise to learn Armenian for you because I know how important it is for you that our children know and recognize Armenian.” As you’d imagine, everyone’s reaction was priceless. Watch the beautiful moment.
Photo of the Day
Shane Gross / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Canadian photojournalist Shane Gross was awarded Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 last night for this breathtaking shot of western toad tadpoles. The annual competition, celebrating its 60th year, is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. “The jury was captivated by the mix of light, energy, and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles,” jury chair Kathy Moran said of the winning photo. “We were equally excited by the addition of a new species to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year archive. Over the last few years, the competition has highlighted environments and species that are often overlooked yet provoke the same wonder and delight when shared as the more typically photographed wildlife and wild places.” See more of the winning images.
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