Today is the autumnal equinox. It’s one of two times a year (the other being the spring equinox) that there’s a nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness, and it marks the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. One of the many reasons we love this season is the aroma of cinnamon and cloves that starts permeating stores and coffee shops, evoking all manner of warm and fuzzy feelings. And luckily, you don’t have to spend a ton on store-bought candles to create that sensory experience at home. Learn how to make your own fall-scented candles. — Rebekah, Ally, and Natalie
Featured Story
How a Simple DIY Rain Garden Can Benefit Your Backyard and the Environment
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Heavy rains can leave gardens looking like the aquatic levels in a video game, turning terrestrial foliage into floating plants. And the runoff from these events can also do damage to the local water supply. There’s a simple, aesthetically pleasing way to harness that extra water, though, and it can benefit your backyard and the environment at large. Rain gardens are concave areas around 6-8 inches deep that collect runoff and allow it to soak into the ground and irrigate the plants within and around them. Click below for a step-by-step guide to creating one where you live.
There are plenty of skin care companies to choose from these days, but OneSkin sets itself apart with its commitment to selling science-backed formulas. The brand was founded by an all-woman team of scientists with doctorates in skin regeneration, stem cell biology, immunology, and bioinformatics. That expertise makes all the difference when it comes to the efficacy of its line of products containing the proprietary OS-01 peptide. And it’s a difference the Nice News team can vouch for — Associate Editor Ally has been using the one-two punch of OS-01 FACE and OS-01 EYE on her sensitive skin for months now, and she won’t be going back to another moisturizer or eye cream any time soon. Readers can get 15% off with code NICE.
In a Prolonged Period of Work Stress? Prioritize Hope, Study Suggests
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An abundance of scientific evidence exists supporting the benefit of mindfulness on anxiety, depression, pain, addiction, and more. And now, new research has found that when it comes to prolonged periods of professional stress, something else could be equally, if not more, effective: hope. Mindfulness is defined as maintaining moment-to-moment awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment, through a gentle, non-judgmental lens. Hope, on the other hand, is about looking past the present moment and into the future, and has also been linked to improved well-being. “Being mindful can be tremendously valuable — there are certainly advantages to living in the moment,” said co-author Sharon Sheridan. “But it’s important to maintain a hopeful outlook, particularly during periods of prolonged stress. People should be hopeful while being mindful — hold on to the idea that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” Find out how the researchers came to their conclusions and how the results could be useful in the workplace.
Science
Pregnancy Changes the Brain More Than Previously Thought
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Being pregnant can bring on a bevy of changes — morning sickness, mood swings, unconventional food cravings, the list goes on and on. But until now, scientists haven’t had a good idea of what exactly is changing in the brain during the course of a nine-month pregnancy. For the first time, researchers put together a comprehensive map of a woman’s brain throughout gestation, differing from previous studies which only took snapshots of the brain before and after pregnancy. While analyzing the time in between, the study authors found that nearly every part of the brain was affected, perhaps confirming what many parents already knew to be true. “It’s been a very long journey,” neuroscientist Elizabeth Chrastil, a co-author of the paper and the subject of the study, told the Associated Press. “We did 26 scans before, during, and after pregnancy” and found “some really remarkable things.” For example, the volume of gray matter decreased, likely representing a “fine-tuning” of brain circuits that allow the organ to prepare for a new phase of life. Although this study only looked at one person, researchers plan to expand the breadth of their work and scan the brains of hundreds of pregnant women in hopes of gaining a better understanding of postpartum depression and other disorders, at last.
Tech
Postal Service Debuts New Electric Ride to Workers’ Delight
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A special delivery is coming to the streets: The U.S. Postal Service recently debuted its much-anticipated electric vehicles in Athens, Georgia. And so far, it seems the wait has been worth it. The new vehicles will replace 30-year-old mail trucksthat have a reputation for being noisy, smelly, and gas-guzzling, getting just 9 mpg. They also don’t have many safety features, ample room for drivers to stand, or air conditioning. On the flip side, the updated trucks tick all the boxes, as they’re quieter, more spacious, loaded with modern safety features, and, perhaps most importantly for drivers, equipped with air conditioning. “I promise you, it felt like heaven blowing in my face,”postal worker Avis Stonum told the Associated Press. Another driver said a roomier ride helps him avoid back problems from crouching. While the EVs are just in Georgia for now, keep an eye out for them in your neighborhood soon: They’ll be rolled out across the country within the next few years, and they’re definitely hard to miss.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
You’ve likely heard that listening to certain music enhances focus, but what does science say on the subject?
Watch as a group of urban explorers in Gary, Indiana, find “beauty in destruction” amid the city’s abandoned buildings
A beautiful coffee table book featuring over 300 gorgeous photographs, paintings, and other artwork from the likes of Paul Cezanne, Ansel Adams, Grandma Moses, and more, Tree highlights the vast diversity of the arboreal world while emphasizing its status as humanity’s longtime muse. The collection, curated by an international panel of botanists, naturalists, and art historians, transcends botanical art to form a “vibrant, vital homage” to nature.
In what she says will be her final role, Kathy Bates stars as Madeline Matlock, helming the reboot of the 1986 series led by Andy Griffith. The 2024 version sees the Oscar winner playing a brilliant attorney who rejoins the workforce at 75, but there’s no relationship to Griffith’s character — when asked about her name, Bates’ Matlock responds, “Yeah, like the old TV show.” Funnyman Jason Ritter and Skye P. Marshall round out the cast. Catch the first episode tonight at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
Thirty years ago today, the pilot episode of a sitcom about six 20-somethings navigating relationships, careers, and family in New York City premiered. It would fast become a cultural phenomenon, propelling its cast into stardom — and prompting “the Rachel” haircut to be requested in countless salons. Friends ran for 10 years, with each member of the ensemble earning a historic $1 million an episode in the series’ last two seasons. The finale, which aired in May 2004, brought in over 52.5 million viewers, making it the fifth most-watched series finale in U.S. television history. Click the photo above to enjoy some of the funniest scenes from the first season.
Savvy: The Insurance Coverage You Need, Without Breaking the Bank
Auto and home insurance premiums are rising, but you don’t necessarily have to pay more. Savvy’s easy-to-use platform and expert agents will help you find the right coverage at the best price, comparing dozens of insurers so you can get savings of up to $1,500 per year.
