The start of a new year is a reset for many — we begin new exercise programs, set out to break bad habits and foster good ones, and generally revel in the turning of a new leaf. But beyond reaching for individual goals, we might also think of this time as a fresh start for the planet, or rather our roles in protecting it. The holiday season is carbon-intensive, what with all the manufacturing, shipping, food buying, and more, and you can help counter that with your new year habits. Here’s how you can lower your carbon footprint right now.
Must Reads
The votes are in: A zoo in Virginia revealed the name of its baby pygmy hippo
The reign of Generation Alpha is over — now introducing: Gen Beta. While we have yet to see this new era take shape, we know that many of these children will be the offspring of millennials and older Gen Zers, living until the 22nd century. Gen Beta kids, who are expected to become 16% of the global population by 2035, will grow up in a world infused with technology and AI, which could impact everything from their schools to doctor’s offices. They’ll walk the tightrope of forming their identities and developing relationships both online and IRL, but their parents will be well-equipped to help them. “We predict Generation Beta will embody the balance between hyper-connectivity and personal expression,” wrote author and social researcher Mark McCrindle, who coined the name Gen Beta. “They’ll redefine what it means to belong, blending in-person relationships with global digital communities.” But tech isn’t the only factor that will impact these quarter-century babies. Click here to learn more in Nice News’ guide to the different generations — from Alpha to Z.
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This Is a Habit You Can Keep Up With in 2025
Most resolutions are hard to maintain, but AG1 is one of the easiest things you can do for your health. The daily drink is formulated to fill nutrient gaps, supporting energy, digestive regularity, immune health, and even your mood. AG1 is made with bioavailable ingredients, meaning they are in forms that are easier for your body to use. Its power lies within its simplicity: Just one daily scoop provides whole body benefits. Start drinking AG1 now and make it a habit that you stick with beyond January.
Indonesia Launches Free School Lunch Program to Combat Malnutrition
ADITYA IRAWAN/AFP via Getty Images
Indonesia is kicking off 2025 on an ambitious note. The country’s new government recently announced a program to provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students, as well as pregnant women. Per current estimates, about 20% of Indonesian children younger than 5 are shorter than normal, and 1 in 12 suffer from low weight, two conditions linked to malnourishment. “Too many of our brothers and sisters are below the poverty line, too many of our children go to school without breakfast and do not have clothes for school,” President Prabowo Subianto said in his inauguration speech in October, per the Associated Press. The Free Nutritious Meal Program, which began yesterday, will hopefully help change that. Dadan Hindayana, the head of the newly formed National Nutrition Agency, told the outlet that the organization’s initial $4.3 billion budget will cover the purchasing of healthy ingredients — like 6.7 million tons of rice, 500,000 tons of beef, and 4 million kiloliters of milk — and facilitate meal distribution to students at more than 400,000 schools. Addressing concerns about the program’s long-term affordability, Subianto said the team has done the calculations and determined: “We are capable.”
Culture
A “Manufacturing Revival” Might Be on the Horizon
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In a refreshing change from layoff headlines and LinkedIn “open to work” updates, a new PBS report found the manufacturing industry is ripe for new graduates on the job market. So much so that the industry is dipping its toe into some unique recruiting opportunities, like subsidizing university tuition, using virtual reality to introduce students to facilities, and hosting “signing days” reminiscent of college athletics. “The work is there,” said Lori Joyce from Concrete Pros, a company in northern Ohio. “We just need the workers.” The untraditional recruiting efforts to fill these staffing shortages might be a sign of a larger theme, as a “manufacturing revival” is being predicted— a potential win for job seekers (and the stock market). And while there’s no denying automation and robots will play a role in the industry’s future, Erik Brynjolfsson, an economics and AI professor at Stanford University, said human power will continue to serve a vital purpose. “As some jobs get automated, new jobs get created, and right now there’s no shortage of demand for labor, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.”
In Other News
Social Security benefits expanded for millions of retired public workers, such as firefighters and teachers (read more)
Stay safe! As winter weather takes hold in the U.S., polar temps might reach as far as Florida’s Disney World (read more)
A woman is cancer-free after undergoingthe U.K.’s first liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer (read more)
LeBron James made NBA history (again), surpassing Michael Jordan’s record for 30-point games (read more)
Speaking of, this rare sea eagle spotted in Canada has a wingspan larger than even the tallest NBA players (read more)
Inspiring Story
Celebrations of life
On Dec. 29, Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman known for her active lifestyle, died at age 116. The previous Guinness World Records holder for the oldest living person has now passed the torch to 116-year-old Sister Inah Canabarro, a nun in Brazil who attributes her longevity to her faith. “I’m young, pretty, and friendly — all very good, positive qualities that you have too,” she recently told visitors.
Photo of the Day
Weitao Tian/Getty Images
The annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is underway in Harbin, China — and we think this heart-shaped ice maze is the sweetest attraction.
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