For the type A people among us: You’ve got a fresh 2025 planner and a brand-new calendar hanging on your wall, and we’ve got a list of some of the most important holidays and events of the year ahead. Grab your favorite writing utensil (we know you have one) and start marking those dates!
Must Reads
Notre Dame’s stained glass windows are getting a colorful refresh — take a look
Bartenders Create an “Angel Shot” App to Make the Bar Scene Safer
Angel Shot App
The “angel shot” has been circulating on social media over the past few years — and in case you missed it, the drink order is not a drink at all. The “shot” is a code to help patrons signal to bartenders that they’re in an unsafe situation. Recently, two bartenders from Long Island, New York, went the extra mile to create a new app that puts a digital twist on the potentially lifesaving key phrase. “Sometimes it looks like a normal conversation, and then you don’t know, so I wanted a way that customers can get in touch with me,” Stephen Brennan, the co-developer of the Angel Shot app, told Fox 5 New York. “Once you check into a bar, you see the four angel shot buttons.” The technology allows patrons to discreetly order exactly what they need without having to say a word, and each order has an underlying meaning. For example, if the customer taps a button for an angel shot “neat,” they need help getting escorted to their car. Another variation includes an angel shot with a lime, alerting the bar to call the police. To date, 50 bar owners in the northeastern U.S. have added their venues to the Angel Shot app — learn more about how it works.
Together With LMNT
Feel Your Best Every Day
Small daily habits — like ensuring you’re properly hydrated — often have the biggest impact on us. LMNT makes hydrating easy with a science-backed electrolyte drink mix that combines the perfect amount of sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Whether you’re hitting the gym, traveling, or just had an extra hectic day, LMNT helps you replenish electrolytes so you feel your absolute best. This winter, keep the hydration going with LMNT’s limited-edition Chocolate Medley. With delicious flavors like Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Chai, and Chocolate Raspberry, you’ll want to savor every sip before it’s gone for the season. Use the link below to receive a free sample pack with any order — you might just discover a new favorite.
How 11,000 Twins Helped Illustrate the Importance of Making Cities Walkable
filadendron/ iStock
Twinspresent a unique opportunity for scientific study. Their shared genetics and family backgrounds allow researchers to evaluate the differences in their lives more objectively than is possible with people who have fewer factors in common. A new analysis of nearly 11,000 twins made use of this advantage to determine how a person’s environment affects the amount of walking they do. Walkability is a coveted characteristic: Being able to hoof it means spending less time in traffic and less money on gas. And per the new research, living in a more walkable neighborhood is also linked to increased physical activity. To investigate this association, lead study author Glen Duncan and his team looked at 5,477 pairs of twins living across the U.S. from 2009 to 2020. They found that subjects who lived in more walkable areas reported more physical activity than their siblings in less walkable locales. And when an area became 1% more walkable, people walked 0.42% more each week. Scale that up, and a 55% increase in walkability would result in around 23% more walking — or about 19 minutes a week for every resident in the area. In other words, when investments are made in changing public infrastructure to support walkability — like adding more sidewalks and crosswalks — people walk more. Duncan believes the results could inform policy and encourage cities to take action.
Science
World-First Skin Cancer Cream Could Be “Transformative”
ljubaphoto/ E+ via Getty Images
There’s a new skin cancer treatment showing promise, and it doesn’t involve chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Researchers at Australia’s University of Queensland are developing a first-of-its-kind topical creamthat can both prevent the onset of skin cancer and treat it in its early stages. It’s specifically being made for organ transplant recipients, who are at a higher risk of developing certain skin cancers due to immunosuppressive medications taken to prevent organ rejection. “This new treatment could truly be transformative for these individuals,” project lead James Wells told Interesting Engineering. He noted that the current treatment options are limited for skin cancer patients who need to ensure the integrity of their transplanted organs isn’t compromised, so this innovative drug aims to fill that gap. The research team recently secured over $200,000 in funding from the country’s National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation to continue working on the cream. “This project funding is crucial for advancing the cream through pre-clinical development, enabling us to create a safe and effective formulation for human use,” said Wells.
In Other News
California is the first state to implement a clothing recycling law aimed at minimizing textile waste (read more)
In more legal news, it’s now mandatory for New York state agencies to share how they’re using AI (read more)
Zoom in: The James Webb Space Telescope captured the most distant spiral galaxy to date (read more)
Not one but two owls were rescued on the same day by a Minnesota woman now dubbed the “owl whisperer” (read more)
Trader Joe’s fans, rejoice! A dozen new locations are opening across the country this year (read more)
Because Weekend x Nice News
Is Your Wardrobe Optimistic Enough? The Nice News community is tied together by one key thread: a desire to see the good in the world. And now you can spread that positive mindset beyond your email inbox with our new apparel collaboration with Because Weekend. The collection is the first Nice News-branded merch available to readers, and now is the perfect time to order — our friends at Because Weekend are running a 30% off sale through Sunday, Jan. 5 and you can get free ground shipping with the code FREESHIP. Click below to check out the pieces, all designed with optimism in mind.
Kristen Bell is teaming up with internet star Tommy Marcus and YouTuber Doctor Mike to share one health-related GoFundMe fundraiser every day on their social media pages. “Something needs to be done, and this is my something,” the Frozen actor said.
Photo of the Day
Gannon Castle / @usfws
Elk are on the move out west. In the winter, thousands of the antlered mammals journey to the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — an annual tradition that creates some elk-cellent photo opportunities.
Stay Hydrated This Winter With LMNT
Just because the temps are lower doesn’t mean winter is a time to ignore your hydration. Thanks to LMNT’s science-backed electrolyte drink mix, cold-weather hydration is easy and delicious — especially with the seasonal Chocolate Medley. These festive flavors are meant to be enjoyed hot to keep you warm and hydrated all season long.
