How many of us go into summer saying this is the season we’re finally going to catch up on reading — only to find that our books become more like poolside accessories than activities? Well, there are ways to avoid that this time around. NPR’s top recommendation: “Allow yourself to read whenever, wherever.” Read the outlet’s five tips for reading more books this summer.
Must Reads
The Knicks celebrations continue — get the scoop on today’s ticker-tape parade that could (will probably) be the largest in NYC history
A lesser-known number on blood pressure readings provides a glimpse into heart and brain health
Humanity
More People Are Ditching Dye and Feeling OK About Going Gray
ArtistGNDphotography—E+/Getty Images
Assistant editor Rebekah Brandes here: A friend of mine in her late 40s was sick and tired of touching up her roots. That’s what she told me the first time I saw her whip off a ball cap to reveal several inches of gray hair extending into her usually auburn mane. “I’m embracing it!” she said. And so are a whole lot of others. Some are simply ditching their standing appointments and letting time take its course. Others are opting for a lower-maintenance salon technique called gray blending, which uses highlighting to gradually incorporate silver strands into the rest of the hair. According to Yelp data shared with Axios, searches for gray blending jumped in prevalence by 905% from 2024 to 2025. Austin, Texas-based hair stylist Cynthia Valdez told the outlet the technique is now so popular she has to limit her appointments to make room for other services. People want to “showcase” their gray, she said, “rather than always being obsessed about covering it, or being insecure about showing it. The tide has been changing for a while now — over a decade ago, a trend even emerged among young people who weren’t going gray at all, yet opted to dye their hair silver just for the look of it. But whether it’s a fashion statement or the continuing turn toward celebrating natural beauty, we’re here for it.
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NASA’s New Telescope Aims to Revolutionize How We See the Cosmos and Life on Earth
NASA
After nearly 20 years of development and $4.3 billion, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is almost ready for liftoff. On Aug. 30, the scope, named after NASA’s first chief of astronomy, is slated to launch to about 1 million miles away from Earth, where it will aim to survey more of the sky than any other space telescope. “In the mission’s first five years, it’s expected to unveil more than 100,000 distant worlds, hundreds of millions of stars, and billions of galaxies,” Julie McEnery, the senior project scientist, told NBC News. Program scientist Dominic Benford added that the Roman telescope will also hopefully help researchers unlock the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. If the stars align (metaphorically speaking), its first images could be released by the end of this year. “It could be around Christmas, so hopefully that’s a nice present,” Benford said. Get a close-up look at the scope.
Culture
Giant Picnic Basket-Shaped Office Building in Ohio Hits Market for $8.5M
Shai-Hess Commercial Real Estate / SWNS
In the age of artificial intelligence, you couldn’t be blamed for suspecting the photo above was created by a ChatGPT user with a penchant for picnicking. Believe it or not, though, the basket-shaped office building is indeed real — and it’s on the market for $8.5 million. Formerly the headquarters of the basket-making company Longaberger, the seven-story, 180,000-square-foot building opened in 1997 on a 21.5-acre site in Newark, Ohio. For obvious reasons, the property garnered worldwide attention and became one of the state’s most iconic (and quirkiest) landmarks. Per the real estate listing, it features a media room, an on-site workout facility, glass elevators overlooking the atrium, and locally sourced woodwork that “adds warmth and character to the space.” See pictures of the inside.
In Other News
The universe is indeed still expanding at a quickening pace,per a new paper refuting a study from last year (read more)
Musket balls from the first major battle of the Revolutionary War were found during a dig at the Boston site (read more)
The Grammy Awards are adding fivenew categories, including best Asian pop music performance (read more)
Another benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine may be a lower risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks (read more)
Four piping plover chicks hatched on Chicago’s Montrose Beach, descendants of a famed bird couple (read more)
Inspiring Story
“No boundaries to what you can accomplish”
If the college application process is a marathon, Patrick Pruitt turned it into an ultramarathon. The Georgia high school graduate was accepted into 264 colleges and awarded scholarships worth more than $17 million. His advice for future applicants? “Don’t try to over-impress, because if you do that, there’s no way it’s going to sound like you,” Pruitt said. “Be the authentic, original person that you want to be.” Learn which school he picked.
Photo of the Day
Sona Maleterova/Getty Images
Noah Lyles had the race of his life on Tuesday. The 28-year-old U.S. track star set a world-record time of 14.67 seconds in the 150-meter race at the Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic. And since this is Nice News, we’d be remiss to not mention the sweet moment of camaraderie after the race between Lyles and fellow running sensation Gout Gout, who came in third. Watch it here.
Oricle Is the Rolls-Royce of Hearing Aids (And Under $100)
Some companies charge thousands for hearing aids, but you don’t have to pay that much. Oricle Hearing gives you crystal-clear sound, wireless charging, and all-day battery life for under $100. No doctor visits, no crazy prices, just amazing hearing at an unbeatable deal. Over 217,734 happy customers are already loving their new way of hearing.
