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We know Nice News readers love a wildlife camera, so here’s another one for ya that just launched this week. In honor of Monday’s Arctic Sea Ice Day, Polar Bears International and explore.org teamed up for this summer’s Beluga Whale Live Cam. If you’re lucky, you might hear the animals’ signature vocalizations or see a baby beluga.
Health
“Life-Changing” Study Offers Potential Explanation for Gulf War Illness
More than three decades after the first Gulf War, many veterans continue to suffer from invisible wounds with mysterious origins. The condition — referred to colloquially as Gulf War Illness, or GWI — is associated with an array of often debilitating medical ailments, including pain, chronic fatigue, and neurological issues. But now, researchers are offering a long-awaited potential explanation.
A recent study found that cell structures vital for transporting calcium into cells were defective in veterans with symptoms of GWI, thus “causing faulty cell function,” per a news release from Griffith University.
The authors said this dysfunction is likely due to exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents during the war — and the identification of it could pave the way for more effective treatments. “This discovery is a significant step forward in understanding this baffling and complex illness,” said study lead Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik.
“To be believed means the world to us,” added Gulf War vet and GWI advocate Ian Allwood. “This research is life-changing for the Gulf War vets.”
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Together With Brilliant
Great Minds Think a Lot
We all want to make smart use of our time. But when faced with learning something new or watching a (seriously hilarious) cat video? Sorry brain, cat wins. That’s why Nice News loves Brilliant, the app with a huge library of fun, quick, and interactive lessons that will make you fall in love with building new skills in cutting-edge topics.
Brilliant puts next-level concepts at your level — whether it’s foundational math, logic, AI, programming, or data analysis. The challenges feel more like you’re playing your favorite mobile game, and since Brilliant breaks big concepts into bite-sized pieces, you can get a brain boost in just minutes a day.
Join over 10 million people around the world and try Brilliant free for 30 days — and get 20% off an annual premium subscription as a Nice News reader.
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Culture
Netherlands’ The Hague Named No. 1 City When It Comes to Quality of Life
There are plenty of lists ranking the most friendly/affordable/safe/you name it cities around the globe. But what about all of these factors put together? A recent report has done just that.
The team at Numbeo set out to determine the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. They did so by analyzing a range of factors, like pollution levels, commute times, housing affordability, and cost of living, just to name a few. The site also gathered survey responses summarizing the real-world experiences of residents.
Here’s a look at the results: The Hague — a coastal city in the Netherlands — was No. 1, earning the highest marks in climate, health care, and safety. Taking the silver medal was Luxembourg City, directly followed by nearly a dozen other European metros, including Zurich, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.
You may be wondering if any U.S. cities made the top 25, and the answer is yes. Austin, Texas, came in at No. 15, along with Seattle, Washington, and Tampa, Florida, in the 20th and 21st slots.
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Tech
Artificial Grass Can Get Hot — So Researchers Made Self-Cooling Turf
If you’ve ever walked on artificial grass on a warm day, you know it can get hot. Add in extreme heat (no stranger lately), and the situation can go from uncomfortable to unsafe, fast. Luckily, a new invention is being rolled out to help change that: self-cooling turf.
In a study published earlier this month, researchers in the Netherlands outlined their custom artificial grass, which uses collected rainwater to cool itself down, much like natural grass. The straightforward solution inspired by blue-green roofs delivers turf that’s 46 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than regular artificial grass.
Aside from reducing temperatures and heat-related risks, the invention can improve storm drainage in urban areas where rainwater isn’t absorbed as well on traditional turf. In the study, the researchers wrote that their turf “allows the pitch to become part of the on-site water management regime and forms a cooler and safer pitch for the athletes.” And for the non-soccer fans — a pitch is what we’d call a field in the U.S.
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Something We Love
Roborock Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Once you switch from back-breaking stick vacuums to the hands-free robot variety, you’ll never go back. And Roborock’s inventory is the best of the best. The brand’s S8 Max Ultra model offers total corner-to-edge cleaning, advanced mopping, and smooth navigation, checking cleaning off your to-do list without you having to lift a finger. Click below to get up to $650 off for Prime Day.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
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Inspiring Story
Just keep swimming
Meet Maya Merhige: The 16-year-old swam more than 20 miles across the English Channel in 11 hours and 39 minutes. Not only is she one of the youngest to complete the (very) impressive journey, but she also raised over $100,000 to fund cancer research. “I knew I had to keep swimming hard, no matter how exhausted I was,” she recalled, adding, “But I made it!”
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Photo of the Day
The James Webb Space Telescope celebrated its second anniversary last week, so of course NASA marked the occasion with a stunning new image, seen above. Learn more about what you’re seeing.
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Become an Everyday Genius With Brilliant
Learning a little every day can have a huge impact — especially if you’re learning with Brilliant. The app helps you build skills in everything from foundational math and logic to cutting-edge topics like AI and data science, while learning at your own level, on your own time.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
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Quote of the Day
“The language of friendship is not words, but meanings.”
– HENRY DAVID THOREAU
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