Several weeks back, we shared that it’s been a banner year for hydrangeas, and now we’re learning that the success of the summer flowers carries implications for the upcoming fall. Namely, the thriving hydrangeas in New England could indicate a particularly strong foliage season for the region. “We had a really good growing summer. The trees didn’t put a lot of energy into seeds and fruit this year. They had a really bad year last year, so a lot of energy is going towards growth and repair this year, so we really feel good that the trees are healthy going into fall,” foliage expert Jim Salge told CBS News. Here’s when to expect the leaves to turn.
Scientists Found 20 New Species on Ocean Expedition — And the Pics Are Adorable
ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
During a recent expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute on the vessel Falkor (too), scientists mapped a newly discovered seamount along the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. And what they found was an ecosystem teeming with rare and previously unknown marine species. “The discovery of a new seamount almost 2 miles tall — almost four times as tall as the Burj Khalifa — with a vibrant ecosystem was very exciting,” co-chief scientist Jyotika Virmani said in a statement. “Only 26% of the seafloor has been mapped to this high resolution and each expedition on Falkor (too) brings into focus a little more of the unknown seabed and life on our home planet.” The team found at least 20 new species and documented a Casper octopus (pictured here) for the first time in the Southern Pacific. They also captured the first camera footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, a genus so rare that only three species have been described before. Beyond the scientific importance of the mission, though, one of the takeaways from the announcement is that the sea creatures the researchers came upon were certainly camera ready. See more of the adorable photos.
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Former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Tebow on Redefining Her Identity: Exclusive
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
In the opening pages of Demi-Leigh Tebow’s new memoir, A Crown That Lasts, the 29-year-old shares an endearing and relatable anecdote. It was 2018 and she was in the airport with her now-husband, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, when an overstuffed suitcase the two were traveling with burst open, spilling her belongings all over the floor. What was in the suitcase turns the situation from an embarrassing story to an apt metaphor for an existential predicament: She was carrying dozens of programs from the Miss Universe pageant, which she’d won the previous year. Tebow had just handed over her crown and sash to the new winner, and the shiny booklets with her face all over them would come to represent the way she felt about her own identity — it had fallen out from under her. Years of soul-searching would follow, and eventually, the realization that she’d mistakenly tied so much of her self-worth to external achievements. “I think such a big part of what makes up our identity is our life circumstances. But the issue with rooting our identity in our life circumstances is that they are not fixed. They’re not always trustworthy. They’re ever-changing,” Tebow tells Nice News, adding: “Whether or not you’ve worn a crown, I think we’ve all [had] a moment in our life where we have questioned: ‘What’s next? Who am I now?’” Read more of her story, and learn how she found empowerment through a traumatic experience.
Health
How Physical Therapists Are Tapping Into Virtual Reality to Help Patients
dima_sidelnikov/ iStock
Virtual reality has become a tool for exercising, boosting well-being for older adults, and now, physical therapy. Per a recent article from Business Insider, VR headsets can be particularly useful for patients with neurological conditions, like stroke survivors and people with Parkinson’s disease, as well as those with musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and sprains. David McAdon, a physical therapist assistant at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, said the fun of VR platforms is not to be discounted. “The activities are gamified and engage patients, which helps with compliance,” he said. “Veterans want to come back to their appointments.” Mark Havran, the national physical therapy program manager at the Veterans Health Administration, added that the tech could help make PT more accessible and allow patients to continue their care at home under the guidance of a professional. “This assessment could be done anywhere, helping with health equity and accessibility,” he said. “For example, people in rural areas won’t have to drive to a PT office for care. … My hope is that VR helps people pursue a whole lifestyle change.”
In Other News
It’s safer than everto donate a kidney, with researchers finding that the risk of death among donors is lower than previously thought.
Stop & Shop will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products as of today, joining other major chains.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani brought out his beloved pup Decoy to throw the first pitch at a game earlier this week. Watch the video.
Natural magic: During a recent storm in Minnesota, lightning struck at the same time that a rainbow arched across the sky.
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Inspiring Story
Kentucky royalty
Dolly Parton was already the Queen of Country, but now she’s also a Kentucky Colonel. Parton was bestowed with the title — the state’s highest honor — in celebration of the expansion of her Imagination Library, a literacy initiative that sends free books to children under 5. You can support the Imagination Library’s work by donating to Nice News’ August Cause of the Month.
Eyes on Paris
Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Today is the third day of competitions for Paralympic archery, and there are two women you should have on your radar. First, there’s Jodie Grinham, the Welsh archer who has made headlines for competing in the Games while seven months pregnant. The 31-year-old was born with a condition called brachysyndactyly, and has a shortened left arm, underdeveloped left shoulder, no fingers, and half a thumb on her left hand. “I love every minute of having my career and love every minute of being a mum. Why should I have to do it separately?” Grinham, who has a nearly 2-year-old son, told BBC Sport, adding, “I’m not going to say it is possible for everyone. But I think it is a milestone to show how far we have come as a country to be able to support someone and not go ‘you shouldn’t be doing this.’ For women, it is incredible.” Then there’s 17-year-old Sheetal Devi: one of the youngest competitors at the Paralympics. The Indian teen, pictured here, was born without arms and shoots with her feet, making her the first and only female para-athlete to compete in archery without her arms on the international stage. Per the BBC, she took inspiration from Matt Stutzman, an American archer who won silver at the 2012 Paralympics. “I believe that no one has any limitations, it’s just about wanting something enough and working as hard as you can,” she said. “If I can do it, anyone else can.”
Sakuraco Brings Japan’s Autumn Moon Festival to Your Doorstep
As autumn draws nearer, it’s the perfect time to tell you about the beauty of Japan’s Tsukimi, the country’s enchanting moon-viewing festival. Sakuraco’s Autumn Moon Festival box brings the magic of the beloved tradition straight to your doorstep, celebrating the season’s harvest with authentic flavors and delightful treats. Nice News readers can get $5 off this selection of goodies with code NICENEWS.
