Nice News readers know all about Fat Bear Week — but what about Fat Squirrel Week? The inaugural contest, hosted by Texas Parks and Wildlife, is inspired by Alaska’s annual chonky bear event, with 16 squirrels from Lone Star State parks vying for the top title in a bracket-style competition. The winner: Chunkosaurus Rex, who beat out Chunk Norris, Nutella, and Stanley “The Texas Tank.”
Must Reads
The rundown on the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment taking effect next year
If you want to see the world from a new perspective, browse through these stunning pics from a recent drone photo contest
Health
Sour Candy Is the Latest Anxiety Relief Hack — Here’s Why It Works
HannamariaH/ iStock
Excited to dig into your kids’ (or grandkids’) candy stash this Halloween? We suggest setting aside some Sour Patch Kids or Sweetarts, as experts say sour candies can be a tool to help reduce anxiety. Psychologist Ayanna Abrams told Today that sour treats can serve as a “healthy distraction” from spiraling thoughts. The idea is that when anxiety hits, the candy’s strong flavor can help redirect focus to the intense taste (and therefore, the present moment) rather than the worst-case scenario worries that may be swirling in your mind. To reap these anxiety-alleviating benefits, be sure to indulge slowly and intentionally, advised clinical psychologist Jacqueline Sperling, who’s also an assistant professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. “You place the candy on your tongue, close your mouth, and use your senses to notice the taste, texture, and shape of the candy over time,” Sperling explained. “After the candy has dissolved fully, reassess how strong the [anxious] urges are and if you’re more able and willing to resist acting on them.” Both experts noted that candy is not a cure for anxiety and shouldn’t replace proven long-term treatments, but it can’t hurt to give it a try — especially with a treats-focused holiday around the corner.
Together With Brad’s Deals
The Best Way to Save up to 80% on All Your Fave Brands
What if there was a free service that found the best deals on the internet for you? Well, there is: Brad’s Deals. This team of deal-finding experts scours the internet daily to discover best-of-web prices on just about everything. They exist to help you find the top deals online so you can stop searching — and start saving. When you sign up for Brad’s Deals you’ll gain access to a personalized deals newsletter — complete with curated picks from your favorite brands at the best stores. We’re talking savings of up to 80% on household names like Nike, Hoka, Kate Spade, Coach, and Stanley, just to name a few.
Sushi Legend Jiro Ono Turns 100, With No Plans to Retire Soon
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images
Jiro Ono — who you may recognize from the acclaimed documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi,or from his highly exclusive Tokyo restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro — turned 100 yesterday. While you might think this must mean retirement is on the horizon, think again. “I plan to keep going for about five more years,” the legendary chef said last month, per the Associated Press. He said his “hands don’t work so well,” but he still serves sushi to special guests and stays connected to the restaurant while entrusting his son to carry on the torch as head chef. So what’s the secret to his lasting health? “To work,” Ono said, adding, “I can no longer come to the restaurant every day ... but even at 100, I try to work if possible. I believe the best medicine is to work.” He also doesn’t drink alcohol, walks regularly, and eats well. Ono has worn many titles over the years, including the first sushi chef to earn three Michelin stars and the oldest head chef of a three-star restaurant. Now, he has his sights set on another: outliving Japan’s oldest man, who lived to 113. “I will aim for 114,” he said. We wouldn’t bet against him!
Environment
Turning Eyesores to Art: Austria Reimagines Power Lines as Giant Animals
Austrian Power Grid
As the saying goes, turn lemons into lemonade — or in this case, transform industrial pylons into public art. That’s the plan underway in Austria, where the metal towers are being reimagined as giant animal sculptures to win over residents who aren’t fans of the way the power lines look. Called Austrian Power Giants, these transmission towers double as art installations designed to symbolize different states across the country. The debut prototypes include a stork to represent the annual stork migration in Burgenland and a deer paying homage to the densely wooded foothills of Lower Austria. “This nature-inspired design is ultimately intended to become a symbol for nature-friendly infrastructure projects, strengthen the economic and tourism location in the regions, and ultimately lead to increased acceptance of grid expansion projects by the general public,” the Austrian Power Grid said in a statement. So far, the project has won acclaim from designers, earning a 2025 Red Dot Award for concept design in electrification and decarbonization. But the real test will be gaining public acceptance, especially in rural and scenic areas. As online magazine Yanko Design wrote: “If a community sees a pylon as a landmark rather than an eyesore, the theory goes, acceptance follows.”
In Other News
In a successful rocket launch, Japan sent new supplies to the International Space Station (read more)
A nonhormonal pill to treat hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women was approved by the FDA (read more)
Picasso’s long-hidden portrait of a muse fetched $37 million at a Paris auction — see the piece (read more)
DNA sequencing revealed why Napoleon’s army suffered massive losses during the 1812 Russian campaign (read more)
The Booker Prize Foundation launched a new award for children’s fiction, and kids will join the judging panel (read more)
Inspiring Story
70 going on 15
¡Feliz quinceañera! A group of grandmas in Colombia got their dream quinceañera — just a handful of decades later than they thought they would. The women, who never experienced the coming-of-age ritual due to childhood hardships, donned gowns, rode in a limousine, danced, and enjoyed an epic celebration put on by the Sueños Hechos Foundation. “This is the happiest day,” said 72-year-old Rosalba Casas.
Photo of the Day
Ruby Wallau/Getty Images
It was a bunch of hocus pocus over the weekend in Morro Bay, California. The annual Witches and Warlocks Paddle celebrated its “lucky” 13th edition — and the scene was decidedly spellbinding, with participants donning pointy hats and capes as they paddled along Morro Bay’s waters. See more pics from the festivities.
A Place for Mom Offers Full-Circle Kind of Care
As our parents age, the roles quietly shift. It’s a full-circle moment: The people who once took care of us now need care of their own — and that can feel like a heavy decision to navigate alone. A Place for Mom offers free, one-on-one guidance to help families find the right care, whether it be in a senior living community or in-home care. You’ll get thoughtful and personalized advice from people who truly understand what you’re going through.
