What do you think happens on DrawAFish.com? You get to draw a fish, of course. This delightful little website prompts visitors to create an aquatic creature and then “make it swim!” — i.e., add it to a “tank” with other people’s doodles. Pro tip: Turn the fish tank count up to 100 to see more wonderful creations.
Must Reads
Pumpkin goldfish, anyone? Take a peek at the fall-inspired food items hitting shelves
If you’re traveling for Labor Day, here are tips on the best time to hit the road and how to snag last-minute deals
Environment
See the Winners of the Capture the Dark Photo Contest
“Starlight Highway” by Tom Rae, Capture the Dark 2025
The winners of the 2025 Capture the Dark photo contest have been announced — and if you needed a reminder of the beauty above our heads, this is it. Now in its fifth year, DarkSky International’s annual competitionshines a spotlight on the importance of preserving dark skies in cities, deserts, national parks, and beyond. A record-breaking 2,284 submissions came in from more than 22 countries this year, with winning images selected in 11 categories. Among them is “Starlight Highway” by Tom Rae (pictured), which showcases New Zealand’s renowned Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Other standouts include shots of stellar phenomena and elusive nocturnal wildlife. As light pollution increases nearly 10% globally each year, the contest “is more than a gallery of stunning images — it’s a call to action to protect the night,” DarkSky International shared in a news release. Find a certified Dark Sky location near you.
Together With Pacaso
Former Zillow Exec Opens Door to $1.3 Trillion Market
Austin Allison sold his first company for $120 million. He later served as an executive for Zillow. But both companies reached massive valuations before regular people could invest. “I always wished everyday investors could have shared in their early success,” Allison later said. So he built Pacaso differently. Pacaso brings co-ownership to the $1.3 trillion vacation home market, earning more than $110 million in gross profit to date. No wonder the same VCs that backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay already invested in Pacaso. Now, after adding 10 new international destinations, Pacaso is hitting their stride. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. And unlike Allison’s previous stops, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company. But you’ll have to hurry. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends Sept. 18.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals.
Science
Months After Paralyzing Accident, Grad Student Mapped a Shipwreck Remotely
Photo courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust
Back in May, a team of experts and University of Rhode Island students received national attention when they explored and documented 17 ships while conducting the first survey of known wrecks in the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. A lesser-known aspect of the story? Team member Jake Bonney had been partially paralyzed after a ski accident just months prior — but thanks to his skill and passion, the 28-year-old still played a pivotal role by piloting a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV. Bonney attended the University of Rhode Island for its ocean engineering program, and as he neared the end of his bachelor’s degree in 2019, he participated in a science and engineering internship that taught him to pilot ROVs. Months after his January accident, Jason Fahy, associate director of the university’s Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, asked Bonney to join the Lake Ontario expedition. “I was charged with building a team of URI’s most talented young engineers and scientists … and Jake is the best ROV pilot enrolled at URI,” Fahy said in a news release. During the expedition, Bonney communicated with a standby pilot on board and used camera and sonar feeds to direct an ROV for four hours, conducting a complete photogrammetry survey of the ship Iona, which sank in 1912. It took him about 15 minutes to feel comfortable, and at first, he was concerned about potential delays due to the remote connection. But any lag “turned out to be almost unnoticeable,” Bonney said, and ultimately it was a “great experience with some valuable lessons.” Watch footage he recorded of the shipwreck.
Humanity
This Ohio Nonprofit Helps Underemployed and Formerly Incarcerated Workers Fill Manufacturing Jobs
alvarez/ iStock
Finding childcare, health care, and transportation are just a few of the obstacles job seekers can face — so one Ohio nonprofit is giving both unemployed and underemployed people the support to overcome them. Since 1984, the Cleveland-based Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, or MAGNET, has helped create or retain 11,000 manufacturing jobs in northeastern Ohio by providing career resources and development to individuals, ultimately driving the industry forward in the region. To work toward the sector’s growth, MAGNET collaborates with 100 different organizations, including academic institutions and workforce incubators, and as of today, it’s aided over 2,000 manufacturers in generating $1 billion in new sales. The nonprofit also offers classes and workforce programs for adults, as well as free summer camps and apprenticeships for students, to try to fill the over 400,000 open jobs in the industry. Furthermore, MAGNET helps those who were formerly incarcerated find jobs — for instance, a partnership with manufacturing company Jergens, Inc. has led to hundreds of hirings that have opened doors to career advancement opportunities. “We can’t just say, ‘Hey, pick yourself up by your bootstraps,’” the nonprofit’s CEO, Ethan Karp, told CBS News. “You need the grit and determination to do that, full stop. But you also need some help.”
In Other News
Resilience in full bloom: Seven months after Los Angeles’ Eaton fire, roses are blooming amid the rubble (read more)
A novel brain implant can decode a person’s inner monologue to help speech-impaired patients communicate (read more)
Brian Vahaly, the first openly gay men’s tennis player, is advocating for the next generation of queer athletes (read more)
Google’s new search feature lets users customize what news sources appear in results — here’s how to set it up (read more)
Go Splash!This heroic otter is being trained to assist in underwater search and rescue ops (read more)
Join the Nice Book Club
We’ve all gone through periods of feeling stuck — maybe stuck in relationships, routines, or self-doubt. But you can rewrite the script to get out of those ruts, and Case Kenny’s book The Opposite of Settling is the ultimate guide to doing just that. At today’s Nice Book Club, join us for a special conversation with Case, in which the author will dive into the empowering ideas behind The Opposite of Settling, sharing how to raise your standards, trust your intuition, and create the life you truly want.
Some couples have eight grandparents attend their wedding, some have four, one, or none at all — Taylor and Jason Orlando had 200. The couple met as teenagers while working at a senior center in Webster, New York, and when they decided to tie the knot, they felt it was only fitting to hold a special ceremony there, surrounded by 200 of the “grandparents” who’d watched their love story unfold. “I’m excited to celebrate this big chapter of my life with them,” Taylor said on the big day.
Photo of the Day
Jessica Bolser / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
If she fits, she sits! A clever little raccoon found the coziest hideaway in a tree cavity to stay safe and sound during a blustery afternoon in Iowa, according to an Instagram post by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. And in the spirit of adorable raccoon stories, check out this video of kits learning to climb a backyard fence.
With Case Kenny
What’s the line between magic and madness, anyway? This nugget of wisdom from Case Kenny’s Instagram will be the last in this Nice News series, as our book club meeting with Case is happening today! Thankfully, you still have time to RSVP for the event at 5 p.m. EST and order a copy of his bookThe Opposite of Settling.
Horizon IX: Game-Changing Hearing Device Turns Noise Into Clarity
Ready to take your ears into the future? The Horizon IX uses advanced technology to filter natural sound and deliver unmatched clarity. You’ll hear everything clearly whether you’re in a bustling cafe or walking through the park. With Bluetooth connectivity for effortless streaming from your smartphone and smart noise filtering to isolate the voices you care about, this lightweight device is a gamechanger. More than 540,000 customers have already heard the difference. Join them and check if you qualify for a 45-day, risk-free trial today.
