You aced Wordle, found the Spangram right away on Strands, and completed your Sunday puzzle from Nice News’ Crossword Club. Now what? Time to give newcomer Alphaguess a go. The objective of the free, browser-based game is to guess the word of the day in as few tries as you can. With each try, you’re notified where your guess falls alphabetically in relation to the target word. It’s the perfect blend of stimulating and satisfying, without having the tendency to induce rage (looking at you, Connections). — Rebekah, Ally, and Natalie
Featured Story
Try These 7 Brain-Soothing Tips When Anxiety Hits
Delmaine Donson/ E+ via Getty Images
It’s no secret that we live in stressful times. Whether you’re facing pressure at work, struggling at home, or worrying about one of the many issues facing society at large, it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of uneasiness, doom, or even panic. Luckily, there are science-backed ways to quell those feelings — some of which you can do right now. Check out seven of them in our article below, but please note that none of these should replace consulting a professional mental health practitioner.
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At the Poetry Pharmacy, Shoppers Pick Up Prescriptions for the Soul
Courtesy of the Poetry Pharmacy
Five milliliters of metaphor, two tablets of iambic pentameter, and a spoonful of symbolism: That might be the prescription you pick up at the Poetry Pharmacy, a London bookstore centered on the power of verse to heal all manner of emotional afflictions. Its shelves are lined with books categorized by emotion — calm, comfort, words for love — as well as vials of “Poemcetamol” capsules containing tiny scrolls for everything from exhaustion to existential angst. A cheeky glass cabinet emblazoned with a skull and crossbones and the word “poison” holds the dangerous stuff, while a cafe within the store doles out coffee and cakes. The second Poetry Pharmacy branch to open (the original is in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire), the unconventional apothecary set up shop in late spring in collaboration with the bath and body brand Lush. It’s located on the ground floor of the cosmetic retailer’s location on Oxford Street, so customers can head upstairs for more self-care selections after browsing. “There’s something that poetry does that no other art can quite do,” founder Deb Alma told Positive.News. “It goes very quickly to the heart of something … as though speaking intimately from one person to another, very, very directly.” See some of the “prescriptions” on offer.
Culture
15 Years After Her Death, Photog Vivian Maier Headlined Her First Major American Retrospective
Cinematic / Alamy Stock Photo
Nanny by trade and shutterbug by passion, Vivian Maier is considered one of the best street photographers of the 20th century. But it wasn’t until after she died in 2009 that her vast collection of work garnered attention. This summer, her first major American retrospective, “Vivian Maier: Unseen Work,” was on view at Fotografiska in New York, closing at the end of September. The exhibit featured around 230 pieces from the 1950s through the 1990s, including black-and-white photos, films, and sound recordings. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the “reclusive nanny” used her spare time to chronicle the world around her, often capturing quiet moments, like strangers waiting for the train, reading a newspaper, or sitting on a bench. Her work may never have seen the light of day, though, if not for an art collector who discovered hauls of her images at a thrift shop auction. “The discovery of Vivian Maier’s photographs after her death is one of the great serendipities in the history of the medium,” said Anne Morin, the director of diChroma photography and exhibition curator. Scroll through some of the enigmatic photographer’s portfolio.
Tech
Inside the Paris Motor Show, From Low-Cost EVs to a Car That Swims
RICCARDO MILANI/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
Let’s drive into the future together: Innovative cars have been on display at the Paris Motor Show over the past week, one of the world’s biggest automotive exhibitions. Some of the compelling new concepts include a rectangular steering wheel reminiscent of video game controllers and a hybrid SUV capable of “swimming” for up to 30 minutes, per CNBC. In addition to showcasing daring designs (see: XPeng’s flying car), this year’s event is focused on low-cost electric vehicles. The EVs creating a buzz include Renault’s R4, inspired by its bestselling hatchback and expected to go for below $33,000, and BYD’s Sea Lion 07 SUV, which is looking to rival Tesla’s Model Y with a price tag under $30,000. Another one to keep an eye on is Leapmotor’s B10 SUV. Starting at around $14,000, it’s designed to target “younger consumers seeking a vehicle that offers not only advanced technology and connectivity but also strong environmental credentials at a competitive price,” per a press release.
Philosopher Susana Monsó blends behavioral science and comparative psychology to explore animals’ relationships to mortality, sharing stories of ants that hold funerals, elephants that collect ivory, and whales that mourn their deceased group members. In doing so, she makes the case that humans aren’t the only ones who have emotional reactions to death — and sheds light on how embracing that commonality may help us better relate to the natural world.
If anyone ever had a banner year, it’s Travis Kelce in 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end won the Super Bowl and gained an army of new fans through his love story with Taylor Swift, and now he’s hosting his own game show. A spinoff of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, the series has contestants rely on a “classroom” full of celebs (like Nikki Glaser, Chad Ochocinco, and Ron Funches) to help them answer elementary-school level questions in pursuit of $100,000. The first three episodes dropped Wednesday on Amazon Prime Video.
This Week in History
The United Nations Is Formed
October 24, 1945
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
During the final months of World War II, representatives from 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to discuss a path forward for peace. From April to June, they worked together to draft the UN Charter, which would create an international cooperative that could help prevent another devastating global conflict from occurring. On Oct. 24, the charter was ratified, and the United Nations was born. Today, 193 member states belong to the organization, which works to protect human rights, deliver aid, maintain peace, uphold the law, build a sustainable future, and so much more. Read about some of the most monumental milestones in the United Nations’ nearly 80-year history.
Nautilus Is a Newsletter for the Thinkers
If you consider yourself a thinker in any sense of the word, Nautilus is for you. It’s the free newsletter written (and read) by some of the most celebrated scientists, researchers, and authors in the world. The beautifully crafted stories stick with you — you’ll be turning them over in your head long after you close your inbox, like an exercise for those thinking muscles.
