Must Reads

• Midlife might not be a time of crisis after all — in fact, it can be quite the opposite
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• The science behind red light therapy, courtesy of dermatologists

Culture

How Creating Temporary Chaos Could Help You Declutter More Effectively

Could the key to organizing your home be creating more chaos? That may not sound very intuitive, but it’s the thought process behind the “chaos zone” decluttering method, a philosophy that’s been gaining traction this spring cleaning season. Part mind trick, part organizational approach, the technique is ideal for those who keep their homes tidy on the surface but have larger messes in hidden spaces.
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Here’s how to apply it: Completely empty a specific section of your house (like your pantry or closet), temporarily creating more mess — then sort and reorganize it all in one go. Not only does this create a sense of urgency to get rid of the mountain of clutter you just created, but it can help you get a clearer view of all of your stuff. “This whole theory is a psychological trick that makes you keep going,” decluttering expert Matt Paxton told Time. “And it works.”
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For your first time using the chaos zone technique, start with a smaller space that’s unlikely to make you feel overwhelmed or sentimental, like a bathroom drawer. Then when it’s time to put everything back, Paxton recommends only keeping items you’ve used in the past six months. Ready to get started? Check out a step-by-step guide.

Together With EnergyX

The Lithium Gold Rush Just Minted a $1 Billion Unicorn

Lithium demand is fueling a modern-day gold rush, set to grow 5X by 2040. Industries like AI, robotics, and energy depend on it. Microsoft’s CEO even says the AI race will be won on energy costs, not model quality.
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That’s creating opportunities for investors. One company, EnergyX, already turned this demand into a $1 billion unicorn valuation.
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EnergyX’s patented tech can recover 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That breakthrough earned over $150 million in investments, including from industry leaders like General Motors and POSCO.
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With access to around 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land, including up to 9.8 million tons in Chile alone, EnergyX just commissioned the largest lithium facility of its kind in the U.S. Own a piece of this gold rush. Invest in EnergyX for $12/share by tomorrow night.*

Humanity

Historic Church Where MLK Delivered Final Speech Receives Renovation Grant

On April 3, 1968, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech, titled “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” at Memphis’ Mason Temple, one day before his assassination. And on this past Monday, almost exactly 58 years later, the historic Tennessee church received $1.2 million in federal funding to renovate the civil rights landmark.
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“It is the living witness of a movement that changed the entire world,” J. Drew Sheard, the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, said at a news conference, per the Associated Press. “As long as the Church of God in Christ exists, we will honor that witness.”
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​The grant is part of a broader, nearly $18 million federal investment in Memphis and will go toward infrastructure and technology upgrades at the church, as well as sustainability improvements. Within that same package, $3.1 million will go to the nearby Clayborn Temple, which served as a hub for the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike that brought King to Memphis.

Environment

This Tortoise Is Rolling Into a New Chapter, Thanks to Some Creative Vets

This tortoise isn’t so slow and steady anymore! A veterinary practice in the Philippines recently came up with a wheely creative solution to help an Aldabra tortoise struggling with its hind legs by making the shelled friend a scooter of sorts.
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According to Popular Science, a private zoo brought the injured tortoise to Nielsen Donato, the chief surgeon at Vets in Practice. After finding no dislocations or fractures, the team suspected the leg weakness might be neurological or the result of interactions with larger companions at the zoo.
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In addition to anti-inflammatory therapy, they decided to install four wheels onto the bottom of its shell for an extra mobility boost — as you can watch here (highly recommend). The tortoise was eventually sent home after showing mobility improvements, and we’re happy to share that the reptile is walking normally again without wheels.
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​Speaking of turtles, Popular Science also put together a handy guide for what to do if you spot a turtle crossing the road this time of year — spoiler alert, don’t grab the tail.

In Other News

1. A new long-term study found no link between fluoride in drinking water and lower IQ or cognitive decline (read more)
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2. Baby elephant Linh Mai had a grand ol’ time taking a bubble bath ahead of her public debut at the National Zoo (read more)
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3. The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta helped an artist bring a FIFA World Cup-inspired mural to life (read more)
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4. When Denver’s sole lesbian bar nearly shut down, the community rallied together to keep the doors open (read more)
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5. Splash away bad luck: A sea of festivalgoers celebrated Songkran, the Thai New Year — see the pics (read more)

Inspiring Story

Redefining dance

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After ballerina Breanna Olson was diagnosed with ALS, she “never dreamed” she would be able to dance on stage again. But she did exactly that last December — just in a different way than you’re likely imagining. With the help of an electroencephalogram headset, her brainwaves powered an avatar in a first-of-its-kind live stage performance. “It was just a beautiful and memorable moment I will remember for the rest of my life,” Olson said.

Photo of the Day

Happy belated birthday, Fatou! The world’s oldest gorilla living in captivity celebrated her 69th trip around the sun on Monday with a b-day feast of veggies, including some cut in fun shapes, courtesy of Zoo Berlin. Seeing that gorillas typically live to age 35-40 in the wild, the ado was certainly well-deserved. See more pics and videos of her enjoying the feast.​

AARP: It’s Never Too Late to Start Feeling Better

Most adults over 50 believe mental health care can improve overall quality of life, including boosting energy, strengthening relationships, and supporting caregiving responsibilities. Therapy isn’t about changing who you are — it’s about supporting who you want to be. Sign up for AARP® Online Therapy by BetterHelp now and get 30% off your first month of a BetterHelp subscription.*

The services are provided through BetterHelp and its independent licensed therapist, not AARP or its affiliates. BetterHelp pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. *Offer valid for new users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.

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Odds & Ends

💀 Your friendly neighborhood skeleton got an upgrade
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🤍 Nicole Kidman’s next role may be off-screen
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🧠 If you’ve saved $1M, learn ways to unlock your retirement income potential*
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🐮 A bison calf’s first moments on Earth, right beside mom

*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“Under cherry blossoms’ shade even those whom we don’t know are not strangers.”

– KOBAYASHI ISSA