The Guardian asked authors, critics, and academics around the world: What are the best novels of all time? The result is an interactive list of 100 books representing “the greatest literature ever published in English.” Check it out to see how many you’ve read.
It’s gardening season! Read these tips to prevent injuries from digging, pruning, and planting
Health
Future Hearing Aids May Filter Out Voices in a Crowded Room
Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute
Hearing aids have come a long way in the past few years alone, becoming more affordable, more cutting-edge, more comfortable, and even more sparkly. But one thing that can still be challenging for many users is picking out a single voice in a room full of others that are just as loud — an issue scientists refer to as the “cocktail party problem.” Researchers are trying to help fix that via a “brain-controlled hearing aid” that analyzes brain waves to select which voice the hearing system should amplify (rather than amplifying all of them). To get us closer to accomplishing this sci-fi-esque feat, a recent study built upon previous research that found individuals’ brain waves show a “signature” that indicates who they want to be listening to in a crowd. In the new study, scientists tested out a brain-controlled hearing system by simulating a “cocktail party” at four patients’ hospital bedsides. Up to 90% of the time, the system was able to detect which conversation the person wanted to hear. “Their comprehension went up and their listening effort [went] down,” author Nima Mesgarani told NPR. This work will hopefully help pave the path for a future hearing aid that can seamlessly pick out voices from a crowd. That’s no small thing, especially as it’s common for users to not wear hearing aids in crowded spaces due to the amplification of so many voices. And research shows that hearing aids can improve much more than hearing — they may also help wearers reduce their risk of falling, delay dementia, and live longer.
Together With America’s Test Kitchen
Cook Smarter This Summer
Between the good weather, peak season produce, and ample opportunities for gathering, summer is the perfect time to level up in the kitchen. And America’s Test Kitchen is here to guide you every step of the way, whether you’re grilling for a crowd, mastering a fresh pasta salad, or finally baking the perfect fruit pie. ATK gives home cooks access to 30-plus years of rigorously tested recipes, step-by-step techniques, equipment reviews, and cooking science that actually explains the “why” behind every method. No guesswork. No wasted ingredients. Just reliable results every time you cook. Start your next cooking project today with a two-week free trial, exclusive to Nice News readers.
A Real Pick-Me-Up: Litter Is Decreasing Across the US, Report Finds
JohnFScott—E+/Getty Images
Environmental progress is happening right under our feet:A recent reportfound thatlitter declined by 34% between 2020and 2025 in the United States. The study from nonprofit Keep America Beautiful found that the amount of trash along roadways and waterways dropped from 152 pieces per resident to 96. It also reported on attitudes toward litter, with 90% of those surveyed saying they feel personally accountable for reducing it and 93% agreeing it’s a shared community responsibility. “This study proves what we’ve always believed: Litter is solvable when people, systems, and partners work together,” Jennifer Lawson, the nonprofit’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The declines show us what’s possible when communities act with urgency and commitment.” There’s still room for improvement, particularly in getting the word out about reducing litter (less than one-third of respondents recalled encountering litter prevention messaging). But the overall takeaway comes from David Scott, the SVP of data and research at Keep America Beautiful: “Litter tells the story of how we live. Right now, it’s telling a story of progress.”
Culture
Iconic Flower Sculpture Springs to Life in Maryland
Robb Hill—The Washington Post/Getty Images
The Glenstone museum in Potomac, Maryland, is particularly vibrant right now. The institution completed its annual weeklong installation of more than 24,000 flowers onto Jeff Koons’ 37-foot-tall “Split-Rocker” sculpture. Inspired by children’s toys, half of the sculpture resembles a pony’s head, the other half a dinosaur’s. Every spring, the living artwork is adorned with a selected mix of flowers, like petunias, marigolds, and zinnias, which are assigned to specific sections (think: paint by numbers but with flowers). Beneath the blooms is a computer-controlled, internal-drip irrigation system that tracks which zones need more or less water. In other words, there’s an art to keeping the art alive. “I’m always thinking, ‘What plant’s going to survive in which space?’” Chris Ryan, a horticulturist who has tended the piece for over a decade, said in a video on the museum’s website. “So every year, we have to go back and look and see how things performed and then select new varieties accordingly. We learn every year.” Check out more pics from this year’s installation and see how last year’s changed over time, from May to August.
In Other News
The largest global biodiversity census yielded more than 3 million wildlife observations over four days (read more)
In a landmark deal, New York’s Neue Galerie will mergewith the nearby Met Museum in 2028 (read more)
A college student will be the first woman welder to represent the U.S. at “the Olympics of the skilled trades” (read more)
Researchers are studying elusive giant sharks in Puget Sound that have existed since before dinosaurs(read more)
Anderson Cooper signed off from 60 Minutes after over 20 years with the program — watch his heartfelt farewell (read more)
Inspiring Story
Answering the call
A California whale watching tour recently turned into a rescue mission. After detecting a distress call, the tour boat changed course to help two fishermen stranded on top of a capsized boat about six miles off the coast of Monterey. Luckily, the pair was uninjured and brought to safety just in time, as weather conditions later took a turn for the worse. Watch the incredible rescue.
Photo of the Day
NPS photo/ O. Seweryn
A superbloom is turning California’s Redwood National Park into a sea of purple. The lush growth comes from purple riverbank lupine flowers, which are blooming “in abundance” two years after a prescribed fire. “It appears that fire helps the hard-coated seeds germinate, leading to the gorgeous sights visitors have been enjoying this month,” the park wrote in a caption on Instagram.
Elevate Your Meals With Stylish Bakeware From Quince
Trusted by home cooks and chefs alike, this set of three Staub baking dishes covers all your cooking needs, from everyday meals to weekend dinner parties. The versatile pieces are microwave, freezer, broiler, and oven safe. Made from durable stoneware, they’re also scratch and thermal shock resistant so you can continue using them year after year. Bonus points for looking great in any kitchen.
