If you have a kid in your life who always has their head in a book, this is for you. Barnes & Noble is offering a Summer Reading Program for children in grades one through six — and the prize is a free book. All participants have to do is read eight books and then complete a reading log to bring into any Barnes & Noble store in July and August. Happy reading!
Must Reads
Get the scoop on the first new Peanuts musical special in over three decades
A great white shark swimming off the Florida coast was caught on video — check out the rare footage (if you dare)
Environment
Breda, Netherlands, Is the EU’s First National Park City
Wirestock/ iStock
Last month, we shared the exciting news that Chattanooga, Tennessee, is North America’s first National Park City. Now, the Dutch city of Breda is officially the first in the European Union to earn the same distinction. Making the short but mighty list is no easy feat, as the cities must show a community-driven effort to prioritize sustainability, biodiversity, and accessible green spaces. For Breda, which is made up of 60% green space, this commitment is seen in its decade-long wetland restoration work, garden projects, green streets, and more. “I absolutely loved exploring Breda and learning about all the things they are doing to make their city greener, healthier, and wilder — from restoring a river through the middle of the city to innovative community food growing programs, tiny forests set up by schools, wildlife-friendly gardens, and public art,” Daniel Raven-Ellison, founder of the National Park City Foundation, told Euronews. To date, there are only four National Park Cities in the world, but that could soon change. “London and Breda are the first National Park Cities in Europe, but there’s no shortage of others that want and need to be greener, healthier, wilder, cooler and fairer,” Raven-Ellison added.
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New Tech Might Give Us More Time to Eat Produce Before It Goes Bad
Bogdan Kurylo/ iStock
Maybe the strawberries were tucked too far back in the fridge or you just didn’t feel like cutting that cucumber, but we’ve all likely found ourselves throwing out produce that has gone bad before we got around to eating it. To help people avoid this all too familiar scenario, MIT researchers invented a new strategy to extend the shelf life of harvested produce: injecting it with melatonin. While melatonin is best known for helping us sleep, it’s also a naturally occurring hormone in many plants that regulates stress, growth, and development. So researchers used biodegradable silk microneedles to deliver a precise amount of melatonin into pak choy (a particularly perishable leafy vegetable) and found it extended the shelf life by four days at room temperature and 10 days when refrigerated — all without damaging the produce itself. “This is the first time that we’ve been able to apply these microneedles to extend the shelf life of a fresh-cut crop,” the study’s senior author Benedetto Marelli told MIT News, adding: “The food we waste could feed about 1.6 billion people. Even in the U.S., this approach could one day expand access to healthy foods.”
Science
Never Doubt a Flamingo: Scientists Finally Understand Why the Birds Eat So Peculiarly
KenCanning/ iStock
If you’ve never watched a flamingo eat, you’re in for a treat. The iconic pink birds have a peculiar dining ritual that involves turning their heads upside down in shallow water, rapidly opening and closing their bills, and shuffling their webbed feet to grab nibbles of crustaceans, insects, algae, and other small aquatic creatures. “All of their feeding behavior is so weird,” Steven Whitfield, director of terrestrial and wetlands conservation at the Audubon Nature Institute, told NPR. Until now, it hasn’t been apparent why exactly the birds take this eccentric route to get a meal, but a recent study found it has a purpose after all. Researchers found that flamingos are “active predators” (not passive filter feeders) that use physics to their advantage with each unique move. For example, bobbing their heads creates mini tornadoes that bring particles from the bottom toward the water’s surface — and chattering their bills upside down sucks the food into their beaks. Even the waddling is intentional, as their webbed toes help generate vortices that funnel food toward their heads. “What they’re basically doing is playing with fluid dynamics — using the beak, using their legs, using their heads and necks,” said study author Saad Bhamla. He added that flamingos could have a thing or two to teach humans, including chemists who want to better understand how to filter water through membranes.
Global Good
🇬🇧 England is rolling out the first gonorrhea vaccine, marking a “landmark moment for sexual health” (read more)
🇺🇬 Step into the world of Ugandan mud wrestling, fueled by hope and TikTok fans (read more)
🇮🇳 Big cat boom: In just five years, the lion population in Gujarat, India, has jumped from 674 to 891 (read more)
🇵🇱 A handwritten love letter from 1959 was found in a bottle on a Polish beach by a pair of 10-year-olds (read more)
🏴 One of Scotland’s last print shops may get a second chance, thanks to locals rallying to revive history (read more)
Something We Love
Funboy Pool Floats Many see Memorial Day Weekend as the unofficial start of summer — and what’s more summery than lounging in a pool? These pool floats come in seemingly endless styles, from the classic inner tubes to massive “leisure islands” and fun, unconventional shapes (it’s currently sold out, but I have the inflatable airplane). – Natalie Stone, Managing Editor
After rediscovering her love of art in her 80s, 93-year-old Bertha Lunzer is checking off a major life accomplishment: sharing her work with the public. Check out one of her paintings on display at a special exhibit in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Photo of the Day
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
New York’s Fleet Week kicked off on Wednesday with the Parade of Ships sailing into New York Harbor and up the Hudson River. The annual event brings U.S. Navy sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen to the Big Apple, giving the public a chance to meet service members, tour ships, attend military demonstrations, and more.
Need a Summer Uniform? Athleta’s Got You Covered
Athleta just launched its Memorial Day sale, and you’re going to want in: 40% off must-have styles like tanks, tees, dresses, and shorts built for movement. Plus, save up to 60% on sale items you’ll live in all season long. Whether you're hitting the trail or heading to brunch, these pieces are made to move with you.
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Up This Weekend
Memorial Day: The federal holiday on Monday honors all service members who died in U.S. wars — learn how you can get a free American flag from Ace Hardware stores this weekend
Indianapolis 500:Tune in on Sunday to catch the annual car racing event, held in Speedway, Indiana
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling: One of the more unique yearly spectacles, this U.K. competition is exactly as it sounds — participants must chase a 7-pound cheese wheel down a steep hill
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
Odds & Ends
🍩 JetBlue runs on Dunkin’ — and this plane proves it
