Must Reads

• Meet the dozens of adorable gecko species at the Gecko Gallery NYC
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• Astronomers spotted a “strange new object” in the Milky Way that’s emitting X-rays and radio waves

Culture

Trader Joe’s Ranked as the Most Trustworthy Brand in the US

Trader Joe’s is known for having a cult following, with customers regularly braving its small parking lots to snag their favorite affordable treats, produce, and flowers. And there’s data to explain that loyalty: A new Axios Harris Poll revealed that Trader Joe’s is the most trustworthy brand in the U.S. this year, beating out other top contenders like Patagonia, Microsoft, and Toyota.
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After researchers determined the 100 “most visible” brands from a prior survey, they polled 16,585 people to develop the ranking based on nine dimensions of reputation, including ethics, character, and products and services. They then sent another survey to a smaller sample asking contextual questions about brands and politics. This is the third time Trader Joe’s has ranked in the top five since the poll began in 2019.
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Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema posited that this year’s rankings might indicate a move toward “an era of post-polarization,” adding: “The absolute dominant priority and attention has been focused by the consumer on value.” Check out the rest of the top 10 most reputable brands in America.

Together With Legion M

One of Morgan Freeman’s Best-Reviewed Movies Is Owned by Fans

Hollywood said no. Fifty thousand fans said yes. The result? My Dead Friend Zoe — a film so well-reviewed (95% on the Tomatometer) that it ranks among the best in Morgan Freeman’s career. The movie was developed, financed, and produced by Legion M, a studio owned by fans. The company is opening the gates of Hollywood to give you a seat at the table and early-stage stock.
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Legion M is more than just a studio — it’s a revolution, demonstrating what a fan-owned company can do. And this is your chance to get in on the action. What impossible dream should Legion M tackle next? Become a shareholder and own a piece of it. Just be sure to invest before the round ends Tuesday!​

This is a paid advertisement for Legion M’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.legionm.com.

Environment

Why Massachusetts Scientists Will Tag Sharks With Cameras This Summer

Forget shark week — it’s shark season in New England. The first great white sighting of the season was confirmed May 11 when a seal with a shark bite washed ashore on Nantucket in Massachusetts, and for the second year in a row, researchers in the state will be using an innovative method to help keep swimmers safe: sticking cameras on sharks’ backs.
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This summer, scientists from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy plan to deploy camera tags to see views from sharks’ perspectives and track their locations, environments, and movements. A day after sharks are tagged, the devices detach, float to the surface, and send their location to scientists for retrieval. The resulting info is then transmitted to the nonprofit’s Sharktivity app, which beachgoers can use to keep an eye on (and stay away from) areas with confirmed sightings.
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“We’re using the latest and greatest in shark spy technology, as I like to call it, to learn more about the movements and the behaviors of these animals here when they’re off of Cape Cod as well as when they move north into Canadian waters,” Megan Winton, senior scientist at the Conservancy, told CBS News. See a video of the “shark’s-eye view.”​

Science

What Was the First Human Pest? Scientists Pinpoint the Likely Culprit

Our planet is home to around 1 million known insect species, and about 1%-3% of them are considered pests, per the National Pesticide Information Center. But which one has been bugging humans the longest? A team of scientists led by two Virginia Tech researchers think they’ve figured it out: In a study published Wednesday, they suggest that bed bugs were the first human pest.
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The bugs began their pesky relationship with people when they hopped off a bat and attached themselves to a Neanderthal around 60,000 years ago, the authors say — and they’ve stuck around their human hosts ever since. The findings indicate that their human-associated lineage followed a “similar demographic pattern” as humans.
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By studying the historical and evolutionary symbiotic relationship between humans and bed bugs, scientists may be able to generate future models that predict the spread of pests and diseases under urban population expansion, and identify the traits that co-evolved in both humans and pests.
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In a previous study, the team also discovered a gene mutation that could contribute to an insecticide resistance the bugs developed after the introduction of DDT — and now, they’re looking further into bed bugs’ genomic evolution and its relevance to that resistance. In the meantime, follow these at-home tips to prevent or get rid of bed bugs.

In Other News

1. Ancient DNA helped identify a new group of hunter-gatherers living in the Americas 6,000 years ago (read more)
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2. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams emerged from a 45-day recovery following their return to Earth (read more)
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3. A “breakthrough model” may help predict underwater landslides and improve the resilience of offshore facilities (read more)
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4. An important update for those who cut it close at the airport: United is changing its check-in cutoff time (read more)
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5. This 2-ton elephant seal galumphed through a South Africa town before specialists returned him to the ocean (read more)

Because Weekend x Nice News

You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile​
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​May 31 is National Smile Day, and we’re celebrating by announcing the latest piece in our merch collab with Because Weekend. This “Smile” tote is the perfect accessory to complement your own grin — we hope you carry it with joy.

Inspiring Story

A movement sparked by kindness

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After thousands of children lost their toys (and homes) in the January LA wildfires, 9-year-old Logan wanted to help victims in his Eaton community, so he decided to donate his Xbox — and his act of kindness sparked a nationwide movement. His mom, Samantha, then created the nonprofit Altadena Boys, its name inspired by similar organization Altadena Girls, and what started as a distribution center providing toys, clothes, and haircuts has expanded into a safe space that offers activities, holds workshops, and helps with job opportunities. And Samantha is “so proud” of her son who started it all: Hear from Logan.​

Photo of the Day

The Scripps National Spelling Bee got a 2025 winner fit for the organization’s 100th anniversary. Faizan Zaki, last year’s runner-up, took home the trophy on Thursday, triumphantly falling to the ground upon correctly spelling “éclaircissement” (definition: a clearing up of something obscure). The 13-year-old Texan certainly had the spelling chops to win, but he doesn’t fit the mold of the typical champion — calm, controlled, slow to spell. In fact, Faizan’s unbridled enthusiasm and speed almost cost him the win. “I’m definitely going to be having nightmares about that tonight,” he said afterward, per the Associated Press.
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But his unconventional approach is part of his winning spirit. “He’s crazy. He’s having a good time, and he’s doing what he loves, which is spelling,” said one of his coaches, Sam Evans. Added dad Zaki Anwar: “He’s the GOAT.”

As College Apps Get More Competitive, Empowerly Is the Tool Students Need

According to a recent Common App report, the 2024-2025 college application cycle saw a 4% increase in the number of applicants and a 6% rise in total applications submitted compared to the previous year. More students plus more applications equals even more competition in the college application process — but Empowerly can help. The admissions counseling program supports students in building a competitive profile for college and for life. In 2024, 98% of Empowerly graduates got into a top-100 U.S. university.

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Odds & Ends

🍞 Would you eat this 5,000-year-old bread?
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🎤 A big band is bringing small concerts back
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🏋️ How’s your financial fitness?*
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🍨 Baskin-Robbins + Trolli = double the nostalgia

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*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“There’s no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.”

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– ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT