Spooky season celebrants, we have an idea for your weekend plans. Disney is re-releasing Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas in theaters across the country, starting today and running through the end of the month. Bonus: Next Friday, the company will also bring Hocus Pocus back to the big screen. Get more info on showtimes and tickets.
Must Reads
Enjoy long walks? Then this unique form of slow travel is for you
What Happens in the Brain During a Bittersweet Moment? The Neuroscience of Mixed Emotions
Even in their most straightforward states, emotions are complicated. So it’s no surprise that experiencing multiple feelings at once is an even more complex state of affairs. A bittersweet goodbye party can bring about both pain and joy, for example, while a misbehaving yet adorable child can evoke both frustration and amusement. In a recent study out of the University of Southern California, neuroscientists played participants a short animated film selected for its ability to conjure positive and negative emotions simultaneously. The team sought to evaluate how these mixed feelings are processed in the brain — specifically, whether they’re associated with a unique pattern of neural activity or if people merely “flip-flop” between two states. “There’s a certain sophistication that’s required to sit with a mixed emotion and to allow yourself to feel positive and negative at the same time,” co-author Jonas Kaplan explained in a news release. “Looking into that more, exploring the benefits of being able to accept [positivity] and negativity at the same time within yourself, is something we think is worth study.” Watch the short film and learn what the researchers uncovered.
Together With LMNT
The Missing Piece to Healthy Hydration
We’ve all heard the “drink eight glasses of water a day” rule. But healthy hydration is about more than just water. When you sweat you lose both water and sodium, which is why simply drinking water isn’t always enough to keep you properly hydrated. The good news? You can add in electrolytes with LMNT. LMNT is a tasty electrolyte drink mix backed by science. It combines the perfect amount of sodium, potassium, and magnesium to keep you feeling and performing your best all day long. Plus, LMNT has no sugar, artificial colors, or other dodgy ingredients to hold you back. Nice News readers get a free sample pack with any order.
A Stolen Andy Warhol Print Is Back in the Right Hands
An Andy Warhol print stolen from a Los Angeles residence three years ago has been recovered by the FBI. Court documents indicate the thief and a pawn shop owner attempted to sell the $175,000 artwork at auction, ARTnews reports. That’s when an employee of the auction house contacted Phil Selway, the CEO of a West Hollywood gallery, for his opinion of the piece. Immediately, gallery staffers made the connection that the print looked like the stolen Warhol and notified the auction house and the FBI. “We wanted them to know something was going on there,” Selway told the outlet. The recovery marks a relatively happy ending for the valuable print made in 1987, depicting a former Soviet Union leader and one of only 46 copies. “Each one is unique, making them much more one-of-a-kind and valued by collectors,” Selway said.
Environment
Inside the De-Extinction Mission to Revive Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers
When a species is extinct, it’s gone for good — right? Maybe not, according to a genetic engineering company on a “de-extinction” mission to bring animals back from the proverbial grave. While this may sound eerily similar to the plot of Jurassic Park, the species we’re talking about today is the ivory-billed woodpecker, not a velociraptor. Colossal Biosciences, a U.S.-based biotechnology company, is aiming to reintroduce these unique birds to their natural habitat as early as 2025. Per ABC News, researchers plan to sequence the genome of the lost birds, known for their mohawk-like feathers and long bills, as well as the genomes of all living related species. They will then attempt to edit the living species’ genes to bring the woodpeckers back. Once native to forests in the southern U.S., populations of ivory-billed woodpeckers started to decline in the 1800s due to human settlement, and continued to dwindle from there, with the last uncontested sighting occurring in April 1944, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. While the team’s goal is to revive the species, it’s also not losing sight of the importance of preventing animals from disappearing in the first place. Much of the research Colossal Biosciences has gathered can be useful for general avian conservation efforts. “We’re always focused on, ‘How does de-extinction play this important role in the broader scheme?’’ Matt James, the company’s chief animal officer, told the outlet, adding, “It’s really trying to restore species we’ve lost while trying to keep species from going extinct.”
🇬🇷 After decades of conservation efforts, Greece is seeing a record number of sea turtle nests.
Something We Love
Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick This cult-favorite product has powered me through 18 weeks of hot and humid marathon training. Despite the name, it works all over the body in addition to the thighs, and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated rather than irritated and chafed. And for guys, the Megaman Friction Fighter gets the job done as well. The company’s body positive approach to everything it does is just the cherry on top. — Ally Mauch, Associate Editor
Once a week at a prison in Ireland, a confined outdoor walkway doubles as a jogging path where inmates can break a sweat in a timed run. The hope is that the activity propels them into a healthier chapter of life, in and outside of the prison. Governor Gary Milling, who sometimes participates in the runs, explained: “We realize that we’ve got to do something different — rehabilitation is the key.”
Photo of the Day
The absolute best way to watch the northern lights may require a spacecraft, but as you can see from this dazzling image, we’ve got a pretty spectacular view from Earth, too. The photo shows the Milky Way and the aurora borealis dancing over California’s Eastern Sierra, a rare place to spot the phenomenon.
Hydration Made Simple and Delicious With LMNT
With a science-backed ratio of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, LMNT has your electrolyte needs covered. And we guarantee you’ll find a flavor you love. Try fan-favorites Citrus Salt or Raspberry Salt, get spicy with Mango Chili, or mix Chocolate Salt into your morning coffee for a mean mocha. Which will you choose?