Meteorologically, summer begins on June 1, and astronomically on June 20. For some people, though — including this writer — summer is ushered in when the first fireflies emerge after dusk, bringing light and memories of childhood nights spent outside. Unfortunately, firefly populations have been dwindling and their season shortening in recent years due to habitat loss and climate change. But there’s an easy way that we can all help: resisting the pull toward highly manicured lawns and instead leaving even just a corner of wilderness for the insects to thrive. Learn more about saving the fireflies.
The word “luxury” may conjure up images of silk robes, five-star resorts, and lavish soirees, but experiences and items don’t have to be extravagant to qualify as luxurious. Some of life’s little joys also fit the bill, and can offer mental health benefits to boot. “Incorporating little luxuries into your life is an easy ‘self-hack’ that prioritizes your well-being and enjoyment,” psychologist Robert Cuyler told Verywell Mind. “By indulging in small, meaningful pleasures, you can reduce stress, boost your mood, and cultivate a more positive outlook.” That happens in large part due to increases in dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that plays a role in several vital functions, including sleep, pain processing, and learning. So what counts as a little luxury? It could be a nightly ritual, delicious snack, or comfy item of clothing. The criteria is pretty broad, and it’s all dependent on you — read our article for some inspiration.
Together With Four Objects
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Four Objects already stands out as a beacon of light in the wasteful world of fast fashion, but the clothing brand’s Collectors’ model makes it even more unique. Through the program, collectors sign up for a subscription and then receive a luxurious piece from the thoughtfully designed core collection every three months. Collectors also get first dibs on special editions and new items, and free shipping, returns, and exchanges on all items. A little more on that returns policy: If you receive a garment that doesn’t work with your wardrobe, you have up to six months to send it back. Those pieces then go to 4Worn, Four Objects’ resale channel. Nice News readers can get $25 off, or $44 if you sign up to become a collector. Simply add the $44 gift card to your cart while shopping, and then use the code NiceNewsGWP at checkout.
Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, and while there are reasons to be wary of the technology, there’s also a lot of good that could come out of it. The latter point is exemplified by Alexis “Lexi” Bogan, a 21-year-old who lost her voice due to a life-threatening brain tumor. She has since regained the ability to communicate using an AI-generated voice clone. Doctors at Rhode Island’s Lifespan hospital group leveraged technology from OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT — to replicate Bogan’s voice using a 15-second recording of her talking as a teenager. This synthetic voice sounds remarkably like Bogan’s old one, and allows her to communicate more easily through an app on her phone. She told the Associated Press that it has helped boost her confidence “to somewhat where it was before all this happened.” She added: “Even though I don’t have my voice fully back, I have something that helps me find my voice again.” Neurosurgery resident Rohaid Ali said he sees Bogan as a “trailblazer” for the developing tech, which could greatly benefit millions of people living with speech impediments due to strokes, cancer, or neurodegenerative diseases.
Environment
Rice Farmers in Vietnam Found an Innovative Way to Reduce Methane Emissions
At Vo Van Van’s rice fields in Vietnam, the farmers are harvesting more sustainable rice, thanks in part to a secret weapon: drones that rain organic fertilizer on the seedlings. Aside from curbing labor costs, the machines ensure just the right amount of fertilizer is applied, as too much can cause the soil to release methane, per the Associated Press. The drones are just one piece of the mission to create “high quality, low emission rice.” Van also uses a less water-intensive irrigation process called alternate wetting and drying, and rather than burning the “rice stubble” (and thus polluting the air), he collects and sells it for livestock feed or growing straw mushrooms. Each of these changes benefits both the planet and Van, as going green has helped him save money and time. He told the outlet costs are down despite having the same yield — and customers will pay more for his organic rice. See photos of Van’s environmentally friendly fields.
There’s a herd of 170 bison in Romaniathat could help capture nearly 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, roughly equivalent to the emissions of 43,000 cars.
The Liberty, a new medical device approved for use in the U.K., allows cancer patients to conduct blood tests at home, potentially reducing hospital visits.
Better late than never: Claude Monet’s paintingsof the river Thames will be displayed in London this fall, nearly 120 years after the show was postponed.
iNaturalist App Interested in being a “citizen scientist” in your spare time? With iNaturalist, you have an opportunity to learn about nature, record your observations, collaborate with experts, and support research efforts. It’s both an app (available on both Androids and iPhones) and an online community of nature lovers looking to make the most of their time outdoors.
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Inspiring Story
Roman, the roaming hound
Mark Farmer encountered a starving stray dog on his South Carolina farm and gained the frightened pup’s trust before eventually welcoming him into his home and family. “I knew right away that if he let me I was going to help him,” Farmer told Today. “And he let me.” See how the canine is recovering.
Photo of the Day
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/J. Schnittman and B. Powell
Have you ever wanted to plunge into a black hole? Maybe not, but now you can experience what it might look like thanks to NASA’s new immersive visualization. The image you see above is a still from the video, which you can watch in full here.
Give Back While Wearing Something You Love
In addition to helping customers feel good in their clothes with its high-quality, inclusively sized collections, Four Objects is on a mission to do good. The sustainable brand is women-owned, women-led, self-funded, and a certified B Corp, and 4% of the proceeds from every sale gets donated to the communities who produced the garment. Sign up with the link below and use the promo code LOVE25 to get $25 off your first piece.
