Nice News is hosting our first book club meeting today! At 5 p.m. ET, join us in conversation with Dr. Shauna Shapiro as she discusses her book, Good Morning, I Love You, with moderator Erin Weed. The free, virtual event, sponsored by Yoga Wake Up, will also allow for questions from the audience. You won’t want to miss it — RSVP and get info on how to tune in here.
Must Reads
Heads up, bookworms: There’s a big difference between reading on your phone and using e-readers
First 3D-Printed Train Station Hits Milestone in Japan
West Japan Railway Group
It’s a 3D-printed world we’re living in: The technology is being used to make neighborhoods, hearts, humidifiers, you name it. Just last month, the world’s first 3D-printed train station hit a milestone in Japan, with a construction team managing to put the pieces together in about two and a half hours. Replacing an old wooden structure, the new 3D-printed station, which measures around 108 square feet, is located in the Wakayama Prefecture, about 60 miles outside of Osaka. While the roof and walls were produced by Japanese housing maker Serendix, the formwork was made using mortar with a 3D printer, according to The Japan Times. Reinforcing steel and concrete were also added to ensure the building has the earthquake resistance of concrete homes. In addition to its time-saving benefits, 3D printing has the potential to reduce waste, costs, and labor needs. The latter is especially relevant in Japan, where the workforce is shrinking due to the aging population. As JR West said in a statement, “With Japan facing a declining and aging workforce, introducing innovative technologies such as 3D printing will facilitate the modernization of railway infrastructure planning.” The station is scheduled to open in July and may soon be a model for more 3D-printed structures in other parts of the country, as JR West considers using the same technology to reconstruct additional aging station buildings, per a press release.
Bitcoin Made Easy: The ATM for Digital Cash
Hesitant about jumping into Bitcoin’s price volatility? Bitcoin Depot (Nasdaq: BTM) offers a different way to invest in the growing crypto market. It’s the world’s largest Bitcoin ATM operator, with over 8,400 machines across North America and Australia. Why is this important? Think of Bitcoin Depot as providing the essential tools for the future of finance — the “picks and shovels” of the digital gold rush. The business doesn’t ride the Bitcoin price rollercoaster; it earns from Bitcoin ATM usage. And as the biggest operator, Bitcoin Depot is leading the way. Yet, Bitcoin ATMs are still relatively rare, making up about 1.2% of all cash ATMs globally.1 This suggests plenty of room for growth, and Bitcoin Depot is already expanding into new markets, like Australia. It’s a straightforward way to participate in the growing interest in cryptocurrency through a physical network you can understand.
“No One Should Face Aging Alone”: Why Health Providers Are Writing Storytelling Prescriptions
Life Story Club
We’ve written about nature and poetry prescriptions —- and now there’s another prescription that doesn’t fit into a bottle: StoryRX. In collaboration with the Brooklyn-based nonprofit Life Story Club, health care teams are encouraging older adults at risk of social isolation to join a weekly virtual call centered on swapping stories. The facilitator poses questions like, “What was the greatest historical event you lived through?” and “Did your parents have a story about you they loved to tell?” Each participant gets a turn to not only open up about their life but also form connections by hearing others’ stories. Storytelling may be the difference between someone feeling alone or feeling part of something bigger than themselves. “Life Story Club was created to address a gap in our country by connecting older adults in NYC to share stories and build meaningful friendships,” Life Story Club executive director Jenn Wong told Good Good Good. “No one should face aging alone, and it is so important to bring a sense of belonging and connection to older adults.” The results speak for themselves: 82% of the 1,200 participants (ages 60 and up) reported feeling less lonely, 95% felt supported by their club, and 92% felt a sense of community. As one participant said in a testimonial: “This keeps me alive. Waiting every week for Friday keeps me alive. I have so many stories to share! I wish there were two Fridays in a week.”
Culture
Oscar-Winning “Flow” Sparks an Uptick in Black Cat Adoptions
Janus Films
It’s no coincidence that black cats are often the most overlooked at animal shelters and tend to be associated with superstitions about bad luck. But one fictional kitty seems to be helping change that outdated narrative. Enter: the brave and oh-so-charming black cat from the Oscar-winning movie Flow.
For anyone who’s seen the animated film, it’s no mystery why. The story is told from the feline’s perspective as it’s joined by a small menagerie of animals to overcome various struggles. There’s no dialogue, but we’d argue it’s impossible not to root for the cat — a feeling that might just be translating from the screen to real life. PetHelpful reports that shelter staff and volunteers are noticing “a significant increase in black cat adoptions recently.” And in TikTok videos (like this one) people are sharing anecdotes of how they were inspired to adopt black cats after watching the film. The movie is even changing the way some refer to black cats, as Brazilian newspaper Metrópoles reported that people are calling the felines “Flow-like” rather than black. Whatever they’re called, it’s thrilling to see the feline’s luck turn around, at last.
In Other News
The enigmas of physics may soon be better understood, thanks to an “atom smasher” project (read more)
In a historic court ruling, Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation earned protections in Ecuador (read more)
A submarine found a camera that was set up 55 years ago in hopes of photographing the Loch Ness Monster (read more)
The FDA approved a new drug to treat a rare blood clotting disorder (read more)
Good eye! A man spotted a rare Viking arm bracelet in Sweden that may have been lost 1,000 years ago (read more)
Inspiring Story
#NoMoreTrashBags
Growing up in the foster care system, Rob Scheer carried everything he owned in a trash bag. Years later, he and his husband adopted five children navigating the foster system — and they too had stories of piling their belongings in plastic bags. Feeling called to change that, Scheer and his family founded the nonprofit Comfort Cases to provide foster youth with backpacks and luggage. “Children in foster care are the responsibility of the entire community,” Scheer said. “Investing in their future is essential for the betterment of society.”
Photo of the Day
DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images
Are April’s showers such that you might need a pair of these enormous rain boots? The oversized shoes are being featured at Art Paris, a modern and contemporary art fair that began today with 170 exhibitors from 25 different countries.
6 Reasons Why Avid Travelers Should Join the Bonner Wine Club
For those of us drawn to discovery — new places, new cultures, new flavors — wine should be more than just a drink. It should be an adventure. That’s exactly what the exclusive Bonner Private Wine Partnership delivers: a global passport tucked inside every bottle, ready to take you places most people will never see. Click below to learn six reasons why you should consider joining.
