Must Reads

• It’s happening! Meet the astronauts headed to the moon as soon as Sunday

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• ​These neighboring states are the new population growth hot spots

Culture

When Life Gave a German Farm 9M Pounds of Potatoes, It Shared the Spuds for Free

Now that’s a lot of potatoes. This photo shows a German farm’s potato harvest surplus, which topped 9 million pounds and prompted a massive giveaway last month. Truckloads of spuds were donated to soup kitchens, schools, zoos, churches, Ukrainian aid efforts, and distribution sites for Berlin residents.
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Dubbed “the great potato rescue,” the bonanza aimed to prevent food waste after Germany’s largest potato crop in 25 years overwhelmed markets and sent costs down. So the farm, Osterland Agrar, teamed up with a Berlin newspaper and the nonprofit search engine Ecosia to set up 174 sites around the city, where people could stock up on tubers.
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“At first I thought it was some AI-generated fake news when I saw it on social media,” Astrid Marz, a teacher, told The Guardian. “There were pictures of huge mountains of ‘earth apples’ with the instruction to come and get them for free!” Another local described one of the sites as having “a really party-like atmosphere,” with people helping one another haul their freebies while swapping cooking tips.
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If reading this is making you hungry, check out this thorough list of potato recipes, including how to boil ’em, mash ’em, and stick ’em in a stew.

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Environment

Svalbard Polar Bears Are Healthier Now Than 25 Years Ago, Scientists Say

Polar bears play a uniquely crucial role in the Arctic ecosystem — and thankfully, one population in particular may be in better physical health than 25 years ago. A new study suggests that despite sea ice losses caused by climate change around the Norwegian island of Svalbard, the mammals’ fat reserves have increased.
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Previously, scientists recorded that the temperature in the Barents Sea region, which lies southeast of Svalbard, has gone up by as much as 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1980. But the Barents Sea population has remained relatively stable since at least 2004, when a census counted about 2,650 individuals. So a research team at the Norwegian Polar Institute looked into the reasons for the population’s constancy.
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The researchers evaluated changes in the bears’ body composition index, or BCI — an indicator of fat reserves and body condition — compared to the number of ice-free days in the Barents Sea region across the 27-year period. After the year 2000, the animals’ mean BCI increased, even though the number of ice-free days went up by about 100 at a rate of around four days per year.
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That increase could be credited to the polar bears eating land-based prey like reindeer and walrus, whose populations have grown due to recent hunting protections. The researchers also believe that the bears may be hunting certain prey, like ringed seals, more efficiently, as sea ice loss has forced them onto smaller areas of ice. “They’ve always been able to do the best of the situation and find new ways to do things,” lead author Jon Aars told The New York Times.

Humanity

E Is for Empathy: In Ireland, Some School Lessons Include a Baby

Babies are many (wonderful) things, but subtle isn’t usually one of them. They smile, frown, laugh, and cry with their whole faces — and that emotional transparency is exactly why some schools in Ireland are inviting infants into classrooms to help students recognize and talk about feelings.
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Called Roots of Empathy, the wholesome charity program runs in 110 schools and involves a parent and their baby visiting the same classroom every three weeks throughout the year. Students gather together to follow the baby’s development and pick up on emotional cues. With guidance from a trained instructor, they then discuss how babies grow, learn to name their own feelings, and consider how others feel.
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“You see the immediate impact during the lesson,” Mike Byrne, a principal at one of the participating schools, told RTÉ news, adding: “You can see them smile with the baby, get sad when the baby is sad, and that is real empathy in action.” Hear from one of the students about what he’s learned (it’s worth the watch).

In Other News

1. Genetics influence lifespan more than previously thought, a recent study found (read more)
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2. A new $1 coin honors Polly Cooper, an Oneida heroine who helped the patriot army during the Revolutionary War (read more)
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3. After 143 years, pieces of a long-lost ship that once carried oranges resurfaced on the New Jersey shore (read more)
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4. ICYMI, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam after his Australian Open win (read more)
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5. Jaguars meow, too: New camera trap recordings found the wild cats make house cat-like sounds (read more)

Inspiring Story

Light after the storm

In times of crisis — be it a wildfire, hurricane, or personal emergency — it can feel like everything is falling apart. That’s why Silke Knebel founded a volunteer-run network offering free childcare to families affected by disasters. “We just want to be there when children and parents need us,” the single mom said.

Photo of the Day

A rare snowstorm blanketed the Carolinas over the weekend, and many residents (like these University of South Carolina students) wasted no time bundling up and making the most of it — even a local reporter got in on a snowball fight. See more pics of the snowy scenes.

1440: News As It Should Be

News today is often masked with bias. 1440 cuts through the clutter and gives you unbiased, fact-based news in just five minutes. The team scours over 100 sources to cover politics, sports, business, world affairs, and more in one daily newsletter. It’s the easiest way to stay informed on what matters — and it’s free.

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Odds & Ends

❤️ Waffle Houses are getting spruced up for Valentine’s Day
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🐧 How to embrace your inner penguin​
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💫 An at-home routine for addressing dark spots*
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🎢 Thrill-seekers, this roller coaster has your name on it
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​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“Every no takes me closer to a yes.”

– BESSIE COLEMAN