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Friday • February 2, 2024
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It’s here again: Groundhog Day! The unofficial holiday, which has its roots in the Christian celebration of Candlemas, stipulates that if famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, we’ll have six more weeks of winter. If he didn’t, an early spring is in our future. The tradition as we know it was first recorded in a Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, newspaper in 1886, though it was likely going on in some form long before that. Learn more about the history and click here to see if Phil saw his shadow.
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Science
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| Scientists Uncover Why Moths Seem to Be Attracted to Light — And How Humans Can Help Them |
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Fairfax Media via Getty Images
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The common phrase “like a moth to a flame” refers to the phenomenon of moths being uncontrollably drawn to light, often at their own detriment. The concept is so well known it even appears in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. But until now, we haven’t known the reasoning behind the curious behavior.
In a study published this week in Nature Communications, entomologists suggest that moths are not actually drawn to artificial light, as many have assumed, but rather get trapped by it when flying past. For millennia, nocturnal insects would tilt their backs to the brightest light source, the moon, which helped them fly level and upward, lead author Sam Fabian explained to The Guardian.
The relatively modern introduction of artificial light has confused them, though. If they tilt their backs toward a lamp, for example, it will send them into an endless loop around it (a scene most are familiar with). Within this research is a lesson for humans: We can help moths by being thoughtful about the lighting we place outside our homes.
“What I think this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. If you are going to have lights at night, you really want them to be shrouded and not chucking loads of light out sideways, and especially not upward into the atmosphere,” Fabian suggested.
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Reach Your Financial Goals in 2024
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Make the most of 2024 with a credit card that will help you reach your financial goals this year. Whether you’re looking to wipe out burdensome debt or finance a large purchase, the right card is key — and Wise Bread can help you find it.
The site’s experts have rounded up some of the best options for you to compare, all with 0% interest until 2025 and no annual fee. Plus, each card comes with a welcome offer worth $200 or more, so you’ll be set up for success right off the bat.
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*Please support our sponsors! They help us keep Nice News free. ♡
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Culture
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| Austin’s Guaranteed Income Program “Substantially” Improved Housing Security: Study |
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Art Wager/ iStock
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In 2022, the city of Austin, Texas, announced a guaranteed income program that would offer $1,000 a month to 135 low-income families and individuals for a year — no strings attached. A recently released review of the program, which concluded in August, found that most people spent over half of the cash on rent and mortgage payments, and that it “substantially” improved housing security for those individuals.
The study was based on a survey conducted by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization. Before the program began, 60% of respondents said they were likely to face eviction or foreclosure within the next two months. At the end, that number dropped to 48%.
Employment remained relatively stable throughout the year, but the 9% who did work less as a result of the money said they used the time to either learn new skills or take on additional care commitments, like spending time with their children. The 7% who worked more said they used the money to “break down barriers to better jobs.”
Taniquewa Brewster is among that former group. The mom of five told KUT News that she was previously not regularly employed, but was able to use the money she received to pay for night classes and become a leasing agent. By the time the guaranteed income ended, she had landed a job as a property manager making around $3,000 a month.
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Health & Wellness
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| Inexpensive Test Could Diagnose Brain Cancer Without Invasive Surgery |
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mikkelwilliam/ iStock
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Brain tumors are the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in children and adults under the age of 40 in the U.K., according to Imperial College London. Now, a team of doctors and scientists has laid out an innovative technique that could help diagnose the most common brain tumors earlier and without the need for invasive surgery.
Currently, patients suspected of having glial tumors must undergo a “highly risky” operation to confirm their diagnoses. The new technique is a simple blood test, which can isolate tumor cells that have broken free and are circulating in the blood. In a study published in December, it was found to have an overall accuracy of over 96%.
Dr. Nelofer Syed, who leads the university’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, said there’s a “critical” need for the inexpensive test. She added in a statement: “Through this technology, a diagnosis of inaccessible tumors can become possible through a risk-free and patient-friendly blood test. We believe this would be a world-first as there are currently no non-invasive or non-radiological tests for these types of tumors.”
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In Other News
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Inspiring Stories
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“Stray nonna”
An Italian woman tapped into her grandmotherly instincts on a recent long-haul flight, helping the little girl sitting next to her fall asleep by holding her hand and stroking her face. A video of her act of kindness, posted by the girl’s mom, has now gone viral.
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As fate would have it
Elizabeth Goracke and Joshua Colbert were born at the same hospital on the same day and attended kindergarten together, but their love story didn’t begin until they reconnected on a dating app last year. Now, they’re newlyweds — and they tied the knot on their shared birthday, of course.
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Post Of The Day
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@mrobertdowneyjr
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Robert Downey Jr. is a man after our own positivity- and coffee-loving hearts. The Oscar-nominated actor recently announced the launch of a new coffee company called happy. The brand sells whole beans, ground coffee, pods, and instant coffee in a variety of roasts. “I credit coffee, in part, for my sanity,” Downey Jr. told People magazine, adding, “To me, it is family. It is home.” (Photo Credit: happy)
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Quote of the Day
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| “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”
- Nelson Mandela
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