Yesterday marked the start of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, with cities around the country kicking off celebrations of the community’s contributions to advocacy, art, culture, and, of course, food. In a recent Eater article, social media content creators reflected on that last point, specifically noting the cultural power of sharing recipes online. Check out the full story and learn about some of their favorite dishes.
Former British Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds is launching a clothing line for extra-petite people
Health
In a Prolonged Period of Work Stress? Prioritize Hope, Study Suggests
FG Trade/ iStock
An abundance of scientific evidence exists supporting the benefit of mindfulness on anxiety, depression, pain, addiction, and more. And now, new research has found that when it comes to prolonged periods of professional stress, something else could be equally, if not more, effective: hope. Mindfulness is defined as maintaining moment-to-moment awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment, through a gentle, non-judgmental lens. Hope, on the other hand, is about looking past the present moment and into the future, and has also been linked to improved well-being. “Being mindful can be tremendously valuable — there are certainly advantages to living in the moment,” said co-author Sharon Sheridan. “But it’s important to maintain a hopeful outlook, particularly during periods of prolonged stress. People should be hopeful while being mindful — hold on to the idea that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” Learn how the researchers came to their conclusions and how the results could be useful in the workplace.
Together With Sky Quarry
A Business That Gets Paid Twice?
Which would you rather invest in? 1. A business that gets paid to collect waste
Penguin Goes Missing at Sea — And Only Survives Thanks to a Typhoon
Gekidan Penters/ X
Sometimes silver linings come in the most unexpected forms. That’s evident in the story of Pen, a 6-year-old penguin who went missing at sea before a typhoon hit Japan late last month. Because Pen was born and raised in captivity, the odds of her surviving in the open water were slim. “I couldn’t help but feel despair,” Ryosuke Imai, one of Pen’s carers at the Gekidan Penters zoo, told CNN. As fate would have it,though, the torrential winds and rain actually helped Pen avoid both collisions and getting caught in fishing nets, since no boats could be out on the water. The typhoon also provided her with enough hydration and cooling to keep her safe until she was spotted swimming about two weeks later, roughly 8 miles from where she went missing. “She survived because of the typhoon,” Imai said of Pen, who was found well-fed, with no injuries, and in good physical shape. “It was almost miraculous timing.”
Environment
At the Breadlab, Researchers Are Perfecting a Climate-Resilient Grain Blend
Washington State University
Baking is often referred to as a science, and this is especially true at Washington State University’s Breadlab. Here, professors and research students wear aprons and bake bread — but not just any bread. They’re perfecting a recipe for a grain blend that’s as resilient to changing temperatures as it is tasty. Called a “Climate Blend,” the regeneratively grown flour mixes myriad seed profiles, including hard red spring wheat, blue wheat, and purple wheat. This combination is intentional: “If we have a chaotic climate, our strategy is to have genetic chaos in the field,” Stephen Jones, founder and former director of the Breadlab, told NPR. “To strike back, to fight chaos with chaos.” While the mix makes the flour “amazingly stable,” per wheat farmer Keith Kisler, it also lends itself to a quirkier-looking, less uniform bread — though we still think the final loaves look pretty good. And the team ensures flavor is far from sacrificed. “It’s buttery and rich,”Jones said. “It’s delicious.”
In Other News
In two clinical trials, weekly insulin injections proved as effective as daily shots for managing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
The 2024 winners of the Ig Nobel Prizes — the quirky cousin to the Nobel Prizes — were named last week.
Meta, Snap, and TikTok are joining forces to slow the spread of content featuring suicide or self-harm on social media.
The United Nations Security Council is considering adding two permanent seats for African states.
Plan to Eat App Grocery costs are high, but planning ahead and shopping from an accurate, well-made list can help you cut your bill by nearly 25%. So how do you achieve that? Plan to Eat. The app allows you to import budget-friendly recipes, create meal plans that suit your lifestyle, and shop from a made-for-you grocery list.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Inspiring Story
Stuffed with kindness
There’s nothing quite like your favorite stuffed animal, so when a stranger had an opportunity to reunite a 9-year-old with his beloved toy gorilla, she jumped at the chance — traveling 1,500 miles and documenting each step of the way. See the truly heart-filling reunion.
Photo of the Day
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
An admirable level of meticulousness, to be sure. This man was separating the petals on his chrysanthemum flowers in preparation for the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, which took place Friday through Sunday. The show in Newby Hall, England, welcomed tens of thousands of flora enthusiasts and is considered among the most highly anticipated events in the gardening calendar, per The Yorkshire Post. Among this year’s hot topics? Who grew the biggest onion.
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