So the sun’s barely risen and you’re already having a bad day? If listening to Daniel Powter’s hit doesn’t ease your malaise (never hurts to try), there are some other ways to bounce back from a rough morning. Clinical psychologist Susan Albers told The New York Times’ Jancee Dunn that even if things don’t start out great, you always have the ability to “create a different ending.” Here’s how.
Must Reads
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Health
Some Video Games May Actually Improve Sleep Quality, Study Finds
Milan Markovic/ iStock
Good news for those who prefer to do their daily crossword in bed rather than with their morning coffee (this writer included). A recent study found that certain video games, including word games, puzzles, and the “cozy” simulations that became popular during the pandemic, can actually improve sleep quality for adults. “Video games may be a useful source of recreation and refreshment from daily routine. When appropriately used, they can bring numerous benefits to psychological health, cognitive functioning, and sleep,” lead author Oreste De Rosa told Verywell Health. The study concluded that habitual and casual video game playing (meaning seven hours or less per week) had no overall association with negative consequences on snoozing. To get a positive effect, the type of gaming matters — esports, shooter games, and similar programs may lead to worse sleep, while non-arousing, cognitively demanding games could “enhance sleep quality in terms of continuity, stability, and organization.” Examples include Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, both included in the realm of cozy games. Or you can try out Nice News’ Crossword Club for some pre-bed brain-boosting.
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Practice Makes “Pitch-Perfect”: Scientists Developing Turf for the 2026 World Cup
Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images
When FIFA announced in 2022 that the 2026 World Cup would be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, researchers immediately got to work developing the perfect turf for the massive soccer tournament. “The pitch is everything,” Alan Ferguson, FIFA’s head of pitches, told NPR. “It’s the stage on which the players perform, and we are the guys that give them that stage.” The 2026 event will see 48 teams competing across 16 cities, from Vancouver and Mexico City to Miami and Boston. So scientists at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Michigan State University must figure out how to make all 16 pitches ideal for the players, despite the differing climates. “They don’t want to be thinking about the footing and slipping, or how it’s going to be different from one stadium to the next if they’re playing a game,” noted John Sorochan, a turfgrass scientist who was an undergraduate at Michigan State when the school oversaw the grass for the last World Cup held on U.S. soil, in 1994. Sorochan said he’s excited for his current students in Tennessee to have the experience of working on a World Cup: “I think all of them will remember this for the rest of their lives. I know that ’94 burns in my mind, even every day.”
Humanity
Indianapolis Man Will Run All Marathon Majors This Year to Honor Late Friend
Courtesy Chuck Myers
There are six Abbott World Marathon Majors, and Charles “Chuck” Myers plans to complete them all this year. So far that plan is looking good: The 49-year-old from Indianapolis has finished the 2024 Tokyo, Boston, London, and Berlin marathons, and he’ll be lacing up his sneakers early tomorrow morning to run Chicago. After that, the only course left to conquer will be New York City’s on Nov. 3. There are roughly 13,000 runners who have completed all six, but only 104 have done so in a single calendar year, so Myers’ forthcoming accomplishment is an impressive one. But more impressive is his goal to raise $168,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in honor of his late friend and former track teammate Matt Griffin. Griffin died of lymphoma earlier this year, but kept his battle quiet. “I didn’t even know he was sick until two weeks before he died,” Myers wrote on his fundraising page. “His passing at only 48 years old is way too soon, as he leaves behind his wife and three kids.” The accountant and high school track coach is also honoring brother-in-law Marc Baum, who died from gastric cancer in 2018. Once he crosses the finish line in New York — marking his 21st lifetime marathon — Myers tells Nice News he expects to “feel very excited and a little bit relieved.” He adds: “I will hopefully have raised a lot of money and awareness for LLS.”
In Other News
In a “groundbreaking win,” Florida issued an emergency ruling protecting homeowners from predatory insurance practices.
Inflation has slowed to its lowest level since February 2021, per a new report from the Labor Department.
Thanks for the memories: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement. Look back on his career.
Nearly a century after explorer Bradford Washburn theorized that Alaska’s Ruth Glacier is deeper than expected, modern scientists may have finally confirmed his suspicions.
When natural disasters like hurricanes hit, zoos need a way to keep their animals safe. Here’s how some do it.
Something We Love
The Midnight Library This book gave me a new appreciation for life. It made me more grateful for what I have, while at the same time opening up infinite possibilities for what may come. It also made me more open to taking risks and less concerned about what others think. Author Matt Haig just published a new novel, The Life Impossible, last month, so you can add that to your reading list if you like this one as much as I did. — Sean Devlin, Founder and General Manager
As she’s traversed the world for her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has picked up a habit of supporting local charities in the cities she performs in. But her latest gift was more generous than most: The superstar donated $5 million to Feeding America, a national food bank nonprofit, to help people recovering from hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Photo of the Day
-/14 Peaks Expedition/AFP via Getty Images
This is Nima Rinji Sherpa, an 18-year-old who reached the summit of Shishapangma, a 26,335-foot-tall Tibetan mountain, on Wednesday. In doing so, he became the youngest person to reach the world’s 14 highest peaks. “This summit is not just the culmination of my personal journey, but a tribute to every Sherpa who has ever dared to dream beyond the traditional boundaries set for us,” the Nepalese teen wrote on Instagram. “Mountaineering is more than labor; it is a testament to our strength, resilience, and passion.”
Needed’s Doctor-Recommended Sleep and Relaxation Supplement Is on Sale
A U.S. National Sleep Foundation’s Women and Sleep Survey found that 78% of women reported disturbed sleep during pregnancy. Pregnant or not, sleep struggles can be a frustrating and common reality, especially when you add in everyday stressors like transitioning from summer to fall or planning for the upcoming holiday season. The good news is that Needed’s science-backed Sleep + Relaxation Support supplement is doctor-recommended and safe for pregnant and nursing moms. Try it today and use code HELLONEEDED for 20% off.
