The solstice hasn’t even happened yet, but it’s already been a frigid winter in the Midwest — and Lake Michigan is proof of that. The Great Lake has begun to freeze in many places, with one drone photographer capturing (now-viral) footage of mesmerizing “ice waves” at a lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan. He also shared a video of that same lighthouse being transformed into an “ice monster” — check it out.
Must Reads
“Cautious optimism”: A pod of endangered orcas in Washington welcomed a new calf
India Recognizes Homemakers’ Contributions With Novel Social Experiment
Sharad Medhavi—Moment/Getty Images
Many women in India are earning compensation for their invisible labor, like housework, cooking, and childcare, as part of a sweeping social experiment. According to a recent study, Indian women spent nearly five hours a day on household duties in 2024, about 7.6 times more than men, per the BBC. Small but reliable monthly payouts of 1,000-2,500 rupees ($11-$28) serve to recognize that work and the essential role of homemakers in families and communities. Around 118 million women in 12 Indian states are receiving these unconditional transfers through local government subsidies. They can spend the cash — deposited directly into their bank accounts — however they like, but most use it to cover essentials, including children’s school fees, groceries, and medicine. Beyond helping ease financial strain, the payments can foster a greater sense of independence. “The evidence shows that the cash transfers are tremendously useful for women to meet their own immediate needs and those of their households. They also restore dignity to women who are otherwise financially dependent on their husbands for every minor expense,” Prabha Kotiswaran, professor of law and social justice at King’s College London, told the BBC. Learn more about how the concept fits into the broader universal basic income movement.
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The Billion Dollar Deal Locked in a Vault
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Science
Polar Bears May Be “Rewriting” Their DNA to Survive Rising Temps
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Polar bears are in imminent danger of extinction: Due to melting sea ice, the entire global population is expected to die off by the end of this century. But in a breakthrough study, scientists found that one subset of the species may be “rewriting” their DNA to survive — the first-known example of a mammal genetically evolving in response to rising temperatures. Scientists analyzed blood samples from polar bears in northeastern and southeastern Greenland, looking specifically at “jumping genes,” DNA sequences that can move around on the genome and influence other genes. They found that different groups of bears had DNA changes in different places and at different rates depending on their environment and food availability. “I believe our work really does offer a glimmer of hope — a window of opportunity for us to reduce our carbon emissions to slow down the rate of climate change and to give these bears more time to adapt to these stark changes in their habitats,” lead author Alice Godden told NBC News. The team warned, however, that the findings donot mean the animals won’t go extinct in the predicted timeframe — that will come down to human action. Godden added in a news release: “We still need to be doing everything we can to reduce global carbon emissions and slow temperature increases.” In other polar bear news, a rare instance of a mother bear “adopting” an orphaned cub has been documented by scientists — watch footage of the sweet family.
Environment
Seaweed Sweaters? Why One Startup Is Making Clothes out of Kelp
VAWiley/iStock
In an effort to make more eco-friendly clothing, one startup is turning to an unlikely source: seaweed. Biotech company Keel Labs claims the plant is “one of the most regenerative organisms on our planet.” And after developing Kelsun, a material made from “seaweed-derived biopolymers,” Keel has partnered with brands like Stella McCartney and OuterKnown to release planet-friendly attire. When founders Aleks Gosiewski and Tessa Callaghan set out to find an abundant, naturally occurring substance that could be turned into a fiber, they landed on kelp — in part because using a marine product allowed the pair to avoid the pesticides and synthetic fertilizers often found in land-based resources. After combining kelp with their unique formulation, they constructed a material that doesn’t contain plastic or create microplastics, and is flame-resistant, biodegradable, and nontoxic. Keel Labs was named a 2023 Positive Luxury Awards winner and the 2025 RISE Innovation Award winner, and imagines a future in which Kelsun is used in everything from footwear and home goods to cars. “It’s our mission to transform the textile industry and the world by harnessing the radical potential of our oceans, and we can’t do it alone,” Callaghan said at COP28, a United Nations Climate Change Conference, in 2023. She added: “We’re proud to be propelling the adoption of next-generation materials forward.”
Global Good
🇮🇹 One of the largest collections of dinosaur tracks was found in the Italian region hosting the 2026 Olympics (read more)
🇨🇦 The Canadian government announced new regulations to reduce methane gas pollution (read more)
🇪🇬 Egypt revealed two colossal statues of an ancient pharaoh in Luxor, following a decades-long restoration (read more)
🇩🇴 Assisted reproduction technology could help regenerate endangered coral reefs in the Dominican Republic (read more)
🇺🇦 A pup with prosthetic paws is offering hope and companionship to wounded Ukrainian soldiers (read more)
Inspiring Story
“Gridiron grandpa” returns to the field
Nearly five years after hanging up his cleats, Philip Rivers came out of retirement to assist the Indianapolis Colts in a high-stakes match against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend. The 44-year-old father of 10 (and grandfather of one) answered the Colts’ call when injuries left them short a quarterback. Although the Seahawks ultimately won, Rivers — affectionately nicknamed “gridiron grandpa” — was integral to the Colts’ impressive performance and spoke openly about his decision to risk his reputation for his team. “The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or to not go for it, and the other one is, ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens,’” he said. “I hope in that sense that can be a positive to some young boys, or young people.”
Photo of the Day
Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
Jane Austen fans celebrated what would have been the acclaimed author’s 250th birthday on Tuesday in her hometown of Chawton, England. Many literary enthusiasts, like the duo pictured, donned Regency-era attire for the occasion, which included talks, tours, performances, and a virtual party for fans around the world.
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Up This Weekend
Super Saturday: The last Saturday before Christmas gets the “super” designation because it tends to be a massive in-person shopping day across the country — this year, consider engaging in Thriftmas by hitting up your local secondhand stores
Winter Solstice: Sunday is the winter solstice, also known as the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere (silver lining: the sunsets only get later from here on out)
World Meditation Day: In a nice alignment, the solstice this year is also World Meditation Day, and you can celebrate with this 10-minute mindfulness practice
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
