Must Reads

• This area of Thailand may be far from the White Lotus — but for nature lovers, it might be even better

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• No apps, no problem: One Irish town is all about dating the old-fashioned way

Sports

American Makes History as the First to Ski Mount Everest’s Most Challenging Route

Your palms might sweat reading this one. On Wednesday, Jim Morrison stood on the highest point on Earth — and did what very few have dared to try: He strapped on his skis and began the descent through the Hornbein Couloir on the direct north face of Mount Everest, an infamously narrow, steep, and exposed route situated at altitudes up to 29,000 feet.
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Four hours and five minutes later, he solidified his place in history as the first person to successfully ski down the challenging path. “Standing on the north face of Everest, finishing this climb was overwhelming and deeply personal,” the 50-year-old ski mountaineer told National Geographic. “It’s the culmination of years of work and an extraordinary team effort.”
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But the historic moment was about more than him and his team. Morrison dedicated the achievement to his late partner, Hilaree Nelson, who died three years ago in a mountaineering accident. “When I finally crossed the bergschrund, I cried,” he said. “I’d risked so much, but I was alive. It felt like a tribute to Hilaree — something she’d be proud of. I really felt her with me, cheering me on.”
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For those who wish they could have had a front row seat to the journey, you’re in luck. The Oscar- and BAFTA Award-winning directors behind Free Solo documented Morrison’s run for an upcoming Nat Geo documentary, with the working title Everest North. Stay tuned for that, and check out more photos here in the meantime.

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Environment

Tiny Heart Monitors Give Researchers a New Way to Understand Endangered Animals

Ever wish you could chat with animals to better understand how they’re doing (a la Dr. Dolittle)? While we’re not quite there yet, tiny heart monitors are bringing us one step closer.
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These devices, one-third the size of a AAA battery, were originally designed for humans but have since expired. So rather than tossing them, researchers at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute are implanting them into various animals to monitor body temperature, hydration, and heart rate — all clues to how stressed or anxious they might be feeling. The idea is to help scientists figure out when and why animals get stressed, while also repurposing medical devices that would otherwise be discarded.
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Rosana Moraes, a Brazilian biologist specializing in wildlife welfare, told CBS News these heart monitors represent a “gigantic” leap forward in animal care by revealing previously hidden insights into an animal’s well-being — and ultimately, paving the way for improved care and conservation strategies.
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So far, the devices have been implanted in more than 600 animals across eight endangered species around the world, including clouded leopards like Masala, pictured above.

Humanity

How Babysitting Savings Turned Into a Fresh Start for Vulnerable Children in Nepal

If you needed a reminder that there’s (so much) good in the world, look no further than Maggie Doyne. At just 19, Doyne used her babysitting money to buy land in Nepal, with a vision of starting a school for vulnerable children and orphans.
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Nearly 20 years later, that vision has evolved into the BlinkNow Foundation, which has supported over 1,000 students with diverse educational programs, nutritious meals, on-site day care, and a job readiness initiative, among many other resources. “We’ve now raised a generation of children,” Doyne recently told CNN, which awarded her its “Hero of the Year” prize a decade ago. “They are out in the world as architects, engineers, social workers, teachers, and entrepreneurs.”
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Shortly after receiving the CNN honor, Doyne endured every parent’s worst nightmare when her son Ravi died by accidental drowning in 2015. Despite this heart-wrenching loss, she has remained steadfast in her mission and carries a powerful message for others: “Keep doing what you can, where you are,” she said. “Keep showing up, keep loving, keep going with your acts of kindness. It all matters.”
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Feeling inspired? You can watch Doyne’s journey of loss and hope in the documentary Between the Mountain and the Sky, released this year, which offers a look at the highs and lows of her humanitarian work. Check out the trailer.

Global Good

🇮🇪 In Ireland, a basic income program for artists is set to become permanent starting next year (read more)
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🇪🇹 To help Ethiopia’s stray dogs, one woman is on a mission to change how pups are seen and cared for (read more)
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🇦🇺 Tooth decay rates among kids in Queensland, Australia, have dropped since expanding water fluoridation (read more)
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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 A historic sumo tournament is taking London by storm — see pics of the heart-pounding event (read more)
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🇹🇷 Explore a bakery in Istanbul that’s been serving up traditional treats for 75 years (read more)

Inspiring Story

80 and breaking records

Let’s hear it for Natalie Grabow! The 80-year-old grandmother from New Jersey is the oldest woman to finish the Ironman World Championship, held last weekend in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. “I am so happy and grateful that I can still race in this sport at my age,” Grabow said. “Triathlon allows me to feel strong both mentally and physically, and it satisfies my competitive spirit.”

Photo of the Day

Most may be a month or two away from putting Christmas lights up, but the Lightpool Festival in Blackpool, England, is already brightening the seaside town with its 10th annual festival of light. Running through Nov. 1, this free event features immersive art installations, a dazzling walk-through tunnel, and live performances. See more pics of the light-filled festivities.

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Up This Weekend

1. Frankfurt Book Fair: The world’s largest trade fair for books kicked off Wednesday and runs through Sunday, bringing together the best of the book biz (and plenty of the bibliophilic public, too)
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2. Studio Ghibli Fest: Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary animation studio, the yearlong fest constitutes regular re-releases of some of his most iconic movies; this weekend you can catch Spirited Away in theaters ​
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3. Diwali: The five-day Hindu festival of lights begins Saturday, with Diwali falling on Monday, Oct. 20 this year — it’s a time of celebration and all that entails (gathering with loved ones, feasting, fireworks, and more)
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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.

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Odds & Ends

🐋 Everything a whale watcher could hope for​
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🍫 Is your Halloween candy bowl already empty? You’re not alone
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🐶 How Katherine Heigl helped her six dogs fight aging*
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🚲 This singer did a “beautiful thing” for some Portland kiddos
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​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“A small act is worth a million thoughts.”

– AI WEIWEI