Must Reads

• Add to your watch list: a new Nat Geo film about the elusive world of “ghost elephants”

• Got extra batteries lying around? Here’s how to safely get rid of them​

Humanity

The Case for Finding a Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name

You’ve seen it on Cheers, Friends, and Gilmore Girls: regulars visiting the same place over and over again, whether it’s a bar in a big city or a diner in a small town. Turns out, research shows that frequenting a place where everyone knows your name really is as good as it seems on TV.
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Friendly interactions with acquaintances (baristas, waiters, and fellow regulars) are classified as “weak ties” in sociology — but their impact is anything but weak. The term was coined in 1973 by researcher Mark Granovetter, who found that these loose connections help bridge our social circles and create wider networks, opening doors to unexpected support and opportunities.
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A 2020 data analysis from Oxford University backs that up, finding that regulars tend to be more socially engaged, content, and trusting of others in the community compared to non-regulars. “These kinds of small interactions actually can boost our mood and overall contribute to our social health by making us feel more connected, by allowing for regular, consistent interaction, and even by presenting us with the opportunity to potentially make friends and develop deeper relationships,” Kasley Killam, a Harvard-trained social scientist, told Self magazine.
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Sticking with tried-and-true spots can have ripple effects too, she added: “If we show up to our local establishments and are regulars, that’s a way for us to really revitalize our communities and help ourselves, but also the other people who we come into contact with.” So if you needed a nudge to get out and find a third place, this is it!

Together With FinanceBuzz

A Cash Back Match Credit Card That Stands Out From the Crowd

If you have outstanding credit card debt, paying it off may be daunting. The good news? You have options. Getting a new 0% intro APR credit card can give you a break from high-interest payments and ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. The credit card experts at FinanceBuzz have identified one card as the standout option.
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With perks like a 15-month no-interest period on both purchases and balance transfers, no annual fee, and a generous welcome offer, it’s a clear winner. On top of all that, this credit card offers 5% cash back that gets matched after your first year, giving you up to 10% back on qualifying purchases. Click below to see if it’s right for you.

Environment

Extinct No More: Giant Tortoises Are Roaming a Galápagos Island Again

For 180 years, giant tortoises have been absent from Floreana Island in the Galápagos due to hunting and human-introduced invasive species (e.g., rats and cats). But that changed last week when 158 juvenile tortoises were let free on the island after being raised in captivity — the result of decades of conservation work.
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“The return of giant tortoises to Floreana Island is an extraordinary milestone for the Galápagos and a powerful example of what expedition travel can and should support,” Amy Berquist, a vice president at Lindblad Expeditions, said in a statement shared with Nice News. The work leading up to the release was funded in part by traveler donations to the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund.
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The animals’ return could revitalize the island in more ways than one. Known as “ecosystem engineers,” giant tortoises play a vital role in helping spread the seeds of native plants, creating habitats for other wildlife, and restoring degraded landscapes. “Seeing giant tortoises back on Floreana is a truly spine-tingling moment,” said Jen Jones, the chief executive of the Galápagos Conservation Trust. “It’s a validation of the incredible efforts we’ve seen over the last 20 years.”

Science

Bananas Are in Trouble, but Researchers May Have Found a Solution

In comforting news for banana lovers, scientists have made a breakthrough that could help stave off a destructive fungus that’s threatening the world’s most popular variety — and our favorite smoothie ingredient.
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A bit of banana backstory first: The global banana supply, especially the Cavendish variety commonly sold in supermarkets, is facing threats from a soil-borne fungal disease called Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease. This fungus invades the plant through its roots and blocks its ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing it. (A previous strain wiped out the once-dominant Gros Michel banana in the 1950s, forcing the industry to switch to Cavendish.)
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Thankfully, researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have identified a specific genetic region in a wild banana that shows resistance to a strain of this fungus found in the subtropics. While the wild banana itself isn’t commercially viable, the discovery could provide a roadmap to develop new banana varieties that are disease-proof and just as delicious.
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The stakes are high, as bananas are the world’s fourth most important food crop, providing a significant source of calories for more than 400 million people and supporting a $140 billion industry. “It’s easy to take the banana for granted — simple, familiar, always there. But behind that simplicity lies one of agriculture’s most coordinated and collaborative supply chains,” Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, said last July. “Protecting it is our shared responsibility.”

In Other News

1. Barcelona’s Sagrada Família has reached its planned maximum height after 144 years of construction (read more)
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2. The James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists create the first 3D maps of auroras on Uranus (read more)
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3. Osaka, Japan, received an anonymous donation of gold worth $3.6 million to repair the city’s aging water pipes (read more)
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4. A new study sheds light on why women’s pain tends to last longer than men’s, and could inform future therapies (read more)
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5. When a young moose was stuck in the snow in New Hampshire, a group of snowmobilers sprang into action (read more)

Something We Love

Comfheat Cloud Plush Heating Pad
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​After reading about the reason warm hugs feel so nice, I bought this heating pad for my little one. I heat it up in the microwave, put it in the crib for a few minutes, and then remove it just before bedtime. And it comes in tons of cute designs — in addition to the cloud, the company also sells an octopus, fox, cat, cow, and more.
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​– Marika Spitulski, Writer

Inspiring Story

Standing together

Today marks World Spay Day and the four-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine. In honor of both, Worldwide Vets is launching an initiative to sterilize and vaccinate 500 animals in a single day across Ukraine, with the support of local and international veterinary teams. “We will show that the world has not looked away, that we care, that we support, and that when we stand shoulder to shoulder, great things can happen,” the org wrote.

Photo of the Day

A once-in-a-decade winter storm hammered the Northeast, dumping nearly two feet of snow on New York City and even more in other parts of the region. And while this New Yorker strapped on their cross-country skis to trek across Central Park, we think it’s the perfect time to stay cozy at home (if possible) and watch the snow from inside, preferably with a big bowl of soup in hand.

Perelel Is the Protein Powder You’ll Actually Want Every Morning

There are protein powders you tolerate, and then there’s the one you look forward to. Perelel is the latter. The brand’s Triple-Support Protein is smooth, balanced, and easy to mix, with no chalky texture and no weird aftertaste. It also delivers much more than “just protein,” with 3 grams of creatine for muscle and brain health, plus 5 grams of no-bloat fiber to help you feel satisfied and support digestion. Use code NICENEWS20 for 20% off.

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Odds & Ends

🥬 Inside the cabbage craze happening right now
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😳 Pilots glided through the air for 787 miles — with no engine
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🗞️ Get the 10 most important stories shaping our world with Semafor Flagship, your essential global news briefing: Subscribe here*
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🦭 A seal + rubber duckies = cutest lesson ever​
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​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“Art welcomes you, and moreover awaits you.”

– KEVIN YOUNG