Who couldn’t use some alto saxophone to jazz up their Tuesday morning? Read up on some of the best examples of alto saxophone playing — including several standout performances from “poster player” Charlie Parker — and then listen to a playlist featuring all the music you just read about. According to The New York Times, you’ll be in love with the instrument in five minutes flat.
Must Reads
The stars of a “high drama” peregrine falcon livestream have taken flight for the first time — watch the chicks in action
How caregivers can help loved ones with dementia retain a sense of self
Environment
See the 2025 Nature Photographer of the Year Winning Images
Åsmund Keilen/ Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
This ethereal image could be mistaken for a painting — but it’s actually the overall winner of the 2025 Nature Photographer of the Year contest, titled “Sundance.” Now in its 10th year, the international competition is held by Netherlands-based organization Nature Talks, which reviewed 24,781 images captured by photographers from over 96 countries to make its final selection, per PetaPixel. Norwegian photographer Åsmund Keilen said “Sundance” was taken spontaneously from his driveway on a warm summer day in Oslo. “Small orange birch seeds had fallen overnight on the blue roof of the car, and the summer sun reflected in them, alongside swifts dancing in the sky,” he said. “Freedom seemed to take form in chaos.” Part of the photo’s magic is how it “appears to depict leaves adrift in a cosmic sky,” added committee chairman Tin Man Lee, “but on closer look, each shape reveals itself as a bird in graceful flight.” Keilen was awarded around $3,480 at Saturday’s Nature Talks Photo Festival, where the category winners were also recognized. Along with “Sundance,” the featured shots include a mesmerizing photo of icy layers beneath a frozen surface, a detailed look at an underwater world, and a black-and-white silhouette of a moose in the snow — see all the winning images.
Together With Honeycomb
This New Toilet Paper Just Might Save the World
Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make toilet paper. We think that’s too many, and Honeycomb agrees, which is why the brand created luxury three-ply made from bamboo. It feels just like regular high-end toilet paper, but doesn’t harm trees. Why bamboo? It grows insanely fast — almost 100 times faster than the average tree — making it a sustainable option to save forests. Bamboo also has uniquely short fibers, which are perfect for creating soft toilet tissue you can feel good about. It’s biodegradable, 100% plastic-free, and Honeycomb delivers straight to you. The best part? Nice News readers can use code N35 for 35% off your first shipment. Code valid for the next 24 hours only.
Can’t See the Stars From Home? This Telescope Farm Will Bring the Night Sky to You
Starfront Observatories
You might not be able to move away from light pollution, but you can move your telescope. That’s the idea behind Starfront Observatories, a telescope farm in a remote part of Texas that’s renowned for its exceptionally dark skies. From anywhere in the world, customers can ship their personal telescopes and then control them remotely. It’s like renting a parking spot, just for your telescope. Once the on-site staff set up the scopes, users can conduct remote observations, capture images of the cosmos, and participate in collaborative astronomy projects, even if they live in a big city where artificial lights abound (and get in the way of stargazing). Founded last year by amateur astrophotographer Bray Falls and three other astronomy enthusiasts, the cosmic venture aims to give everyone “access to the wonders of the night sky” — an increasingly rare experience, as night skies are getting nearly 10% brighter every year due to LED outdoor lighting, urbanization, and satellites. Bray told CBS News this dim reality goes deeper than just losing sight of the stars. “[Light pollution] really prevents people from dreaming, like seeing what’s above them, just awe. You get the tingles, you get the goosebumps.”
Humanity
“Wonderful Timing”: How Comedian Leanne Morgan Found Success at Age 54
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
After graduating from college, Leanne Morgan started a family, sold jewelry at parties, and cracked jokes about life at home with her husband and kids. She received so much positive feedback about her sense of humor that she decided to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian, but faced plenty of initial rejection — and it wasn’t until she was 54 years old that she got her big break. Somemight see that as late, but she recently told Today it was “wonderful timing.” “It went like gangbusters,” said Morgan, now 60. “Clubs started calling all over the United States, saying, ‘We need to get Leanne Morgan here.’” Hiring social media experts helped her get the exposure she needed to start selling out shows, which led to a Netflix sitcom called Leanne that was just renewed for a second season, two comedy specials, and a bestselling memoir. And when it comes to finding success later in life, not only is Morgan happy with the way everything turned out, but she believes the years spent raising her family were actually key to her current career. “I got to raise these children. I have led a full life as a mama, a grandmama, my parents are still with me,” she said. “I’ve got this full life I can talk about, and that’s what people are relating to.”
In Other News
Students will get free tuition at Johns Hopkins University if their families make $200,000 or less (read more)
The SAG Awards is changing its name to the Actor Awards, a bid to more clearly highlight the honorees (read more)
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to inspect roads and improve safety across the U.S. (read more)
The FDA can now approve personalized treatments more quickly for certain rare and fatal genetic diseases (read more)
Meet King Owlbert, an injured northern pygmy owlwho was flown (via plane) to safety in Alaska (read more)
Inspiring Story
Passing the baton with grace
When 19-year-old Cameran Drew decided to run for a seat on the Surry County Board of Supervisors in Virginia, he credited his confidence to his former high school civics teacher, Kenneth Bell. But when it came to the election, Drew was pitted against Bell, who held the position in an interim capacity — and the educator was nothing but supportive, even when Drew won by eight votes. “Yes, he’s young, but he’s really invested in trying to make a difference,” he said.
Photo of the Day
Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
This petite saucisse was one of hundreds of sausage dogs — aka dachshunds — that participated in the sixth annual Paris Sausage Walk on Sunday. The adorable pups and their owners paraded through the streets of the City of Light to help support the Association des Teckels Sans Doux Foyer, which rescues dachshunds without homes. Watch footage from the event.
Save Big on Your Favorite Brands
Brad’s Deals’ biggest shopping event of the year — 60 Days of Deals — is finally here. It’s an excellent opportunity to get holiday shopping done early and save money. Each day, their team will feature one exclusive offer, available only at Brad’s Deals. That said, holiday deals this good don’t last: Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay in the know.
