The enormous stone heads on the remote Easter Island in the South Pacific make it one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites — and now you can marvel at the moai statues right from your couch. A research team created a first-of-its-kind 3D model of Rano Raraku, one of the island’s quarries, that lets home viewers explore it in unprecedented detail. “You can see things that you couldn’t actually see on the ground,” one researcher explained in a news release. How many statues can you find? — the Nice News team
Featured Story
Chugging Along in Style: 6 of the World’s Coolest Train Journeys
den-belitsky—iStock/Getty Images
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, life is about the journey, not the destination. And if seeing new and exciting corners of the world is part of your 2026 bucket list, how you get there can be just as thrilling as where you’re going — particularly if you travel by train. An underrated form of transportation if you ask us, trains allow passengers to slow down and take note of their (often gorgeous) surroundings, typically with more legroom, freedom to move around, and space for bags than planes. Plus, they’re generally considered a more eco-friendly way to travel, as they produce fewer carbon emissions than planes, buses, and cars. And while they may be slower than planes, many trains are anything but boring. To help kickstart your journey(s), we rounded up some of the most stunning, fascinating lines around the world — hop aboard to discover your next vacation inspo.
It’s simple — we age because our cells do. The good news? Dolphins (yep, the backflipping marine mammals) helped crack the code to slow it down. After studying aging Navy dolphins, researchers discovered C15:0, an emerging essential fatty acid that strengthens cell membranes and helps slow (and even reverse) aging at the cellular level. It’s a breakthrough that’s now available in fatty15, a once-a-day, vegan-friendly supplement. Within 16 weeks, 70% of customers report benefits like deeper sleep, a calmer mood, improved joints, restored energy, and better labs. With 6,000 5-star reviews, over 60 patents, and more than 100 peer-reviewed studies, it’s science-backed. Which explains why fatty15 is Inc. 5000’s #1 Fastest-Growing Supplement Company in America. Save 15% on your first order with code NICENEWS.
Martin Luther King Jr. Was a “Star Trek” Fan — And 5 Other Little-Known Facts About Him
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Each year, on the third Monday of January, Americans honor the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929, the Baptist minister was one of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, a gifted orator, and a passionate humanitarian. Decades after his assassination in 1968, those of us who were not around during his lifetime are still keenly attuned to his legacy. We learn about him in elementary school, watch YouTube videos of his speeches, and share memes of his most powerful quotes. Few reading this will need reminding, then, that King was a Nobel Peace Prize-winning proponent of nonviolent activism or that he preached the power of forgiveness. A vast number of us can likely recite some portion of his iconic March on Washington address, and many are even aware that its most famous portion almost wasn’t uttered at all. But did you know he was a big-time Trekkie? Yes, that’s right, a Trekkie — as in, a Star Trek fan. The TV series premiered in 1966, and apparently, it was the only one King let his kids stay up late to watch — in part because of its progressive representation of African Americans. Learn five more lesser-known facts like that one to get to know a bit more about the activist’s personal life.
Humanity
Couple Spent 30 Years Restoring 1800s UK Train Station
SWNS
The Ebberston Station in Allerston, England, closed in 1950, and was purchased in 1996 by train-loving couple Mark and Carol Benson. Now, 30 years and tens of thousands of dollars later, the historical station has been returned to its former glory. Thanks to the couple’s hard work, tourists are once again able to see the property, now called The Old Station, similar to how it looked in the 1940s. Visitors can even stay in the three former British Rail Mark 2 first class carriages or in the converted ticket office, which is now a cottage. They also renovated the former station master’s house into a family home. Most recently, the Bensons restored the platform canopy and waiting area, and on Dec. 3, they were awarded a blue plaque for the project, presented at the National Railway Heritage Awards in London. Ebberston Station sits on the 16.25-mile-long Forge Valley Line, which was opened by the North Eastern Railway Company on May 1, 1882. The village of Ebberston is located one mile east of Allerston. The station is said to be a very good example of celebrated architect William Bell’s mature wayside station design of that period. The last passenger train on the line ran June 3, 1950. It was then used as a private house until the Bensons purchased the little piece of railway history. Check out a before-and-after of the station.
Health
Tiny Changes in Diet, Exercise, and Sleep Could Extend Your Lifespan, Study Finds
AsiaVision—E+/Getty Images
You don’t necessarily have to hit the gym every day, eat kale at every meal, or get eight hours of sleep every night to make a difference in your health — taking baby steps in all three areas may still move you forward. A study found that, in combination, eating just a few more veggies, spending a little more time snoozing, and getting a couple more minutes of exercise each day were associated with longer life and better health for people with poor health habits. “These findings highlight the importance of considering lifestyle behaviors as a package rather than in isolation,” lead study author Nick Koemel, a dietitian and research fellow at the University of Sydney, told CNN. “By targeting small improvements across multiple behaviors simultaneously, the required change for any single behavior is substantially reduced, which may help overcome common barriers to long-term behavior change.” Dig into the specific findings.
Part of what makes games so appealing is the ironic freedom that comes from operating within a set of constraints: goals to achieve and a framework in which to achieve them. But often when we apply these types of systems in the real world (from GPAs to sleep scores), we risk “mistaking points for the point,” as The Guardian put it in a review of philosopher C. Thi Nguyen’s new book, The Score. In it, the author makes the case that not everything benefits from grades and rankings, and stepping away from those metrics can give life deeper meaning.
Based on British author Helen Macdonald’s bestselling 2014 memoir, H Is for Hawk stars Claire Foy (The Crown) as a college professor grieving the loss of her beloved father. Guided by memories of the two of them birding together, she — perhaps somewhat desperately — decides to buy and train a goshawk named Mabel. The relationship brings her solace, but Helen’s obsession with the bird at the cost of other aspects of her life causes concern among loved ones. The moving film opened in select theaters Friday.
This Week in History
The First Emmy Awards Are Held
January 25, 1949
Epics—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
On this day 77 years ago, some of television’s best and brightest gathered at the Hollywood Athletic Club to celebrate artistic achievements in the fledgling field. The newly formed Academy of Television Arts and Sciences put on the ceremony, choosing the name “Emmy” to represent the awards. “Emmy” comes from the term “Immy,” a nickname for what was then a cutting-edge element of TV tech, the image orthicon tube. The awards were broadcast locally, but only a few thousand households tuned in. Most outstanding television personality was the first award presented that night, and it went to a 20-year-old ventriloquist named Shirley Dinsdale, who entertained TV audiences with her dummy, Judy Splinters. Watch a clip of Dinsdale and Judy.
Move Your Way With Nike
Whether you’re squeezing in a workout or just running around town, Nike has you covered with comfortable, easy-to-wear styles that fit your day. From sneakers you’ll live in to outfits that keep up without trying too hard, it’s all about feeling good while you move. No pressure — just great gear that works wherever you’re headed.
