You know when you’re on a neighborhood walk and you pass a Little Free Library or some other whimsical delight, and you can’t help but feel a bit brighter? An artist named Rachael in Portland, Oregon, decided to curate those delights into a worldwide map of what she calls sidewalk joys. “Sidewalk Joy spots are free, curated public galleries, exchanges, and displays. Installed in curb gardens, front yards, or sides of buildings, these projects were created to bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community,” the website explains. Explore the map (and consider adding to it!).
Must Reads
The tax deadline is tomorrow, but rest assured there are options if you need more time
A Picasso for $117? Raffle Raises Money for Alzheimer’s Research
Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
This is a creative gamble we can get behind: Today, one lucky winner will walk away with an original Pablo Picasso piece worth a cool $1 million for a fraction of that cost — and the feeling of having done a good deed for Alzheimer’s research. Christie’s Paris is hosting the third edition of the “1 Picasso for 100 Euros” raffle, offering up the artist’s “Tête de Femme” (“Head of a Woman”), a gouache-on-paper portrait of muse Dora Maar completed in 1941. The proceeds from the 100-euro tickets (about $117) will go to France’s Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. And with all tickets now sold out, the initiative is projected to raise approximately $13 million for the cause. It’s an endeavor that Picasso himself would have been proud to see, according to art collector David Nahmad. “Picasso was very generous. He gave paintings to his driver, his tailor,” Nahmad told the Associated Press. “He wanted his art to be collected by all kinds of people, not only by the super-rich.” Watch the live draw at 12 p.m. ET today.
Together With Fisher Investments
When Is the Right Time to Retire?
Determining when to retire is one of life’s biggest decisions, and the right time depends on your personal vision for the future. Have you considered what your retirement will look like, how long your money needs to last, and what your expenses will be? Answering these questions is the first step toward building a successful retirement plan. Fisher Investments’ guide, When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Planning Guide, walks you through the critical steps. Learn ways to define your goals and align your investment strategy to meet them. If you have $1 million or more saved, download your free guide to start planning for the retirement you’ve worked for.
Earth’s Night Sky Is Not Just Brightening — It’s Dimming Too, Study Finds
NASA Earth Observatory
It’s easy to assume that light pollution is only getting worse — glaring beams steadily growing brighter and brighter over time. But a recent study found that, contrary to popular belief, Earth’s night lights are actually “flickering” rather than shining at full blast. To shed light on light pollution across the planet, researchers analyzed more than a million satellite images captured between 2014 and 2022. While they observed a 34% surge in artificial light emissions — primarily in more recently urbanized regions of India, China, and Africa — this was offset by a 18% increase in darkness elsewhere. Thus, the net global brightness grew by just 16%. The study also challenged the notion that more light signals economic progress, noting that light levels generally dimmed across Europe. For example, France and the U.K. experienced a 33% and 22% drop in lighting, respectively, attributed to the increasing use of LEDs and energy conservation policies such as outdoor lighting curfews. “It’s an entirely different perspective. I’d say I’m quite shocked,” study author Zhe Zhu told Heatmap of the findings, adding: “It’s not just people using more lights. It’s a tug-o-war.”
Health
One-Time Gene-Editing Therapy for High Cholesterol Shows Promise
MARK GARLICK—Science Photo Library/Getty Images
For the tens of millions of Americans with high cholesterol, a better treatment may be on the way: a one-time therapy that could replace lifelong medication. In a small clinical trial published last November, researchers used CRISPR gene-editing technology to “turn off” a specific liver gene. This gene normally prevents lipids — including LDL cholesterol and triglycerides — from being cleared from the bloodstream. So by editing it, researchers aimed to permanently lower lipid levels and reduce, or even eliminate, reliance on statinsand other drugs. In addition to being more convenient, this approach could help many patients who cannot sustain lifelong medication due to costs, side effects, and logistical hurdles. “I love the idea of one and done,” Priscilla Hsue, chief of the cardiology division at UCLA Health, told NBC News. “Durably lowering cholesterol for the rest of your life could be transformational for some patients.” The results of the trial were promising: The treatment reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 49% and triglycerides by 55% in participants who received the highest dose. Larger trials are already underway, with gene editing showing strong potential to help more people in early adulthood prevent cardiovascular disease.
In Other News
Fatal drug overdoses continue to drop in the U.S., the result of improved health and addiction care (read more)
For the first time, a woman will lead a top division men’s soccer team in one of Europe’s “big five” leagues (read more)
A British coin considered a “holy grail” for collectors fetched nearly $150,000 at auction (read more)
California educators thought they got spam — turned out, it was real money from an anonymous donor (read more)
A family of beavers has been released in an area of England that the species went extinct in centuries ago (read more)
Inspiring Story
Open doors
Before Frank Ozimek died, he had one wish: to give a free meal to the nurses who cared for him at a hospice center in Lockport, New York. To make that wish come true, the owner of a local sandwich spot agreed to open his doors on Easter, even though it was his day off. “He was kind enough to push back Easter for him, put everything aside, open his restaurant, and make us food for the whole building down there,” Ozimek’s brother Ken said, adding, “It means the world to see that kindness, that greatness spread.”
Photo of the Day
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Let’s go, Gout Gout! The 18-year-old running phenom set the Australian national record for 200 meters with a 19.67-second sprint at Sunday’s national championships, surpassing Usain Bolt’s time at the same age. “This is what I’ve been waiting for,” the teen said. Watch him run across the finish line.
Fisher Investments: Ready to Plan Your Retirement?
Knowing when to retire starts with understanding your goals. When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Planning Guide from Fisher Investmentscan help you define your objectives, how long you’ll need your money to last, and your financial needs. If you have $1 million or more, download it now for free.
