If you have a car and are living just about anywhere right now, you know that gas prices are soaring. Thankfully, there are a handful of smartphone apps that can help you find the cheapest prices in your area, from GasBuddy to Waze. But don’t expand your search too wide: The extra fuel it takes to reach a faraway station can cancel out the cost savings (this calculator will help you decide whether the drive is worth it).
Must Reads
An interactive story showing one writer’s experience as a sighted guide for blind and visually impaired travelers
High Schooler Identifies 2 FDA-Approved Drugs as Potential New Alzheimer’s Treatments
Society for Science
When Leon Wang’s grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a disease that impacts over 7 million Americans, the science-minded teenager’s interest in researching treatments was piqued. He then decided to pursue that interest through his high school’s research program — and last month, his resulting project was awarded eighth place in a prestigious nationwide STEM competition. Wang, a senior at King School in Stamford, Connecticut, focused his efforts on identifying existing FDA-approved drugs to repurpose and potentially treat vascular Alzheimer’s dementia: an avenue he found particularly intriguing after learning that it could be a more efficient and affordable path to treatment. “Early in my research, I found that using already in-market drugs for new applications can significantly shorten FDA approval timelines and reduce development costs,” Wang, 17, tells Nice News, adding, “This approach is especially important given that low household income is among the top three social determinants of Alzheimer’s risk, underscoring the need for more affordable treatments.” Learn more about what he found.
Together With Edison Interactive
Over 400,000 Screens Are Stuck in 2005
Hotel TVs are slow and clunky. Golf cart screens just show yardage maps. Stadium suites show menu PDFs. If your phone can do everything, why can’t these?
Edison Interactive is fixing that. Their AI-powered platform transforms outdated screens into modern, personalized entertainment experiences. That brings live sports, streaming, on-screen ordering, and more to the places people actually spend time. It’s already live across more than 55,000 screens at properties like Caesars Palace and TPC golf courses, with over $60 million in revenue to date. Next, Edison plans to scale this innovation across more than 400,000 screens and multiple new verticals. Edison’s leadership team already exited one venture for $1.2 billion. For a limited time, you can earn up to 15% bonus stock as an Edison Interactive investor.*
Conservation Success: Relocated Grizzly Bear Emerges From Den With Cubs in Tow
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
During a recent routine monitoring flight, biologists snapped an aerial photo of a mother grizzly bear with two cubs in tow. That would be a sight to behold under any circumstances, but this encounter also marks a successful cross-state conservation milestone. Just two years ago, the now 6-year-old mother was relocated from northern Montana to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to help enhance genetic diversity between two of the largest grizzly populations in the continental U.S. — and it’s clear she’s done just that. “This is concrete evidence that Montana and Wyoming are committed to sustaining a recovered population of grizzly bears and is a major success in our continued efforts to ensure genetic diversity in these two recovered populations of bears,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Christy Clark said in a statement. The timing of the birth isn’t a surprise, as adult female grizzlies typically have their first litter around age 5 or 6. However, experts weren’t certain she would conceive after she covered so much ground following relocation. “We wondered if that energy expenditure might reduce her chances of reproducing,” noted researcher Cecily Costello, “but, from the photo, she appears to be in great condition.” See the pic of mom with her cubs.
Culture
Public School Student IDs Double as Library Cards in Chicago
stevegeer/iStock
In Chicago, every public school student can now use their student ID as a library card, granting them quick access to millions of books, digital databases, free academic support, and much more — all without the extra step of filling out paperwork. Named “The 81 Club” after the city’s 81 library branches, the innovative program follows a 2022 pilot that looked at ways to remove barriers to accessing the library’s resources. The pilot led to a 63% increase in library usage among economically disadvantaged students and an 81% jump among English language learners. The goal is to ensure that all students, particularly foster youth, undocumented students, and those experiencing homelessness,have the opportunity to make the most of the same tools.
“With this expansion, every student — no matter their ZIP code, school enrollment, or their age, will have access to library cards and programs and resources that make their lives more enriched,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said at an event announcing the expansion last week, per Block Club Chicago. Kenya Merritt, the head of the city’s cultural affairs department, added: “This partnership is what it looks like in action when young people have access, not just to books, but to stories, art, and creative expression,” she said. “It opens doors for them. It helps them to imagine what’s possible for themselves … it helps students envision their future that’s full of opportunity.”
In Other News
American woodcocks are captivating New Yorkers with their quirky calls and funky walk (read more)
Teen birth rates hit a new record low, while rates for women in their 30s and 40s rose (read more)
The Housemaid author revealed her true identity — and she’s a doctor who treats brain disorders (read more)
What does Earth taste like? A London exhibition invites visitors to sample edible soil (read more)
Pink is hosting the Tony Awards this June, following in the footsteps of Cynthia Erivo (read more)
Inspiring Story
Answering a call
A historically Black church in Alexandria, Virginia, donated $1 million to cover the back rent for local residents in need, preventing the evictions of 338 families from public housing. “The Lord empowers us to change the lives of others,” said the Rev. Howard-John Wesley.
Photo of the Day
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
For the first time in 115 years, this Claude Monet painting is seeing the light of day outside a private collection. The 1883 oil on canvas, titled “Les Îles de Port-Villez,” was previously known to the public only through a black-and-white photograph from the 1950s, according to Artnet. The work, estimated to fetch up to $5.8 million, is headed to a Sotheby’s auction on Thursday alongside another Monet painting that has been kept in private hands for 98 years.
These are the Rolls-Royce of Hearing Aids (and They’re Under $100)
The internet is buzzing over these revolutionary, low-cost hearing aids. They are incredibly small — nearly invisible — and designed for all-day comfort. The affordable, high-quality device is improving lives every day by restoring confidence and making crystal-clear sound accessible to all. Why wait? Start hearing clearly for under $100.
