Today is Earth Day! We urge everyone to take a moment to acknowledge your gratitude for the planet we share, and use that gratitude as fuel for protecting it. As we've done for the past three years, Nice News is celebrating Earth Day with a trio of environment-focused features that hopefully inspire and empower you. We're also sharing our Spring Cause of the Season — Re:wild. The nonprofit works with hundreds of partners in 80 countries to carry out its mission to restore and protect the wild. Below, you can read about some of the essential work Re:wild is doing in the Caribbean and learn why your support is so needed.
The Caribbean Is a "Biodiversity Hot Spot": Meet the Nonprofit Helping Protect It
Ed Marshall, Fauna & Flora
The hundreds of islands that make up the Caribbean are home to over 12,000 marine species, 13,000 plant species, and 10% of the world's coral reefs — and that doesn't even include all of the region's mammals, birds, and reptiles. "The Caribbean is a beautiful place," Barbados-based ecologist Justin Springer tells Nice News. "We know it by the white sandy beaches, and you see people sipping cocktails or rum punches on the beach and all of that. But it's also a very important biodiversity hot spot, and what that means is, essentially, it's an area that has a mix or a lot of biodiversity in it that can be found nowhere else in the world." Indeed, it's one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, but it also unfortunately has the highest extinction rate — something Springer is working to combat via his role as the Caribbean program officer for Re:wild. The organization has over 500 partners in 80 countries, and its work in the Caribbean is a microcosm of sorts for Re:wild's overall operations. Click here to read our full interview with Springer and here to donate to the organization via Nice News' Spring Cause of the Season fundraiser.
Together With LMNT
Your Science-Backed Hydration Hero for Optimal Health
Optimal hydration doesn't just mean more fluids, it means maintaining the right electrolyte balance. Without electrolytes, excess fluid can throw off that balance, leading to symptoms like headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, and brain fog. Enter LMNT, your hydration hero. LMNT is an electrolyte drink mix packed with 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium. The best part? LMNT is free of sugar, artificial colors, and other dodgy ingredients — just simple, science-backed hydration support in craveable flavors like Citrus Salt and Mango Chili.
Buzzing to Help the Environment This Earth Day? Turn Your Attention to the Bees
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
If you haven't been noticing many bees in your backyard recently, you're not alone: 2025 has been a tough year for the pollinators. Commercial beekeepers reported colony losses around 60% this year, and experts estimate hundreds of millions of bees have died in the U.S. since August. "I've never seen anything like this — not the amount of losses," Tom Babcock, a representative for the Maryland State Beekeepers Association, told WBOC. Why exactly is still unknown, with some researchers pointing to changing weather patterns, pests, and poor nutritionas reasons. But what's certain is that although this is a large-scale problem, there are still many things we can all do on our balconies and in our backyards to help the humble heroes that pollinate 75% of U.S. fruits, vegetables, and nuts. With Earth Day upon us, now is the perfect time to look after the busy buzzers in both big and small ways. The Department of Agriculture recommends planting native plants, avoiding (or eliminating) pesticides, and spreading the word. Get more pollinator-friendly tips (including how to build a bee box).
Environment
Researchers Are Testing a Textured Seawall Designed to Hold Back Water, Create Home for Marine Organisms
Sara Pezeshk, CC BY-SA
This article was written by Sara Pezeshk, a postdoctoral fellow at Florida International University, and Shahin Vassigh, a professor of architecture at Florida International University, for The Conversation. Morningside Park, a beloved neighborhood park in Miami with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, will soon pilot an innovative approach to coastal resilience. BIOCAP tiles, a 3D-printed modular system designed to support marine life and reduce wave impact along urban seawalls, will be installed on the existing seawall there in spring 2025. BIOCAP stands for Biodiversity Improvement by Optimizing Coastal Adaptation and Performance. Developed by our team of architects and marine biologists at Florida International University, the uniquely textured prototype tiles are designed to test a new approach for helping cities such as Miami adapt to rising sea levels while simultaneously restoring ecological balance along their shorelines. Learn how the "swirling shapes" and "shaded grooves" of the tiles will help.
In Other News
Healthy eating in midlife can help you live longer and healthier, a first-of-its-kind study found (read more)
A space camera spotted massive "mysterious" symbols etched into the sand of a barren desert (read more)
To honor 200 years of modern railway, a global vote determined a shortlist of the U.K.'s best-loved train art (read more)
"Secret Purr-vice" on site: A cat meandered onto the White House grounds and completed operation snuggle (read more)
Is that a flying robot? Harvard researchers created a tiny RoboBee that looks like a four-legged insect (read more)
Something We Love
Mighty Plugs These are branded as the "world's finest" earplugs, and they truly live up to that name. With a consistency similar to Play-Doh, they mold to your ears and create a suction that blocks out noise more than any other earplugs I've tried. They're also so comfortable that I sleep in them every night, which has been a game changer for shutting out noises — both around the house and outside — that could wake me up. – Stephanie Friedman, Staff Writer
Nice News' first book club meeting earlier this month was a smashing success, so we can't wait to bring you another one. On May 6 at 5 p.m. ET, we'll host a conversation with Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy. Harrison will help you learn how to break free from the old definition of happiness (one rooted in achievement, comparison, and constant striving) and embrace a new, research-backed path to deeper joy, meaning, and connection. It's free to join — and you don't have to read the book beforehand!
Bobbi Oxford is a NASCAR superfan. And at age 83, she achieved her lifelong dream of taking a race car out for a spin. "I have the need for speed, baby!" she said. Watch her put the pedal to the metal at 90 mph.
Photo of the Day
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
A standing ovation for the 30,000-plus runners who participated in yesterday's Boston Marathon — and a special shout out to John Korir (pictured), the champion of the men's race. The 28-year-old Kenyan runner finished the marathon in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 45 seconds, which is the second-fastest winning time in the men's race history. Fast feet clearly run in the family, as Korir's brother Wesley won the event in 2012 with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds. As for the women's event, 31-year-old Sharon Lokedi smashed the previous record by more than two minutes, with a phenomenal finish time of 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds. "It feels so good," Lokedi told ESPN2 after clinching the win. "It was tough and I toughed it out."
Thanks to Masterworks, You Can Invest in an Asset Class That's Been Uncorrelated to Market Chaos
In tumultuous economic times like these, investors look to diversify their portfolios. One asset they've turned to before? Fine art. Unlike equities, blue-chip art has historically remained uncorrelated to market spikes and swings. According to Masterworks, contemporary art prices have overall appreciated at 11.2% annually since 1995 — outpacing the S&P 500 by 32% with near-zero correlation to stocks. Masterworks, the leading art investment platform, makes it easy for all investors to diversify their portfolios with this historically uncorrelated asset: Click below to skip the waitlist and invest today.
"I have seen this sky every day of my life and I am still in awed by it. That is what the wild is — this intense medicinal beauty. To look at it makes you feel whole."
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