A little fun fact for you to share with your coworkers this morning: Yesterday kicked off 10 days of perfectly palindromic calendar dates, aka dates that read the same frontward and backward (at least in the American date conventions). Sunday — 5/25/25 — is a particularly satisfying one.
Noted: What to do if you lose something on a plane or at the airport
Environment
Scientists Cook Up Recipe for Powering the Planet for Millennia
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There's a source of clean energy that could theoretically power the planet for 170,000 years — and it's hiding beneath our feet. That's according to a recent study, which found that sources of natural hydrogen could be lodged in the Earth's crust, and, if harnessed properly, could be a clean power gold mine. While hydrogen power has been gathering steam for years, the formula for tapping into the energy source cleanly has been tough to nail down, until now. Scientists from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto believe they've found an "exploration recipe" to find natural hydrogen reservoirs, which are likely located all over the world, including under at least 30 U.S. states, ABC News reports. The key geological ingredients include hydrogen itself, reservoir rocks, and a formation that prevents the gas from escaping. But the recipe is less of a one-pot dish and, rather, "likened to cooking a soufflé," lead author Chris Ballentine said in a statement. "Get any one of the ingredients, amounts, timing, or temperature wrong and you will be disappointed." But with the clock ticking to find reliable climate solutions, the researchers say getting cooking could be well worth the effort to keep the modern world functioning for many, many years to come. "One successful exploration recipe that is repeatable will unlock a commercially competitive, low-carbon hydrogen source that would significantly contribute to the energy transition," said Ballentine.
Together With Pacaso
The Real Estate Stars Opening $1.3 Trillion Doors
Zillow helped millions buy their first homes under co-founder Spencer Rascoff and executive Austin Allison. Now, they've left Zillow to reimagine how people buy second homes through Pacaso — unleashing the full potential of a $1.3 trillion market. Pacaso has already facilitated over $1 billion in real estate transactions across more than 2,000 happy customers and dozens of top destinations. The company's model earns fees on every transaction, with 80% of homes selling out fast. Now, after 41% gross profit growth last year, surpassing $110 million in four years, Pacaso is ready for what's next — it even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. While most couldn't invest in Zillow until post-IPO, Pacaso is offering you the chance to get involved now. Invest in Pacaso as a private company for $2.80/share today.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
Tech
Afraid of Cycling Next to Cars? New Handlebar Sensor Could Map Safer Bike Routes
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Biking has plenty of benefits — but the thought of riding next to drivers who aren't always watching the road may prevent some bike owners from taking advantage of the pros. That was the driving force (no pun intended) behind a new system developed by University of Washington researchers that could help cyclists choose the safest routes and assuage their fears of the transportation method in the process. Current navigation tools, like Google Maps, are fairly limited when it comes to communicating route safety, as they often only log the number of bike-car collisions reported to them. To get this data, actual crashes have to occur, and information about minor collisions that may be useful to bikers isn't always accessible. Enter: ProxiCycle, a small sensor in a 3D-printed case that attaches to a bicycle's handlebars, logs each time a car passes within four feet of it, and sends the data to the cyclist's phone. "People don't really feel comfortable getting on a bike and I want to change that," lead author Joseph Breda said in a news release, adding: "Cycling is really good for your health and for the environment. Getting more people biking more often is how we reap those rewards and increase safety in numbers for cyclists on the roads." Watch a video of the system in action.
Science
Flower Mystery Solved: This Is Why Roses Have Curved Petals
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We all go through stressful seasons of life — even roses. New research shows that stress is actually to thank for one of the summer flowers' most iconic features: the graceful curved petals. The curves were previously attributed to a geometric principle called "Gauss incompatibility." However, when researchers at Hebrew University reexamined the flowers using computer simulations and other experiments, they found that the principle was incompatible. They instead attributed the curved blooms to a different concept, Mainardi-Codazzi-Peterson stress, which concentrates at the petals' edges and thus influences how (and where) the petals grow. The findings could inspire new ideas in soft robotics, flexible electronics, and biodesign, while also offering an opportunity to reframe our own perspectives on stressful times. "What we discovered goes far beyond flowers — it's a window into how nature uses shape and stress to guide growth in everything from plants to synthetic materials," lead study author Moshe Michael said in a press release. Since we're days away from National Rose Month (June), may this be your reminder to stop and smell the roses on your next walk — or admire them from afar on this virtual rose garden walk.
In Other News
An ancient bonsai tree that survived Hiroshima turned 400: See the "Peace Tree" (read more)
Scientists found footprints that suggest humanity existed 35-40 million years earlier than previously thought (read more)
Emergency contraceptives are hitting shelves at 11,000 convenience stores in 48 states (read more)
Over 75% of NYC's vehicle fleet is green, a sign of the government's progress toward climate goals (read more)
A long-lost Jim Morrison sculpture was found 37 years after it was stolen from the singer's gravesite (read more)
Organization We Love
One Simple Wish May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, an ideal opportunity to introduce you to One Simple Wish. The nonprofit spreads love, hope, and joy by empowering individuals to grant wishes for kids and young adults affected by foster care and crisis — things like a stroller for an 11-month old with developmental delays, pots and pans for a mom to prepare meals for her family, and a tablet for a student to use in middle school. There are over $200,000 worth of wishes ranging from $10-$500 waiting to be granted, with new ones arriving every day. You can make someone's wish come true at the link below.
Feel too old to dance? Don't tell that to Robert "Bobby" Barnett. The 100-year-old ballet coach and instructor leaped and twirled for decades and now teaches his moves to others. Read Bobby's secrets to aging gracefully.
Photo of the Day
Shona Williams/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images
Meet the latest royal (fur)baby: Moley! Queen Camilla recently posed with the darling rescue pup, who was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home at 8 weeks old. As for the name, the queen said it was inspired by his appearance — "[He] looks just like a mole," she said.
Meet Your New Favorite Sneakers: Thousand Fell
Thousand Fell is redefining the classic sneaker with a sustainable twist. Made from materials like vegan bioleather and Amazonian rubber, these shoes are built for all-day wear and designed to be recycled. The company's trade-in program keeps textiles out of landfills while offering customers credit toward their next purchase. Add these stylish sneakers into your rotation and for a limited time only, enjoy 25% off with code NICENEWS.
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