A beautiful, colorful flower garden is an accomplishment in and of itself. But a beautiful, colorful flower garden that also smells amazing? That's a step up. Associated Press gardening columnist Jessica Damiano is back with a roundup of fragrant blooms that will have your guests asking "What smells so good?"
Learn how middle schoolers experience empathy, and how educators can help them develop their skills
Health
Heart Attack Deaths Have Dropped by Nearly 90% Since 1970
manassanant pamai/ iStock
Heart disease impacts millions of people every year in the U.S. But there's now some good news on that front: A Stanford study found that not only have heart disease-related deaths plummeted by 66% over five decades, but deaths from heart attacks specifically have decreased by nearly 90% — meaning the latter is no longer the leading cause of mortality in the country. Using data on adults ages 25 and up from the National Vital Statistics System, researchers examined how these causes of death have changed over time. In addition to the previous figures, they learned that coronary artery disease mortality declined by 81%. "Overall, there's been significant progress with every decade," lead author Sara King said in a news release. Touting it as a "medical miracle," senior author Latha Palaniappan credited the decrease in heart attack deaths to "the synergistic power of science, medicine, and public health." On the flip side, the team found that more Americans now die from chronic heart disease, likely in part because people are living to older ages. "We have so many tools in our toolbox now, but still, there's a lot more that can be developed and improved," said King. "I hope the numbers just keep getting better."
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The Powerful Probiotic Halle Berry Swears By for Better Gut Health
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*Based on preclinical studies. Not intended for weight loss.
Humanity
Dads Play Catch With LGBTQ+ Attendees at Pride Festivals
Mylisa Walter
After throwing a football back and forth with a fellow attendee at a Pride festival, John Piermatteo jogs over to give his new friend something they may have not received in a long time: a hug from a dad. That simple but powerful interaction represents the ethos behind Piermatteo's movement, Play Catch With a Dad. Launched as a counterpart to Free Mom Hugs, a nonprofit that offers hugs from mom volunteers to LGBTQ+ community members who have frayed relationships with their own mothers, Play Catch With a Dad aims to foster similarly meaningful exchanges, but with fathers instead. The mission is straightforward: "Help someone heal one toss at a time." "For those who lost or never had a supportive, loving father, being told that they are a great kid, or how brave they are, or how proud we are of them, or that we love them can be overwhelming," Piermatteo tells Nice News. "What started as a fun smile can quickly turn to outright sobbing." In honor of the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising today, read the rest of our interview with Piermatteo.
Environment
Do You Nap to Make Up for Lost Sleep? Orangutans Do, Too
A short power nap can help us recover from a night of bad sleep. But while we humans typically have people to see and places to be during the day, regardless of how tired we are, some orangutans simply hit the snooze button on their daily nap when they're feeling sleep deprived. After studying 53 Suaq orangutans in Indonesia over a 14-year span, researchers found that they extended their naps by up to 10 minutes for each hour of sleep lost the previous night. On average, the apes dozed off for nearly 13 hours every night (wouldn't that be nice?). But that number shortened if it was colder outside, they had traveled farther during the day, or were sleeping near other apes — the latter of which first author Alison Ashbury likened to staying up late and hanging out with friends. "They're prioritizing being social over sleeping, or their sleep is being disrupted by others nearby, or even both," she said. In these instances, the orangutans napped for longer in "day nests": simpler versions of their nighttime resting spots made with tree branches and leaves. The Suaq apes need their naps, the researchers explained, in part because they "arguably exhibit the widest range of cognitively demanding behaviors" of any orangutan population. Watch an ape named Rakus construct his night nest.
In Other News
An unknown space object emitting X-rays and radio waves was detected, and could further cosmic insight (read more)
Nestlé will axe artificial colors in its U.S. food and drinks by mid-2026, the latest brand to do so (read more)
Mules are the "unsung heroes" behind many operations crucial to maintaining Yosemite National Park (read more)
Robots the size of dust particles that could one day cure sinus infections cleared pre-clinical trials (read more)
This newly found dinosaur species was the size of a labrador — and scampered around the feet of larger dinos (read more)
Enter to Win Our Podcast Giveaway
Have you been listening to our new podcast? Good news: You could be rewarded for it. Nice News is partnering with host Case Kenny to offer a special giveaway to listeners. One lucky winner will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card, a one-on-one private virtual session with Case, and a copy of his 60-Day New Mindset Journal. Here's how to enter: Follow or subscribe to Nice News Today on at least one of our three platforms — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music — and submit a screenshot proving you did so along with your name to today@nicenews.com. You have until Tuesday, July 1 at 10 a.m. ET to enter and the winner will be announced later that week, so keep your eyes peeled. Find terms and conditions at the bottom of this email. Good luck!
Inspiring Story
Saved by the boater
When three children wandered off a sandbar on a Massachusetts beach Tuesday, they fell into a fast-moving river current as the tide was coming in. Fortunately, a boater rescued the kids and a nurse aboard the vessel began performing CPR — and all three survived. "The pilot and occupants of the private vessels that intervened in this incident undoubtedly saved the lives of these children," said local Fire Chief Eric Smith.
Photo of the Day
Jim Dyson/Redferns via Getty Images
The iconic Glastonbury Festival began back in 1970 — and thousands have been pouring into Pilton, England, for the 2025 incarnation, which runs through Sunday. Neil Young, Brandi Carlile, Charli XCX, and Weezer are among the big-name acts taking the stage over the weekend. "It's been such a buildup this year, it's been an amazing amount of excitement," said Emily Eavis, who organizes the festival.
Take Care of Your Gut With Pendulum
Scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford figured out that Akkermansia is a beneficial strain for improved gut health. And now, Pendulum has pioneered its use in a probiotic supplement recommended by more than 15,000 medical professionals. This one-of-a-kind formula strengthens the gut lining, improves metabolic health, and boosts GLP-1 production* so you feel your best every day.
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