Nice News Today

We could all use a bit more happiness in our lives, but when negative emotions run high, that can feel like an impossible feat. In today's episode, we dive into a tip that can help you start living a happier life in less than two minutes. Find out how to do it and learn what other good news we have in store.

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Must Reads

• Stellar discovery: A recently spotted galactic visitor is "very likely" the oldest comet ever seen — scope it out here​

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• Looking to book a home away from home? Browse these budget-friendly Airbnb alternatives

Science

67 Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossil Found Beneath a Denver Museum's Parking Lot

As Jurassic World Rebirth keeps roaring at the box office, another dinosaur story is making headlines: Scientists just announced that they had discovered a 67.5 million-year-old dinosaur fossil beneath the Denver Museum of Nature & Science's parking lot.
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Like a scene straight out of a movie, the partial vertebra from an herbivorous dinosaur was serendipitously discovered 763 feet below the parking lot's surface during a geothermal test drilling project in January. "It's basically like winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning on the same day," James Hagadorn, curator of geology at the museum, said in a statement last week. "No one could have predicted that this little square foot of land where we started drilling would actually contain a dinosaur bone beneath it!"
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Identified as the oldest and deepest dinosaur fossil ever found within the Denver city limits, the historic bone is estimated to be from the Late Cretaceous period — an era not long before dinosaurs were wiped out.
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The fossil is now on public display for a limited time, offering a peek at who called the area home many moons ago. "In my 35 years at the museum, we've never had an opportunity quite like this — to study the deep geologic layers beneath our feet with such precision," said Bob Raynolds, an earth sciences research associate. "That this fossil turned up here, in City Park, is nothing short of magical." See more photos from the excavation.​

Together With Pacaso

His First Venture Sold for $120 Million — This Time's Different for Everyday Investors

Austin Allison's familiar with using tech to disrupt real estate — his first venture, dotloop, was acquired for $120 million. But despite bringing industry fame, one nagging regret remained. "I always wished we gave retail investors the chance to invest in dotloop and share that success," Allison later said.
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Now he's doing just that. Allison built upon that experience to launch Pacaso, the co-ownership marketplace disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home industry. And it's working.
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The company has surpassed $110 million in gross profit to date, including 41% year-over-year growth last year. It's earned backing from firms like Maveron and Greycroft and even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. And unlike dotloop, you can become an early-stage investor in Pacaso.
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​Invest today at $2.90/share.​

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals.

Humanity

This Beautiful "Tiny Homes Town" Offers Community and Affordable Housing to Floridians

Welcome to the tiny homes town — where more than 60 people live in homes as small as 8.5 feet wide across four connecting neighborhoods.
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Dan Dobrowolski, 66, is founder of the national tiny home company Escape, which built The Village, The Oaks, Palm Court, and The Grove in Tampa Bay, Florida. The 45 homes fit up to two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and bathrooms, and they cost as little as $156,199 to buy and $1,295 a month to rent. And unlike mobile home parks or RV sites, Escape Tampa Bay is constructed with permanent infrastructure.
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"Even though it's a tiny house, you still have a large area where you can go outside and walk just like you're in a normal neighborhood," Dobrowolski told SWNS. "We intentionally designated the entire central part of the development as a large park, so it's very green, very quiet, and you have space."
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The community was created in 2020 in a bid to address the deepening housing affordability crisis. Homes range from about 200-600 square feet, with some of the earlier models reaching 800 square feet. Monthly rent averages around $1,400 — below current market rates in the area, where rental prices have been climbing amid high demand and limited availability. Explore the homes.​

Environment

The Saguaro Cactus Is an American Southwest Icon — And at the Heart of Ancient Indigenous Practices

With its imposing height, tree-like branches, and blooming white flowers, the saguaro cactus (pronounced "sah-wah-roh") is undeniably enchanting — not to mention, it can live for up to 200 years. So it's no wonder the towering succulent, only found within the Sonoran Desert, is not only a symbol of the American Southwest but also central to centuries-old Indigenous practices.
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"They are family," Tanisha Tucker Lohse, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona, told the Associated Press of the resilient saguaros, which were granted legal personhood by the tribe in 2021. "They are elders, they're humans to us."
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From mid-June to early July, the cactus produces a juicy red fruit called "bahidaj." Described as having similar flavor notes to cranberry and red plum, the "truffle of the desert" is collected using a long stick made from a saguaro rib. The fruit is then used by the O'odham for wine and food in preparation of the annual summer rain ceremonies: a spiritual event marking the beginning of their New Year.
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The harvesting tradition is also deeply symbolic, signifying the importance of passing down cultural knowledge from generation to generation. "They're people, and they are our people, and when we're gone, one will take our place," said Francine Larson Segundo, whose grandparents taught her about the saguaro. "Anybody that's younger than me, I have a responsibility to teach as much as I can."

In Other News

1. The U.K. is investing over $85 million to make it "easier and cheaper" to plug into electric cars (read more)
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2. Catch Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge swing his way to becoming the fastest player to reach 350 home runs (read more)
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3. A rare, "very pungent" corpse flower is drawing visitors to a San Francisco conservatory — see the superstar plant (read more)
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4. Education win! A new law expands free preschool and full-day kindergarten programs in New Jersey (read more)
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5. Stamp prices slightly increased over the weekend: Here's what you need to know (read more)

Something We Love

Words Unravelled Podcast
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​I've been enjoying this podcast on language that's cohosted by "two of the internet's leading nerds." It's the perfect blend of informational and entertaining: Each episode, they tackle a subject and break down the etymology and evolution of the words involved. One of my faves is all about the origin of punctuation (more fun than it sounds, I promise!).
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​– Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor

Inspiring Story

Proud father

While attending a high school ring ceremony, Vincent Ficarra eagerly waited to hear his stepson Christopher's name called out. Little did he know, it would also be the moment he learned the teen had secretly taken his last name. Watch the emotional surprise.​

Photo of the Day

Two Wimbledon winners were crowned over the weekend: In the women's final, Iga Swiatek aced her way past Amanda Anisimova to claim her sixth Grand Slam title in under an hour, and in the men's, Jannik Sinner served up a victory against Carlos Alcaraz to snag his very first Wimbledon championship. "I'm just living my dream," Sinner said. Watch his reaction to the win.​

Take Care of Yourself This Summer With BetterHelp

Summer can provide a much-needed pause. But if you're feeling disconnected during this season, therapy offers a powerful way to reflect and reset. With BetterHelp, you can talk to a licensed therapist anywhere — even poolside or between flights. BetterHelp makes it simple to start, with sessions by phone, video, or chat. Right now, you'll get 25% off your first month.

Please support our sponsors! They help us keep Nice News free. ♡

About Art

"How to Work Better" by Peter Fischli and David Weiss (1991-2000)

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​There are many kinds of work. I have been thinking a lot about how to bring ease and grace to the different types of work I do — from the sacred to the mundane. These choices — about how I show up when I wash the dishes, host a podcast, or sit in meditation — affect me and ripple outward to those I love as well as those I have not yet had the pleasure of knowing. In other words, our work matters even when we might suspect it does not.
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Artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss created a list of genius steps on how to work better. Imbued with their characteristic sly humor, their 10 points serve as a profoundly wise guide to not just work but also living itself. Admit mistakes. Be calm. Smile.
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​Interested in adding a little more art to your day and learning how to live artfully? ​Sign up for the newsletter About Art.​

Written by Heidi Zuckerman Heidi is the CEO and director of the Orange County Museum of Art and author of Why Art Matters: The Bearable Lightness of Being.

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Odds & Ends

🦊 Found: A real-life Snow White
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🍌 Banana bread in caffeine form
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🚢 How does a cruise to the Mexican Riviera sound? Take 40% off fares now*
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🧡 Nike is stepping into the floral world
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​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

"The humblest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them."

– LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, LITTLE WOMEN