Good meowning! Did you know today is Black Cat Appreciation Day? It was created in 2011 to dispel superstitions about the animals and raise awareness of what loving companions they can be — and that's a worthy cause, as statistics indicate black kitties have lower chances of being adopted. Now is also a fitting time to share something else cat-centric that we love: the free website Purrli. The sound of cats purring is incredibly soothing, and Purrli brings it to you on demand, with options to adjust the vibe, purr rate, and more.
— the Nice News team
Featured Story
Is "Decomposition" the Key to Stop Procrastinating? How to Put This Simple Tip Into Practice
Tatiana Maksimova/ Moment via Getty Images
Hypothetical for you: Two weeks ago, you were assigned a big work project to present this Monday. It's now Sunday afternoon. Are you enjoying what's left of your weekend or scrambling to put the presentation together? If you relate more to the second option and now feel a bit sheepish about it, don't. People procrastinate for a variety of reasons — perfectionism, neuroticism, low self-efficacy — but contrary to popular belief, laziness isn't on the list. Rather than diving into the "why" regarding this topic, however, let's focus on the "what now." Among the numerous strategies for beating the behavior, one simple practice may be key: task decomposition. Also called chunking, task decomposition is the act of breaking down a task into smaller, more manageable chunks — chunks that can be as simple as you need them to be (we're talking "put sock on foot" simple). Click below to learn why decomposition helps and how to best implement it.
Need a comfortable, breathable sandal for traipsing around on your late summer vacation? Quince has you covered. How about a sensible loafer for wearing to the office? Quince has that too. Or a show-stopping pair of strappy heels to go with that new dress? You guessed it — turn to Quince. The brand's footwear collection truly has something for everyone (we didn't even mention the boots and sneakers!). And materials like high-quality Italian leather ensure that each pair is made to last, so you'll be turning to the same shoes season after season.
25 Years of SuperAger Research Reveals How They Defy the Odds and Keep Their Memories Sharp
Shane Collins, Northwestern University
Make room superheroes, SuperAgers are out here defying the odds and maintaining memory performance on par with those at least three decades younger. Wondering what their secret powers are? A long-running Northwestern University study recently marked 25 years of researching SuperAgers, so the scientists are sharing some of the common threads that have helped these individuals — all age 80 or older — maintain mental sharpness well into their later years. Via brain scans, the researchers found that many SuperAgers either do not develop Alzheimer's-related plaques and tangles or form these protein accumulations but show none of the associated cognitive impairment. Their brains were also shown to have a thicker anterior cingulate cortex (a region linked to motivation, emotion, and decision-making) and higher numbers of von Economo neurons (associated with socialization). But the brain scans only reveal one piece of the puzzle, as SuperAgers also demonstrated commonlifestyle traits centered on staying connected: "I don't know if it's necessarily social connections, it's just connections in general," study co-author Tamar Gefen told NBC News. "There are people who are connected to the land, there are people who are connected to their ancestry, people who are connected to their grandchildren, who are connected to their art." Bigger picture, the researchers hope that by deepening our understanding of the biological and behavioral traits linked to SuperAging, we can better support cognitive resilience and ultimately delay or even prevent Alzheimer's and other conditions that cause cognitive decline.
Culture
Massachusetts Named Best US State to Call Home in 2025
DenisTangneyJr/ iStock
If you're searching for a new place to call home — or just daydreaming on Zillow — WalletHub's latest report might help whittle down the options. To find the best of the best U.S. states to live in, the site's experts analyzed 51 data-driven indicators of livability, including housing costs, health care, safety, income growth, and education quality. Massachusetts took the No. 1 spot, with top-ranked health care and education systems, the highest share of residents with health insurance, and the lowest premature death rate. The Bay State also boasts the nation's third-lowest property crime rate and third-best access to public transportation. Rounding out the top five are Idaho, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Curious where your state lands? Check out the rankings.
Health
Can Blowing a Conch Shell Help Alleviate Sleep Apnea? Science Says Possibly
Alex Pena/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Sleep aids come in all shapes and sizes — from gummies and pills to masks and machines. Now, researchers are eyeing a surprising new technique to help the millions living with sleep apnea worldwide: blowing into a conch shell. In a recent study of 30 adults with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, about half of participants were taught to blow a conch shell (also known as shankh blowing in Hindu cultures), while the rest practiced deep breathing exercises. Six months later, those who practiced conch blowing were 34% less sleepy during the day and had an average of 4-5 fewer apnea events per hour during sleep. This group's blood oxygen levels during the night also improved, which is notable as obstructive sleep apnea is typically associated with decreased blood oxygen levels due to repeated breathing interruptions. While more research is needed, the surprising treatment could be a promising alternative for those who are unable to access CPAP machines or find them uncomfortable. Lead researcher Krishna K. Sharma said in a statement, "Shankh blowing is a simple, low-cost breathing technique that could help improve sleep and reduce symptoms without the need for machines or medication."
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and her brother, Junior, played make-believe together as kids — now they're performing Shakespeare in Central Park
Why philosopher Iris Murdoch believed morality was less about rules and more about love
In Seoul, South Korea, "warm-hearted convenience stores" that resemble living rooms are helping combat loneliness
When mindfulness expert (and host of Nice News' podcast) Case Kenny realized how many people talk themselves into settling for less than they deserve in life and love, he decided to write a book to "flip the script" on how we approach relationships. A blend of research, practical tools, and "undiluted optimism," The Opposite of Settling is a guide for finding fulfilling, empowering connections — and finding yourself in the process. The author is joining us this Thursday at 5 p.m. ET to share his ideas at our August Book Club: RSVP for the free virtual event and grab a copy of the book at the link above.
The debut of writer-director Kate Beecroft, this Sundance darling is set in the South Dakota Badlands and stars three generations of real-life women playing versions of themselves. The film follows a widow raising her kids while scraping together a living selling rescued horses at livestock auctions. She has a gift for understanding the animals, but refuses to ride after the death of her husband, for fear that a fall would leave her incapable of tending to the many people who rely on her. In theaters now, the film expands not only the Western genre, but also the mythos of the American cowboy, per Variety.
Based on the 1923 book Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten, Bambi was the fifth animated feature film released by Disney. To accurately capture the forest setting, artists spent months in the New England woods photographing flora and fauna and modeled Bambi's body and movement after real white-tailed fawns. The film was immediately controversial. While many felt it unfairly depicted hunting, conservationists took a different view of its import, hailing it for advancing animal rights and ecological awareness. In 2011, it was added to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. And last week, a live-action version of the novel was released in theaters in the U.K. and Ireland. Watch the original 1942 Bambi trailer.
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