Must Reads

• And the 2025 Emmy winners are …
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• Spotify has a new feature called Lossless Listening for true audiophiles

Humanity

"You Need to Be Bored": The Case for Letting Yourself Do Nothing

What do you do when you're bored — when the work's done and the home is clean, or you're waiting in an elevator/line/restaurant/crosswalk? For many of us, the answer is the same: We reach for our phones. But Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks has a different idea, and it's to just let yourself be bored.
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"You need to be bored. You will have less meaning and you will be more depressed if you never are bored," Brooks said in a Harvard Business Review video that racked up millions of views in two weeks. But like so many things, embracing boredom is easier said than done: Brooks cited a study in which the majority of participants preferred to zap themselves with a painful electric shock rather than sit in silence with nothing to do.
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Whether or not you think you'd choose the shock, we can all probably agree that listlessness can be uncomfortable — and that discomfort is essential for finding meaning in our lives, Brooks argued. He explained that moments of boredom serve an important purpose by activating the brain's "default mode network." This network promotes creativity and self-reflection, so that we can grapple with deeper questions about purpose. Constant digital distractions often shut down those trains of thought, which can (spoiler alert) make us more anxious and less satisfied as a result.
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Inspired to be bored? Get Brooks' pro tips for embracing more boredom in your life.​

Together With FinanceBuzz

A Rare Unlimited Cash Back Match Credit Card

Looking for a better way to tackle credit card debt? Or want to finance a major purchase? Getting a new 0% intro APR credit card can help you while easing some of the financial pressure. And the credit card experts at FinanceBuzz found one that stands out from others on the market.
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​This card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, plus 5% cash back on everyday purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. The best part? It matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year — that's up to 10% back on qualifying purchases. And there's no annual fee or foreign transaction fees to worry about. Click below to see why this card is getting so much buzz.

Culture

New "Beautiful Ballad" Version of a Whitney Houston Hit Features Her Original Vocals

It's a song that's sent countless wedding guests to the dance floor, a pop treasure if we've ever heard one: Whitney Houston's 1987 single "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)." Though the legendary singer died in 2012, her legacy is living on through a harmonious new duet of the beltable tune that features her original vocals.
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The project was sparked in 2024, when English recording artist Calum Scott opened for Ed Sheeran and performed a ballad version of the song that weaved in Robyn's "Dancing On My Own." After hearing the moving remix, music publisher Primary Wave, which owns the copyrights to many of Houston's hits, floated the idea for an official balladic reinterpretation of the pop anthem.
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And last Thursday, Scott released a slowed-down duet that makes use of the late musician's original vocal stems (the isolated audio files of her singing). "You can hear it on the song, I didn't oversing, I didn't do anything new, I didn't do any ad-libbing," Scott told the Associated Press. "I felt like I gently walked alongside Whitney — if I can even say I walked alongside. I mean, I'm in absolute awe of her." Take a listen and learn more about how the tune came to be.

Environment

Columbian White-Tailed Deer Poised for Removal From Endangered Species List

We often hear about wildlife being labeled as threatened or endangered, but today we're covering a species that's made an incredible comeback: the Columbian white-tailed deer, which has rebounded so successfully that federal officials are now recommending removing it from the endangered species list.
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Among the first species protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act, these distinctive deer native to the Pacific Northwest saw their numbers plummet to fewer than 1,000 in the 1940s. But after decades of collaboration between federal, state, tribal, and local partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has now determined the population has met the recovery plan's criteria and no longer requires federal protection.
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"It's incredibly exciting to see the deer reach this milestone," Bridget Fahey, acting regional director of the Pacific region of the USFWS, said in a statement. "We want to acknowledge the significant role that our national wildlife refuges, state and tribal partners, and land trusts have played in this recovery. This effort shows what's possible when we work together to recover a species."
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If it is delisted federally, the subspecies would still be marked as threatened in Washington state and continue to be closely monitored by state wildlife agencies and local partners.

In Other News

1. Golden girls: Japan boasts a record number of centenarians for the 55th year in a row, 88% of whom are women (read more)
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2. "Learning how to learn" gets an A+ as the next generation's most needed skill, says Google's top AI scientist (read more)
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3. Dun-dun … dun-dun! Over 200 Jaws props surfaced yesterday in an exhibit celebrating the film's 50th birthday (read more)
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4. The European Union committed to cutting food waste by 30% in households, retailers, and restaurants (read more)
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5. Why use one arm when you have eight? A new study found octopuses use different limbs for different tasks (read more)

Something We Love

Sticky Lemon​
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​From a fish wallet bag to a tartan tote with a raccoon, this brand is packed full of all kinds of fun, happy accessories (technically for kids, but I love them as an adult too!). I received one of the Sticky Lemon phone pouches as a birthday gift, and with a crossbody strap and only enough space for your phone and a few cards, it's the perfect minimalist accessory.
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​– Stephanie Friedman, Staff Writer

Inspiring Story

Fashionably late

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Recognition can come at any age — just ask Violet LaVigna Breeckner, a 103-year-old artist who recently went viral on TikTok after her great-niece shared the fashion sketches she created as a teenager in the 1930s. "I can't believe it, I can't stop smiling," Breeckner said of the newfound appreciation for her work. "It is kind of a surreal thing." Check out some of her designs.​

Photo of the Day

Ethiopia is celebrating like it's 2018, literally. The country follows its own calendar, which runs seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world. So while we're gearing up for 2026 in a few months, many Ethiopians rang in the new year of 2018 last week with festivals, music, and prayer. See more pics from the festivities.​

National Park Foundation: Support the Places That Bring Us Together

America's national parks are more than beautiful places; they're where we reconnect with nature, loved ones, and ourselves. When you become a monthly sustainer of the National Park Foundation, your gift helps protect these shared spaces for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. By giving just $15 a month or more, you'll support programs that restore ecosystems, expand access for all communities, and preserve the stories these landscapes hold. As a thank you, you'll receive a free National Park Foundation sling bag — a small token for a big impact.

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Odds & Ends

🤖 Where did we get the word "robot"?
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🦫 It doesn't get more Canadian than rescuing a baby beaver​
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🌴 Enjoy a complimentary night in Santa Barbara*
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🥜 There's a new M&M's flavor coming on the scene

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*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

"Trust that your best tomorrow will be even better than today's."

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– MAGGIE SMITH