Must Reads

• See the microscopic marvels showcased in this year's Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

​

• "I'm here to serve children": Educational YouTuber Ms. Rachel opened up about using her voice to champion for children around the world

Health

Tired of Your Walking Routine? Put It in Reverse to Reap New Benefits

The benefits of getting in your daily steps run the gamut, but let's face it — regular ol' strolling can get a little boring. So if you're looking to switch up your routine, there's another way to walk that's a little more exciting and comes with its own unique upsides: walking backward.
​
Also called retro or reverse walking, the exercise has been shown to increase hamstring flexibility, improve balance and posture, and help combat muscle atrophy in chronic lower back pain patients. By taking steps in reverse, we activate underused muscles and challenge our bodies and minds to accommodate new movements, according to biomechanist Janet Dufek. "Walking backward introduces an element of cross-training, a subtly different activity," she told the Associated Press. And according to one 2020 study, retro walking may also enhance activity in the prefrontal cortex, the section of the brain that helps with emotions and decision-making.
​
​Here's how to do it: For the safest option, give it a go on a treadmill either set to a slow speed or turned off completely, so you can move the belt manually. Off the treadmill, you can start by incorporating a one-minute session into your regular walking routine, beginning slowly and increasing the time with each stroll. And if you're looking for additional ways to breathe new life into your walks, check out a few more of our favorite challenges.

Together With EnergyX

Meet the American Underdog Turned $1 Billion Unicorn

A U.S. startup just hit a $1 billion valuation, joining billion-dollar private companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and ByteDance. Unlike those other unicorns, you can invest in it — over 35,000 people already have, in addition to industry giants like General Motors and POSCO.
​
Why all the interest? EnergyX's patented tech can recover 300% more lithium than traditional methods. That's a big deal, as demand for lithium is expected to 18 times the current production levels by 2040.
​
Now, the company is moving towards commercial production, tapping into over 100,000 acres of lithium deposits in Chile, a potential $1.1 billion annual revenue opportunity at projected market prices. You can invest at this pivotal growth stage. Don't waste time, though: Invest in EnergyX at $10/share before Thursday night.

This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX's Regulation A+ Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com/. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

Environment

Alabama Islands Underwent $13M Restoration to Protect Wildlife and Coastal Communities

Three undeveloped barrier islands off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama, are havens for a diverse array of wildlife — and after an eight-year-long, nearly $13 million project following years of storm damage, 30 acres of habitat have been restored. The Lower Perdido Islands near Perdido Pass are also hot spots for boaters, and now, wildlife and human visitors can continue enjoying the sandy beaches for decades to come.
​
"These islands are really important to the community of Orange Beach, with their pristine scenery and abundant marine life," NOAA Marine Habitat Resource Specialist Stella Wilson said in a press release. "Our goal is to increase the longevity and resilience of these habitats into the future."
​
Though small in size, the islands are "ecologically rich," according to the NOAA. During peak migration, up to 30 million birds can fly over Robinson, Bird, and Walker Islands in one night. But the birds aren't the only ones that enjoy the islands: Upward of 8 million people visit them and the surrounding turquoise waters every year, with over 500 boats parking along the sandy white shores during holidays — and those numbers are only going up.
​
​Learn more about how the project is protecting the islands while maintaining their stunning beaches for human recreation.

Culture

Famed Battle of Trafalgar Painting Returns to Public Display in Honor of 220th Anniversary

On this day 220 years ago, the British Royal Navy, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, defeated French and Spanish forces at the Battle of Trafalgar — a day that ultimately halted Napoleon Bonaparte's plans to invade England and secured British naval supremacy for more than a century.
​
In honor of this anniversary, the Royal Museums Greenwich in London is returning a monumental painting of the battle by J.M.W. Turner to public display today. Completed in 1824, the painting is Turner's only royal commission and his largest work, measuring nearly 9 feet by 13 feet — so large the museum had to remove a window from the "Queen's House" and use a crane to bring it in, per a press release shared with Nice News.
​
Although the work initially faced criticism when it was unveiled for its lack of historical accuracy, the museum notes that Turner's intention was to "capture the human drama of the battle rather than the facts of the action." Fun tidbit: The artist included subtle signal flags on the ship's mainmast spelling out the word "duty," alluding to the famous message that Nelson sent before the battle ("England expects that every man will do his duty") and some of his dying words ("Thank god I have done my duty").
​
​Take a closer look at the painting and watch it being lifted into the museum.

In Other News

1. Last week, Sir David Attenborough became the oldest Daytime Emmys winner at age 99 (read more)
   ​
2. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines might enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies, per a recent study (read more)
   ​
3. Canines dressed to the nines for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York — see the cute costumes (read more)
   ​
4. Sick of plastic bags? This device turns them into recyclable blocks that can be used to make benches and more (read more)
   ​
5. The Met Museum is showcasing its first exhibit of Egyptian art in over a decade, and it's one for the ages (read more)

Inspiring Story

Game on

The first-ever Cricket World Cup for the Blind is taking place in India next month, and Asanda Pavlacka will be among those representing Team USA. As for how she found her way to the top of the sport? "I don't let too many things stop me and if they do, I figure it out and find a different way," said the athlete, who lost her sight nearly 30 years ago due to a degenerative eye condition. Spoken like a true competitor.

Photo of the Day

It was quite a baa-rilliant scene in Madrid on Sunday when more than 1,000 sheep and goats took a stroll through town for the annual Transhumance Festival. The event celebrates an age-old tradition in which farm animals trek through the capital on their way to winter pastures. Keeping this legacy alive spotlights the ecological benefits of traditional grazing and allows farmers to advocate for maintaining their ancient grazing and migration rights, per the Associated Press. An added bonus? "Well, it's nice," said a local.

NativePath: Do This Daily For Skin and Joint Health

By the age of 60, most people only produce half as much collagen as they did in their youth. But NativePath can help restore your levels with just one daily scoop of collagen peptides in your favorite beverage, supporting skin elasticity, bone strength, and muscle growth. The best part? Nice News readers get up to 45% off and free shipping at the link below.

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

Odds & Ends

🍪 Girl Scout Cookies are now a breakfast food​
​
📚 This vending machine dispenses books instead of sodas
​
🤨 How to get thicker, fuller-looking brows*
​
🎃 It's Halloween at the zoos​
​
​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

"I never understood the idea that you're supposed to mellow as you get older. Slowing down isn't something I relate to at all. The goal is to continue in good and bad, all of it."

– DIANE KEATON