Must Reads

• A rare interstellar comet zoomed past Mars last week
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• If you love literature and Halloween, this Baltimore itinerary has your name on it

Environment

Hauntingly Cool Deep-Sea Species Unveiled Just in Time for Halloween

Deep off the coast of Western Australia live two new-to-science species that look like they may have been conjured up just for Halloween. Both were discovered by oceanographers during 2022 biodiversity surveys, but their new-species status has only just been unveiled.
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First up: Meet the bioluminescent lanternshark Etmopterus westraliensis. The 16-inch deep-sea dweller lives approximately 2,000 feet below the ocean's surface and features large eyes adapted for seeing in dim light. It also has small dorsal fins, a sharp spine, and the ability to glow due to photophores on its belly and flanks.
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Even smaller is the porcelain crab named Porcellanella brevidentata, described as "ghost-like" by Popular Science. This opalescent creature measures just about 0.05 inches wide and lives at shallower depths of around 400 feet. Its survival strategy? Hiding in plain sight. Andrew Hosie, one of the researchers who described the species, explained in a statement: "The new species of porcelain crab lives a symbiotic life with sea pens, which are a group of soft corals related to sea fans, where they will hide among the 'leaves' of the host."
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As cool as these animals are, they're just the beginning. The two species are among nearly 20 creatures uncovered so far in a yearslong mission from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, which could eventually reveal around 600 new species.

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Humanity

Anonymous $1.8M Gift Covers Spring Tuition for 2026 Class of TCU Medical Students

Medical students in Texas Christian University's class of 2026 have one less thing to worry about next semester. Thanks to an anonymous family's $1.8 million gift, their entire spring semester's tuition is covered, helping the students concentrate on what matters most: their future patients.
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"This transformative gift allows these students to really focus on choosing a medical specialty that resonates with them and puts them in the best position to help their future patients," Dr. Stuart D. Flynn, the founding dean of TCU's Burnett School of Medicine, said in a news release. "It also is a valuable demonstration of paying it forward. It teaches our students the importance of giving back as they move forward in their careers."
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Given that 71% of medical school students graduate with an average education debt burden of over $200,000, this donation will help alleviate the financial weight on the doctors-to-be — and the emotional toll that can come with it. As Angela Abarquez, a fourth-year medical student and beneficiary of the funds, told CBS News: "It's going to change a lot of things for us … When I graduate, I'll have a little bit less of a burden. It really means a lot, and I'm just very grateful."

Science

Cool Science Image Contest Winners Showcase Stunning Moments in Research and Discovery

Science's coolest moments aren't always visible to the naked eye, but the University of Wisconsin-Madison's appropriately named Cool Science Image Contest is here to show them to us. Featuring objects and phenomena captured through microscopy, photography, animations, medical imaging, and other methods, the competition highlights the best scientific visuals to come out of research, scholarship, or self-guided discovery in the university's community.
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This year's 13 winners, announced Oct. 1, include the above close-up of a Chinese mantis seemingly giving some serious side-eye. Captured with a digital camera by Kai Skadahl, a financial specialist at the school's Space Science and Engineering Center, the image actually depicts an optical illusion in the black dots that appear to be the critter's pupils.
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Each mantis eye is covered in thousands of cells with their own bundle of photoreceptors — like your retina, but covering the outside of the eye," the caption explains. "The groups of cells you are looking at head-on are not reflecting light back at you, making a dark spot that looks like the pupil in your eye." See the other winning shots.​

In Other News

1. History buffs, George Washington's Revolutionary War headquarters is up for sale — see the $3.3 million listing (read more)
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2. A win for the ears: New California legislation banned excessively loud ads on streaming services (read more)
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3. One of the nation's most polluted nuclear sites got the green light to start turning waste into glass (read more)
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4. Dozens of original Bob Ross paintings will be auctioned off to raise funds for public TV stations (read more)
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5. Rare "pink meanie" jellyfish that look like cotton candy are turning heads along the Texas coast (read more)

Something We Love

Blundstone Boots ​
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​As any visit to New England or the Pacific Northwest will prove, Blundstone's Chelsea boots are a crunchy girl classic. They're comfortable and lightweight — sturdy enough to hold up to some adventuring, and cute enough to throw on with jeans or a sundress. And if my pair is any indication, they'll last you through many seasons.
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​– Natalie Stone, Managing Editor

Inspiring Story

News never stops

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If you've been watching The Paper on Peacock, this story will sound quite familiar: In small town Warren, Minnesota, two women have teamed up to keep a 144-year-old weekly newspaper alive, bringing on just one part-time writer — and enlisting a little help from their friends. Take a peek inside the newsroom.​

Photo of the Day

All aboard! Humans of New York is making a stop at Grand Central Terminal. The iconic train station has been transformed thanks to Brandon Stanton's new exhibit, "Dear New York" — the city's largest public art installation in decades. For two weeks, advertisements are being replaced with thousands of portraits and stories from Stanton's 15-year archive, turning the transit hub into a love letter to New York and the people who make it the city that never sleeps.

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Odds & Ends

🐻 One Nobel winner got quite the scare when he learned the news
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🌼 The science of fluffy dandelions spreading their seeds
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🐕 This breakthrough helped Cesar Millan save his dog*
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🎮 Flipping the script on heist video games​

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*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

"I try to avoid giving advice. The only advice I will give is to pay attention."

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– ROBERT REDFORD