This one is for the DIYers out there, and those who aspire to be DIYers. Wirecutter writer Tim Heffernan recently composed a thorough guide to a home project that can be harder than it looks: painting furniture. If you don't have something around the house that you've been eyeing for a paint job, Heffernan recommends practicing on a piece from a secondhand store, like a picture frame or stool (but ideally you wouldn't start with an old chair — learn why in the full guide).
The Century-Long Mystery of the Florentine Diamond Has Been Solved
George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images
For over a century, the location of the Florentine Diamond has been a mystery. Its story begins in the 1600s, when it belonged to the Medici family — the then-rulers of Florence, Italy. When the Medici line ended, it came into the possession of the Habsburgs, and remained with them until Emperor Charles I saw that Austria-Hungary was coming to an end and had the family's jewels transported for safekeeping in 1918. The 137-carat diamond, yellow-hued and pear-shaped, subsequently disappeared, or so the world thought. In truth, it's been safe and sound in a bank vault in Canada for decades, according to descendents of Charles I who told The New York Times the secret was kept at the behest of Charles' wife, Empress Zita (the duo are pictured here, on their coronation day). She asked that the gem's location not be revealed until 100 years after Charles died in 1922. Now that that promise has been upheld, the family is revealing the Florentine Diamond and other treasures in the vault in hopes that they will be displayed in Canada, which welcomed Zita and her children after the Nazis annexed Austria. "It should be part of a trust here in Canada," said grandson Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen. "It should be on exhibition in Canada sometimes, so that people can actually see those pieces." Check out the diamond and get a deeper look at its fascinating history.
Together With EnergyX
JP Morgan's $1.5 Trillion Bet
J.P. Morgan didn't become the world's biggest bank by investing in the wrong places. That's why its recent $1.5 trillion critical minerals commitment turned heads. Critical minerals (e.g., lithium) are essential to everything from batteries to the energy transition. Demand's massive, and growing. Especially now that producing them has become a matter of national security. Take lithium. By 2040, lithium demand will be 18 times the amount currently produced. No wonder giants like J.P. Morgan are jumping in. It's also why major players like General Motors and POSCO invested in EnergyX. The company's patented technology can produce three times more lithium than traditional methods. Now, it's preparing for commercial production on a potential $1.1 billion annual revenue project in Chile, at projected market prices. Become an early-stage EnergyX investor today.
This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX's Regulation A+ Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com/.
Environment
Another Way to Keep Food Waste out of Landfills? Turn It Into Jet Fuel
tupungato/ iStock
Food waste is going beyond the landfill, literally: Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a clever process to convert scraps into sustainable jet fuel. Here's how it works: The method involves hydrothermal liquefaction, mimicking how crude oil forms naturally over millions of years but in a much shorter timeframe, per Popular Science. The crude oil is then refined to remove impurities and unwanted elements, resulting in a sustainable aviation fuel that's up to standards and could help the aviation industry dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions — all the while making the most of something that would otherwise go to waste. "In a linear economy, we just produce something, use it, and throw it away. In this project, we take the waste and recover the energy and materials to make a usable product," Yuanhui Zhang, co-author of a recent study on the proposed strategy, said in a statement. How the process would be scaled to meet commercial demand is still TBD, but it could pave the way for cleaner flights and less-packed landfills.
Humanity
Scottish Artist Creates Intricate Miniature Sculptures of Famous Pubs and Venues
Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS
Artist Karen Bones, who lives in Fife, Scotland, spent years working as a freelance illustrator, moonlighting in local bars to help support herself. Then, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she found herself with more time on her hands — and came across another artist's work online that inspired her. That's when she began the next chapter of her career: crafting intricate miniature sculptures of famous pubs and venues. "It was someone that I'd seen online that does them, and I discovered that he 3D-prints them," Bones told SWNS. "I wondered if I could do it myself, just using rudimentary materials rather than a 3D printer." Her first sculpture was of a hotel and cafe called Coorie by the Coast. She presented the piece to the business, and it quickly started gaining attention. "It's just such a beautiful building, and then I gifted it to them as a thank you," said Bones. "They put it behind the counter, so everyone saw it when they came in." Soon, Bones was receiving commissions and creating miniature replicas of her favorite buildings in her hometown of Glasgow as well. Each piece is a labor of love, and she hopes to continue creating sculptures for years to come. "I'm loving what I'm doing," she said, adding: "I like the fact that I can make something from people's memories that they can have to keep. It doesn't matter if it's a council house or a stately home; they're all done with a story behind it and a part of me in it." See her work up close.
Global Good
🇨🇭 Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! The Swiss hope to get yodeling recognized on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list (read more) 🇦🇺 A solar sharing program in three Australian states will give residents several hours of free solar power daily (read more) 🇲🇻 The Maldives is the first country to impose a generational smoking ban to curb tobacco use (read more) 🇧🇷 In Rio de Janeiro, Prince William awarded his Earthshot Prize to five climate-minded projects (read more) 🇫🇷 France is minting a 2-euro commemorative coin to mark the anniversary of Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening(read more)
Something We Love
Solostove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit This is the perfect mess-free backyard firepit. It's so easy to use and it doesn't take much wood to get the small fire going. Plus, unless you keep adding wood, the fire doesn't last as long as a regular campfire would, making it an ideal tool for quick weeknight s'mores. – Stephanie Friedman, Staff Writer
In a remote Inuit community in the Arctic, Jessie Kakkik is making sure his neighbors are well-connected. After installing a Starlink satellite for himself, the 20-year-old made his Wi-Fi free for anyone to use, and offered to help others in his community put up their own satellites. "People think Wi-Fi is a premium," he said. "But it's not. It changed my life."
Photo of the Day
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
There's a new club within the NHL, and it just got its founding member. On Wednesday, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin became the first hockey pro to score 900 career goals. "A couple days ago somebody ask me, 'Do you think about [900]?' Of course, it's huge number, no one ever did it in NHL history and to be the first player to ever do it, it's a special moment," the Russian athlete said, per the Associated Press, adding, "It's pretty cool." See him score the historic goal.
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Up This Weekend
New York Comedy Festival: From today through Nov. 16, more than 200 comedians will perform over 100 shows at venues throughout New York City's five boroughs
2025 Grand Slam of Darts: Who knew there was a grand slam for the popular bar game? It begins Saturday in Wolverhampton, England, and the competition looks fierce
The National Folk Festival: This free, three-day event, celebrating "the artistic traditions" of a diverse array of American cultures, has been running since 1934 — this year, it's in Jackson, Mississippi
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
Odds & Ends
🎥 Helen Mirren will receive the Golden Globes' top honor 👗 When a thrift store shut down, this woman bought everything 💳 A balance transfer credit card that offers so much more* 🥤 Coca-Cola's new flavor is holiday-ready *Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
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