Did you leave yourdidgeridoo at the airport? If so, it might be at this store in Scottsboro, Alabama. The Aboriginal Australian wind instrument is among "the most incredible and bizarre items" left behind at U.S. airports last year, according to Unclaimed Baggage's 2026 Found Report. Other highlights include a pair of samurai swords, gold-plated golf clubs, and a fully assembled robot. Read the fascinating rundown.
1.5 Million Bats Emerge at Sunset From Beneath a Bridge in Austin, Texas
JEFF HAYNES—AFP/Getty Images
Every March, hordes of creatives flock to Austin, Texas, for the famed South by Southwest music and film festival. But another annual event is unfolding there this month as well. The city is home to the world's largest urban bat colony, and just after sunset each evening, hundreds of thousands of the winged creatures emerge from beneath a bridge to soar into the night across Lady Bird Lake. Mexican free-tailed bats have been migrating to the city for hundreds of years, but it wasn't until a 1980 expansion of the Congress Avenue Bridge that the numbers really took off. The renovation resulted in deep, dark, concrete crevices that roosting bats find ideal for raising their young. Now, the bridge serves as a nursery, hosting as many as 1.5 million bats each year. When the weather cools between October and November, the colony takes off again for warmer climes. On a recent trip to Austin, Nice News' managing editor, Natalie Stone, had the opportunity to witness the phenomenon, calling it a "serendipitous" experience, as the bats typically arrive in late March. She perched on a small hill with hundreds of people nearby, some on an adjacent walking trail or atop the bridge and others taking group kayak or boat tours on the lake. When the bats finally emerged that Feb. 28 evening, everyone tilted their heads up in unison to see. Watch (and learn more about) the annual phenomenon.
Together With FinanceBuzz
Crush Debt and Earn Excellent Travel Rewards
It's time to stop letting high interest rates eat into your monthly budget. If you're ready to break free, the solution could be simpler than you think: There are top-tier cards currently offering a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases into 2027, allowing you to pay down your principal faster than ever before. What makes these cards some of the FinanceBuzz favorites for 2026 is that they don't just help save you money on interest — they help you earn rewards. While you're eliminating your debt, you could also be racking up travel points on every single purchase. Whether it's flights, hotel stays, or car rentals, you could be on the way toward building an excellent future travel fund.
Are saunas the new coffee shops? The U.S. sauna industry is booming as more Americans adopt the ancient Finnish tradition to combat stress, improve wellness, boost blood circulation, and, more and more, simply be around other people. "We're too stressed out. We're full of anxiety. We're post-COVID, post this pandemic," Justin Juntunen, who owns a sauna business in Duluth, Minnesota, told PBS. "And we're looking for moments to be real humans next to each other, and sauna does that." Grand View Research projects the U.S. sauna market will grow from $206 million in 2025 to $311 million by 2033, and cold-weather states like Minnesota are leading the charge. In fact, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has even been referred to as the "Sauna Capital of North America." But the trend is also gaining steam on the West Coast — from floating saunas on Seattle's Lake Union to the Norwegian-style bathhouse that opened in San Francisco last year. But wherever you are, the ethos is the same. "This is a tradition that's actually for everyone," Juntunen previously told the Associated Press. "My favorite Nordic proverb is 'all people are created equal, but nowhere more so than in the sauna.'"
Humanity
AtThis Dutch Cafe Chain, Employees With Disabilities Make the Treats
Brownies & Downies/Facebook
The treats at Brownies & Downies are a little sweeter than your average cafe's, and we don't mean they contain more sugar. The chain, which has dozens of locations across the Netherlands and one in Belgium, employs more than 1,000 people with Down syndrome to make and serve its fare. Branding itself as the country's "nicest lunch cafe," it operates on the idea that "working with diverse people brings out the best in people." Brownies & Downies is the brainchild of special education teacher Thijs Swinkels and chef Teun Horck, who teamed up to open the first location in the town of Veghel in 2010. Their mission was to provide people with disabilities opportunities to hone their skills and gain job experience in the hospitality industry. Today, employees can learn aspects of the business like cooking, waiting tables, and hosting, at their own pace. The company's employment page says it all: "We help you if something doesn't work out well, but we also challenge you to take action yourself. We teach you to dare to make mistakes and then laugh at yourself. We teach you to discover what you are good at or what you can improve on. We teach you to show others that you have a place, but also to prove this to yourself. We teach you to take steps, even if you don't know where they will take you."
In Other News
From Beijing to San Francisco, 19 big cities have cut two key air pollutants by more than 20% since 2010 (read more)
The moon mission is still on: NASA's Artemis II crew is set to launch into lunar orbit as early as April 1 (read more)
Two brothers built a robot that solved a four-by-four Rubik's Cube in 45.3 seconds, setting a new record (read more)
Speaking of records, a signedAaron Judge baseball card sold for a history-making $5.2 million (read more)
A rare white bald eagle was caught on camera — and it was no easy feat to get the shots (read more)
Inspiring Story
Matilda, IRL
When 8-year-old Mary's adoption plans fell through after she'd moved through six foster homes, her second grade teacher Lexi McClelland made the decision to welcome her into her home — and soon after, officially adopted her. "People always say we're like Matilda and Miss Honey," said McClelland. Meet the sweet family.
Photo of the Day
Ina FASSBENDER—AFP/Getty Images
Polka dots, floral sculptures, mirrors, and balloons abound at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, Germany. The museum is marking its 50th anniversary with a retrospective of over 300 works by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who turns 97 this month. "In my more than 70 years as an artist, I have always been in awe of the wonder of life," the artist said in a statement. "More than anything, this strong sense of the life force in artistic expression is what has supported me and gave me power to overcome feelings of depression, hopelessness, and sadness."
Octave: You Don't Have to Carry It All Alone
Some days you're fine — until your brain won't stop spinning, your patience runs thin, and everything feels heavier than it should. Sound familiar? Octave Therapy makes getting support feel doable, not daunting. You'll work with a licensed therapist who will build a customized, evidence-based treatment plan that helps you build real traction and carry that clarity into the rest of your life. It's in-network with many major insurers, and clients pay $28 per session on average.
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