Must Reads

• Where did the world's best violins come from?

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• See the most high-res image ever taken of the center of our galaxy (released just in time for Milky Way season)

Environment

Once-in-a-Decade Wildflower Bloom Brings Life to Death Valley

Spring may still be a few weeks away, meteorologically, but you wouldn't know it looking at Death Valley right now. Wildflowers are popping up in what's likely to be the park's greatest bloom since 2016. And the best may still be yet to come, as many of the higher elevation flowers haven't opened yet, according to the National Park Service.
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The lush growth at one of the driest places on Earth comes thanks to three conditions aligning: well-spaced rainfall across autumn, winter, and spring; warm temperatures; and favorable wind conditions. The bright yellow desert gold seen in the photo above (aka Geraea canescens) is especially prominent at the moment, but other blooms are expected to join the colorful party later this month, with even more emerging from April through June.
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"Whether it rises to the status of a superbloom is in the eye of the beholder," botanist Naomi Fraga of California Botanic Garden told SFGATE, noting the bloom appears somewhat localized compared to previous years. Superbloom or not, if you decide to see the scene for yourself, keep four words in mind: Don't doom the bloom. In other words, stay on marked trails and off the flowers! And if you're not local, feast your eyes on more pics here.

Together With Incogni

The Truth About Scam Calls

Scammers don't just pick phone numbers at random — they buy your data from brokers. And once your data is out there, you're at risk of phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. But there are ways to reduce your risk, and that's why we recommend Incogni.
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The subscription service deletes your personal info from the web, monitors and follows up automatically, and continues to erase data as new risks appear. Try Incogni today and get 55% off your subscription with code NICENEWS.

Tech

How Cities Are Using Tech to Plow Snow Smarter

It's been an exceptionally snowy year for the East Coast, with several big storms (and some big snowmen, too). Still, some cities are clearing streets faster than years past, thanks to new technology. Syracuse, New York, widely considered America's snowiest city, has seen complaint calls about snow removal drop by roughly 30% since implementing a system from the tech company Samsara, the Associated Press reports.
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Gone are the days of calling a hotline to find out whether or not your block has been plowed. Today's snowplows are increasingly equipped with GPS tracking, dashcams with mapping software, and AI, allowing officials to monitor vehicles in real time and giving residents a better way to see which streets have already been cleared.
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And it's not just happening in Syracuse — tech upgrades are improving snow removal from New Jersey to Michigan. For the first time, Fayetteville, Arkansas, launched a public-facing snow removal map this winter and reported saving on fuel and labor costs despite handling double the snowfall from a year ago. "This is the first year some roads have ever been treated or plowed, and that goes right back to being able to see where we need to go and if we've been there," said Ross Jackson Jr., the city's fleet operations manager.

Health

Common Epilepsy Drug May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Plaques

A common epilepsy drug may help prevent Alzheimer's disease progression before symptoms even appear, according to a recent study out of Northwestern. Called levetiracetam, the FDA-approved medication was found to actually block the protein buildup behind Alzheimer's plaques, rather than clearing plaques after they've already formed, as existing treatments do.
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But for the drug to be effective, high-risk individuals would need to start taking it "very, very early," corresponding author Jeffrey Savas explained in a press release, noting that the ideal time could be up to 20 years before standard tests would even detect elevated levels of the toxic protein fragments. "You couldn't take this when you already have dementia because the brain has already undergone a number of irreversible changes and a lot of cell death," he added.
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Researchers are focusing on patients with genetic forms of Alzheimer's as the most promising early candidates. That includes those with Down syndrome, more than 95% of whom will develop the disease by around age 40.
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An analysis of existing clinical data found that Alzheimer's patients who took levetiracetam survived significantly longer after a cognitive decline diagnosis compared to those taking other anti-epileptic drugs or none at all. "Although the magnitude of change was small (on the scale of a few years), this analysis supports the positive effect of levetiracetam to slow the progression of Alzheimer's pathology," Savas said.

In Other News

1. Pro women's hockey will set an attendance record at its sold-out Madison Square Garden debut next month (read more)
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2. Punch update! The viral monkey is making friends and leaning less on his plushie for comfort (read more)
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3. Minnesota lawmakers advanced a bipartisan bill requiring health insurance to cover infertility treatments (read more)
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4. France opened its first LGBTQ+ senior living residence, featuring rainbow-themed decor and a communal garden (read more)
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5. One step toward lunar farming: Scientists grew and harvested chickpeas in simulated moon soil (read more)

Inspiring Story

A grounding place

Last week, hundreds lined up for the grand opening of Bevel Coffee, one of the first new storefronts to open in Altadena since the Eaton fire devastated the Los Angeles neighborhood in early 2025. Before its brick-and-mortar spot, Bevel operated a thriving pop-up coffee shop for years. "It's a weekend touchpoint for us, and it's been really grounding for this community who's been through a lot," Altadena resident Nancy Stiles said. See a glimpse of the grand opening.​

Eyes on Milano Cortina

The U.S. Paralympic sled hockey team has a shot at making history at the Milano Cortina Games. A gold medal would complete the first-ever sweep of the men's, women's, and Paralympic hockey competitions by a single nation.
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"No country has ever won all three gold medals in hockey before in the Olympics and the Paralympics," Josh Pauls, the team captain, said this week, per NHL. "So I'd say it's a little bit of pressure, but pressure is a privilege, right?" You can watch Team USA play Germany today at 12 p.m. ET.

Vita Coco Coconut Water

Potassium may not be the trendiest nutrient on your feed, but it deserves more attention, especially if you often feel bloated. The essential mineral helps regulate fluid balance and supports digestion by helping muscles contract properly. Vita Coco coconut water contains about 470 milligrams of potassium per eight-ounce serving, making it an easy, convenient, and delicious way to increase electrolyte intake while hydrating.

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Odds & Ends

🐢 This wheelchair for a turtle is adorableness overload
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🎀 Meet the Barbie Dream Team
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🍷 Wine and dine your way through Tuscany on a 7-day trip — and get 50% off*
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🥳 Happy (early) 99th birthday, Mr. Feeny!
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​*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

"Every hardship is an opportunity that you are given, an opportunity to grow."

– ELISABETH KÜBLER-ROSS