Here's an idea for an indoor activity you can do over the next few (potentially sweltering) months: Watch every film you haven't seen on The New York Times' new ranking of the 100 best movies of the 21st century. The outlet asked 500 filmmakers, actors, and other industry experts what their top 10 favorite flicks of the past 25 years are, and used the answers to compile the list. At the very least, it should inspire some fun debates — popcorn not required, but encouraged. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
Why We Hold Onto Possessions and Expert Tips on Letting Them Go
Svetlana Malysheva/ iStock
It starts out small — a pile of yearbooks here, a box of old photos there. But before you can turn around (if you can turn around), all the surfaces in your home are overflowing with "things," and finding a clear walkway is like finding a needle in a clutterstack. It's natural to want to hold onto items that mean a lot to us, but unmanageable amounts of clutter can make our lives more difficult. So why do we do it? To answer this, Nice News dove into the science behind why we cling to our possessions, even when it can worsen our mental health, and picked the brains of clinical psychologist Mary E. Dozier and professional organizer Vicky Silverthorn to learn how to start clearing the chaos and minimizing mess.
The Biggest Travel Rewards Offer of the Year Is Here
Despite its high annual fee, this travel credit card more than pays for itself, so long as you take advantage of all the rewards and benefits. And those rewards just got better: The card is now offering 100,000 points plus $500 in travel credit — enough to cover your summer vacation and more. You'll earn 3x points on dining purchases worldwide, 8x points per $1 spent on all purchases through the card's travel portal, and at least 1x on all other eligible purchases. Learn more below and see if you qualify in as little as a few clicks.
Rare Pics Confirm Critically Endangered Leopard Still Exists in Bangladesh
Creative Conservation Alliance
Conservationists are feeling hopeful about the fate of the critically endangered leopard population in Bangladesh thanks to a recent camera trap spotting. The nonprofit Creative Conservation Alliance released two photos of a leopard emerging from a forested area in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, providing "evidence that these elusive big cats still persist in the region." "As an extremely rare and secretive species, the latest sighting is very significant," zoologist Monirul Khan told CBS News. "It highlights the importance of the remaining natural forest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a reserve of wildlife habitat." In a social media post, the alliance wrote that the photos are also an incentive to ramp up the protection of leopards in Bangladesh to secure their longtime survival. The organization added that its working with its partners "to protect these magnificent creatures and ensure a future where leopards and people coexist."
Culture
Avoid Lost Luggage This Summer With These 7 Travel Tips From Unclaimed Baggage
Unclaimed Baggage
Planning to fly somewhere soon? You and just about everyone else. The Federal Aviation Administration predicted in May that 2025 will be the busiest summer for air travel in the past 15 years, with many days exceeding 50,000 flights. That means a ton of luggage will also be hurtling through the sky, stowed in overhead bins, under seats, and in cargo holds. The vast majority will end up exactly where it's supposed to, but unfortunately, a small percentage won't — and that's where Unclaimed Baggage comes in. Located in Alabama, the 50,000-square foot tourist hot spot buys up unclaimed items that were misplaced during air travel and sells them at a massive discount. In its annual Found Report, the store details some of its most unusual finds of the past year. The retailer also provides some tips in the report to help travelers avoid having their possessions wind up on its shelves, and in an email with Nice News, it offered a few more. Suggestion No. 1? Avoid the disappearing suitcase. According to experts at Reunitus, the world's leading lost and found solution, black, hard-sided suitcases are used by almost half of world travelers. With so many look-alikes, it's easier for airlines to misplace and travelers to mistake for their own. Pro tip: Skip the black or make your bag stand out. Add a bright tag, patterned strap, patch, or bold sticker. Get six more tips from Unclaimed Baggage.
Humanity
Free, AI-Powered Service Reunites Lost Pets With Their Families
Petco Love
July is National Pet Loss Prevention Month, and aptly so, as Independence Day and family vacations unfortunately contribute to an uptick in furry friends going missing this time of year. But thankfully, Petco Love, the nonprofit arm of the pet store chain, offers a service that can help you track down your pets if the unthinkable happens — and it's free to sign up. All you have to do is upload a photo of your dog or cat to Petco Love Lost online. If they go missing, you can report your pet as lost, and the service's AI photo-matching technology will scour animal shelter databases (plus its own) to locate them. The little pup you see above is one of over 100,000 lost pets that the service has reunited with their families to date. After Ziggy bolted on a family trip, his owner Surely uploaded his picture and checked Love Lost every day — five months later, he was identified 365 miles away. "When I reunited with Ziggy, it was the most unimaginable feeling that I could have ever felt," she said in a statement shared with Nice News. "It just felt like my home was complete all over again." Watch an illustrative example of how Petco Love Lost works and register your pet for free.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
Is your brain older than you are? A growing realm of research offers insight into age-related cognitive health
The kick of a chili pepper, the fragrance of cardamom: Ingredients carry stories and evoke emotion, connecting the past to the present. In Kitchens of Hope, American immigrants from over 30 nations share the memories and meals that represent who they are, giving readers a taste of the many diverse cultures that comprise our country. Featuring 50-plus recipes — from curry to borscht, pupusas, pita, pho, mole, and more — the inspiring cookbook is "a celebration of people and cuisines from around the world."
What's your "thing"? For Mendy Ouzillou, it's collecting meteorites; for Sarah Bentley, it's community singing. And for the host of This Is My Thing, it's interviewing people about their passions. In each seven-minute episode of the podcast, Michael Lee invites a guest to wax rhapsodic about what brings them joy. These aren't professionals, but rather people who have embraced a hobby or activity solely for enjoyment, and listeners not only get a mini education about the topic, but also the implicit encouragement to explore their own interests.
This Week in History
US Military Academy at West Point Welcomes First Women Cadets
July 7, 1976
Cynthia Johnson/Getty Images
For the first time since its establishment in 1802,West Point opened its doors to women on July 7, 1976 — welcoming 119 female cadets to the start of basic training. The year prior, then-President Gerald Ford signed into law a bill requiring the all-male U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy to admit and enroll women. Around 600 women applied to West Point, per the National Museum of the U.S. Army, before a rigorous selection process narrowed the number down to the first admits. "Just the opportunity to be built into a leader, have character, and to serve my country was very appealing," Nancy Gucwa said of her decision to apply. In 1980, she and 61 others were the first women to graduate and be commissioned as second lieutenants. Learn more and see a class photo from 1976.
Meet the Future of Buzz With Cycling Frog
Forget those brutal, hungover mornings. Cycling Frog is a next-gen, hemp-derived THC seltzer that delivers an elevated, euphoric buzz — without the booze, calories, or crash. And the brand is currently offering one free seltzer to new customers to celebrate summertime: Choose between the fan-favorite Black Currant or Ruby Grapefruit flavors, and only pay for shipping.
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