Longevity is a hot topic in the health and wellness arena, and scientists are making strides in anti-aging research that could add years to the average human lifespan. But what about the average human joyspan?Conceived of by gerontologist Kerry Burnight, the term refers to the time we spend experiencing joy throughout our lives, and it's something she believes we should pay particular attention to in our later years. Learn how to measure and expand your joyspan. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
6 Reasons Being a Fan Is Good for You, According to Science
Reed Hoffmann/ Stringer via Getty Images
NFL season kicks off Thursday, heralding in months of fantasy football, water cooler chats about ref calls, and delicious game day snacks. The word "fan" is short for "fanatic," and depending on the depth of your passion, being one can manifest in some pretty intense ways: Each of us knows — or perhaps even is — the soccer follower who blows their gasket at an unfair call or the Taylor Swift stan who collapses in tears when she takes the stage (our prayers are with anyone in earshot of a superfan when news of her engagement broke). But science suggests that becoming emotionally invested in a sports team, artist, or creative work can actually benefit not only the devotee themself, but everyone else as well. As David Sikorjak, co-author of Fans Have More Friends, told Healthline: "It is good for you, good for others, and good for society." Click below to learn some of the surprising benefits of being a fan.
Sodium is an essential mineral — the stuff of life — and most folks need more than they think. There are several reasons for this, including replacing heavy sodium losses through sweat, increasing intake on diets lacking in sodium, and helping people reach their baseline of 4-6 grams of daily sodium. LMNT's electrolyte blend, with 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium, is not rocket science — it's high-performance nutritional science, designed to help you target your optimal electrolyte ranges. It's just a bonus that it comes in delicious flavors like Citrus Salt and Raspberry Salt. Click below to get a free eight-count sample pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase.
Meet the Adorable App Helping People Stay Focused in a Distraction-Filled World
Focus Friend
What better motivation to stay off your phone than knowing that the longer you keep away, the more a bean-shaped friend can keep knitting scarves and socks? This is the premise of Focus Friend, an app designed to help people overcome digital distractions via an adorable gamified experience. It turns out, a cute knitting cartoon can have quite a mighty impact. Focus Friend launched in July, but has been gaining traction more recently — earlier this month, the platform hit No. 1 on Apple's top free apps chart, surpassing ChatGPT, Google, and Threads, NBC News reported. And for millennials, the app may double as a delightful trip down memory lane, bringing back all the Tamagotchi vibes (minus the stress of keeping a digital pet alive). The stakes are more personal: "It's about letting people be in control of their attention, not selling their attention to someone else," co-creator Hank Green, a popular internet educator, said in a TikTok video. Focus Friend rewards reduced screen time, as the longer a user stays focused (i.e., off their phone), the more the bean friend knits — and those knitted goodies can be traded for decorations to deck out the bean's digital room. Like other productivity apps, Focus Friend also allows users to set timers and temporarily block distractions, such as social media apps.Butthe uniquedigital companion aspect makes focus feel less like a chore and more like caring for a friend. As social media creator Hannah Rae said: "It does tend to be easier for the majority of us to do the 'right thing' for something else we want to care for, rather than just doing it for our own benefit in the first place."
Culture
Sunken City Brought to Surface: 2,000-Year-Old Treasures Pulled From Egyptian Waters
KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images
So much of the world exists under our feet — in this case, we're talking about a sunken city dating back more than 2,000 years. On Aug. 21, Egyptian authorities uncovered a trove of statues, Roman coins, pieces of limestone buildings, and harbor remnants off the coast of Abu Qir Bay, near Alexandria. The artifacts are believed to be part of ancient Canopus, a once-prominent hub during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras. Rising sea levelsand aseries of earthquakes submerged the city and nearby port, fortuitously preserving a wealth of archaeological remains — some of which are seeing the light of day for the first time in centuries, while others will stay right where they are. "There's a lot underwater, but what we're able to bring up is limited, it's only specific material according to strict criteria," Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi said, per CBS News. "The rest will remain part of our sunken heritage."See more photos of the pieces brought to the surface.
Humanity
Brightly Colored Sculptures Celebrate Mexican Heritage on US Tour
Alebrijes and Nahuales
A rainbow-colored rabbit, a winged cat-like figure, and a whimsical "happy alien" — these are just a few of the fantastical creatures brought to life by Indigenous artisans from Oaxaca. Part of a project called "Alebrijes and Nahuales," these sculptures reach up to 20 feet tall and can weigh over 1,200 pounds, blending woodcarving techniques with imaginative designs inspired by Mexican magical realism. "For us, it represents our spirit animal that protects us," Efrain Fuentes, a third-generation woodcarver, told PBS. Now embarking on a nationwide tour across the United States, the sculptures are serving as both a tribute to Mexico's rich cultural heritage and an invitation to foster connections beyond borders, one awe-inspiring work of art at a time. "Art is the beautiful face of humanity," said exhibit curator Carlomagno Pedro Martínez. "It is the universal message that we humans give, and this is where there is a fraternal bond between peoples." The eight-piece art installation is starting in Nevada and California this year, and will be moving farther east next year. See the tour locations.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
In this "all-female hacker house," eight young women worked on shattering AI's glass ceiling
What's it like to teach a philosophy course in a prison?
Venezuela's free music education helped a violinist go from childhood lessons to performances with Coldplay
We've all been guilty of playing the "if only" game — but most of us also realize that even the greenest grass doesn't guarantee happiness. So how do we stop and appreciate what we already have? For Kate Strickler, founder of the lifestyle brand Naptime Kitchen, it all comes down to some simple mindset shifts. In her new book, Strickler identifies and dismantles 10 falsehoods we often tell ourselves about relationships, time, money, and more, offering practical tips and sharing personal stories with her trademark humor.
Crime certainly doesn't qualify as nice news, but a group of retirees solving cold cases with a side of cake? Getting nicer. Based on the bestselling 2020 novel of the same name, The Thursday Murder Club stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie as amateur sleuths who get together each week in their retirement community to find answers for forgotten-about crimes — until a brand-new whodunit falls at their feet. If you needed any more reason to watch: The film is directed by Chris Columbus and also features David Tennant as a villain. Catch it on Netflix now.
This Week in History
Bobby Fischer Becomes First American to Win World Chess Championship
September 1, 1972
Album / Archivo ABC via Alamy Stock Photo
The first World Chess Championship took place in 1866, and in over a century, no U.S. citizen came out victorious — that's until a 29-year-old Bobby Fischer claimed victory in 1972. Fischer's achievement also marked the first time in 24 years that a player who wasn't from Russia won the title match, per History. Fischer (pictured right) was already a celebrity by the time he went up against reigning champ Boris Spassky at the event, which took place in Reykjavik, Iceland. A child prodigy, Chicago-born Fischer started playing professional chess at age 8 and became the then-youngest international grandmaster at 15. Watch an animation of each move in the championship game.
LMNT Is Your Hydration Hero
Healthy hydration isn't just about water — it's about water and electrolytes. When you sweat, you lose both water and sodium. Replacing only water can dilute electrolyte levels, leading to cramps, fatigue, and headaches. Enter LMNT: the zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix with the sodium, potassium, and magnesium your body needs. Click below to get a free eight-count sample pack of LMNT's most popular flavors with any purchase.
Good posture is about more than just sitting up straight — i.e., resisting the urge to slump over your phone or computer day in and day out. Per a recent BBC report, "posture is dynamic, not static." That means it's important to switch things up via regular movement, like periodically standing or doing a quick stretch at your desk. Get two more posture tips from Dr. Xand van Tulleken.
Must Reads
Forbes released its annual ranking of the best American colleges: Check out the top 10
Glow-in-the-Dark Succulents Could Someday Light Up a Street Near You
Liu et al., Matter
Bioluminescence is arguably one of our planet's most delightful phenomenons, and videos of waves washing up shimmering blue plankton never fail to evoke oohs and ahhs. The array of flora and fauna that can glow includes mushrooms, jellyfish, fireflies — and now, succulents. Publishing their findings Wednesday, researchers in China developed glow-in-the-dark succulents that recharge in the sun and shine as bright as a small bedside lamp. Injected with light-emitting microparticles, they can glow in various colors and may be used in the future as a low-cost, sustainable public lighting system, the study authors say. "Picture the world of Avatar, where glowing plants light up an entire ecosystem," co-author Shuting Liu said in a statement. "We wanted to make that vision possible using materials we already work with in the lab. Imagine glowing trees replacing streetlights." This isn't the first time scientists have attempted to bioengineer luminescent plants: In 2024, a startup developed "firefly petunias," but the flowers produced a dimmer light and only in one color, green.
Together With Roundhouse Provisions
Chuck Norris Swears This Is the Key to Healthy Aging
Yes, Chuck Norris is best known for his acting and martial arts chops, but he also has some advice when it comes to graceful aging. At 85, he has more energy than most people his age, and even those decades younger. He found his key to healthy aging — and it was by going against some of the most popular advice out there. Curious about Norris' approach? He shares his entire method in this 15-minute video explaining the three "internal enemies" wrecking our health as we age and the simple ways we can combat them using foods and herbs you probably already have at home. Click below to access the video and try the method.
"Guinness World Records" Celebrates 70 Years by Encouraging Public to Go for Unclaimed Titles
Guinness World Records / SWNS
Guinness World Records is celebrating 70 years by recognizing some of the quirkiest and most impressive achievements from over the decades — including the tallest dog ever, a handsome Great Dane named Zeus who stood at 44 inches tall (check out more jaw-dropping record photos). The famed institution's roots go back to a pub debate: "What's the fastest game bird in Europe?" — a query that inspired its first book, compiled in a room above a London gym and published Aug. 27, 1955. That single volume sparked worldwide curiosity about extraordinary feats, and GuinnessWorld Records has since authenticated thousands of records in sports, technology, the human body, super skills, and more. "We've seen so many iconic moments, the most amazing feats of strength and skill and endurance from talent across the globe and long may it continue," Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said in a news release. "We're now looking forward and celebrating the current — and next — generation of record breakers." To that end, the institution is calling on the public to have a go at 70 unclaimed titles, such as the farthest distance to bounce a coin into a cup and the most high fives in 30 seconds. It's also created a short online quiz to help match personality types to the records they might be well-suited to achieve.
Sports
In Norway, the 20th Annual Homeless World Cup Builds Community
Homeless World Cup/ Facebook
We're in the midst of a few different sports seasons — baseball's been underway for months. The U.S. Open wraps up Sunday. The WNBA is nearing the playoffs. The NFL's opening game is next Thursday. And this week in Oslo, the 20th annual Homeless World Cup kicked off. The soccer tournament aims to build community and help end homelessness, per UPI. More than 500 players from 48 countries came together for the event, which wraps up today. All the participants have experienced either homelessness or social exclusion and have taken part in local street soccer clubs in their home countries. According to its leadership, 94% of players have reported the tournament had a positive effect on their lives; 83% reported improved relationships with their family and friends; and 76% said they kept up with playing soccer after the event ended. Co-founder Mel Young said the cup is "much more than a game. It's like the firefly effect. One light alone is just a spark, but many together will create a bright light." Watch the action.
In Other News
A breath test to detect diabetes showed promising trial results, and could prove simpler than blood draws (read more)
Solar panel imports in Africa have spiked over the last year, indicating a "solar pickup" across the continent (read more)
Dorm rooms made fromshipping containers will serve as housing at Roanoke College — look inside (read more)
Lego saw record-breaking revenue in the first half of 2025, thanks in part to the success of its flower sets (read more)
An incredibly rare albino dolphin was filmed off the coast of Virginia: Watch the footage (read more)
Inspiring Story
A perfect game
At a bowling alley in Staten Island, New York, a perfect game adds up to far more than 300: For over 20 years, Rab's Country Lanes has been hosting an annual fundraiser for breast cancer initiatives — and it's raised a total of over $763,000 for local and national causes. "Each year we get closer to the day when no family has to hear the words 'you have breast cancer,' and it's the support of our community that makes that possible," the owner said. This year's fundraiser will take place Oct. 19.
Photo of the Day
ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, M. Matsuura, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), N. Hirano, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)
The James Webb Space Telescope is helping unlock new insights about the Butterfly Nebula (cue the Reading Rainbow theme song) located about 3,400 light-years from Earth. The glittering cosmic dust at the nebula's core contains ingredients linked to the origins of life, so the new data could help explain how our planet was formed. "We were able to see both cool gemstones formed in calm, long-lasting zones and fiery grime created in violent, fast-moving parts of space, all within a single object," one researcher explained.
Take Full Advantage of Your Prime Membership With Brad's Deals
Most of us love Amazon Prime for the free shipping and exclusive shows and movies, but your membership offers way more perks. From Whole Foods savings to free music and exclusive deals, these nine lesser-known perks uncovered by Brad's Deals might just finally convince you to sign up — or help you unlock even more value if you're already a member.
