It's that time of year again: time to plan a leaf-peeping trip. You may associate the colors of autumn with New England (perhaps that's the Gilmore Girls effect), but there's solid leaf viewing all across the country. Quartz rounded up 10 of the best U.S. national parks for fall foliage, from California to North Carolina — check out the list.
Nice News Today
Fears about AI replacing jobs abound these days, but a new study may help put some of that worry to rest. The report identified which jobs are the least likely to be automated by AI in the years to come, and the researchers who put it together shared a heartening takeaway about the technology's role in the workplace. Hear more in today's podcast episode.
Feeling Queasy? Scientists Say Joyful Music Might Help Ease Motion Sickness
dusanpetkovic/ iStock
Next time a wave of motion sickness hits, you might want to turn on "Dancing Queen," "Hey Ya!" — or whatever upbeat song is sure to bring you joy. According to a study published this week, playing cheerful music can cut nausea symptoms by more than half, providing a nondrug alternative for easing motion sickness (which also means avoiding medication side effects like dizziness and drowsiness). To test the effect of music on motion sickness, researchers in China used a driving simulator to induce carsickness in (brave) participants and played different types of tunes while monitoring their brain activity with EEG devices. They found that joyful music offered the most significant relief, reducing symptoms by 57.3%, with soft music close behind at 56.7%. Passionate music provided moderate relief at 48.3%. Interestingly, sad music was the least effective — participants were better off listening to nothing — so we don't recommend turning on any of these songs. The takeaway: "Music represents a noninvasive, low-cost, and personalized intervention strategy," researcher Qizong Yue said in a statement. Here are some feel-good hits to consider adding to your next road trip playlist, especially if you forget your Dramamine.
Together With Miso Robotics
From a CalTech Garage to a $1 Trillion Market
In 2016, some innovative CalTech robotics students set out to transform fast food. That first garage-built prototype became Miso Robotics. Since then, Miso's robots have worked over 200,000 hours in live kitchens for brands like White Castle, frying upward of 4 million baskets of fries, chicken, and more. That traction convinced NVIDIA, Uber AI, and Amazon to help refine Miso's AI and robots. As restaurants grapple with 144% labor turnover rates and $20/hour minimum wages, that's a major edge. No wonder Miso's first fully commercial robot, Flippy Fry Station, sold out initial units in one week. Now, Miso's going nationwide and scaling its U.S.-based manufacturing across a $4 billion/year revenue opportunity. Even better? You can get up to 8% bonus stock right now as an early-stage investor.*
This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics' Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com.*Bonus shares are only available on investments of $2,400 or more. Both new and returning investors must meet this minimum to qualify.
Environment
How Tourists in Malta Are Contributing to Climate Science, One Snapshot at a Time
Artur Bogacki/ iStock
Many of us go on vacation and return with a ridiculous amount of photos that don't go anywhere beyond our phone's camera roll. But if you find yourself visiting Malta, some of those snapshots might be able to serve a bigger purpose: helping scientists monitor the effects of climate change. The island country recently joined the CoastSnap network, launching a dedicated phone holder at the popular Riviera Bay where visitors can capture photos of the coastline and upload them for scientific analysis. Picture by picture, the collection could be a gold mine for researchers seeking to track changes in the beach landscape over time and improve the accuracy of data on the impacts of climate change on coastal areas — while also actively engaging the public in citizen science. As the CoastSnap website reads, "If you have a smartphone and an interest in the coast, we welcome you to participate!" Not heading to Malta anytime soon? CoastSnap has projects in nearly two dozen countries, with over 220 stations on beaches spanning from Massachusetts to Mozambique, Africa. Check out the map of locations.
Culture
Couple Finds Rare Log of 1941 Pearl Harbor Attack in Storage Box
National Archives
You never know what treasures you'll find hidden in old boxes — in this case, the treasure turned out to be a rare logbook with documentation of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The story dates back to the 1970s, when Oretta Kanady, a civilian employee at the Norton Air Force Base in California, spotted a tattered logbook in a trash bin at work and was given permission to take it home. She gave it to her then-teenage son, Michael William Bonds, who kept it in a box for about 50 years, Smithsonian Magazine reports. It wasn't until Bonds (now 65) moved in with his fiancée last year that she noticed this was no regular notebook. Hidden inside were more than500 handwritten pages detailing daily events at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base from March 1941 through June 1942. History buffs will know that means the book captured the events leading up to and during the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, as well as the aftermath. The couple got in touch with the National Archives and found out the item was still considered government property. So instead of a monetary reward, they received two National Archives T-shirts — and no shortage of gratitude. "This special item is one of the few surviving records that helps tell the story of the 'date which will live in infamy,'" Jim Byron, a senior adviser at the archives, said in a statement. "Thanks to the efforts of [a] historically conscious California couple, it is now available to the American people, allowing everyone to better appreciate their history — and especially the sacrifice and heroism of Dec. 7, 1941." Get a closer look at the handwritten pages.
Global Good
🇮🇳 India's clean electricity generation rose 20% in the first half of 2025, hitting a new peak (read more) 🇧🇴 In Bolivia, a "miracle tree" that was struck by lightning 10 years ago has become a symbol of hope (read more) 🇸🇪 A dozen lost patents of Alfred Nobel were found in a Swedish couple's summer home (read more) 🇮🇩 Speaking of new discoveries, sniffer dogs may have found a lost population of rhinos in Indonesia (read more) 🇳🇱 Dutch athletes are keeping an ancient tradition alive by pole vaulting over canals — see them soar (read more)
Something We Love
Makeup by Mario MoistureGlow™ Plumping Lip Serum I received this as my Sephora Insider free birthday gift, and got hooked. I love anything that doubles as a color and lip moisturizer — the shade I got is Rosewood Glow and it offers the perfect "my lips but better" look. It also comes in a ton of other shades and two finishes. – Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor
At just 16, Quinton Simpson is saying goodbye to high school hallways and heading straight into college life — with a very well-rounded schedule. The ambitious teen is studying electromagnetic engineering at Hinds Community College in Mississippi and playing tuba in the college band on a music scholarship. "It feels amazing," he said of his early graduation.
Photo of the Day
Neal Herbert / NPS
This week marked the 61st anniversary of The Wilderness Act. Back in 1964, the act safeguarded 9.1 million acres of U.S. land, and since then, it has expanded to over 111 million acres across the nation. One of these protected sites is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, the largest national park in the country — and home to the stunning Mount St. Elias (pictured), the second tallest mountain in both the U.S. and Canada.
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Up This Weekend
U.S. Open Finals: Tennis' best will face off on Saturday (women's singles finals) and Sunday (men's singles finals), but the real stars of this year's tournament are the food and drink options
MTV Video Music Awards: Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Sabrina Carpenter, and many more will be taking the stage during the 2025 VMAs
September Full Moon: Don't forget that the final full moon of summer 2025 — the Corn Moon — will rise in the wee morning hours on Sunday (next up? the Harvest Moon)
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
🌹 There's a new cast of ladies vying for the Golden Bachelor 🎾 This baby is now a tennis fan for life 💰 When money is tight, these resources may help* 🐌 If you think your love life is tough, meet Ned *Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
"Home wasn't a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together."
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