TikTokers have rebranded the morning routine — and we're here for it. Many are borrowing the term "opening shift" from retail jobs as a framework for getting the best possible start to your day. An opening shift at a clothing store might involve cleaning and folding merchandise, while your at-home opening shift could look like a morning meditation, making your bed, and stretching. "The 'opening shift' morning routine calls for sticking to a list of to-dos you need to feel calm, collected, and ready to take on the day," explains Everygirl wellness writer Katherine Chang. Learn how to design your own opening shift.
The art of getting the best spring break travel deals
Health
Steep Slowly: Tea Leaves Remove Heavy Metals From Water, Study Finds
FreshSplash/ iStock
Your morning cuppa might taste even better after reading this. In a recent study out of Northwestern University, researchers found that tea leaves absorb toxic heavy metals,like lead and cadmium, thus filtering out dangerous contaminants from your brew. "You're taking the metals out of the water with the tea, but you don't consume the tea leaves after, which is why it works," lead author Benjamin Shindel told The Washington Post. However, the type of tea and steeping speed make a difference. After comparing the metal content in water before and after steeping a range of tea leaves (including black, green, oolong, and white), the research team found that the longer the steep time, the better. "Brewing tea for longer periods or even overnight — like iced tea — will recover most of the metal or maybe even close to all of the metal in the water," Shindel explained to Northwestern Now. Finely ground black tea was also slightly more effective than whole leaves, and cellulose bags worked the best due to the high surface area, which gives metal ions plenty of space to cling onto. Happy sipping!
Together With Pacaso
He's Already IPO'd Once — This Time's Different
Spencer Rascoff co-founded Zillow, scaling it into a $16 billion real estate giant. But everyday investors couldn't invest until after the IPO, missing early gains. "I wish we had done a round accessible to retail investors prior to Zillow's IPO," Rascoff later said. Now he's doing just that. Rascoff has teamed up with another Zillow exec to launch Pacaso, the co-ownership marketplace disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. And unlike Zillow, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company. With over $100 million in gross profits and rapid international expansion, Pacaso is scaling fast. Investors like Softbank, Maveron, and more are already on board. Join them as a Pacaso shareholder and lock in the $2.70 share price by tomorrow.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.
Tech
Konnichiwa, Woven City! Toyota Completes Phase 1 of Ultra-Futuristic Town
Toyota Woven City
As if there weren't enough to see in Japan already, the country will soon be home to an entirely new city. Japanese automaker Toyota is building a town called "Woven City" on thesite of a former car factory. But this isn't just any city. The town will be a "test course for mobility," Daisuke Toyoda, an executive in charge of the $10 billion project and the great-grandson of the company's founder, told the Associated Press. The idea is that residents (aka "weavers") will experience what everyday living is like with the techiest of tools. We're talking interactive pet robots, flying cars, drone guides, and autonomous zero-emission vehicles. The cherry on top? The buildings will be connected via underground passageways. "Woven City is a place where people can invent and develop all kinds of new products and ideas," Toyoda said during a recent press conference. "It's a living laboratory where the residents are willing participants, giving inventors the opportunity to freely test their ideas in a secure, real-life setting." No one currently lives at the site, which will be 3.1 million square feet when finished, but Toyota recently celebrated the completion of its first building phase. The first 100 residents, who will all be workers at Toyota and its partner companies, are set to move in later this year.
Environment
How Do You Save Endangered Monkeys? Build Them a Bridge, Brazilian Biologist Says
Reconecta Project
When we envision the Amazon rainforest, most of us likely picture lush greenery, diverse wildlife, and vibrant colors. But there are also highways that cut through the dense land, making it difficult for native wildlife — like the endangered Groves' titi monkey and Guiana spider monkey — to cross roads safely. That's where canopy crossings come in. "Connecting the population, we can make it stronger and allow it to grow," Fernanda Abra, a Brazilian biologist and founder of the award-winning Reconecta Project, told CNN. So far, she's helped build over two dozen canopy crossings throughout a 2,000-mile stretch of highway in the Amazon. The hammock-like bridges stretch over roads, allowing tree-dwelling species to move as they please and avoid road collisions — a win for animals and people. Cameras are also placed on each bridge to help researchers keep an eye on the animals using them (or not using them) and learn ways to improve the structures. Plus, the footage provides a tangible reminder of why these bridges matter: "Every time I see the video of the monkey using my canopy bridge, it's wonderful because we are avoiding the situation of road mortality," said Abra. Check out the monkey-approved bridges in action.
In Other News
The American Cancer Society found cancer death rates among Black people have declined over the past decade (read more)
Visitors are flocking to Yosemite National Park to soak in a short-lived natural phenomenon (read more)
Signs, a new ASL learning platform, is using AI to bridge gaps between the Deaf and hearing communities (read more)
Altruistic mice: Researchers observed lab mice trying to give "first aid" to mates in need (read more)
A sports bar dedicated to women's sports is coming soon to Pittsburgh — check out Title 9 (read more)
Because Weekend x Nice News
Nice News' Merch Just Got an Update If you missed our merch launch back in December, we have some good news: Our apparel collection with Because Weekend is still available, and we recently launched some new colors, so readers have more options to choose from when it comes to representing Nice News out in the wild. Each of the pieces, from the "smile" T-shirts to the "addicted to optimism" hoodies, embodies our philosophy of spreading positivity, as well as Because Weekend's vision to make every day feel like the weekend. Subscribers can use the code NICEWEEKEND for free shipping.
Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner This hydrating toner goes on silky smooth and leaves my skin feeling soothed and moisturized. I particularly love that it's fragrance-free, doesn't break the bank, and can be found at my local Target. According to some TikTok beauty influencers, it's also a good dupe for the popular Glazing Milk from Hailey Bieber's Rhode. – Ally Mauch, Associate Editor
On Dec. 23, Alo Slebir rode what might be the largest wave ever ridden. "I've never experienced a sensation like that before," the 24-year-old surfer recently said of the 108-foot-tall wave — roughly the height of a 10-story building. Watch the jaw-dropping moment.
Past meets present in this image from Japanese photographer Seido Kino, who was recently named a finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards' 2025 professional competition. Kino "carefully combines archival imagery with contemporary Japanese landscapes, rolling back the surface of the contemporary image to reveal how towns and villages have evolved with the passage of time," per the competition. "From narratives of community-building, to explorations of collective memory, to empowering stories of people challenging conventions, these works offer a diversity of perspectives on our moment in history," jury chair Monica Allende said in a statement. See the other finalists and shortlisted images.
Diversify Your Assets With Masterworks
The reports are in: Goldman Sachs predicts just 3% S&P returns for the next decade, leading more investors toward alternative assets like fine art. And you don't need to be an art expert to get started, because Masterworks makes the process easy. The art investing platform handles everything from authentication and acquisition to storage and sale. Masterworks has already distributed back more than $60 million in total proceeds — learn more below.
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