Painter Bob Ross was famously enamored with "happy little trees," and that legacy is living on through annual 5K races hosted by state departments of natural resources across the country. The Happy Little 5Ks, held on or around Earth Day in April, raise money for tree planting initiatives in state parks. It started in Michigan, and has since expanded to Florida, Oregon, and beyond, so be sure to check if there's one near you. If the thought of running a Bob Ross-inspired race intrigues you, but you haven't run a mile since high school, consider looking into the Couch to 5K program — it'll get you up to the distance with plenty of time to take part in the event.
Must Reads
Interested in volunteering for the 2028 LA Olympics and Paralympics? The program launched last week — here's how to sign up
The Path to Happiness May Be Simpler Than We Thought
Yutthana Gaetgeaw/ iStock
At Cornell University, researchers have spent the last six years seeking the answer to a question that's likely been posed for millennia: What makes people happy? The answer, according to the team behind The Contribution Project, doesn't involve a magic elixir, but rather a simple statement of purpose and a step toward action. Since 2019, the project — led by psychologist Anthony Burrow — has offered $400 to each accepted applicant, ranging in age from 14-25. The only stipulation is that participants must use the funds to make a difference in a way that's meaningful to them. Everyone who applies is tested based on standard measures of well-being, The Washington Post reports. Then, between six and eight weeks after recipients have started their projects, all applicants are tested again. The preliminary results show that those who received contributions and started projects scored higher in all areas: latent well-being, sense of purpose, sense of belonging, sense of feeling needed and useful, and balance of positive and negative emotions. The takeaway? "Invite people to think about a contribution they want to make and help them [to] make that contribution, and that person may walk around with greater purpose than if they hadn't done that," Burrow explained to the outlet. Learn more about The Contribution Project.
Together With EnergyX
America's Lithium Boom Is Officially Underway
The federal government just made one of the biggest private-sector investments of this administration. Where? Lithium. It's no shock. Current production needs to increase 18 times by 2040 to meet projected demand, and China controls over 80% of global supply. This combination is creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No wonder more than 35,000 people have already invested in EnergyX. The company's patented tech can produce up to 300% more lithium than traditional methods. Now, after a recent acquisition, they hold nearly 50,000 acres of lithium-rich resources in the United States right next to energy giants like Exxon. With backing from the DoE, General Motors, and POSCO, they're preparing to unlock America's lithium supply. Get a piece of the lithium boom as an early-stage EnergyX investor today.
This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX's Regulation A+ Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com/.
Health
Climate Doulas Help Parents Navigate Birth With an Eco Lens
SDI Productions/ iStock
Help clients make a birth plan, provide emotional support — and teach them to prepare for a hurricane? That last item is on the agenda for doulas doubling as climate educatorsin a pilot program in Florida. The novel initiative equips doulas to confront environmental threats posed to maternal and infant health, The 19th reports. They learn to assess a client's exposure to risks like extreme heat, flooding, and tropical storms — and then help them create personalized disaster preparedness plans, whether that's identifying safe evacuation zones, accessing cooling centers, or securing emergency supplies. So far, 12 doulas have completed training and worked with more than 40 clients, many in marginalized communities disproportionately affected by climate change. If the pilot proves successful, the hope is to expand beyond Florida to reach more families at this critical time in their lives. "Where else should we start, other than with pregnant folks? That's two lives, the next generation,"said Dr. Cheryl Holder, co-founder of the nonprofit behind the program. "And if we can't learn lessons to save the newborn, the unborn, and the mom, how are we in society going to do anything?"
Environment
How a Sewage-Filled Cave in Kentucky Became an "Environmental Success Story"
Hidden River Cave
If you strolled around Main Street in Horse Cave, Kentucky, a few decades back, fresh air would not have been the only thing you breathed in. The nearby Hidden River Cave was then a miles-long wasteland filled with sewage — so you can only imagine the foul odor that permeated from its depths. Today, however, it's a stench-free tourist attraction, home to the world's longest swinging underground bridge. So what happened? "Everybody was sick of the smell," former Mayor Sandra Wilson told CBS News. She was part of a movement launched in the 1980s by the American Cave Conservation Association to revitalize and protect the cave. The team set out to convince residents to pay increased sewage fees to fund the project: "The goal was to create the sewer system to clean up the mess, period," said Wilson. And it worked. With the help of surrounding communities and organizations, Horse Cave built a brand-new, state-of-the art regional sewage system. Slowly, over the following decades, the smell abated and fish and other creatures returned to the cave's waters. Since the early 1990s, over $7.5 million has gone into the restoration and ongoing projects, and last year alone, 30,000 people toured the cave — more than 10 times the town's population, per The New York Times. "It's an environmental success story," Chris Groves, a professor of hydrogeology at Western Kentucky University, told the outlet. "There's just no precedent for this anywhere."
In Other News
A new digital map details the ancient Roman Empire's entire road network (read more)
More than 100,000 spiders were discovered living together in what may be Earth's largest web (read more)
At 7 feet, 9 inches, the world's tallest teenager is now the tallest person to ever play college basketball (read more)
Scientists completed the first draft of atlases of the developing human and mammalian brains (read more)
This sassy swan was rescued from a busy road by a police officer in Germany: Watch the hilarious moment (read more)
Inspiring Story
Kindness takes the crown
A senior at Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Justin is autistic and has "always been a little different from his peers," his neighbor Mia wrote to ABC News. That's why it was all the more special when Justin's classmates voted him this year's homecoming king. "It is a reminder that kindness still exists in a time when it is not always obvious," Mia shared.
Photo of the Day
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
This baby patas monkey is in need of a moniker! The little critter was born May 3 at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California, which is inviting the public to choose their favorite out of four Swahili names (note: a $2 minimum donation is required). Participants will also be entered to win a patas monkey experience at the zoo — learn the names and cast your vote by tomorrow.
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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.
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