Once upon a time, reading was one of the most popular ways to unwind and enjoy oneself. Unfortunately, though, rates of daily reading in the U.S. have been declining every year for the past two decades — a finding that unsurprisingly correlates with the rising ubiquity of digital devices. And while signs point to the pastime gaining traction with young people again, many erstwhile bookworms still find themselves reading less and scrolling more. If you're one of them, check out some research-backed strategies for rebuilding your reading habits, courtesy of Popular Science. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
Driven by Purpose: New 2026 License Plates Celebrate History and Support Worthy Causes
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2026 is the year of the FIFA World Cup, the first crewed moon mission in half a century, and many much-anticipated movie sequels, but we're adding another entry to the list: license plates getting a glow-up. The trove of specialized plates debuting this year — many of which are already available for purchase — includes fun releases aimed at helping drivers get into the spirit of America's 250th birthday as well as designs supporting worthy causes like empowering women athletes, planting trees, and improving state infrastructure. Click below to take a spin through some of our favorites (Arkansas might just have the prettiest).
AI has changed the cybersecurity game. Scams are smarter, malware is faster, and phishing emails look shockingly real. But you don't need to be a tech expert to stay ahead of it — you can use security that keeps up with AI threats. Webroot is built to counter modern, AI-driven attacks. It's fast, lightweight, and designed to spot threats before they ever reach you. With all-in-one digital protection for up to 10 devices and a variety of plans to choose from, Webroot gets the job done while also helping your computer run smoother compared to other security software. It scans six times faster and takes up 33 times less space than the average competitor, keeping you protected online while staying out of your way. Nice News readers can get 60% off at the link below.
How Matthew Perry Inspired Students in France to Create Artwork About Addiction
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Matthew Perry struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for decades, and had long dreamed of starting an organization to destigmatize substance abuse disorder and help those seeking treatment. After he died in 2023, Perry's former publicist and manager both took up the torch, launching the Matthew Perry Foundation the same year. Now, the actor's legacy has reached all the way to Montargis, France, where it helped a group of 12th graders express their new understanding of addiction through art. Earlier this year, English teacher Rose-Elisa Morin used Perry's story, along with resources from the foundation, to teach a unit on the opioid crisis in the U.S. Perry became addicted to prescription painkillers following a 1997 jet skiing accident, and the difficulties that ensued, including 15 trips to rehab and a gastrointestinal perforation, ultimately fostered his desire to make a positive impact on others like him. In Morin's classroom, he did. She instructed her students to create a piece of work — such as a letter, poem, or drawing — either paying tribute to Perry or illustrating how they could help combat addiction. And the high schoolers delivered. One student drew a sketch of Batman, a character Perry famously felt connected to, with a speech bubble referencing Friends. Another teen detailed her thoughts in an illustrated page with the motto "one day at a time" in the margin. Take a look at the artwork.
Environment
Oh, What a Refillable World: The Rise of Low-Waste Stores
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We've all heard of reduce, reuse, recycle, but a growing number of shoppers are embracing a fourth "r": refill. Refill stores are popping up across the country, inviting customers to bring their own bottles and containers to stock up on food, cleaning supplies, makeup, and more. The idea is that when more customers reuse and refill (rather than dispose and replace), it reduces waste, water use, and energy expenditures. On a more personal level, the act of refilling can also help consumers rethink their habits and turn an everyday errand into something that actually feels good. "When you do something positive, you get a little bit of like a dopamine hit and you feel good," Julie Hughes told the Associated Press on a recent trip to buy liquid hand soap at a refill shop in Tampa, Florida. "There are so many big problems in the world, but we can't solve all of the big problems, but we do have control over our choices." Find a refill store near you.
Environment
Over 300 New Freshwater Fish Species Were Named in 2025
Béla Nagy
It may be March, but we're not done with exciting environmental milestones from 2025. Coinciding with World Wildlife Day last Tuesday, the global conservation org Shoal revealed that scientists named 309 freshwater fish species last year, the most recorded in a year since 2017 — and the new identifications may help protect their populations from dwindling. Shoal's 2025 New Species Report is the result of researchers tirelessly scouring environments like caves, pools, and swamps across five continents. The majority of the species — 165 types of fish — were discovered in Asia, followed by 91 in South America, 30 in Africa, 20 in North America, and three in Europe. Among the fish documented are Yang's plateau loach, a Chinese cavefish with a swim bladder that can be seen sticking out from its body, "giving the impression of a built-in life jacket"; the Anatolian minnow, which is known to live in just three streams in Turkey; and the rainbow killi (pictured), a killifish native to Congo that can only be spotted under certain weather conditions. Meet more of the newly named fish.
From social media to Zoom and ChatGPT, our current era is rife with digital tools that can undermine and complicate our sense of who we are — and how we present ourselves to others. Author Patricia Martin, host of the Carl Jung-centered podcast Jung in the World, details the influences technology has on our identities and presents science-backed antidotes for their impact, sharing stories of real people who've pushed through. A blend of memoir, psychology, and reporting, the book is available now at the link above and can also be purchased on Amazon with a March 31 ship date.
There's no shortage of Sherlock Holmes adaptations (the detective is one of the most-portrayed characters ever) — in fact, this one is actually an adaptation of an adaptation. Inspired by Andrew Lane's novels and directed by Guy Ritchie, who also helmed the 2009 film SherlockHolmes, this rendition focuses on Holmes as a rabble-rousing 19-year-old, before he made a name for himself as London's leading deductive reasoner. The series stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin, with his uncle Joseph Fiennes playing his father. All eight episodes landed Wednesday on Prime Video.
This Week in History
The Volkswagen Microbus Goes Into Production
March 8, 1950
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Today's version is all-electric and über-modern, but the original Volkswagen Microbus dates back 76 years to an automobile plant in West Germany, where production began on what would become an icon of 1960s counterculture. The Microbus, officially named the Type 2, was the brainchild of Dutch VW importer Ben Pon, who saw room in the market for a practical vehicle that was roomy enough to transport families as well as goods or gear. In its early days, the Type 2 was perfect for 1950s beach culture: The buses could often be found taking groups of friends to the ocean, surfboards in tow. After the Vietnam War broke out, followed by the hippie movement, the bus became associated with fringe groups, with many of the vehicles sporting peace signs. During the Civil Rights Movement, a couple used a 1966 Microbus with the message "Love is Progress, Hate is Expensive" painted on it to further their efforts combating injustice — learn the story.
Bruusta Is the Fridge Upgrade You Didn't Know You Needed
Meet Bruusta: a sealed, pressurized kombucha brewer that lives in your fridge and pours fresh from the tap. One batch takes six days (with less than 10 minutes of hands-on effort) and makes about 21 servings. No bottling, no mess, no "why is this exploding" moments. Sign up for the flexible brew plan to get 50% off the Bruusta.
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