What’s it take to shut down a Ritz-Carlton entrance? A nesting hummingbird. At the luxury hotel’s location in Rancho Mirage, California, a tiny bird recently took up residence in the door handle of one of the entrances, prompting the hotel to put up a “nature in progress” sign asking hotel guests to use a different door. See the VIP guest and its nest.
No Booths in Sight: In a Small Swiss Canton, Residents Vote With a Show of Hands
Fabrice COFFRINI—AFP/Getty Images
You’re looking at a form of direct democracy. On Sunday, thousands of citizens gathered in the small Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden to cast their votes, not by filling in bubbles on paper ballots or using curtained booths, but by a simple show of hands.
For hours, questions boomed over loudspeakers about constitutional, legislative, and financial issues, in addition to elections for local leaders. Residents of the canton — home to roughly 17,000 — either raised their hands for “yes” or kept them down for “no.” From a wooden podium, the chief magistrate visually assessed the crowd to determine each outcome.
The tradition, known as the Landsgemeinde, dates back over 600 years and survives in only two of Switzerland’s 26 cantons due to concerns over privacy and practicality in areas with larger populations. But locals note thatthe transparency can be a strength. “I think it’s nice to have it direct and to talk with people about it and to hear arguments directly,” Ursulina, a 31-year-old voter, told Agence France-Presse.
Angela Koller, the head of the cantonal government, added: “Standing together with other people, you can experience politics with all your senses.” She noted that the system “isn’t perfect,” but “we have a culture here where people can tolerate that, where they know they have different opinions.”
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Two College Roommates Solving a $100 Billion Problem
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Humanity
Teens Across the US Swap Lives to Learn How to Embrace Differences
American Exchange Project
Growing up in rural Kansas can be a vastly different experience than growing up in New York City, and not just in terms of geography. In a large nation like the U.S., the population differs widely in income levels, values, ideas, ethnicities, religions, languages, you name it. What’s perhaps more interesting than what we don’t have in common, though, is what we do.
American Exchange Project, the country’s first free intercultural domestic exchange program, invites graduating high school seniors to stay with host families in communities dissimilar to their own as a way to foster empathy and combat division. And this year’s crop of participants, roughly 700 teenagers from nearly 40 states, recently got their match letters — which means they now know where they’re off to this summer.
During the first seven days of the two-week exchange, they’ll travel to another locale and immerse themselves in the culture there. Then they’ll head back home and spend the second week introducing their towns and cities to peers from other places. It’s about connecting not just with new and different areas but also with new and different people. Watch their “match day” reactions and learn more about the project.
Environment
“Miracle Tree” Removes 98% of Microplastics From Drinking Water
Soumyabrata Roy—NurPhoto/Getty Images
One solution to the microplastics dilemma may be a fast-growing, slender tree native to India. The moringa tree, dubbed the “miracle tree” for its nutritional and medicinal properties, is living up to its nickname as a potentially powerful tool for water purification.
In a recent study out of Brazil, researchers found that the extract from moringa seeds can remove up to 98% of microplastics from drinking water. The extract acts as a natural coagulant, causing plastic particles to clump together so they can be more easily filtered — a solution that performed just as well as (or better than) conventional chemical methods for cleaning water.
“We showed that the saline extract from the seeds performs similarly to aluminum sulfate, which is used in treatment plants to coagulate water containing microplastics. In more alkaline waters, it performed even better than the chemical product,” first author Gabrielle Batista said in a statement.
Although the researchers noted the process may be less practical on a larger scale, they believe it’s a promising, low-cost, and natural option for reducing microplastics in drinking waterin smaller communities.
In Other News
Employers plan to ramp up entry-level hiring this spring after years of decline, a new survey found (read more)
A teen invented a device to detect crossed eyes and potentially treat the condition without invasive surgery (read more)
Two giant pandas are heading to Zoo Atlanta on loan from the China Wildlife Conservation Association (read more)
Seven states have passed right-to-repair laws that make it easier to fix tech, and two more are on the horizon (read more)
The anti-whaling vessel MV Steve Irwin is making a conservation comeback after retiring in 2019 (read more)
Inspiring Story
Dance as a conversation
After third graders at a school in Florida spent months learning about Pakistani culture, they put on a recital to remember incorporating traditional dance and dress. “This moment really speaks to something bigger. In a diverse community like South Miami, learning about different cultures isn’t an extra; it’s essential,” said Head of School Indi Avila. “In a time where more learning is happening through screens, AI, and even homeschooling, it’s important to remember what children are capable of in the right environment.”
Photo of the Day
Carl Court/Getty Images
While elite marathoners were breaking world records in London on Sunday, a different kind of race was going on in nearby Essex. Runners got their hands — and arms, legs, feet, and hair — dirty for the 2026 Maldon Mud Race to raise money for charity. See more pics from the quirky competition.
Looking for an Uplifting Mother’s Day Gift? You’ll Love the Book “HumanKind”
The national bestseller HumanKind celebrates the best of humanity by sharing powerful good news stories that will lift your spirits and warm your heart. In other words, it’s a book written for Nice News readers — and would make a perfect Mother’s Day present. Featured by The Wall Street Journal, People, and Deepak Chopra, HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time is a great gift for yourself or anyone who's been a source of kindness in your life. Plus, 100% of the royalties go to charity.
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