Tomorrow is going to be a pretty special day, at least for those with an interest in the cosmos. In areas with low light pollution, nighttime views of Venus and the Milky Way up ahead are going to be some of the best of the entire year, and that’s on top of the peak of the Perseid meteor shower — expected to be particularly dazzling in the moonless sky. The biggest event is earlier in the day, though, when a total solar eclipse will be visible in eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain. A partial eclipse will touch other areas of Europe and the Americas: Get all the deets.
Must Reads
After years of captivating wildlife lovers far and wide, Big Bear bald eagle Jackie sadly died yesterday
Yes, Your Brain Can Change After Just 1 Week of Meditation: Study
Ekaterina Goncharova—Moment/Getty Images
It’s not often we get results in seven days of doing something. But that’s not the case when it comes to meditation, according to researchers. In a first-of-its-kind comprehensive study published last year, scientists examined the impact of a weeklong intensive retreat involving about 33 hours of guided meditation and group healing.
The researchers collected blood samples from the 20 healthy adult participants and examined their brains with MRI scans before and after the retreat. They found that afterward, the blood samples indicated a “more flexible and adaptable” metabolism and brain activity became less pronounced in regions associated with internal mental chatter. The brain also seemed to show increased neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change and form new neural connections.
“This isn’t about just stress relief or relaxation,” study co-author Hemal Patel said in a statement, noting the brain changes following meditation were similar to ones associated with psychedelic experiences. “This is about fundamentally changing how the brain engages with reality and quantifying these changes biologically.”
If you’re inspired, read about Staff Editor Rebekah Brandes’ experience meditating every day for eight weeks — or get your own practice started with a mini meditation (it’s just 1 minute!).
Together With Honeycomb
This New Toilet Paper Just Might Save the World
Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down just to make toilet paper. We think that’s far too many, and Honeycomb agrees, which is why they created luxury three-ply made from bamboo. It feels just like regular high-end toilet paper, but doesn’t harm trees.
Why bamboo? It grows insanely fast — almost 100 times faster than the average tree — making it a sustainable option to save forests. Bamboo also has uniquely short fibers, which are perfect for creating soft toilet tissue you can feel good about. It’s biodegradable, 100% plastic-free, and Honeycomb delivers straight to you.
The best part? Code NICE35 will give 35% off your first shipment for the next 24 hours.
Teen Founder Is Sending Surprise Care Packages to 50 People in All 50 States This Summer
Courtesy of Sue Laurent
Barb’s an early riser, Shayla’s a social butterfly, Kevin’s thoughtful, and all three have big smiles on their faces — or, we should say, on their pots. The trio of characters are among the seven adorable stuffed plants that are featured in The ILY Company’s Bloomie Boxes, and they’ve been surprising unsuspecting strangers across the country this summer.
Founded by 18-year-old Emily Laurent, The ILY Company offers emotional support gifts geared toward teens and young adults, and 10% of its proceeds go to the mental health nonprofit Active Minds. To celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday last month, Emily and her mom, Sue Laurent, who helps run the company, kicked off a “50 States in 50 Days” campaign.
Each day, the pair spins a virtual wheel with the remaining states and then chooses a local recipient at random from a list of addresses provided by the U.S. Postal Service. Sue and Emily are sharing videos of the process on Instagram, where users can also enter to win a bonus Bloomie Box by commenting “positivity” on the posts. The campaign runs until Aug. 22, and at the time of writing, 11 states had yet to be selected.
“We wanted to spread the most positivity we could this summer and we’ve gotten messages from people who told us they really needed it, which is the best part of all,” Emily tells Nice News. Sue adds: “You never know who can use a little surprise in their day!”
Environment
Tiny but Mighty Find: New-to-Science Ice Age Toad Discovered in LA
Artwork by Arturo Dávalos
Say hello to Spea labreae! The tiny spadefoot toad is a newly discovered species of ice age amphibian recently found in a collection at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. It’s the first extinct amphibian found in the city and only the second-known ice age amphibian discovered in North America (the first was a tree frog from Florida). And while it’s small in size, it could have an outsized impact on our understanding of the climate at the end of the last ice age.
The toad was spotted by happenstance when researcher Alberto Cruz was reviewing understudied collections of amphibians and reptiles as a postdoctoral fellow at the museum. At first, he thought the specimen had been injured or sick, but upon further research, he realized it was a new species entirely.
“I reviewed and reviewed a lot of specimens until I was convinced. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a new species,’” Cruz said in a press release on the findings, which were made two years ago but published in a journal just last week. The museum explained that amphibians offer a particularly useful peek into the past because they don’t typically travel far during their lifetimes and are sensitive to environmental change, making them helpful proxies for understanding climate cycles and improving future climate models.
The find is also worth celebrating because amphibians don’t often make it into fossil records due to their fragile skeletons. “It’s a great example of how we’re still finding new things at La Brea Tar Pits, even after a century of ongoing excavation and research,” added Emily Lindsey, a curator at the iconic site. “There’s definitely more to come.”
In Other News
Homelessness is downacross Utah, marking the state’s first year-over-year decrease since 2019 (read more)
Solar power was the leading source of energy in Portugal last month, supplying 19% of all electricity consumed (read more)
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride made 10 3-pointers on Sunday, breaking the WNBA single-game record (read more)
A 2,100-year-old Roman shipwreck loaded with clay jars was found off the coast of Sicily (read more)
Captivating drone footage showsa shark chasing a school of fish off the coast of New York (read more)
Something We Love
The Mejuri Summer Sale
Now through Sunday, the more you spend on Mejuri’s timeless jewelry, the more you save. The brand’s summer sale offers 15% off when you spend $150, 20% off when you spend $300, and 25% off when you spend $500. This sale won’t be around forever, but the jewelry itself is made to last — brought to life through considered design, quality materials, and meticulous craftsmanship.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Inspiring Story
When Barley met Louie
After Barley the golden retriever had to go on seizure medication, her family noticed her personality seemed to shift — she “lost her spunk,” explained mom Tori Cannarelli. That was until a duck named Louie entered the picture. The unlikely duo formed an oh-so-heartwarming friendship, bringing Barley’s “goldenness” back. See the animal BFFs.
Photo of the Day
Chris Coduto/Getty Images
Hezly Rivera is officially a back-to-back national champ! The Olympic gold medalist made a major comeback at the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix to win her second straight all-around gymnastics title, rising from fourth to first place from Saturday to Sunday. Watch her floor routine.
Get a Permanent Set of Teeth in 24 Hours With Nuvia
Traditional timelines for dental implants can take up to 10 months (or more) before you walk away with a new smile. With Nuvia, you don’t have to wait that long. Nuvia’s dental professionals fit eligible patients with permanent teeth in 24 hours with a single appointment. Take the one-minute quiz to find out if you qualify.
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