May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, a commemoration that dates back to the late '70s. It's a time to celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of people of Asian descent and Pacific Islanders — but why May? The month was chosen because the first Japanese immigrants arrived to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the country's first transcontinental railroad, largely built by Chinese workers, was completed on May 10, 1869. Learn some ways to celebrate AAPI Month, from museum exhibits to food festivals.
Must Reads
Worth the watch: this short film about the snowy owls that migrate from the Arctic to Boston's Logan Airport
English Teacher Ashlie Crosson Named 2025 National Teacher of the Year
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It's that time again, when one out of millions of teachers in the country is selected for the prestigious title of National Teacher of the Year. This year, that honor goes to Ashlie Crosson, an educator of more than 14 years who currently teaches English and advises the journalism program at Mifflin County High School in Pennsylvania. That also happens to be the same high school she graduated from. "It is an incredible honor, it feels like a big responsibility," Crosson said on CBS Mornings. She added: "It's an incredible … chance to share my kids and my community with our country." Some of those kids were highlighted in a tribute video honoring her dedication as an educator. Students described her as a safe space, joyful, witty, hardworking, and caring, among other words of praise. "She'll try and make you better as a student, and doing that, you alsolearn lessons as to how to take help and help others, so I think it makes students better people," one of Crosson's pupils shared. The feeling is mutual:"The kids are amazing … they make the job easy," she said. Meet Miss Crosson — and let this serve as your reminder that Monday kicks off Teacher Appreciation Week.
Together With Surfshark
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We've all had the experience of clicking on an interesting article, only to find that the webpage is covered in ads and practically impossible to read. The solution? Surfshark's CleanWeb ad blocker. It's an easy way to block ads, trackers, and malware, so you can keep browsing your favorite sites with more privacy and less clutter. It runs quietly in the background on your device, and couldn't be easier to install — you just download the app on your phone, tablet, or computer, turn on CleanWeb, and you're good to go. Click below to get CleanWeb for just $1.99 per month and start enjoying uninterrupted browsing.
"Conservation Success": Lake Champlain's Trout Population Is Officially Self-Sustaining
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In a feat five decades in the making, Lake Champlain officially has a self-sustaining trout population. So rather than continuing to stock lake trout, Vermont, New York, and federal wildlife officials announced they will switch the focus to monitoring the current population. "Bringing back Lake Champlain's native lake trout to the point that they no longer depend on stocking is an incredible conservation success," Andrea Shortsleeve, interim commissioner for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, said in a statement. After stocking trout once more this spring, the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative will keep a watchful eye on the population and develop a benchmark system to renew stocking efforts only if trout seem to be on the decline. It's a significant switch up from a system established in 1972 to boost the trout numbers by adding hundreds of thousands of hatchery-raised juvenile fish. "This would not have been possible without strong partnerships — scientists and conservation groups from across the region support our decision to stop stocking and focus on maintaining good numbers of wild trout," Shortsleeve added.
Tech
Mining for E-Waste Gold Is Getting More Eco-Friendly
Ladislav Kubeš/ iStock
As their name suggests, snowy owls prefer Arctic temperatures, typically Where one person sees a pile of old printers, Mark Wilkins sees a treasure trove. Wilkins, the CEO of eWorks, disassembles old tech — from televisions to computers and beyond — to see if there's any overlooked gold amid the processors, chips, and other components. "There is a value that would be there," Wilkins told CBS News. "Maybe it's a small value, but it's our job to really go through that process and evaluate each one of those components." The gold can be reused in solar panels, other electronics, and maybe even jewelry. But there's one significant downside to the mining process: Up to this point, filtering out the gold has required the use of harmful chemicals, such as cyanide. So in hopes of improving this practice for people and the planet, Cornell University professor Alireza Abbaspourrad developed a new, environmentally friendly method that swaps toxic metals for an organic compound that can soak up gold ions like a sponge. "Our sponge selectively targets only gold, and that's a major difference," said Abbaspourrad. The goal is to keep toxic materials away from people and landfills and make use of tech that would otherwise be added to the world's ever-growing pile of e-waste. Creating jobs is an added bonus — Wilkins said he's particularly focused on training and employing people with disabilities, and Abbaspourrad's innovation should only foster more growth opportunities for his business.
In Other News
Up in the air: JetBlue is gearing up to announce a partnership with another U.S. airline (read more)
Eye scans could offer a window into one's risk for developing schizophrenia, per a recent study (read more)
A barrier-breaking World War II unit comprising all Black women received the Congressional Gold Medal (read more)
NYC's most neurodivergent-friendly spaces were compiled into a colorful, interactive map (read more)
"A species that wants to be seen." Meet the blue-bellied lizard Californians spot all across the state (read more)
Join the Nice Book Club
Nice News' first book club meeting on April 3 was a smashing success, so we can't wait to bring you another one. On May 6 at 5 p.m. ET, we'll host a conversation with Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy. Harrison will help you learn how to break free from the old definition of happiness (one rooted in achievement, comparison, and constant striving) and embrace a new, research-backed path to deeper joy, meaning, and connection. It's free to join — and you don't have to read the book beforehand!
After being told he had two months to live due to a rare cancer, Michael Wolff underwent a cutting-edge genetic sequencing process "that seemed like science fiction," he said. But it was far from fiction, as the technology led to a treatment that cured his cancer. Fast forward a decade, he remains cancer-free and has returned to his career as a jazz musician. "I've been able to record so much music and play so many concerts around the world," Wolff said. "Every time I do something like that, I'm just so thankful to be able to do it."
Photo of the Day
NASA, ESA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
NASA has been celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope since January, but the pioneering scope's real birthday was a week ago. This mesmerizing image of the "moth-like planetary nebula" NGC 2899 was released as part of the celebrations — watch a highlight reel of the past three and half decades.
Bonner Wine Club Brings You Wines From Places Most Travelers Never Reach
Tucked into hidden corners of Italy, France, and Argentina are tiny vineyards making small-batch wines the old-fashioned way — hand-harvested, no additives, and almost never exported. The Hidden Vineyards Collection from Bonner Wines finds them, bottles them, and ships them directly to you — four rare wines per month from winemakers you've likely never heard of … but won't soon forget.
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
"Human knowledge is never contained in one person. It grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete."
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