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Walk into designer Ingrid Fetell Lee’s home in East Hampton, New York, and you may find yourself feeling lighter than you did a few minutes earlier.
| Sunday ? December 17, 2023 |
| Any flyer who’s gone to retrieve their luggage after deplaning is familiar with the twinge of anxiety that takes hold as you wait to spot your bag coming down the carousel. Though over 99% of suitcases end up where they belong, U.S. airlines still misplace around 2 million a year. So what happens to all of them? Airlines spend up to three months attempting to reunite the bags with their owners and if unsuccessful, will reimburse the traveler. Then, the remaining luggage is sent to a 50,000-square-foot store aptly named Unclaimed Baggage, where it goes up for sale. Established in 1970, the business is one of Alabama’s top tourist destinations, featuring everything from skateboards to designer sweaters, iPhones, and Rolex watches, all sold at a major discount. , and . |
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| “The Aesthetics of Joy”: 10 Ways Our Surroundings Can Positively Influence Emotions |
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| Courtesy of Ingrid Fetell Lee |
Walk into designer Ingrid Fetell Lee’s home in East Hampton, New York, and you may find yourself feeling lighter than you did a few minutes earlier. That’s because Lee has dedicated her career to exploring “the aesthetics of joy,” and her own living space reflects that work.
Lee first became interested in the emotions that certain colors, shapes, and other physical attributes evoke while earning her master’s at the Pratt Institute over a decade ago. Through her research, she identified 10 aesthetics of joy: energy, abundance, freedom, harmony, play, surprise, transcendence, magic, celebration, and renewal.
Each is defined by a number of other characteristics. Energy, for example, involves the use of color and light. Harmony is represented by symmetry, flow, and a sense of order; and play incorporates circles, spheres, and bubbly forms. Today, Lee teaches others how to adjust their environments to lead happier, healthier lives.
“The aesthetics of joy are a lens for decor, but they’re also a lens for viewing the world,” Lee tells Nice News. “And what I think can be really helpful, before you even do anything in your home, is to start to practice.” Check out our full article to take a design personality quiz, learn how to pick up a habit Lee calls “joyspotting,” and access more free resources. |
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| Health & Wellness |
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| Heart-Brain Pathway Could Explain Fainting Spells: Study |
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| duncan1890/ iStock |
Nearly 40% of humans will experience fainting at least once during their lives, and most of the time those spells aren’t related to an underlying medical condition. For example, some people faint when they see blood, or after an intense emotional stressor, neurobiologist Vineet Augustine explained to NPR. The simple question long facing scientists has been: Why?
Augustine co-authored a study, , that for the first time identified the genetic pathway between the heart and the brain that’s tied to fainting. He and his fellow researchers began by rethinking how the two organs communicate — the long-held viewpoint has been that the brain sends out signals and the heart “follows directions.” But this team saw the heart as having a larger role.
“What we are finding is that the heart also sends signals back to the brain, which can change brain function,” Augustine said in a .
The discovery of this “two-way street,” as described by NPR, could pave the way for helping people who experience frequent lightheadedness or fainting, and those who suffer from autonomic disorders. “This is probably a new door to go through for treatments and for understanding,” said Robert Wilson, a neurologist who was not involved in the research. |
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| Science |
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| How a “Living Skin” Protects the Great Wall of China From Erosion |
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| 00one/ iStock |
The is more than 2,000 years old and over 13,000 miles long — a true architectural marvel that lives up to its status as one of the new wonders of the world. According to a new study, part of the reason it has stood the test of time is a made up of bacteria, moss, lichen, and other organisms, which has protected it from erosion.
Known as “biocrusts,” these thin layers of natural material were found to have reduced porosity, water-holding capacity, erodibility, and salinity on the Great Wall by up to 48% and increased compressive strength, penetration resistance, shear strength, and aggregate stability by up to 321%, when compared to bare rammed earth.
Per the journal Science, the discovery could pave the way for researchers to propagate new biocrusts that could further shield the Great Wall from elements like wind and rain. “Our work highlights the fundamental importance of biocrusts as a nature-based intervention to the conservation of the Great Wall, protecting this monumental heritage from erosion,” the study authors .
Click below to take a virtual tour of the landmark to learn more about why protecting it is so important. |
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| Culture |
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| Paris, Dubai, and Madrid Lead List of 2023’s Top City Destinations |
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| Alexander Spatari/ Moment via Getty Images |
Some inspiration for your 2024 travel plans: Euromonitor International recently released its list of the . The annual report is based on 55 different metrics across six categories, including health and safety, tourism infrastructure, and sustainability, to create an overall city attractiveness score.
Paris ranked No. 1 “due to a balanced performance in both domestic and incoming tourism,” the report said, followed by Dubai and Madrid. The list was dominated by European cities, which made up 63 of the top 100. The U.S. did nab two top 20 spots, though — New York (No. 8) and Los Angeles (No. 19).
Euromonitor also found that international travel is continuing its strong post-pandemic rebound, with a 38% growth in trips and a predicted global inbound tourism spending amount of $1.7 trillion. In terms of trends, the report noted an increased emphasis on sustainability.
“Destinations are taking various steps to enhance their sustainability practices in conserving biodiversity, minimizing the impact of travel on the environment and local culture, while still contributing to income generation, employment, and the preservation of local ecosystems,” wrote Euromonitor senior project manager Nadejda Popova. |
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| Recent Discoveries |
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Most people have had the awkward experience of not recognizing someone they know, but for those with face blindness, like Sharrona Pearl, it’s an everyday occurrence. Using scientific research and testimonials, Pearl elucidates the condition and its opposite, “super recognition,” to explore how we relate to each other through our faces. Curious if you might be a super recognizer? . | |
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In this documentary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor delivers “a poetic meditation on nature, mortality, and the passage of time.” It delves into our adoration for and connection to trees by showcasing several people’s personal stories, including Taylor’s struggle to save one of her own from being enveloped in harmful ivy — a poignant metaphor for her father’s Alzheimer’s disease. | |
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LeVar Burton first captured kids’ hearts as host of Reading Rainbow, and with his new podcast, he’s engaging the next generation of youngsters. In the fun weekly series, listeners are asked to help a detective and his sidekick (a 3-foot-tall ear) identify and retrieve the world’s sounds, which have gone missing. Adults will also appreciate the humor, making it perfect for family car trips. | | | |
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| Things We Love |
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| UGG’s cozy Aarti robe is the ideal companion for crisp mornings, chilly evenings, and all the moments in between — especially as we head into the winter months. Made with a super soft sherpa material, it’s machine-washable and comes with a removable belt, fluffy hood, and deep pockets for storing essentials or keeping your hands toasty. Choose from a variety of colors and sizes, up to 3X. | | |
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| How many yoga mats offer such a cheerful view? This adorable menagerie of cartoon critters provides the perfect foundation for your downward-facing dog while also benefiting animals in need. All proceeds go to Best Friends Animal Society, which operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless pets. Textured to reduce slipping, the mat is 6 millimeters thick and available in orange and gray. | | |
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| If your carry-on luggage could use an upgrade, consider one of Vera Bradley’s stylish bags. Made from materials like recycled cotton and performance twill, they come in bold solid colors and eye-catching prints. “A little bit tote, mixed with a dash of duffel,” the weekender has a removable, adjustable strap; three exterior pockets; five interior pockets; a trolley sleeve; and a zip closure. | | |
| *Recommendations are independently selected by our team but may result in a commission to Nice News which helps keep our content free. | | |
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| Quote of the Day |
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“You have a whole world of joy right at your fingertips.”
- Ingrid Fetell Lee | | |
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| Positively newsworthy. |
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Our mission at Nice News is to re-envision how we engage with news, sharing stories that inspire, connect, and empower. It’s time to expand what we consider newsworthy.
Nice News is written and edited by Natalie Stone, Ally Mauch, and Rebekah Brandes. |
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