April is all about the Earth, so it makes sense that National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of the month. The day was first established in Nebraska in 1874 to encourage residents to plant trees, and the rest of the country eventually followed suit (though some states celebrate it earlier or later in the year based on climate). If you aren’t able to get out to actually plant a tree today, consider supporting the Arbor Day Foundation or swapping Google for Ecosia, a search engine that plants a tree for every use.
Last summer was the hottest on record, so U.S. agencies are making sure they’re prepared for the next one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NOAA’s National Weather Service teamed up to expand public access to a tool called HeatRisk, with the goal of keeping Americans safe and healthy amid extreme heat. The dashboard, previously only available in western states, provides a seven-day heat forecast, warning people of dangerous temperatures via a number- and color-coded system. The levels include 0 (green), 1 (yellow), 2 (orange), 3 (red), and 4 (magenta). Green means there’s little to no risk of heat-related illness, while magenta indicates an extreme risk — the index recommends canceling outdoor activities, finding an air-conditioned space, and staying hydrated at this level. HeatRisk also offers guidance on who is most vulnerable to extreme heat, such as the elderly and very young, unhoused populations, people with certain health conditions, outdoor workers, and low-income communities. “HeatRisk is arriving just in time to help everyone, including heat-sensitive populations, prepare and plan for the dangers of extreme heat,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said in a statement. Learn how to use it.
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Science
A Medical First: Woman Receives Combined Heart Pump and Pig Kidney Transplant
Joe Carrotta for NYU Langone Health
A woman with terminal illness has been given renewed hope after receiving a mechanical heart pump and a gene-edited pig kidney transplant during two surgeries performed by doctors at New York University’s Langone Health earlier this month. The hospital said it’s the first documented instance of someone with a heart pump undergoing an organ transplant of any kind, and it’s only the second time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a living person. The patient, 54-year-old Lisa Pisano, had heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. She was not eligible for a traditional heart and kidney transplant due to multiple chronic conditions, forcing doctors to think outside the box. “It is incredible to consider the scientific achievements that have led to our ability to save Lisa’s life, and what we are endeavoring to do as a society for everyone in need of a lifesaving organ,” Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant operation, said in a statement. The surgeries will offer Pisano an improved quality of life and more time to watch her grandchildren grow up. “All I want is the opportunity to have a better life,” said the New Jersey native. See her with her family.
Environment
These “Earthships” in New Mexico Are All About Sustainability
Want to ditch your heating and cooling bills? Consider moving into one of the “Earthships” in Taos, New Mexico. Created by Michael Reynolds, the off-the-grid community of over 100 buildings is all about sustainability — the structures are mostly made of recycled materials and insulated with old car tires and dirt. There are also greenhouses, fish ponds, solar panels, and systems for recycling rainwater on site. The tire-and-dirt insulation allows the Earthships to heat and cool themselves using only the power of the sun. “You know, on a cold February night, you walk in one of these and you go, ‘This is amazing,’” Reynolds told ABC News meteorologist Ginger Zee. “This is warm and it’s freezing outside and there's no heating system here.” Though not everyone can feasibly live in an Earthship, the community offers a peek at what truly sustainable living can look like. Reynolds noted that those who want to reduce their reliance on heating and cooling systems can do so by simply thinking about how to “catch” the sun’s heat. “You can add a greenhouse on the south side of your house, and that will hit those rooms that are near that,” he advised, adding, “Even in New York City, you can get an apartment with south facing windows.”
Global Good
🇯🇵 Watch Japanese ski jumper Ryoyu Kobayashi soar for over 950 feet — an unofficial world record.
🇦🇺 Aboriginal spears taken by the British in Australia in 1770 are being returned to the descendants of those who crafted them.
🇪🇨 Ecuador is tackling river pollution with a conveyor belt that can clear 80 metric tons of plastic per day.
🇦🇹 A “lost” painting by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sold for $32 million at an auction in Vienna.
Four Objects Four Objects is an antidote to the wasteful world of fast fashion. The clothing brand — which is women-owned, women-led, self-funded, and a certified B Corp — offers inclusive sizing on its thoughtfully designed capsule collections. The items, all luxurious closet staples, are made for people who want a lasting wardrobe that doesn’t change every season, but is kept, cherished, cared for, and repaired. Plus, 4% of the sales from every purchase is donated to the communities who produced the garment. The generous six-month return policy and resale channel, 4Worn, are icing on the cake.*
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Inspiring Story
College dreams come true
In 2015, philanthropist Beverly Rogers promised college scholarships to a third grade class at a Las Vegas elementary school. This fall, those students will head to their universities of choice, tuition-free. “I’m so excited,” one of the graduating seniors said, adding: “It’s like a dream.”
This dress made of flowers is like something out of a fairytale. Designed by British florist Helen James for the 2024 spring Harrogate Flower Show, it’s meant to represent Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers.
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