If you find yourself wanting to express the word "pickle" in the form of an emoticon, you're currently faced with a not-quite-right alternative: the cucumber emoji. But that could soon change — Unicode, which sets the world standard for text and emoji, seems to have a new slate of emoji coming down the pipeline this year, and it includes the pickle. Other promising additions include a meteor (as opposed to the existing comet) and a lighthouse: Read the full list.
Must Reads
When it comes to making life more joyful, the little things are the big things
Exercise Boosts — Not Drains — Your Body's Daily "Energy Budget," Study Says
O2O Creative/iStock
After a long run or sweaty yoga session, all we want to do is flop down on the couch and catch our breath. But while we may temporarily feel tired after a workout, a new study supports the idea that exercise actually adds to our body's daily "energy budget" — it doesn't deplete it. There are two leading theories about how workouts impact our bodies' energy expenditure. One posits that we have a set amount of energy we can "spend" in a day. If we use a portion of it on exercise, our bodies conserve some in other ways, like by suppressing our immune system (which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the level of exercise). But researchers have now found more evidence in favor of the other theory, which states that our energy budgets are flexible and additive, meaning physical activity allows for an increase in the total amount of energy a person spends. "Our study found that more physical activity is associated with higher calorie burn, regardless of body composition, and that this increase is not balanced out by the body reducing energy spent elsewhere," principal investigator Kevin Davy said in a news release. Read more to get some inspo for getting moving.
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Culture
Get Your Quarters Ready: Aldi Plans to Open 180 New Stores in the US This Year
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Good news for anyone (everyone?) looking to save money on food: Discount grocery chain Aldi — known for its slew of low-price private label products, beloved "Aisle of Shame," and quarter-powered shopping carts — is planning to open 180 new stores in the U.S. this year. Of all the states, Colorado is reaping the most from the expansion, with 50 locations slated for Denver and Colorado Springsover the next five years. The retailer is also scaling up its presence in the South by converting nearly 80 former Southeastern Grocers stores into Aldis, in addition to new openings in Phoenix and Las Vegas. And the chain is making its debut in Maine with a Portland store, bringing its U.S. presence to 40 states total. Beyond 2026, the chain has set a goal to open 400 more U.S. locations by 2028. The momentum comes amid the vast customer demand for affordable food — a need that Aldi says it's ready to fill. "As we look ahead to our next 50 years in the U.S., we'll continue to earn shopper loyalty by staying true to what's made Aldi successful: keeping things simple and delivering real value," U.S. CEO Atty McGrath said in a press release.
Humanity
Nonprofit's Phone Booth Tours the Country Calling for Kindness
Wildly Kind
Nice News first featured Wildly Kind back in November, for World Kindness Day. Now, the nonprofit is again making headlines for its unique phone booth installations. The centerpiece of "A Call for Kindness," the organization's public art and social impact campaign, the booths feature a vintage landline that invites people to leave anonymous messages containing kind words for strangers who may be struggling. The campaign team recently finished a national tour that took them through cities across the U.S., including Denver, Minneapolis, and Chicago. "I just want to let you know that I love you so much" and "I'm proud of you for doing things that make you uncomfortable" were among the thousands of heartfelt messages shared. Founder Kayla Lamoreaux recently told ABC News she noticed some through lines in the notes: "A lot of people said, 'I feel lonely too. I feel what you feel.'" She plans on adding more stops to a future phone booth tour, including New York, Orlando, and Seattle. "Especially just with the way the world is right now, and people feeling so disconnected from one another, I think these phone booths, and just this art project in itself, allows for a really unique opportunity for people to … connect to one another and offer words of support to one another on nothing other than just humanity, you know?" Lamoreaux previously told Nice News. This past Christmas, the nonprofit also launched A Call for Kindness hotline. Simply dial 503-850-2263, and you can leave your own message or listen to previously recorded ones.
In Other News
MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth (read more)
At-home STD tests are expanding access to screening and care, and will hopefully reduce infection rates (read more)
Muhammad Ali Forever stamps will be available starting tomorrow — check out the design (read more)
The numberof known mammal species worldwidehas grown by 25% over the past two decades (read more)
Stargazers: The "Great Comet of 2026" may be visible to the naked eye this spring (read more)
Inspiring Story
Making parents proud
Nearly a year after figure skater Maxim Naumov's parents died in the Potomac River plane crash, the Connecticut native is celebrating a monumental achievement: earning a spot on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics. "I thought of them immediately," Naumov said of the moment he learned of his selection. "I wish they could be here to experience it with me, but I do feel their presence and they are with me."
Photo of the Day
Arda Kucukkaya—Anadolu/Getty Images
Have you ever seen a more picturesque snowflake? This one was captured in Ankara, Turkey, after a recent snowfall. In the spirit of recording winter wonder in all its glory, check out these tips for taking postcard-worthy snow photos with your iPhone.
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Odds & Ends
🐕 A very good avalanche rescue trainee! 🤠 An ode to the enduring mullet, Joe Dirt-style 🗞️ Get the 10 most important stories shaping our world with Semafor Flagship, your essential global news briefing: Subscribe here* 🗓️ The 365 buttons that unexpectedly spurred a viral life motto *Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
"Maybe the bravest thing we can do is keep existing, keep creating, even when the outcome is uncertain."
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