The Milano Cortina Paralympics kick off today with an opening ceremony at 2 p.m. ET. We'll be resuming our photo series, Eyes on Milano Cortina, so you can check there for regular updates. And here's some trivia for you to share at the water cooler (which longtime readers might recall from our coverage of the 2024 Summer Paralympics): Some think the "Para" in Paralympics stands for paraplegia, but the origin of the word stems from the Greek preposition meaning "beside" or "along." As such, the Paralympics were designed to be the parallel Games to the Olympics for athletes with disabilities.
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Science
Did Something a Little Embarrassing? Laugh It Off — Science Says So
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We've all been there: You wave at the wrong person, knock over a glass of water, or mispronounce a word. But rather than stewing in embarrassment, laughing at yourself during situations like these might make you more likable, a recent study suggests. Researchers conducted six experiments with more than 3,000 participants who read about other people's embarrassing mishaps and then were told about or shown photos of how the person who made the faux pas reacted. When people appeared to find humor in the situation, study subjects said they came across as "warmer, more competent, and more authentic" than those who looked flustered or embarrassed, the authors wrote. "Laughing at yourself signals self-acceptance, and we love people who accept themselves," co-author Övül Sezer told Time magazine. She added that a chuckle tells others that you're having a proportionate emotional response to the situation and don't need comfort. There is one caveat: The effect only held when no one was actually harmed. In cases where someone got hurt emotionally or physically, laughing was seen as insensitive. But as long as everyone's fine, a well-timed laugh can keep things light for you … and everyone else.
Together With Daily Health Digital
Daily Health Digital: Why Your First Steps Each Morning May Be Agony
For decades, doctors blamed morning stiffness on aging alone. But some Harvard researchers found that the real culprit may be joint drought, a slow drying-out of lubricating fluid that happens overnight. By morning, that fluid has turned thick and stagnant — which may be why those first steps can feel like your joints are glued shut. Over 180,000 people have already discovered what happens when this drought is finally addressed: Daily Health Digital has the full story.
Greeting Card Contest Calls Students to Submit Designs for a Shot at $10K Scholarship
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If there's a young person in your life who sends beautiful handmade cards for your birthday or the holidays, consider forwarding them this email to pay back the favor. Greeting card company The Gallery Collection is hosting its 19th annual Create-A-Greeting-Card contest — and the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship. The contest is open to all high school, college, and university students 14 years or older who are enrolled in an academic program that concludes with the awarding of a diploma or degree. Applicants are invited to submit one original artwork, such as a painting, drawing, photograph, or computer graphic. The winning design will be turned into a greeting card and made available for the public to purchase. "When we launched the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest in 2007, our vision was to celebrate creativity in a way that could truly impact students' futures," said Leslie Leifer, chief marketing officer of Prudent Publishing Company, which owns The Gallery Collection. She added: "We are incredibly proud of the students who have shared their imagination with us." Click here to learn how to submit — and then check out previous contest winners for inspiration. The clock is ticking, though: Monday, March 9, is the deadline for submissions.
Sports
"Why Not Them?" France Hopes to Host Paralympians With Intellectual Disabilities in 2030
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With the 2026 Paralympics underway, the next Winter Games host, France, is thinking about what the 2030 event will look like. The country is backing a push to allow people with intellectual disabilities to return to the Winter Paralympics, hopefully starting with the French Alps in four years. If approved, it would mark the first time these athletes have competed at a Winter Games since 1998. "Athletes are excluded [from] the Games and that makes them sad," Sandrine Chaix, the delegate for disability in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, told the Associated Press. "They are high-level athletes, but nobody speaks about them." While athletes with intellectual disabilities have been absent from winter competition for decades as a result of a cheating scandal, French officials and leaders say the systems to properly classify competitors are now in place to welcome them back — and create amore inclusive Olympics. "The Games are a goal for any athlete. So why not them?" said Jérémie Barnier, a ski coach who trains athletes with disabilities, adding: "They deserve this visibility and this recognition."
Global Good
🏴 Children in a Scottish town celebrated Whuppity Scoorie to celebrate spring and banish "the winter woes" (read more) 🇩🇪 A 7,000-year-old deer antler headdress was discovered in Germany — check it out (read more) 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe is stepping up its HIV prevention efforts with the rollout of a drug for high-risk individuals (read more) 🏴 In London, a police data center is being tapped to provide low-carbon heating to 4,000 homes (read more) 🇧🇷 Jaguar ecotourism in Brazil could become a boon for big cat conservation efforts (read more)
Something We Love
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Reformer Pilates To say Pilates has transformed my life isn't an exaggeration. Following a back injury, my chiropractor advised me to shift from HIIT exercises to Pilates, and after one Reformer class, I was hooked. I love that it's low-impact but still has me breaking a sweat (hello, plank to pike). Seven months in, I've increased my strength, stability, and stamina, and it's a workout I genuinely look forward to.
After surviving breast cancer, Mary Mwangi started crafting handmade prosthetic breasts for those who've had mastectomies in Kenya, as an alternative to costly silicone options. She now leads a group of women who have produced over 600 pieces for fellow survivors in need, all while finding a sense of solace in the art itself. "Knitting takes you through a process of healing," Mwangi said. "Once you are not thinking about your disease, you are positive, and that positive mind helps you, because healing starts from your mind."
Eyes on Milano Cortina
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Let's go, Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer! The Team USA Paralympians are competing in the first-ever wheelchair curling mixed doubles event, which began Wednesday and continues today. Learn about the duo's backstories, including Dwyer's good luck charm. "I'm carrying it with me everywhere I go," she said.
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Up This Weekend
International Women's Day: This year marks 115 years of International Women's Day, an annual March 8 observance that celebrates women's achievements, raises awareness about discrimination, and encourages action toward forging gender parity
Formula One Australian Grand Prix: Round 1 of the 2026 Formula One World Championship begins today in Melbourne, Australia, kicking off a 24-race season
Daylight Saving Time: Don't forget to adjust your clocks — time will spring forward in the wee hours of Sunday across most of the country
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
Odds & Ends
🍲 The latest breakfast trend: soup 🏀 He's 70 — and he can dunk like he's 17 🛍️ If you spend a good amount on Amazon, this tip is for you* 💎 Turns out chimps love crystals, too *Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
"It's not a linear journey. You'll have ups and downs, and that's okay."
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