Today, you’ll learn about a revolutionary new system that can turn saltwater into drinking water with the help of the sun, how your brain chooses what memories to keep, and a super-Earth with a really dark side.     Solar Drinking Water    “Solar-powered technology converts saltwater into drinking water emission-free.” King’s College London. 2024.   “Flexible batch electrodialysis for low-cost solar-powered brackish water desalination.” by Wei He, et al. 2024.   “Valuing Water.” United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 2021 ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about a massive discovery of new species from the depths of the ocean, why you shouldn’t buy your brand new driver their own car, and a possible breakthrough in microchip data collection from animals.     New Marine Species     “Scientists Discover 100 New Marine Species in New Zealand.” by Rebecca Carballo. 2024.   “Expedition to Uncover Secrets of New Zealand’s Unexplored Bounty Trough.” Ocean Census. 2024.   “Our Mission: Enhancing Ocean Life Discovery Worldwide.” Ocean Census. 2024.   “This metal marvel collec ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about the potential positive power of gossip, how climate change is making zooplankton in Lake Erie confused, and a surprising connection between new school buses and student performance in school.     Gossip    “Can’t Stand Gossip? Let’s Talk, New Research Suggests.” by Emily C. Nunez. 2024.   “Explaining the evolution of gossip.” by Xinyue Pan, et al. 2024.   “Who Gossips and How in Everyday Life?” by Megan L. Robbins, et al. 2019.     Zooplankton    “In Lake Erie, climate change scrambles zooplankto ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about the pros and mostly cons of using ChatGPT in the classroom, how wild animals responded to the sudden peace and quiet of Covid, and a new contact lens that can help heal eye wounds.     ChatGPT in School    “Is it harmful or helpful? Examining the causes and consequences of generative AI usage among university students.” by Muhammad Abbas, et al. 2024.   “Uses and Misuses of ChatGPT by Academic Community: An Overview and Guidelines.” by Muhammad Abbas. 2023.    Quiet Covid    “Hundreds of photos show animal beha ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about why our brains are getting bigger and why that’s a good thing, how the sweet songs of the reef could help save it, and an AI device that gives a voice to the voiceless.     Bigger Brains     “Human brains are getting larger. That may be good news for dementia risk.” UC David Health. 2024.   “Trends in Intracranial and Cerebral Volumes of Framingham Heart Study Participants Born 1930 to 1970.” by Charles DeCarli, MD, et al. 2024.   “Framingham Heart Study.” Framingham Heart Study. N.d.   “Study examines facto ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about a nasal spray that could one day let those with sleep apnea toss out their CPAP machines, house paint that kills mosquitos, and the incredible giant redwoods… of England.     Sleep Spray     “A novel TASK channel antagonist nasal spray reduces sleep apnea severity in physiological responders: a randomized, blinded, trial.” by Amal M. Osman, et al. 2024.   “Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” by Rob Newsom & Dr. Abhinav Singh. 2024.     Insecticide Paint    “Insecticide paint controls mosquito population up ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about an effort to create palm oil without burning down millions of acres of forest, the surprising way polyglots’ brains approach their own native language, and new research on how the powerful psychedelic drug ayahuasca extinguishes fear.    Palm-Less Oil    “They Want to Make Palm Oil in a Lab. Without Palm Trees.” by Dionne Searcey. 2024.   “Things To Know About Palm Oil.” WWF. n.d.    Polyglot Brain    “For people who speak many languages, there’s something special about their native tongue.” by Anne Trafton. 2024.&n ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about a new study shedding light on what species are most vulnerable to extinction from climate change, why species of living fossils take their time evolving, and a new theory about how the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs also impacted birds.     Extinction Risk     “New study reveals insight into which animals are most vulnerable to extinction due to climate change.” University of Oxford. 2024.   “What is mass extinction and are we facing a sixth one?” by Tammana Begum. 2021. Updated 2023.   “Mass extinctions, their ca ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about a compelling study on twins and the nature versus nurture debate, how scientists solved a 60-year-old mystery about bees, and why you shouldn’t go last.     Twin Trauma    “One Twin Was Hurt, the Other Was Not. Their Adult Mental Health Diverged.” by Ellen Barry. 2024.   “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental Health Outcomes.” by Hilda Bjork Danielsdottir, et al. 2024.   “Recognizing the importance of childhood maltreatment as a critical factor in psychiatric diagnoses, treatment, research, prevention, and educati ..read more

Today, you’ll learn about a new plan to use waste from beer brewing to clean metal out of our water supply, a study that puts languages like Orc and Klingon to the test, and a discovery about the direction our memories travel in our brains.     Brewer’s Yeast     “The same beer waste that gives us Vegemite could help us recycle metal waste.” n.a. 2024.   “Spent brewer’s yeast as a selective biosorbent for metal recovery from polymetallic waste streams.” by Anna Sieber, et al. 2024.   “What Is E-Waste Recycling and How Is it Done?” by Tin Lok W ..read more