Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know that a whale's heartbeat can be heard from miles away?

The blue whale, the largest animal on the planet, has a heart that can weigh as much as a small car, and its heartbeat can be detected from two miles away under ideal conditions. The slow, powerful thump of a blue whale's heart beats at a rate of about 8 to 10 beats per minute when it dives, conserving oxygen and enabling these giants to stay underwater for up to 90 minutes at a time.

Science

First New Antibiotic in 60 Years, Thanks to AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has aided in the discovery of a new antibiotic targeting the drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA. This breakthrough is crucial given MRSA's status as a superbug, notorious for its resilience against conventional treatments, leading to over 35,000 deaths annually.

Utilizing a deep-learning algorithm, scientists identified novel compounds and assessed their efficacy against MRSA. James Collins, a professor at MIT and one of the study’s authors, highlighted the AI's ability to predict potential antibiotics. However, conventional AI models often operate as 'Black Box' systems, lacking transparency in their decision-making process.

To address this limitation, researchers adapted an algorithm called Monte Carlo tree search, previously used in explainable AI systems like AlphaGo. This modification enabled the AI model to not only estimate antimicrobial activity but also provide insights into the molecular structures responsible for this activity.

The findings have been shared with Phare Bio, a nonprofit associated with the Antibiotics-AI Project, for further analysis of the compounds' properties and potential clinical applications. Meanwhile, Collins' lab continues to design new drug candidates based on these insights and employs AI models to explore solutions for combating other bacterial strains.

It is great to see the good side of advancing technologies!

Culture

Trader Joe’s Mania - $2.99 Bag Being Sold For $2,999.95?

In the U.S., Trader Joe's canvas bags are seen as practical grocery carriers, yet in Japan, they've been embraced by the fashion-forward crowd for their "American casual" appeal and status symbol.

Flor Alfaro, a travel influencer from California, discovered this during a visit to Tokyo, where mentioning Trader Joe's sparked excitement among locals. This fascination is part of a broader "Amerikajin" fashion trend in Japan that celebrates American brands and icons, from Harley Davidson to Harvard University gear, with the Trader Joe’s thick canvas tote bag emerging as a coveted item.

Since introducing canvas bags in 1977, Trader Joe's has seen various versions become hits, including a frenzy-inducing mini-tote released in February. This mini-tote, initially priced at $2.99, was spotted on resale platforms like eBay for as high as $2,999.95. Customized versions with embroidery have appeared for sale on Etsy as well. The phenomenon reflects a reciprocal fascination, as Americans covet Japanese products like Sanrio's Hello Kitty. Anime has also become entrenched in U.S. "cool nerd" culture.

Kumi Soto, a tour guide from Osaka now based in Los Angeles, notes that Japanese tourists often stock up on these totes as gifts, a practice rooted in cultural norms around bringing gifts from abroad. Soto says she makes sure to always bring the Japanese tourist to Trader Joe’s to give them this opportunity.

Environment

Shocking Desert Transformation

Wow, this video shows the encroaching border of the Sahara desert and the tremendous effort to keep it at bay.

The transformation is shocking!

World News

‘World’s Coolest’ Street for 2024

The 2024 lineup was curated by the global listings guide's network of editors and writers, who advocated for their favorite streets in their respective cities.
High Street in Melbourne, Australia claimed the top spot.

This isn't the first time a Melbourne street has topped Time Out's list, with Gertrude Street and Smith Street being featured in previous rankings. Glynn suggests that Melburnians have plenty of options when it comes to vibrant streets offering food, culture, and entertainment.

Located in the coastal city of Melbourne, High Street stretches through the suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury, and Preston.

Time Out commends the street for its diverse range of local businesses,
High Street is also celebrated for its bar scene, including the intimate rooftop bar Gigi Rooftop and the lively Francesca's Bar.

Marco Finanzio, the founder and managing director of Gigi Rooftop, told CNN Travel he first opened a spot on High Street 14 years ago, and back then was “dreaming of the area becoming an iconic destination.”

Finanzio said he and his team “dearly love our street and community.” “This acknowledgment is a wonderful achievement for so many local businesses who have worked tirelessly to serve locals, navigate a pandemic and battle rising costs to create a vibrant street that has come out on top of the world,” he added.

Ben Mathieson, of Francesca’s Bar, said it’s really “special that everyone now knows how cool our street is.” “My neighbors are all independent locally owned businesses, you won’t find any big corporate brands, a great mix of hospo, live music, retail, health and wellness and all the traders have each other backs,” Matheison told CNN Travel.

Mathieson also shouted out the Melburnians who “make the street cool as much as we do.” “We don’t exist without the awesome locals,” he said.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

How many days are there in 4 years?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
On a clock 🕰️ 

Shout-out to Albert Knox for getting the answer first!

We had two different people suggest a bakers dozen which was a great guess. One person did it using a box of donuts. 😄 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.