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Did you know that Cleopatra Lived Closer in Time to the Moon Landing Than to the Construction of the Great Pyramid?

Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, died in 30 BC. The Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BC, while the first moon landing occurred in 1969 AD. This means Cleopatra lived about 2,000 years after the pyramids were built and about 2,000 years before the first moon landing, placing her closer in time to the latter event.

World News

AI-Generated Misinformation

For the past 16 years, the Munich Security Conference has been a platform where defense contracts are vigorously pursued. However, the 16th edition marked a significant shift, concluding with a groundbreaking agreement initiated by several leading tech companies aimed at curbing the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in national elections.

With the 2024 elections set to be the most extensive in history, involving over 40 countries, including two of the largest democracies, and impacting more than four billion people globally, the stakes couldn't be higher.

The tech giants' pact focuses on combating AI-generated election misinformation, including audio, video, and images that could misleadingly alter perceptions of political figures, election processes, or voting information.

In light of several pivotal events over the last eight years that have spotlighted issues of social media censorship and government manipulation of the internet, the companies emphasized that AI-generated content identified under this agreement would not be removed, unless it breaches other service terms. Instead, it will be tagged as AI-generated to enable users to verify the authenticity of the information presented.

Meta, OpenAI, X, TikTok, Microsoft, McAfee, and Amazon are among the signatories committed to this cause.

As major democracies like Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Taiwan have recently held elections, with the United States and many others scheduled in the upcoming months, the agreement's timing is crucial.

Hopefully will be an effective way of informing users without the dangers of runaway algorithms and biased content curation. I think we can all recognize of the multifaceted challenge AI deception poses, not just technically but also politically, socially, and ethically.

Science

5,000-Pound European Satellite Burns Up In Atmosphere

A retired satellite, weighing 5,050 pounds (2,290 kilograms), has made an uncontrolled descent back to Earth after orbiting in space for three decades.

The satellite, known as the European Space Agency's (ESA) ERS-2, concluded its Earthward journey by reentering the atmosphere at 12:17 p.m. ET (5:17 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday, Feb. 21. It disintegrated over an isolated area of the North Pacific Ocean, positioned midway between Alaska and Hawaii, as per the ESA's report. There have been no reports of property damage, and it remains uncertain whether any remnants of the satellite withstood the intense reentry heat.

Launched in 1995 and decommissioned in 2011, the ERS-2 satellite played a crucial role in monitoring Earth's climate. It joins the list of numerous space debris expected to return to Earth this year. According to the ESA, most returning space debris measures less than 3.2 feet (1 meter) in diameter. Despite the considerable size of objects like the ERS-2, the ESA reassures that the likelihood of these reentries posing a threat to people or property is exceedingly low.

ESA officials, in a statement dated Feb. 15, emphasized the minimal risks associated with satellite reentries, noting that the vast majority of Earth's surface is either water or uninhabited land. Consequently, the probability of being struck by falling space debris is extremely low, estimated to be about 10 million times less than the annual risk of being hit by lightning, as previously stated by the ESA.

Images of the satellite were caught as it began its re-entry and it hilariously looks like a TIE-fighter as you can see on the article image.

If you want to see a cool video of a satellite re-entry, check out this video of one captured in Puerto Rico.

Culture

Strangers Finishing What Loved Ones Leave Behind

Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan embarked on an amazing journey to alleviate the sorrow of loss through crafting, when they decided to help a friend mourning her mother's passing. In the process, they encountered two unfinished blankets among her belongings and took it upon themselves to complete them.

This act of kindness sparked the inception of Loose Ends in September 2022, a charitable initiative designed to connect volunteers, referred to as 'finishers,' with individuals who have discovered incomplete knitting or crochet projects left behind by deceased loved ones. According to Simonic and Kaplan, the concept, though simple, often brings profound solace to those who offer up the projects for completion.

Kaplan explains, "When a maker passes away in the midst of a project, there's a risk that this tangible, handmade symbol of affection might be discarded or forgotten. Our mission is to finish these works as they were meant to be and return them to their families to be treasured."

The initiative has grown to include approximately 17,000 finishers across 60 countries. Whenever feasible, Simonic and Kaplan endeavor to pair projects with finishers in the same locality, which not only mitigates the emotional difficulty of mailing such sentimental objects but also lessens financial impacts of shipping. They also offer the service to those who’s loved one’s declining health or disability has rendered incapable of completing the project.

Kaplan notes, "The act of someone local extending their generosity infuses an additional layer of warmth into the entire process, fostering some truly beautiful friendships along the way."

Certain stories have profoundly moved Simonic and Kaplan, among them the story of Alfredo from Seattle, Washington, remains especially poignant for Simonic. Alfredo sought their help following his younger sister's tragic death, bringing with him a single crocheted leaf she had made with the intention of creating a blanket. Loose Ends connected him with a woman in New Jersey who not only met with him to design a blanket that would honor his sister but also incorporated the leaf at its heart, using colors chosen by Alfredo and donated yarn to craft a beautiful, meaningful tribute.

For Kaplan, a particularly touching submission involved a quilt begun by a young mother who, along with her husband and stepson, died in a car accident. Her daughter, the sole survivor, was the intended recipient of the quilt, which her mother's best friend hoped to have completed through Loose Ends. The goal was for the daughter to feel embraced by her mother's love through the finished quilt. Kaplan reflects, "It's a sentiment we often encounter: the sensation of being enveloped in a hug by a lost loved one."

The first unveiling of these completed projects is invariably an emotional moment. Kaplan muses, "The essence of the creator lingers in their work. As every strand of yarn passes through their fingers, it becomes imbued with their essence, bridging the gap between the bereaved and their departed."

We are all faced with sadness and loss at times. Being able to finish and keep items left behind is such a special thing. It is so great there are people out their willing to help bring these projects to fruition.

You can find Loose Ends at www.looseendsproject.org. They also except donations if you wish to contribute.

Environment

Switzerland's Solar Dam Actually Works Well

A winding wall of solar panels has been attached to Switzerland's longest dam, the Lake Muttsee dam, in the central Swiss canton of Glarus. At an elevation of over 7,800 feet (2,400 meters) and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the solar dam is helping the landlocked nation maximize its green energy production in the winter months.

According to the AlpinSolar project team, alpine solar plants are highly effective due to several reasons. "One of the qualities of alpine solar plants is that, especially in winter, they produce up to three times more electricity than a comparable facility in the midlands," says Jeanette Schranz, communications lead for renewables at Swiss energy producer Axpo.

The dam's almost 5,000 solar panels generate 3.3 million kilowatt hours of energy per year, enough to supply around 700 houses. With the installation completed last year, production at the site has already started.

Schranz explains that Switzerland's mountains are less affected by fog in colder months, allowing the panels to see more sun than they would at lower altitudes. She also highlights the benefits of snow reflection, stating, "The reflection from the snow also helps, as solar panels like the cold and have a higher yield in cooler temperatures."

AlpinSolar is part of a larger vision for Axpo, which plans to install 4,200 solar projects in Switzerland's mountains and lower-lying regions by 2030. The Swiss government has also made it easier for solar energy to become more prevalent, amending the Energy Act to expedite the approval process for new solar plants with significant winter energy production.

This push for green energy is tied to Switzerland's controversial decision to phase out nuclear power. The country's parliament resolved not to replace any existing reactors in 2011, and a referendum in 2017 confirmed this decision.

Mind Stretchers

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I am an even number. I have 9 tens. I am the next number in this pattern: 84, 88, 92, __. What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
13211311123113112211

Shout out to Albert Knox for getting the correct answer in first! This one was a tricky one, so congrats to anyone that figured it out ever.

Answers explanation:
Each line, excluding the first, describes the one before it.

1
11 <---describes 1st line, read as "one 1"
21 <---describes 2nd line, read as "two 1's"
1211 <---describes 3rd line, read as "one 2 one 1"

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.