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Happy February! We recently asked you to share our newsletter with someone who you think would benefit from reading our positive yet meaningful and educational content. A lot of you did and we wanted to say THANK YOU!

We are very passionate about our mission to spread positive news in an otherwise overwhelmingly negative and depressing media landscape and your support means the world to us!

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Innovation

NYC’s Floating Pool

From Barton Springs in Austin, Texas, to Switzerland's Aare river, urban waterways worldwide provide relief from city heat, allowing people to enjoy the benefits of swimming. However, even on the hottest days, New Yorkers are reluctant to swim in the city's rivers.

A floating pool aims to change that by repurposing the city's river water for public use. +POOL, an organization advocating for equitable access to NYC's waters, has secured $16 million in state and city funding to create the first urban river-sourced swim facility in the U.S. This summer, a 2,000-square-foot version of the pool will be tested in one of the rivers or bays surrounding New York City. If successful, it could be open to the public by 2025.

The pool's plus sign-shaped design includes a kid’s pool, sports pool, lap pool, and lounge pool, forming an Olympic-length pool when combined or opening up for 9,000 square feet of play.

+POOL's patented filtration system is designed to clean over 1,000,000 gallons of raw river water daily without chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality modeling software will ensure the water meets acceptable microbiological standards for swimming.

In the early 1900s, swimming in NYC's rivers was common, with 40% of New Yorkers using floating baths. However, environmental degradation led to the closure of public river pools in the 1920s. Municipal swimming pools were popular in the 1920s-1940s, but subsequent decades saw a decline in public pool investment and a shift towards private facilities, resulting in unequal access.

Despite this, New York's rivers have become cleaner due to improved environmental practices. With advancing technology and environmental stewardship, the city might be on the brink of a new era of public swimming, potentially eliminating the need to leave for a cool plunge by 2025.

Environment

Amazing New Species Found

In a remarkable discovery off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, scientists have identified at least four new octopus species. These discoveries were made during two expeditions in 2023 aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, the Falkor (too). The expeditions focused on exploring hydrothermal springs in a roughly 260-square-kilometer area, revealing a rich and diverse ecosystem.

One of the newly identified species, named the Dorado Octopus, was discovered in the vicinity of a rock formation unofficially known as El Dorado Hill. This species was observed brooding its eggs in the warmer waters near the hydrothermal springs. The Dorado Octopus is part of the Muusoctopus genus, known for species that may have evolved to gather and brood their eggs in warmer waters.

In addition to the discovery of the octopus species, the expeditions also identified a deep-sea skate nursery, adding to the unique biodiversity of the region. The findings underscore the rich and diverse marine life that thrives in deep-sea environments, particularly around hydrothermal vents.

The research holds significant implications for the understanding and preservation of deep-sea ecosystems. More than 160 deep-sea animal specimens were collected during the December expedition and will be stored at the Museum of Zoology at the University of Costa Rica. This marks one of the first instances where biological specimens from a deep-sea expedition are stored in the country from which they were acquired, facilitating local research and potentially informing deep-sea management strategies.

The discovery of these new species highlights the vast, unexplored diversity of life in our oceans and the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in these complex ecosystems. This research not only expands our knowledge of marine biodiversity but also stresses the importance of international collaborations in deep-sea exploration and conservation.

Culture

Grandmas React to Surprise Oscars Nomination

Two grandmothers, aged a combined 189 years, take center stage in the Oscar-nominated short film "Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó." Directed by their grandson, Sean Wang, the documentary offers an intimate glimpse into their daily lives and enduring friendship.

As the film secures its spot among this year's Oscar nominees, the grandmas, in an Instagram video, express their excitement, surrounded by family. The documentary captures the essence of their routine, including moments of dancing, games, and lighthearted antics, providing an up-close portrayal of their unique bond.

“I am currently 83 years old, but I feel like I’m still 20 years old,” Wang’s Wài Pó says in the trailer for the short.

“I turned 94 this year. I feel like I’m 100 years old,” his Nǎi Nai says. “I’m so old.”

Check out the trailer here!

World News

Dubai’s Aeternitas Tower

The Aeternitas Tower, set to become the world’s tallest residential clock tower, is a new addition to Dubai's iconic skyline. Developed by London Gate in partnership with Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Franck Muller, the tower stands at an impressive 450 meters (1,476 feet) tall, making it the second-tallest clock tower globally after the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The tower's name, "Aeternitas," meaning eternity in Latin, is inspired by Franck Muller's Aeternitas watch collection, known for its complex design featuring an "eternal calendar." The clock face of the tower will be an enormous 40 meters (131 feet) tall and 30 meters (98 feet) wide, making it visible from a distance of six kilometers.

The design of the Aeternitas Tower reflects Franck Muller's luxury ethos, incorporating materials like brushed and polished metals, marble surfaces, textured fabrics, and bold colors. The lobby and reception areas showcase the brand's Curvex watch signature with curved walls, archways, and oval furnishings.

The development has garnered significant interest, with sales starting at AED 1.6 million ($435,600). The Aeternitas Tower is expected to be handed over to residents in 2027.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What's always running but never gets hot?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
We got a lot of creative answers for this one, which is fair because there are a lot of possible answers.

Ultimately, Albert Knox came in first with the correct one (and a hefty list of other possibilities!) which is Stone! Which will have “one” left when you remove the other 2 letters.

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 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.