Good Morning! 🌞

Did you know that one of Japan’s most popular sightseeing destination is the Tateyama Snow Corridor?

It is a high mountain pass that can get up to 65 feet (20 meters) of snow. Every year they cut though the snow to uncover the road going through the pass creating this marvelous spectacle.

Earth Sciences

Chicago Buildings Go Renewable

Chicago has reached a major clean-energy milestone, with all 411 city-owned buildings now running on renewable power or offsetting their emissions by investing in renewable projects across the country. This achievement comes three years after the city signed an agreement to source solar power from what is now the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi River. In 2022, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot finalized a deal with electricity supplier Constellation to purchase power from the 593-megawatt Double Black Diamond solar farm in Sangamon and Morgan counties, about 30 miles from Springfield. Developed by Swift Current Energy, the farm is expected to supply roughly 70% of the electricity for the city’s buildings once fully operational.

Angela Tovar, Chicago’s chief sustainability officer, underscored the significance of this accomplishment, emphasizing that nearly every resident interacts with a city-owned building on a regular basis. This transition to clean energy is set to reduce the city’s carbon emissions by around 290,000 metric tons, or the equivalent of removing 62,000 cars from the road. However, some critics note that roughly 30% of this emissions reduction is attributed to financial investments in renewable energy projects rather than direct usage of clean power.

Tovar explained that these financial measures buy time for the city to explore other renewable options, such as rooftop solar installations. With the Double Black Diamond solar farm nearly complete, Chicago now aims to power all city-owned buildings within its borders entirely with renewable energy by 2035—an ambitious objective that, if met, would make it the largest city in the nation to achieve such a feat.

Culture

Science-Backed Happiness Tips

As we move further into 2025, many people are searching for actionable strategies to improve their overall well-being. Fortunately, emerging research points to several practical approaches that can foster happiness, support mental health, and build resilience. From strengthening friendships to simply allowing yourself to do nothing, here are eight science-backed tips that can make a meaningful difference.

1. Value Friendship as You Age
   Friendship remains essential throughout life, but it becomes especially important in later years. While existing social bonds are invaluable, forging new friendships brings distinct advantages. These voluntary connections often come with fewer obligations, leading to less stress and more genuine enjoyment. Research shows that making friends later in life can boost emotional, cognitive, and physical health. If meeting new people feels challenging, try sharing memorable experiences—like witnessing a solar eclipse—so that camaraderie develops naturally.

2. Practice “Confelicity”
   You’ve likely heard of compassion, but “confelicity”—the act of sharing in someone else’s happiness—can be equally transformative. When a friend or loved one achieves a milestone, celebrate with genuine enthusiasm. This positive reinforcement not only deepens your bond but also creates a ripple effect of joy. Conversely, downplaying their accomplishments can weaken the connection and dampen the uplifting energy that mutual support brings.

3. Volunteer for Well-Being
   Acts of altruism have been scientifically shown to boost mood, alleviate chronic pain, and help alleviate symptoms of depression. In fact, some healthcare providers now prescribe volunteer opportunities as a form of “social prescribing,” recognizing its ability to connect individuals with community activities and support networks. Whether you’re helping out at a local shelter or participating in neighborhood cleanups, volunteering can cultivate a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.

4. Connect with Your Ancestors
   Exploring family history provides a valuable sense of context and gratitude, grounding you in the broader narrative of your heritage. Understanding ancestral struggles and triumphs can shed light on your own life choices, instilling perspective and self-confidence. This awareness can also foster resilience, as you recognize the perseverance that led to where you are today.

5. Keep a Gratitude List
   A simple but powerful way to shift your outlook is by noting three positive things that happen each day. Whether you enjoyed a delicious meal or had a meaningful conversation, writing it down helps your brain register and relive positive experiences. Over time, this practice bolsters optimism and cultivates an overall sense of gratitude.

6. Anticipate Fun Activities
   Sometimes, the build-up to a joyful event can be as pleasurable as the event itself. Research shows that simply looking forward to a vacation, gathering, or celebration can heighten positive emotions. By planning enjoyable activities and allowing yourself to savor the anticipation, you can sustain a more optimistic mindset.

7. Embrace Doing Nothing
   Striving too hard for happiness can backfire by creating unnecessary pressure and disappointment. Allow yourself moments of stillness without any expectations. This stoic acceptance of life’s ups and downs often proves more beneficial for mental health than constantly measuring your own happiness level.

8. Limit Your Caffeine Intake
   Caffeine can offer a quick energy boost, but moderation is key. High consumption—or drinking it too close to bedtime—can disrupt sleep and increase anxiety. Aim to stay under 400 mg a day (roughly four cups of coffee) and avoid caffeine later in the afternoon to maintain a calmer, more balanced state.

Spending time outdoors is a tried-and-true method for improving mental health. But even if it’s difficult to get outside, virtual experiences—like watching nature videos or listening to wildlife recordings—can help promote relaxation and elevate your mood. By integrating these science-backed strategies into your routine, 2025 can become a year of more profound contentment, improved mental clarity, and a balanced approach to life.

Environment

Hummingbirds’ Extreme Lifestyle

Hummingbirds, the smallest birds in the avian world, captivate onlookers with their ability to hover at flowers and defend feeders fiercely—generating g-forces that could make a fighter pilot swoon. Despite their nectar-rich diet and blood sugar levels far surpassing any human’s, these tiny powerhouses manage to avoid diabetes, as noted by conservation ecologist Holly Ernest of the University of Wyoming. They’re also the only birds that can fly upside down and backwards, all while consuming nectar equal to about 80% of their body weight each day—comparable to a 150-pound person drinking nearly 100 20-ounce sodas.

For years, researchers assumed hummingbirds spent only a fraction of their day in flight, but physiological ecologist Anusha Shankar found they often work harder than that. Studying broad-billed hummingbirds in southern Arizona, she discovered that, following the monsoon season when food is scarce, they can spend up to 13 hours a day feeding. At night, they slip into a state known as torpor—reducing their body temperature to near-freezing, thereby conserving up to 95% of their metabolic energy. Remarkably, their internal clock genes remain active even in this dormant state, allowing them to rouse themselves about an hour before sunrise for another intensive day of foraging.

Such extreme energy demands require specialized biology. Hummingbirds rapidly shift from burning sugar to tapping into fat reserves at dawn, and their unique guts quickly funnel sugar into the bloodstream. Meanwhile, proteins that resist harmful glycation protect them from diabetes-like complications. Their kidneys also play a crucial role by shutting down overnight to prevent water loss, and many species thrive at high elevations thanks to hemoglobin-rich blood that helps them cope with thinner air. As tracking technology improves, scientists hope to discover even more about these resilient aerial acrobats, shedding further light on how such small creatures achieve some of nature’s most astonishing feats.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I can tune in to voices from far and near,
But I’m not a person, and I’m not crystal clear.
I bring news and music, with just a twist,
Though I’m not seen, my presence can’t be missed.
What am I?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I’m born of a vine, yet bottled with care,
I hold memories of sunshine and air.
I’m red, white, or gold, a timeless charade,
What am I, crafted and perfectly aged? — wine, Cheri M. got this first! 🍷 

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.