🌞 Cooling Paint

Daily Upsider - Saturday, August 17th, 2024

Saturday, August 17th, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

This may surprise you: The first computer bug was a real insect!

The term “computer bug” originates from an actual moth found in the Harvard Mark II computer in 1947. The moth was causing a malfunction, and the incident was recorded as the first “bug” in computer history.

Today’s Upside

Innovation

Cooling Paint for Cars

Nissan unveiled a new “cool paint” designed to keep vehicle interiors cooler, though its thickness, six times that of standard paint, presents commercialization challenges.

The announcement coincided with record-breaking heat in Japan, making the news particularly relevant. Nissan tested the paint on vehicles at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, an area with minimal shade, providing a prime environment to evaluate the technology.

While the cars with the special paint appeared ordinary, they were noticeably cooler to the touch. Nissan reported that the paint lowered roof-panel temperatures by 12 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit) and reduced interior temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cooling materials are already common in buildings and other applications. Cooler cars can reduce air conditioning use and alleviate heat stress on engines and electric vehicle batteries. Toyota Motor Corp. is also experimenting with sun-reflective paints to lower cabin temperatures, primarily focusing on colors.

Nissan’s cool paint not only reflects sunlight but also generates electromagnetic waves to block the rays, redirecting energy away from the vehicle. This paint was developed in collaboration with Radi-Cool of China, which also creates heat-reducing films, fabrics, and coatings, including cooler-feeling hats and sun parasols. Nissan is the sole Japanese automaker partnering with Radi-Cool.

Susumu Miura, a manager at Nissan Research Center, assured that the electromagnetic waves emitted by the paint posed no health risks, noting that such waves are ubiquitous.

I live in Austin, TX and if this actually works, it would be a game changer in the hot summer months!!

Science

520-million Year Old Fossil Solves Mystery

Side view of Youti Yuanshi worm fossil shows internal organ systems – by Emma J. Long via SWNS

A 520-million-year-old worm fossil has solved the mystery of how modern insects, spiders, and crabs evolved.

The fossil, named Youti yuanshi, dates back to the Cambrian period and offers a glimpse into one of the earliest ancestors of many species today. Its exceptional preservation, including the larva and its internal organs, makes it particularly noteworthy. Led by Durham University in the UK, the research team identified the fossil as one of the first arthropod ancestors belonging to the group euarthropoda, which includes modern insects, spiders, centipedes, and crustaceans. Their findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest that early arthropod relatives were more advanced than previously thought.

Dr. Martin Smith, Durham’s lead researcher, emphasized the rarity of such a discovery: “Finding a fossilized arthropod larva is almost impossible due to their tiny, fragile nature. When I saw the intricate structures preserved under its skin, I was astonished. How could these features avoid decay for half a billion years?” Using advanced scanning techniques at Diamond Light Source, the UK research team produced 3D images revealing miniature brain regions, digestive glands, a primitive circulatory system, and even traces of nerves in the larva’s legs and eyes. Dr. Katherine Dobson of the University of Strathclyde noted the near-perfect preservation achieved by natural fossilization.

This ancient larva offers crucial insights into the evolutionary steps from simple worm-like creatures to complex arthropods with specialized limbs, eyes, and brains. The fossil reveals an ancestral proto-cerebrum brain region, which would later develop into the segmented and specialized arthropod head with various appendages.

The complex head structure allowed arthropods to adopt diverse lifestyles and dominate the Cambrian oceans. The remarkable specimen was originally discovered in China and is housed at Yunnan University.

Culture

Forgotten Wonders: Exploring the World's Most Fascinating Abandoned Structures

Discover the hidden stories behind some of the world's most captivating abandoned buildings. From grand castles to forgotten factories, these structures offer a glimpse into the past, filled with mystery and beauty. Join us as we explore 12 fascinating sites that have stood the test of time and continue to intrigue visitors.

12 of the world's most fascinating abandoned buildings

Striking photos of disused locations across the globe, from derelict shipyards and military bases to colossal cooling towers and empty hotel resorts.

Support Daily Upsider!

Help our mission to share positive, meaningful news! Your support keeps us going without the need to bombard you with annoying ads!

Black Cat Appreciation Day

When you think of a black cat, what comes to mind? For many, these sleek, mysterious felines are synonymous with superstition and bad luck. However, on August 17, Black Cat Appreciation Day, we set aside these age-old myths to honor and celebrate these often misunderstood creatures. Black Cat Appreciation Day was created by Wayne H. Morris in honor of his sister and her beloved black cat.

A Day to Dispel Myths and Embrace Love

Black Cat Appreciation Day is more than just a nod to our dark-furred friends; it's an opportunity to debunk the myths that have long surrounded them. Historically, black cats have been associated with witches, Halloween, and omens of bad luck. These misconceptions have unfairly stigmatized black cats, making them less likely to be adopted from shelters compared to their more colorful counterparts.

The Origin of Black Cat Superstitions

The negative superstitions about black cats can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, where they were often linked to witchcraft. People believed that witches could transform into black cats to sneak around unnoticed. This myth was further perpetuated by folklore and stories that depicted black cats as harbingers of doom.

Interestingly, in some cultures, black cats are seen as symbols of good luck. In Japanese folklore, for example, a black cat crossing your path is considered a good omen. Similarly, in British and Irish traditions, black cats are often seen as bringers of prosperity.

Despite the superstitions, black cats have found their way into the hearts of many through popular culture. Who can forget the iconic black cat from the movie "Hocus Pocus" or Salem from the TV show "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"? These characters have helped to endear black cats to audiences, showing them as loyal, lovable, and often witty companions.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What number do you get when you multiply all the numbers of a telephone dialpad?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
How do you go from 98 to 720 using just one letter?
- Add “x” between ninety and eight [Ninety x Eight = 720]

This one is a tricky one. A lot of peoples responses involved splitting the 98 into a 9 and an 8, instead of a 90 and and 8. No one quite got it right, but several got very close.

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.

From the Community

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.

Reply

or to participate.