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Have you ever wondered what Africa by Toto sounds like played on Sweet Potato & Squash?

I never did, but I found out the answer anyway.

Innovation

Flying Electric Boat Offers Faster Commuting Than The Metro

The maiden voyage of Candela’s state-of-the-art P-12 prototype, aptly named ‘Zero’, was a resounding success, achieving lift-off at 16 knots and swiftly hitting its peak speed of 30 knots in just 16 seconds, under the guidance of Gustav Hasselskog. This inaugural flight might just usher in a new era of maritime transport.

The P-12 is a “flying” boat. One of several designs offered by the company Candela, the P-12 is specifically geared towards being a passenger ferry, offering a 30-passenger capacity with transport room for wheelchairs and bicycles.

The P-12 distinguishes itself through its revolutionary design, featuring three carbon fiber hydrofoils that extend down into the water. Once the boat reaches around 16 to 18 knots, these hydrofoils allow for the body of the boat to fully lift off of the water.

Electrification of maritime routes has traditionally faced obstacles due to the energy inefficiency of standard marine vessels. Typically, high-speed boats drain batteries quickly due to their high energy demands, limiting their operational range. The P-12, however, breaks these barriers by being the quickest electric boat to date, capable of lengthy, swift voyages,

This ability to lift of and “fly” drastically cuts energy use, reducing it by amazing 80% compared to conventional speedboats. Its state-of-the-art Flight Control System, leveraging a network of sensors, finely tunes the hydrofoils' positioning, creating a stable and smooth ride that minimizes the risk of seasickness.

In Stockholm, a speed limit of 12 knots is enforced on certain waterways to reduce noise and prevent wave damage caused by wake. However, the P-12 Shuttle has been given special permission to exceed this speed cap as its design ensures it can operate at higher speeds without generating disruptive waves or noise, thus maintaining the tranquility and integrity of the waterway.

The Candela P-12 Shuttle promises to cover the 15km distance between the swiftly growing Ekerö suburb with Stockholm's city center in just 25 minutes—a stark contrast to the hour-long journey by Metro or current ferry services. It also beats out car travel, particularly during high traffic times.

In response to growing international interest, Candela is ramping up serial production of the P-12 in their Stockholm facility. Check out the video below to see the boat in flight!

World News

Hilary Bradt: The Woman who Transformed Travel

For the past half-century, Hilary Bradt, co-founder of the world's largest independently owned guidebook publisher, has been encouraging travelers to explore lesser-known paths.

Back in 1973, Hilary Bradt and her then-husband George embarked on a quest fueled by a rumor near the Ecuador-Peru border: a hidden trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes. After numerous days of navigating through dense wilderness, they completed the trek, jotting down their experiences on paper. These notes marked the genesis of Bradt Guides, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Following George's departure from both the company and their marriage in 1980, Bradt could have reverted to her previous career as an occupational therapist in England. Instead, she pressed forward, producing guides for uncharted destinations like Uganda, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Eritrea, and Madagascar. Her efforts brought attention to many off-the-beaten-path locales and earned her recognition from Queen Elizabeth as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2008 for her contributions to tourism and philanthropy.

In her upcoming book, "Taking the Risk," Bradt shares anecdotes from her adventures, ranging from hitchhiking across the Middle East to facing arrest in Tanzania under suspicion of espionage. Recently, the octogenarian discussed her enduring passion for undiscovered destinations, the impact of popularizing "bucket-list" spots, and the evolving landscape of travel, especially for women, in an interview with the BBC from her home in Devon.

Culture

Untrained Artist Created a Work of Awe-Striking Proportions

For about 14 years, James Hampton, a janitor and World War II veteran with no formal art education, dedicated his evenings to constructing an elaborate visionary environment in a leased garage in Washington, D.C. This project, which he named The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly, was Hampton's preparation for the Second Coming, intended to welcome Jesus amidst an assembly of angels.

Hampton was born in 1909 into a family with a strong religious background in South Carolina. Experiencing what might be considered religious visions, including encounters with biblical figures such as Moses, as well as Adam and the Virgin Mary. He embarked on creating the Throne in 1950, driven by a blend of passion, devotion, and possibly divine command. His creation consisted of around 180 pieces crafted from discarded materials such as furniture, light bulbs, and tin cans, all adorned with reflective foils and papers to evoke a sense of divine awe.

Leslie Umberger, a curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, interprets a portion of Hampton’s work as a sacred, pulpit-like space for expressing his faith. The intricate and symmetrical design of the Throne reflects Hampton’s meticulous craftsmanship and spiritual dedication, utilizing seemingly mundane objects to construct a space of religious significance.

The Throne remained a private endeavor until Hampton's death in 1964, when it was discovered by his landlord. Despite initial difficulties in finding an institution willing to accept the work, it eventually found a home at the Smithsonian, where it has been recognized as a significant piece of American visionary art. Today, new generations of curators and conservators work to preserve Hampton’s legacy, allowing the public to engage with his creation and its meticulous restoration process.

Environment

Insect Farm's Innovative Plan for Chickens and Pigs

There has been considerable media attention on the use of insect protein in various food products, such as imitation beef and protein bars. However, a UK-based startup, Entocycle, has devised a method to incorporate insects into the food supply chain that reduces emissions and is easy on the digestive system.

Entocycle, established nine years ago, utilizes bugs to replace traditional animal feeds like corn, soy, and fishmeal in the diets of pigs and chickens. Unlike ruminants such as cows, which primarily consume grass and vegetation, these monogastric animals historically had a significant portion of their diets comprised of insects, particularly in the case of domesticated pigs, which descended from tropical jungle fowl.

At Entocycle's facility in London, thousands of black soldier fly larvae are processed into protein-rich feed for pigs and chickens. This species of fly consumes various food scraps, offering a dual benefit by managing environmental waste and potentially reducing methane emissions from landfills.

Entocycle's founder and CEO, Keiran Whitaker, stresses the advantages of farming black soldier flies due to their rapid reproduction, low cost, and global prevalence.

Despite initial skepticism about the viability of flies as a major protein source, studies have shown promising results. For instance, incorporating black soldier fly larvae into pig diets has been found to reduce nutrient levels in manure, potentially mitigating environmental issues associated with agricultural runoff.

Furthermore, scientific research suggests that black soldier fly larvae supplementation can enhance animal health and improve meat quality, leading to the adoption of this technology at research farms like the University of Leeds'.

In the United States, companies like Cargill are already incorporating insect feed, produced by Innovafeed, into their pork and poultry operations.

To me this makes a lot more since than feeding humans insects and non herbivore animals grain. 😄 

Mind Stretchers 

⁉️ 

How can you make a slow horse fast?

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
Wind

The answer we were looking for was “wind”. However, most people answered with “time”, which is a good answer despite being “incorrect”.

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 this 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.