Good Morning! 🌞

Did you know the average person walks about 150,000 miles in their lifetime—the equivalent of circling the globe six times? No wonder a good pair of shoes can make all the difference!

Earth Sciences

January Night Sky

This January, the night sky will feature a notable display of our solar system's planets.

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be easily visible. Venus and Saturn will shine brightly on the southwestern horizon for a few hours and appear close together. By January 17th and 18th, they'll be at their closest point in the sky, known as a conjunction, though they remain millions of miles apart. Jupiter will be visible directly overhead, while Mars will reach opposition in mid-January. Opposition happens when Earth is directly between the Sun and another planet, making it the best time to observe that planet. On January 13th, the full Moon will briefly pass in front of Mars, creating a temporary occultation.

The best time to view these planets will be around the middle of the month, when the Moon is full and the planets are easily visible. Uranus and Neptune will also be more visible, but a telescope will be required to see them.

Innovation

Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

Virginia is set to make history as the site of the first commercial nuclear fusion power plant in the United States. Governor Glenn Youngkin, in partnership with Dominion Energy, has announced that Chesterfield County will host Commonwealth Fusion Systems' (CFS) experimental ARC plant. The facility will be built on the site of a decommissioned coal power plant, symbolizing a transformative shift toward clean energy. Construction is slated to begin in 2025, aligning with CFS's goal to pioneer fusion energy solutions that emulate the Sun's emission-free power generation.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a leader in nuclear fusion research founded at MIT, is spearheading this ambitious project. The ARC plant will feature a cutting-edge tokamak reactor designed to heat hydrogen isotopes to 180 million degrees Fahrenheit, producing energy without nuclear waste. Dominion Energy will provide technical expertise, while CFS brings extensive fusion knowledge. With $2 billion in private funding from investors like Google and Eni, the plant’s estimated $3 billion cost is significantly lower than Europe’s ITER reactor. Governor Youngkin emphasized that Virginia triumphed over 100 global competitors to secure the project, citing the state’s strategic advantages, including proximity to AI and data hubs.

The ARC plant is poised to drive significant economic growth in Virginia, with its initial phase expected to be completed by 2026 and full operations targeted for the early 2030s. Once operational, the plant will produce 400 megawatts of clean electricity, reinforcing Virginia's leadership in sustainable energy innovation. This landmark initiative not only marks a turning point in the global energy landscape but also positions the state as a hub for cutting-edge technology and economic development.

Good News

5,000 Drone Christmas Display

We're still Christmas hungover, so here's a clip to celebrate the holiday season:

Sky Elements created the largest swarming light show in the U.S. with 4,981 drones lighting up the sky in Mansfield, Texas. Set to music, the show featured scenes like a Thanksgiving turkey, a winter wonderland, a gingerbread village, and Santa’s sleigh. In partnership with UVify, the team kicked off the display with a lifelike turkey spreading its tail feathers. (See the video below…)

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I’m a number that’s greater than 10,
But subtract me from 100, and you’ll get me again.
What number am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I’m born from a cherry, but not like you think,

Ground down to powder, I’m poured in your drink. I wake you up when morning’s near, My bold aroma brings you cheer. What am I? — coffee! Debbie Ettinger got this first ☀️ 

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