🌞 Millions to Be Saved?

Daily Upsider - Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

In one of today’s articles, we talk about an “obsolete” technology that could be a huge money saver.

Rediscovering old technologies is often an amusing process. I remember reading an article a couple of years ago were they were it was showcasing a “new idea” for greener ocean transportation.

Their “new idea” was to affix a large parachute to the bow of a ship to use wind power to help move the ship and use less fuel.

I found it very amusing that there was no apparent reference to ships sails at all. They seemed to have come up with the idea through looking at renewable energy sources and not by thinking “Hey, maybe we should add sails”.

Today’s Upside

Innovation

Lifesaving 10 Minute Sepsis Test

Pictured: Professor Michael Atar aka “Mr. Sepsis,” a financier and developing consultant on a new blood sepsis test.

A new blood test that detects sepsis in under ten minutes could be available in up to 11 US states by the end of the year. The test identifies sepsis by analyzing changes in the shape of white blood cells.

This test, developed by Cytovale, works by passing a small blood sample through a tube to observe if white blood cells become elongated and flattened, a sign of sepsis. Traditional methods for detecting sepsis through cell shape have taken up to two days and often resulted in incorrect diagnoses.

The IntelliSep test uses an ultra-high-speed camera to capture over 500,000 frames per second, which are then analyzed by an AI-powered computer. This process provides results in minutes with an accuracy rate of 97%.

Cytovale, the Silicon Valley company behind the IntelliSep, has received FDA approval for the test, and it is currently in use at a hospital in Louisiana. It will be rolled out to ten more hospitals by the end of 2024. Professor Michael Atar, a leading expert on sepsis, describes the test as a major advancement in medical diagnostics, capable of saving millions of lives.

Sepsis is currently the third most common cause of death in U.S. hospitals and affects 1.7 million people nationwide each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Innovation (but from the past!)

A Cooling Tech We Apparently Forgot About

Humans are pretty smart, and we come up with a lot of great ideas. Sadly, sometimes those great ideas are forgotten even thought they could still be very useful.

Often, past technologies are replaced by better technologies. However, the original solutions can address issues with the newer techs. And using them in conjunction can often give you the best of both worlds.

So here is this fascinating video explaining why you should consider using this “obsolete” tech on your home.

Environment

Expired Life Jackets Recycled

United Airlines has partnered with the German upcycling company B2L to repurpose 900 pounds of expired life jackets into stylish bags. According to aviation safety regulations, life jackets on planes must be replaced every 8 to 10 years, resulting in United's Boeing 737 fleet alone generating over 19,000 expired jackets annually.

The collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste and the airline's carbon footprint by converting these jackets into various products such as laundry bags, laptop bags, beach bags, and backpacks. This initiative emerged when Erin Taylor, an environmental affairs manager at United, sought a more creative and sustainable solution for disposing of the expired jackets.

The first year of this partnership was successful, garnering positive reviews and leading to a contract renewal with increased production for the following year. If not upcycled, these life jackets would take centuries to decompose.

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National Disc Golf Day! 🏅 

The exact origins of disc golf are unclear, with various accounts suggesting people have played with flying discs for years. One early version involved children at Bladworth Elementary School in Saskatchewan, Canada, throwing tin lids at sand-drawn targets in the early 19th century.

Modern disc golf reemerged in Canada in the late 19th century, while similar games had been played in the U.S. since the 1960s, becoming a formal sport in the 1970s. College student George Sappenfield introduced Frisbees as a golf alternative while working as a recreation counselor. His idea gained traction, and with support from Wham-O, he promoted the sport, although their backing eventually faded.

Interest in disc golf surged six years ago after ESPN featured it on Top 10 Plays. The official day to celebrate the sport was established by Jason Wilder and Sara Nicholson, with August chosen for its historical significance related to the American Flying Disc Open and Headrick's patent. The U.S. has celebrated this day for five years.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

Lovely and round, I’m shimmery white, grown in the darkness, a lady’s delight. What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
I am running five minutes late!

Gerry Moore got the correct answer 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.

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