Happy May 1st! 🌞 

Check out this unbelievable video of a crow constructing and using a tool to get its food. It’s worth a watch!

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Innovation

Nanogenerator Turns Greenhouse Gas Into Electricity

University of Queensland researchers made a notable breakthrough by accidentally discovering a method to convert the most prevalent greenhouse gas into electricity.

Using a combination of positive and negative ions of different sizes, the team successfully generated electricity from CO2.

Despite its negative reputation, it's worth noting that carbon dioxide comprises two oxygen molecules and one carbon molecule, which are essential components of the universe and play crucial roles in various human processes and applications.

Dr. Zhuyuan Wang, a research officer at the University of Queensland's Dow Center for Sustainable Engineering Innovation, had been working on a nanogenerator powered by ion transport for three years. One day, during experiments, he observed that the device was utilizing CO2 from the laboratory air to produce electricity.

After confirming the phenomenon, Dr. Wang envisioned the technology's potential to transform energy production. He proposed the concept of developing portable devices capable of harnessing CO2 from the atmosphere to power everyday electronics like mobile phones or laptops.

To verify that CO2 was indeed driving the nanogenerator, Wang and his team conducted controlled experiments, sealing the device in a box and introducing CO2 into the environment. Although the devices were initially small, measuring just 4×6 centimeters, the team speculated that scaling up the technology could provide significant power supplies for office electronics.

Dr. Wang's colleague, Xiwang Zhang, expressed their commitment to further refining the technology through the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide.

Culture

Incredible Illusion Art

The renowned French street artist JR has recently unveiled his most intricate illusion to date, set against the bustling backdrop of Milan’s Stazione Centrale railway station.

Titled "La Nascita" (The Birth), the artwork transforms the station's adjacent square, Piazza Duca D’Aosta, into a dramatic Alpine landscape using black-and-white imagery to create a layered visual effect. The installation not only serves as a historical nod but also acts as a social catalyst in one of the city's most frequented and crime-prone areas.

During a launch event, JR expressed to The Art Newspaper that his work is designed to foster unexpected social interactions in places burdened with societal challenges. “In a place like this, a huge range of people come to catch the train. When they find themselves in front of an exhibition, they will suddenly have a different kind of interaction.” JR explained.

This piece, coinciding with Milan Design Week and viewable until May 1, harkens back to the era of grand rail travel initiated in the early 20th century. King Vittorio Emmanuele III laid the stations foundational stone in 1906 following the completion of the trans-Alpine Simplon tunnel.

Commissioned by Stazione Centrale, JR’s work mirrors the rugged mountains carved out for the tunnel. Paper images are pasted onto vertical slats, creating a multi-layered effect with the station’s imposing architecture in the background. "It is the first time I do something like this with many layers," he noted. "The building is pretty intimidating; it took me a while to work out how to engage with that station."

U.S. News

Mother Opens Cafe For Disabled Son to Work at

Maureen Stanko always knew her son Nick, a 20-year-old on the autism spectrum, had immense potential, but the thought of his future after graduation filled her with anxiety.

"I was lying in bed one night at 3 a.m. I was thinking about, 'Oh man, what's going to happen to him.'” Stanko shared with CBS News.

In Pennsylvania, students with disabilities can remain in school until age 22. Stanko, like many parents in her situation, was concerned about her son's prospects beyond school. Inspired by advice from her father, she decided to take action. "When you have a problem, pray like hell then get up off your knees and do something" her father used to say.

This resolve led her to discuss her concerns with Nick’s therapist, Tyler Kammerle, who mentioned his dream of opening a restaurant that would employ individuals with disabilities. Together with philanthropist Kathy Opperman, they transformed this vision into reality, and about two years later, they launched the So Much To Give Inclusive Cafe in Cedars, Pennsylvania, in January 2023.

The cafe employs 63 people, 80% of whom have disabilities, serving in various roles from greeters and food runners to sous chefs and servers. More than just a workplace, the cafe has become a welcoming community space for guests with disabilities.

"We never even took Nick to a restaurant before this cafe opened. Because when we used to it wasn't worth it. Because we would spend all this money to go out to eat to be completely stressed out," Stanko explained. "This cafe has taught Nick how to sit in a restaurant. Because now we have a place to go, where if he stands up and starts hopping like a bunny or clapping or yelling, nobody cares."

Stanko initially doubted whether Nick could work at the cafe due to his disability and severe food allergies. However, he has thrived, helping to set up the cafe before it opens. "I actually brought him here on Wednesday because his school was closed and he set this entire room up without me saying a word," she beamed. "And the level of pride in him was just incredible."

Environment

Baltimore’s Mr. Trash Wheel

One of Baltimore’s most beloved icons, Mr. Trash Wheel, who marked his tenth birthday last week.

Installed where the Jones Falls River enters the Inner Harbor, Mr. Trash Wheel is a solar-powered trash interceptor with googly eyes that has been capturing trash for a decade. The Healthy Harbor Initiative and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore are hosting a sold-out celebration for his 10th anniversary on Saturday night.

Mr. Trash Wheel is part of a quartet that includes Professor Trash Wheel, Captain Trash Wheel, and Gwynnda the Good Wheel of the West. These environmental guardians are integral to the city's landscape, often blending seamlessly into the daily routine of city life, yet their significant environmental contributions are noteworthy.

In celebration of Mr. Trash Wheel's milestone, The Baltimore Banner has compiled key achievements of the trash wheel family. Here are some of those:

• 5.2 million pounds: This is the total weight of trash and debris collected by the Trash Wheel family.

• 45,000+ homes powered: The trash is transported to a Baltimore incinerator, where it is burned to produce electricity that powers tens of thousands of homes.

• 3,000 members: The Order of the Wheel, a passionate group of Trash Wheel supporters, is committed to reducing single-use plastic usage and enhancing community clean-up efforts.

• 123 square miles: This is the combined area of the watershed from which the Trash Wheel family gathers debris. Mr. Trash Wheel and Gwynnda each manage 60 square miles, while Professor Trash Wheel and Captain Trash Wheel oversee 2 and 1 square mile respectively.

Seeing these trash wheels in action is actually very fascinating!

Mind Stretchers

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Mom, Dad, and 2 kids have come to a river, and they find a boat.  It is small and can only carry one adult or 2 kids at a time.  Both kids are good rowers, but how can the whole family reach the other side of the river?

Yesterday’s Answer:
A Poplar (Popular) Tree…… 🙃 

We got a lot of great answers. Many answers were “a Christmas tree”, or my favorite, “your family tree”. No one got the “correct” answer, but I do find myself being drawn to the family tree answer. After all, we would not exist without it.

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]

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.