Good Morning! 🌞 

I have been a life long fan of Tolkien’s work. I am also a huge fan of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings adaptation. In many ways, the LotR movies are some of the best book-to-movie adaptations of all time.

So much effort and so many things came together to make them happen. Not just the cast and crew, but the very years they were made in. CGI was just getting good enough to do the amazing things they did with characters like Gollum, but they were not to the point of over-reliance on green-screen and CGI that you see in modern Hollywood.

On principle, I am not against adaptations of some of Tolkien’s other stories. However, modern Hollywood has so far shown itself incapable of doing so with any skill. However, I do not think that means that there is no chance. There is hope… maybe a fools hope, but sometimes it works out.

Entertainment

New ‘The Lord of the Rings Movie’ Announced for 2026

Warner Bros. announced a new Lord of the Rings movie, signaling a return to the beloved film franchise based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. The upcoming film, the first of a two-part series delving into untold tales within the universe, will feature Peter Jackson, the director of the original trilogy, back in charge as the producer. He will be joined by his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens as producers as well. Additionally, Andy Serkis, known for his portrayal of Gollum, will star in and direct the initial installment, titled "The Hunt for Gollum."

The announcement was made by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav during an earnings call, with the tentative release date for "The Hunt for Gollum" set for 2026. While details about the plot are still under wraps, speculation has already begun among fans and critics.

Notably, a fan-made film of the same name, "The Hunt for Gollum," released in 2009, explored a subplot from Tolkien's appendices, depicting Gandalf's mission to capture Gollum before he could betray the Ring's location to Sauron. Whether the upcoming film will follow a similar narrative remains uncertain.

While awaiting the release of the new movie, fans can look forward to other Lord of the Rings project, the animated prequel "Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim," slated for December 13, 2024.

I am a huge fan of Tolkien and his works. If anyone can make this new film work, it will be Peter Jackson and his crew. I am tentatively looking forward to “The War of the Rohirrim”. This new movie around the hunt for Gollum is certainly a surprise. I will have to hear more about the project before I can decide if I can get excited or not. Here’s to hoping they will both be good!

Health

9th Grader Invents a Soap That Can Treat Skin Cancer

In Virginia, a 14-year-old named Heman Bekele was awarded $25,000 and named America’s Top Young Scientist for developing an innovative, low-cost soap designed to treat skin cancer.

Over a four-month period, Bekele competed against nine other finalists in the Young Scientist Challenge, hosted by 3M and Discovery Education, which motivates young people to use STEM to solve real-world issues. With guidance from a mentor, he transformed his concept into a working prototype that administers cancer-fighting agents through lipid nanoparticles in the soap.

Inspired by his childhood in Ethiopia and the prevalent risks of skin cancer due to constant sun exposure, Bekele was moved to act. “I always thought people were always getting hit by the hot sun working outside,” he recounted to NPR. “I didn’t think much of it when I was really little, but as I grew up I realized how big of an issue [skin cancer] really is. Not only in Ethiopia but everywhere around the world.” He was particularly struck by the high costs of traditional treatments, which can reach $40,000, and the significantly lower survival rates in developing countries.

Determined to make a difference, Bekele began experimenting at home, tackling the challenges of soap-making and learning about dendritic cells, which are crucial for the immune system but are compromised by cancer. His innovative soap activates these cells with Imidazoquinoline, a drug used in treatments for other skin conditions and now being tested against skin cancer.

Bekele shared with PBS how his soap ensures the delivery of medicinal components through lipid-based nanoparticles, offering a novel method to combat skin cancer. His aim was clear: “My main goal was to provide an effective, yet affordable and accessible solution to fight skin cancer.” Remarkably, each bar of his soap costs only $.50 to produce.

Bekele’s next steps involve refining his invention and starting a nonprofit to distribute the soap in underserved communities, ensuring that those most in need can benefit from his groundbreaking work.

Environment

World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing

Building the "biggest wildlife crossing in the world" hit a big step in April by putting the first parts over an 8-lane road near Los Angeles to help the local mountain lions.

After lots of hard work, the first flat part of the 210-foot-long crossing was a big moment for the National Wildlife Federation, the Caltrans highway department, and many other groups.

"We were all happy when the crane put the first concrete piece over the road, as it showed the bridge was starting to be made," said Beth Pratt, who leads the National Wildlife Federation in California.

"This bridge shows we all want a future for wildlife and mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains."

Next, they'll add up to 82 more concrete parts, each weighing between 126 and 140 tons. As these important parts are added, the crossing will join two places in Southern California that are home to lots of different plants and animals. This will help animals like cougars, bobcats, deer, lizards, and coyotes safely move between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills.

The bridge won't just keep animals safe; it'll also lower the number of car crashes involving animals. Every year in the U.S., more than a million car crashes involve animals, causing 200 deaths and 26,000 injuries to people. The bridge, named the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, started getting funding eight years ago. They got donations from more than 3,000 groups around the world.

Then, in 2021, Wallis Annenberg and his group gave $25 million. For drivers on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, construction is making traffic slower from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM on one side of the road each week (either Northbound or Southbound). You can find more information in the FAQs.

Mind Stretchers

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I am the breath of the ancestors, the song of the stars. I am painted on the sands of time, yet I fade with each passing day. What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
A Statue

The closest anyone got was Gerry Moore with his answer of “An art collection”.

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.

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.