Good Morning! 🌞

Today is a special day! We’re going to experience a total solar eclipse across the United States. This rare event offers a unique opportunity to see the moon cover the sun completely, turning day briefly into night. Make sure you have your eclipse glasses ready to safely enjoy the spectacle. It’s a remarkable natural phenomenon we're lucky to witness. Happy eclipse viewing! Here are 3 interesting facts about today’s eclipse:

1. Totality Lasts Only Minutes: The total phase of the eclipse, when the sun is completely covered, lasts just a few minutes in any given location, making it a fleeting yet unforgettable experience.

2. Animals React: Animals often become confused or change their behavior during a total solar eclipse, with birds falling silent, chickens returning to roost, and nocturnal animals becoming active, thinking night has fallen.

3. Temperature Drop: During a total solar eclipse, temperatures can drop significantly, often by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, as the sun's warmth is temporarily blocked by the moon.

Health Sciences

Preventing Breast Cancer: Targeting ‘Exhausted’ Immune Cells

Certain immune cells in healthy women can become 'exhausted,' making them susceptible for developing breast cancer. Researchers from Cambridge University have identified a pathway involving mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

The study revealed that immune cells in the breast tissue of women carrying these mutations exhibit signs of malfunction, termed 'exhaustion.' These exhausted immune cells are unable to clear damaged breast cells, potentially leading to the development of breast cancer.

Professor Walid Khaled from the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pharmacology highlighted existing drugs capable of reversing this immune cell dysfunction, typically used in late-stage disease. However, employing these drugs preventatively represents a novel approach, offering a non-invasive alternative to breast removal surgery for high-risk individuals.

By analyzing samples from 55 women across various age groups, the researchers created the Human Breast Cell Atlas, providing valuable insights into breast cancer development. Austin Reed, a PhD student involved in the study, emphasized the importance of such resources in understanding breast cancer and improving treatment outcomes.

Breast cancer presents a complex challenge due to its diverse genetic variations and interactions with other risk factors. The study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize different breast cell types and states, shedding light on how various risk factors contribute to disease development.

Dr. Sara Pensa, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pharmacology and a co-author of the study, stressed the significance of prevention in mitigating disease burden and improving outcomes.

Published in Nature Genetics and primarily funded by the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK, this research offers promising avenues for preventative breast cancer treatment and underscores the importance of understanding the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in disease development.

Sports

8-Year-Old Beats Chess Grandmaster

At the age of eight years, six months, and 11 days, Ashwath Kaushik from Singapore made history by becoming the youngest player ever to defeat a grandmaster in classical tournament chess. This remarkable feat was achieved when he triumphed over Poland’s Jacek Stopa, 37, during round four of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland, breaking the previous record by four months.

Ashwath's journey into chess began with his parents recognizing the increasing screen time in his life and introducing him to the ancient board game through ChessKid.com. As the pandemic hit and Singapore enforced strict lockdowns, Ashwath found himself with ample time to dedicate to practice.

Despite his young age, he displayed a mature understanding of the game and his aspirations, aiming for a 2,000 rating and eventually the title of world champion.

Ashwath's journey in chess has been fully supported by his family, who provide him with the necessary time and space to pursue his passion.

Under the guidance of experienced coaches like Chess GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming has had other notable achievements such as completing GM Jacob Aagaard’s entire Grandmaster series. While he excels in tactical maneuvers, his coaches wish to further develop his strategic thinking as he continues to learn.

U.S. News

Consumers are Pushing Back on “Guilt Tipping”

What began as a gesture of gratitude has increasingly turned into a nuisance for many.

The post-pandemic era has seen a surge in tipping culture, expanding the number of services expecting tips, a phenomenon often called "tip creep."

However, recent studies indicate that consumers are growing weary of the constant prompts to tip, leading to a decrease in tipping amounts and a rise in resentment towards feeling pressured to tip, known as "guilt tipping."

A WalletHub survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe tipping practices have become excessive, particularly with pre-set tipping options at the point of sale, marking an increase from the two-thirds who viewed tipping unfavorably just a year ago, according to Bankrate.

The discomfort around tipping, especially with preset options suggesting tips between 15% and 35%, is becoming more common, leading to what's been dubbed as "guilt tipping,". But it is important for consumers to remember that tipping remains a voluntary act. People are become more comfortable with not tipping and returns to a tip jar might be a good move for many businesses.

According to Alex Skijus, CEO of True Life Wealth Management, the financial pressures of inflation and the expectation to tip are causing consumer frustration. Skijus encourages consumers to tip as a form of gratitude rather than out of obligation, believing that consumer resistance could prompt businesses to reconsider their tipping policies.

Despite the societal pressure, some consumers are already choosing to tip less. Toast's latest restaurant trends report shows a slight decline in tipping at both full-service and quick-service restaurants compared to five years ago, suggesting a gradual shift in consumer tipping behavior.

When we ran a poll on this a few weeks ago, a lot of you seemed to agree with this generel sentiment.

Entertainment

Swedish Choir Sings in Elvish Language

In Sweden, a group known as "Eldandili Fantasy" brings together cosplay enthusiasts who share a passion for the mythical world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. Instead of just dressing up, they express their fandom through singing and performing lyrical works written in Elvish, Tolkien's invented language.

While they dabble in pieces from various fantasy realms like World of Warcraft and The Witcher, it's Tolkien's creations that truly captivate them. His meticulous crafting of Elvish language and culture provides rich material for their performances. Tolkien's stories portray a world where music plays a fundamental role in creation, with elves being particularly adept at song.

Drawing inspiration from Tolkien's descriptions, Eldandili Fantasy combines the written Elvish language with Howard Shore’s iconic score from The Lord of the Rings films. They meticulously recreate the harmonic singing style described in Tolkien's works, where voices take turns highlighting different sections.

For members like soprano Kerstin Koij, singing in Elvish isn't just about mimicking sounds; it's about capturing the depth of emotion embedded in Tolkien's writings. The music conveys both longing and sorrow, echoing the elves' bittersweet journey from Middle Earth to the mythical land of Aman.

For those interested in experiencing Eldandili Fantasy's enchanting performances, you can listen to it on their Facebook page.

Mind Stretchers 

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What 2 words, formed from different arrangements of the same 9 letters, will complete the sentence below?

The homesick recruit told his civilian buddy, "I guess I should have been __________to my father when he told me to go to school instead of ___________."

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
They were all girl teams.

Shout-out to Jennye Smith who got the correct answer!

A lot of people did point out that we did not specify that the baseball teams were in fact playing baseball. So saying they won some other game was a smart answer, if not the correct one.

Also, as an aside, it is more common for women to play softball, but there are teams out there that play baseball too.

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.