Good Morning! 🌞 

Last week we ran a poll asking you all about your when you make your travel plans. Here are the result.

41% said they plan their next vacation in the months leading up to it.
31% said they plan their next vacation shortly after the previous one.
28% said they plan their next vacation during the current one.

The original survey we were covering noted that 1 out of 5 respondent planed their next vacation during their current one. It looks like we have an even higher percentage. Very fascinating!

Science

Scientific Mystery Solved

Not every year sees a big discovery in Earth's basic natural sciences, but MIT has made one using precise measurements, shedding new light on something many thought they knew well: evaporation.

This discovery might clarify puzzling data about clouds in scientific literature, potentially refining climate models and aiding industries.

In their study, MIT found that evaporation can happen just with light, no heat required, a surprising finding tested rigorously 14 times to validate.
One key finding was that the air cools briefly above the evaporating water, proving heat isn't necessary.

Professor Gang Chen noted various potential applications, including better understanding cloud effects on climate. The study also noted that evaporation is strongest when light hits at a 45° angle or is green, despite water being most transparent to green light.

They suggest that light particles hitting water molecules at certain angles can cause evaporation, calling it the photomolecular effect, akin to the photoelectric effect discovered in 1887.

As seen in satellite and flight data, clouds absorb more sunlight than expected which has been a mystery for decades and could possibly be linked to this effect.

The team thinks this effect could also explain anomalies in solar desalination research.

Since publishing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Chen has been contacted by companies interested in using this effect for various purposes, from drying paper to evaporating maple syrup.

World News

The Lights Cover the World

Last Friday a massive solar storm collided with the earths magnetic field causing a geomagnetic storm. This storm caused the beautiful aurora borealis, also know as the northern lights, to spread across most of the northern hemisphere.

The lights appeared in many different strengths, from a soft pink glow to a full stunning aurora. Depending on your location or the light pollution in your area.

Because the sun is going through its Solar Maximum, I would not be surprised if we see more like this.

Here are some of the incredible images that were taken across the world during this incredible event.

Culture

Harry Potter Book Cover Art Expected to Break Auction Record

J.K. Rowling's novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," published in 1997, marked the genesis of a global phenomenon. Now, the original illustration for the first edition of the book is set to be auctioned.

Expected to fetch up to $600,000 at Sotheby’s auction next month, it holds the highest presale valuation ever for a Harry Potter-related item, as reported by the auction house.

The cover art, a watercolor creation by author and illustrator Thomas Taylor, depicts the iconic image of Harry Potter, complete with his distinctive features of dark, tousled hair, round glasses, and lightning bolt scar, preparing to embark on his journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry aboard the Hogwarts Express.

Originally auctioned at Sotheby's in London in 2001, the illustration fetched a staggering £85,750 (approximately $106,000), surpassing its estimated value by four times, according to a Sotheby's press release.

Now, over two decades later, it returns to auction with the potential to not only surpass its previous sale value but also set a new record for any Harry Potter-related item, the auction house notes.

The current record for an item related to the book series stands at $421,000, held by an unsigned first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, in 2021, according to Sotheby's.

The illustration will be up for auction on June 26 at Sotheby’s in New York, alongside other works of English and American Literature.

Sports

The Rise of Pickleball Continues

The large fitness and health club, Life Time fitness, is capitalizing on the surging popularity of pickleball, America's fastest-growing sport. The company recently had top-ranked pickleball player Ben Johns and former tennis legend Andre Agassi appear and play at Life Time's newly inaugurated courts in New York City. This move is part of Life Time's broader strategy to enhance its brand through substantial investments in pickleball.

Furthering its commitment, Life Time announced on Tuesday a partnership with Lululemon, making the apparel giant an official partner for Life Time's pickleball and tennis segments. This collaboration will see Lululemon apparel sold in Life Time clubs and online, alongside joint efforts on prominent pickleball events. Celeste Burgoyne, president of Americas and global guest innovation at Lululemon, emphasized that this partnership marries top athletic apparel with premier tennis and pickleball experiences.

Founded in 1992, Life Time operates over 170 upscale "athletic country clubs" across the United States. Because of the changing fitness landscape, these clubs are exploring innovative ways to engage Americans in physical activity. Life Time's CEO and founder Bahram Akradi, who is an enthusiastic pickleball player, views the sport as a key driver of this engagement.

Highlighting its expansion in the sport, Life Time recently introduced Manhattan’s largest indoor pickleball facility near Penn Station. The 54,000-square-foot club, which opened on April 15, features seven street-level pickleball courts. Nationwide, Life Time has upgraded its facilities or transformed tennis courts to add over 700 pickleball courts, making it the largest provider of permanent pickleball courts in the nation.

Akradi revealed that Life Time has invested between $50 million and $100 million in developing pickleball facilities, which now generate 6% to 7% of the company’s membership dues.

Mind Stretchers

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What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer?

Yesterday’s Answer:
Live….

Jennye Smith 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]

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.