Good Morning! 🌞 

This blew my mind!! Shakespeare introduced over 1,700 words to the English language, including words like “assassination,” “eyeball,” and “swagger.” I knew he had a big influence on the english language but was not aware it was this significant!

Economy

Simplifying Tax Returns

Although millions of Americans qualify for free income tax filing, many don't use it. A major reason is the disjointed nature of current tax filing services and financial tools. Column Tax, a fintech company, aims to change this by embedding tax prep directly into financial management apps.

Column Tax integrates tax filing through APIs, allowing apps like Chime and NerdWallet to offer seamless tax services. By leveraging existing data and adding necessary inputs, it makes the process faster and more accurate. CEO Gavin Nachbar notes, “There’s no reason tax needs to be separate.”
This embedded approach helps users file taxes within their financial apps, cutting down the need to switch between platforms. It’s particularly beneficial for self-employed individuals who track finances year-round, reducing manual work and saving up to 20 hours of prep time. In its first full season, Column Tax processed over $150 million in refunds across all 50 states and is authorized by the IRS, ensuring secure and compliant service. Partner apps benefit by enhancing their offerings and keeping users engaged. For consumers, this integration provides convenient, all-in-one financial management, reducing errors and building confidence.

Disclaimer: We want to clarify that we are not affiliated with, compensated by, or have any financial relationship with Column Tax. Our views and opinions are based solely on our own experiences and research.

Innovation

Extending Battery Lifespan

German researchers have found a way to boost the lifespan of zinc-ion batteries over 100 times, potentially positioning them as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries used in phones and electric vehicles.

This advancement means zinc-ion batteries could endure hundreds of thousands of charge cycles, a major improvement compared to the few thousand cycles typical of lithium-ion batteries—offering the durability needed for a shift in energy storage technology. Although aqueous zinc-ion batteries have existed since 2011, they haven’t gained significant market traction. Their most notable use so far has been in a 1.0 GWh solar energy storage plant in Texas. Zinc-ion batteries come with advantages over lithium-ion, but challenges like zinc dendrite growth and unwanted chemical reactions that lead to hydrogen formation and corrosion have hindered progress. Engineers at the Technical University of Munich developed a solution: a porous organic polymer called TpBD-2F. This material forms a thin, stable film on the zinc anode, enabling efficient ion flow while blocking water.

“Zinc-ion batteries with this new layer could replace lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage with solar or wind power. They last longer, are safer, and zinc is cheaper and more abundant than lithium,” said Da Lei, Ph.D. student and lead author of the study published in Advanced Energy Materials. Zinc, considered a base metal, ranks as the 23rd most abundant mineral and is widely produced as a byproduct of gold and copper mining. Unlike lithium, often sourced from brine deposits, zinc extraction is more common and versatile. “This is a groundbreaking result,” said Professor Roland A. Fischer of the TUM School of Natural Sciences. “We’ve proven Da Lei’s approach works and is controllable. We even have a prototype button cell. There’s no reason this technology couldn’t be scaled up for larger applications. Now it’s up to engineers to take this concept forward and develop production methods.”

Entertainment

Dancing on Crutches

At 10 years old, Sophia Adzoa-Moore knew she wanted to perform on the West End. But at 13, she woke up unable to walk, thinking her career was over. Now, at 25, she’s back on stage as a disabled performer, hoping to inspire others.

“I started using crutches at 13 after waking up with severe hip pain. I thought it was a short-term injury, but it lasted 12 years,” says Sophia from Chelmsford, Essex. The pain kept her from dancing for six or seven years. In 2019, she joined a backstage theatre course at university but quickly realized she wanted to be on stage, not behind it. Now, she performs using her crutches and advocates for more stage diversity. Sophia graduated from the Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford, Surrey, and is navigating the industry, hoping casting directors recognize her potential. Auditions come with challenges: finding accessible locations, room space, and adapting choreography for her crutches”

She will perform in Little Piece of You at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, a show blending family drama with modern rock and pop. Sophia was recently diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), which causes joint pain and instability. She wants more disability representation in the industry and better theatre accessibility. “We’re moving in the right direction. I see progress as both a performer and theatre-goer. More theatres are adding lifts, but there’s still work to be done.” For Sophia, Little Piece of You is just the start. She hopes to inspire others and be the role model she once needed.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

All about, but cannot be seen, can be captured, cannot be held, no throat, but can be heard. What is it?

Answer: The wind

Chris Hostetler got the correct answer first! 🌞 

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