Good Morning! 🌞 

If your important online accounts are NOT secured with a two-factor authentication (2FA) you may want to consider updating those asap! Here’s why:

1. Enhanced Security: 2FA adds an additional layer of defense that makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts because knowing the victim’s password alone is not enough to pass the authentication check.

2. Mitigation of Damage From Data Breaches: Even if your password is exposed in a data breach, 2FA provides a safety net that can prevent someone from accessing your account without also having access to the second factor.

3. Protects Against Phishing: Phishing attacks, where cybercriminals trick individuals into providing sensitive data, can be mitigated with 2FA, as the attacker would also need the second factor to gain access.

Innovation

Solar Balconies

Solar panels are increasingly appearing in unexpected places, including on balcony rails in Central Europe. This trend reflects a broader adoption of solar energy, as evidenced by data from Euronews indicating that 400,000 German households have connected their balconies to solar panels in celebration of the 70th anniversary of mainstream solar cell usage. Furthermore, new figures reveal that 50,000 photovoltaic (PV) devices were installed in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

The appeal of balcony solar panels lies in their ease of installation, often completed by homeowners themselves. Particularly in the Northern Hemisphere during winter, when sunlight hits at a shallow angle, balcony panels can outperform rooftop installations. While they may not generate more power due to their smaller size, they offer advantages such as reduced safety risks compared to rooftop installations and may not incur installation fees. Additionally, they can be installed in locations where rooftop panels are impractical due to insufficient sunlight, limited property access, or structural constraints.

According to Jan Osenberg, a policy advisor at SolarPower Europe, solar balconies generate an estimated 200 megawatts of electricity compared to the 22 gigawatts produced by rooftop panels in Germany. This technology has flourished in Germany's solar-friendly environment, where solar power generation leads Europe.

Osenberg notes that rooftop solar installations empower individuals to engage in energy monitoring and support the transition to renewable energy. Some German states offer subsidies for solar balcony kits, which typically pay for themselves through electricity savings within 3 to 5 years of their 20-year lifespan. However, installation must be approached with caution due to the weight of the panels, which can exceed 24 kilograms (approximately 50 pounds) and pose a safety risk if not properly secured.

Europe's innovation in solar panel placement extends beyond balconies, with installations reported in unconventional locations such as cemeteries in France, between railway tracks in Switzerland, within terracotta roof tiles in Italy, and even on the roof of an SUV in the Netherlands.

Culture

Notre Dame's Restored Masterpieces

A fascinating collection of historical paintings, known as the Mays of Notre-Dame, will be unveiled to the public this December as the cathedral reopens after the fire. Predominantly large religious artworks dating back to the 17th century, these pieces hold significant cultural and artistic value. Interestingly, despite their historical importance, these paintings have not been exhibited together for quite some time.

Originally housed within Notre-Dame, the Mays were relocated to side chapels by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, the caretaker of the cathedral during his time, due to his personal preference. This move, however, proved fortuitous during the fire as the side chapels remained relatively unharmed until later stages of the blaze.

Commissioned annually by the Goldsmith’s Guild in Paris from 1630 to 1707, these paintings were dedicated to honoring the Virgin Mary. Created by renowned artists of the era, the Mays depict various scenes from Greek, Biblical, and Roman narratives, characterized by their substantial dimensions, typically measuring around 10 feet by 8 inches wide and 8 feet by 6 inches tall.

The Notre-Dame fire of 2019, while devastating, resulted in the preservation of notable artifacts such as Napoleon III's wedding procession rug, alongside the fortunate survival of the 13 Mays housed in the side chapels, albeit with minor water damage.

Efforts are underway to restore and properly exhibit these paintings, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate them in their intended arrangement. Among the 76 Mays originally created, only 52 are currently accounted for, with many housed in churches across France and some held in private collections in the UK.

The restoration of these artworks not only preserves their historical significance but also provides insights into the collaborative efforts between artists and religious patrons of the past.

World News

Scotland’s Gnome Island

A remote outcrop in Scotland, Swallow Craig, located just off Inchcolm Island in the Firth of Forth, has become an unexpected sightseeing spot due to its peculiar residents: garden gnomes. Their origins remain a mystery, sparking various theories among locals and visitors alike.

Some speculate that a local fisherman may have left them there in 2010, while others entertain the whimsical notion that the gnomes staged a daring escape from a nearby garden center, attempting to find refuge on the island under the cloak of darkness. Another tale suggests they were survivors of a shipwreck, having spent the past 14 years on the island.

Dubbed Inch Gnome Island, this rocky outpost continues to see an increase in gnome population, much to the amusement of tourists like those on Scott Aston's Maid of the Forth sightseeing cruises. Despite his years of experience navigating these waters, Scott remains baffled by the gnome phenomenon, noting their inexplicable proliferation each winter.

Environment

‘Phenomenal’ Blue Whales Sightings: First in Decades

The Seychelles, renowned for its pristine beaches and scuba diving, has attracted a surprising new visitor: the blue whale. In a significant marine discovery, researchers have identified over a dozen blue whales in the territorial waters of this archipelago for the first time since 1966, marking a significant moment in the recovery of the world's largest animal.

Located off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles were once a common waypoint for Soviet whalers on their way to Antarctica. Between 1963 and 1966, whale populations in these waters suffered heavily from hunting. This practice was eventually curtailed by the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling in 1973, which ended commercial baleen whale hunting.

No focused investigation on whales in the Seychelles had been conducted since 1966 until 2020, when a collaboration between four universities undertook a two-year acoustic survey. This effort resulted in five separate sightings of blue whale groups, with some groups comprising up to 10 individuals.

"This was a phenomenal finding," remarked Jeremy Kiszka, a co-author of the study from Florida International University, in The Conversation. "We were prepared to not see any blue whales given the extensive hunting in the past and the lack of sightings since the last known blue whale was hunted in 1964."

Blue whales, which can reach lengths equivalent to a basketball court and weigh as much as 200 tons, are the largest animals ever known to exist. While some prehistoric whales or ichthyosaurs might have rivaled or exceeded their size based on fossil extrapolations, confirming their exact dimensions remains challenging.

Mind Stretchers

❔

I am a solitary word, 5 letters long. Behead me once, I am the same. Behead me again, I am still the same.

Yesterday’s Answer:
Edam…. 😂 

Linda Runatz 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.