Good Morning! 🌞 

Do yourself a favor this morning and watch this short and insightful video by Tony Robbins. I may be just what you needed to hear today.

Science

New Research Reveals Secret to Restore Hearing

Attending a loud concert often leaves attendees with a familiar sensation of ringing ears, with some experiencing temporary or even permanent hearing loss or significant alterations in how they perceive sound once the noise ceases. A team of scientists has now uncovered the biological underpinnings of this noise-induced hearing loss, revealing a promising pathway for prevention.

At the heart of their discovery, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, identified that loud noise exposure leads to cellular damage in the inner ear, linked to an overabundance of zinc—a mineral crucial for cellular health and auditory function.

Their groundbreaking research demonstrated that certain drugs, acting as molecular sponges, can absorb the excess zinc, offering a chance to either recover hearing lost to noise exposure or preemptively safeguard against hearing damage when administered prior to encountering loud sounds.

Professor Thanos Tzounopoulos of the Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center highlighted the severe impact of noise-induced hearing loss, stating, “Noise-induced hearing loss can be debilitating. Some people start hearing sounds that aren’t there, developing a condition called tinnitus, which severely affects a person’s quality of life.”

Preventing hearing loss is a challenging problem to tackle, due to our incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms. This is a great step in addressing the widespread impairment that effects millions.

The study, which was featured in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, detailed their investigation into the inner ear cells of mice. They discovered that zinc levels in the inner ear surge following exposure to loud noise, leading to cellular damage and interference with normal communication between cells.

Mice treated with a compound designed to capture excess zinc showed a higher resistance to hearing loss and were shielded from the adverse effects of loud noise exposure.

This research not only proposes a potential solution to a pervasive issue but also sets the stage for the development of treatments and protective measures for individuals frequently exposed to loud environments, such as concertgoers and musicians.

With plans to further explore this treatment, the researchers aim to eventually introduce it as an accessible, over-the-counter preventative measure against hearing loss, marking a significant step forward in auditory health protection.

World News

Did You Know? World History Edition

Did you know that on this day in 1862, US paper money was first introduced into circulation? This was via the Legal Tender Act to help finance the Civil War.

Also on this day:

1969
George Harrison from The Beatles started recording three solo songs from their Abbey Road album at the EMI studio, Abbey Road, London.

1969

NASA’s Mariner 6 space probe successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

1986
Corazon Aquino was elected as the first female president of the Philippines.

Culture

Gemstones on the Rise

Valentine's Day continues to be a peak season for jewelry purchases, with U.S. consumers projected to spend an unprecedented $6.4 billion on jewelry around this time, as reported by Ankur Daga, CEO of Angara. This expenditure accounts for a significant 10% of the annual total devoted to jewelry, indicating the holiday's strong influence on the market.

This year, however, the conventional diamond engagement ring may take a smaller portion compared to more vibrant options. "We’re seeing a shift in much larger center stone engagement rings, primarily as a result of lab-grown diamonds, and sapphires and rubies tend to be very hot,” Daga noted. The trend towards colorful gemstones in engagement rings has risen from 5% a decade ago to over 15% today, with a recent small survey revealing that over 20% of individuals would opt for a colored gemstone ring over their diamond ring if given the chance.

Signet Jewelers, a major industry player, echoes this sentiment, witnessing increased interest in gemstones like sapphire and morganite across both wedding and fashion categories. The allure of amethyst and ruby, in particular, spikes during the Valentine's period, aligning with February's birthstone and the symbolic color of love, respectively.

Beth Gerstein, CEO of Brilliant Earth, suggests that the trend towards colored gemstones reflects a desire for uniqueness, especially among Gen Z consumers who value personalization and distinctive style. This shift is occurring amidst growing supply constraints for natural gemstones, pushing prices upwards and making some stones harder to source. "There’s only really one mine in Madagascar that produces the bulk of the world’s rubies,” Daga mentioned, highlighting similar challenges for sapphires and emeralds.

The price of sapphires, emeralds, and rubies has been climbing, with some gemstones like tourmalines experiencing price increases of up to 36% annually. This trend contrasts with the broader market movement towards lab-grown diamonds, which now account for half of the diamond engagement ring purchases.

Despite the chemical, physical, and optical similarities between lab-grown and natural gemstones, a significant majority of customers still show a preference for natural stones, largely due to their unique inclusions that add character.

Diamonds are certainly still a very popular choice and that is not likely to change. It is, however, very interesting to see this increased interest in colored gemstone jewelry.

Environment

Eels Thrive in Polluted River in Japan

Going through a neon-filled corridor in a crowded urban area of 2.7 million people, the Dotonbori River is known for having water that's not exactly pristine – some even describe it as a "toilet bowl."

But this iconic spot in urban Japan has a surprising secret – a pretty big population of one of Japan's favorite fish, the Anguilla japonica or Japanese eel.

Last year, the Mainichi, Japan's oldest English daily paper, teamed up with the Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture, and Fisheries in Osaka Prefecture to check out how many eels were hanging out in the Dotonbori River.

They found 11 eels, a first-time discovery under scientific observation. Now, three of them live at the Osaka Biodiversity Research Center, teaching people in Osaka about the "treasures of the sea" in their river.

"The institute says the study showed that crabs and other stuff that eels munch on also live in the river, making it a proper ecosystem," the Mainichi reports.

DNA analysis on some of these caught eels indicated that they probably traveled into the river from the seas around Osaka.

This river runs through the Minami Entertainment District, the main heart of city life in Osaka. Interestingly, the eels were nabbed just a quarter-mile from the Ebisu Bridge, a tourist-favorite spot and the usual place for late-night celebrations after the Hanshin Tigers baseball team victories.

This study is all about showing how wildlife can hang on, even in super busy places, and the researchers want folks who love to eat grilled eel in restaurants to start caring more about keeping the homes of these national delicacies safe.

"I want people to understand the link between our everyday lives and where we live," says Yoshihiko Yamamoto, the lead researcher, talking to National Geographic. "If people know that eels and other water creatures might be living in their local rivers, they might get into biodiversity and conservation."

Yamamoto is asking the government to make fish ladders and drop baskets of rocks to make it easier for eels to move between the sea and the river. They hope these efforts create a good home for eels under all the flashy lights of pachinko halls and restaurants in the city. Their big wish is that people will start caring more about protecting the homes of these eels, whether they're in the city or out in the countryside.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

You know 2 + 2 comes to the same as 2 x 2. Now find a set of three different whole numbers whose sum is equal to their total when multiplied.

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Your Picture! 📸 

Shout-out goes to Albert Knox who got the correct answer of “A photograph or picture” in 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.