Good Morning! 🌞

Did you know that today is a day filled with meaning around the world? It’s All Saints’ Day, where many honor saints and loved ones. Plus, it’s the start of Día de los Muertos—a time to celebrate and remember those who’ve passed with love and color. 🕯️ 

Environment

New York Hits Solar Goals

New York has successfully installed 6 gigawatts of solar power, reaching this goal a year ahead of schedule. This milestone, part of a 2019 clean energy law, highlights the state’s status as a leading market for distributed solar energy, which includes solar panels on homes, businesses, and larger solar farms.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced this achievement during the opening of a solar array in New Scotland, operated by New Leaf Energy, which will supply power to 1,000 local homes. Governor Kathy Hochul commented, “Today we celebrate the early achievement of New York’s 6-GW milestone, moving us closer to a reliable zero-emission grid.” She emphasized that distributed solar is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing renewable energy availability, benefiting public health, the environment, and the economy.

NYSERDA reports that solar projects in New York have generated over 14,000 jobs across various roles. In 2023 alone, the state installed 885 megawatts of solar projects, increasing private investment in the solar sector to $9.2 billion. In anticipation of continued progress, Governor Hochul previously instructed NYSERDA and the Department of Public Service to increase the goal to 10 gigawatts by 2030, with 3.4 gigawatts of new installations already in development. Maine has also achieved an energy transition goal ahead of schedule, installing 100,000 heat pumps two years before its original 2025 target. Governor Janet Mills has since set a new goal to install an additional 175,000 heat pumps in Maine by 2027.

Innovation

The ‘Elemind’

A team of MIT graduates has developed a commercial device that offers an alternative to sleeping pills for people with sleep issues.

The device, called Elemind, is a headband resembling a product you might find at an Apple Store. It functions as an electroencephalogram (EEG) that transmits audio waves into the brain, helping align brain regions to promote sleep onset.
In a small study, individuals with sleep-onset insomnia were able to fall asleep 10 to 15 minutes faster while wearing the Elemind headband. Founded by David Wang and Ed Boyden, the company aims not only to assist those struggling with sleep but also to potentially slow or prevent cognitive decline. CEO Meredith Perry explains, “We wanted to create a nonchemical option for people seeking quality sleep without side effects, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of natural sleep without the risks.” The target audience for this device includes breastfeeding mothers who prefer not to take sleep medications, travelers combating jet lag, and anyone looking to enhance their next-day performance by gaining better control over their sleep.

Initially focused on transcranial electric stimulation to address essential tremor syndrome, the founders shifted to sleep, a less-regulated field. “We theorize that the sound we play triggers an auditory-evoked response in the brain,” Wang stated. “This means the auditory cortex releases a voltage burst that spreads across the brain, disrupting other regions. Some users refer to Elemind as a brain jammer, especially helpful for those who tend to ruminate before bed, as it encourages the brain to quiet down.” The marketing pitch of “put your brain on Do Not Disturb” effectively highlights its purpose. Those interested can preorder the headband for $99, with the full retail price set at $350.

World News

Coins Unearthed

The British government has purchased the largest coin hoard ever found from the tumultuous period following the Norman Conquest. The Chew Valley Hoard, comprising 2,584 silver pennies, was likely buried for safekeeping during widespread conflict and has been valued at $5.6 million (£4.3 million), making it the highest-value treasure acquisition on record, far exceeding the famous Staffordshire Hoard.

Discovered by locals with a metal detector in a farmer’s field in southwest England in 2019, the hoard was unearthed by Adam Staples and his friends. Staples found the first coin, which turned out to be a William the Conqueror coin valued between £1,000 and £1,500. Initially hopeful of finding a few coins, they were surprised to uncover so many. The hoard dates back to 1066 CE, a significant year in English history when the last remnants of Viking and Saxon rule were eliminated by William the Conqueror. After landing near Exeter, William fought Harold Godwinson, the Anglo-Saxon king who had just defeated a Norwegian invasion. This conflict led to the Norman Conquest, which fundamentally transformed the British monarchy.

Nearly half of the coins were minted during Godwinson’s reign, while the others depict the newly crowned William I, including what are believed to be the first coins minted under his rule. According to Sir Chris Bryant, Minister for Heritage, the hoard offers unique insights into this critical period, containing twice as many coins of Harold II than previously found and significantly increasing the known first-type coins of William I. After the discovery, local authorities had to determine if the coins qualified as "treasure" under the 1996 Treasure Act, which defines treasure as items of historical value made from precious materials. The value was assessed based on silver prices and historical significance, resulting in a premium that constituted over 90% of the artifacts' worth.

The hoard was acquired by the Southwest Heritage Trust of England, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Art Fund. Following its debut at the British Museum in November, the hoard will return to Somerset and be displayed at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of London.

Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
A house with two residents - sometimes one, seldom three. Crack the walls, eat the dwellers, then throw it away. What is it? - A peanut! Albert Knox got this early again! 🥜 

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 the email.

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