Thursday, January 9th, 2025

Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know that the oldest known bottle of wine dates back to 325 AD? Discovered in a Roman tomb in Germany, it's still sealed, though no one dares to taste it! 🍷 

Innovation

The ‘Queen of Curves’

The Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan, slated for completion in 2025, represents one of the final works by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, often referred to as the “Queen of Curves.” The bridge will stretch 3,000 feet across the Tamsui River and stand as the world’s longest single-span, single-mast, cable-stayed bridge. Beyond its striking form, the structure is designed to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and a future light rail system—alleviating congestion and transforming the northern coastal transport network.

Hadid’s vision incorporates a 200-meter concrete mast with asymmetrical cable stays that create a sleek profile and minimize environmental impact on the estuary. This slender tower is strategically positioned to maintain unobstructed sunset views and minimize interference with boat traffic. Such sensitivity to the site underscores Hadid’s reputation for blending bold aesthetics with thoughtful engineering, reflecting her commitment to both function and form.

Upon completion, the Danjiang Bridge is expected to reduce traffic on the existing bridge by 30%, significantly easing commutes and enhancing connectivity to major destinations such as the Port of Taipei and Taoyuan International Airport. The meticulously crafted design not only stands as a testament to Hadid’s groundbreaking approach but also serves the practical needs of a growing metropolitan region. In so doing, the Danjiang Bridge will become a new symbol of Taiwan’s architectural and infrastructural future, rooted in innovation and elegance.

Good News

46-Year-Old Gift

While renovating his parents' home, 53-year-old Tim King stumbled upon a hidden treasure: a forgotten Christmas gift from 46 years ago, tucked away inside the walls. Wrapped in vintage Disney paper, the package was likely meant for a stocking or under the tree but had slipped through a crack and remained hidden for decades. King, a contractor from Lombard, Illinois, discovered the time capsule while tearing down old drywall.

“Before we closed up the drywall, I thought, ‘I should check if anything’s back there,’ and sure enough, there was a present,” King told KTLA 5. “Then I saw the old wrapping paper and realized, ‘Oh crap, that has my name on it.’” The gift, a Matchbox Thunder Jets set, would have been perfect for 6-year-old Tim at the time. Although his parents couldn’t recall the details, King believes it had fallen through a gap in the wall or floor. He documented the nostalgic find on Instagram, where videos of the unwrapping have garnered 37,000 views.

For kids eagerly awaiting their holiday surprises, King’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the magic of Christmas is worth the wait—even if it takes 46 years to unwrap.

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Environment

Christmas Trees Recycled

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol is once again calling for donated Christmas trees to enrich its animals’ habitats and reduce landfill waste. Now in its fifth year, the initiative has already diverted 15,000 trees from landfills, showcasing the zoo’s commitment to sustainability. Each tree finds a new purpose beyond the festive season—some are given to elephants as a nutritious snack, while others encourage natural behaviors like foraging and exploration among rhinos, spectacled bears, and smaller mammals.

Meerkats, for instance, benefit from the novelty of fresh trees, which stimulate curiosity and encourage playful interaction. In addition to repurposing cut trees, the zoo also plants live trees in enclosures for animals such as elephants and bears. These living trees mimic conditions found in the wild, allowing the creatures to scratch, forage, and investigate within a more authentic environment, thereby enhancing their overall well-being.

Beyond Bristol, a Yorkshire-based business also contributes to the circular economy by renting out potted trees during the holiday season, then repurposing mature trees for flood protection measures. Together, these efforts underscore how creative reuse of Christmas trees can serve multiple functions—from animal enrichment to mitigating environmental damage—long after the ornaments have come down.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️

I’m born of a vine, yet bottled with care,
I hold memories of sunshine and air.
I’m red, white, or gold, a timeless charade,
What am I, crafted and perfectly aged?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

I have glass but I’m not a cup,
I let in light but don’t warm you up.
I open wide to let air in,
But never move, though I might spin.
What am I? — Window!, Holly Porter got this correct 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]or reply to 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.