Good morning! 🌞

I recently came across some old words that have fallen out of use and ran into the word “extemporize”, which means “to improvise or speak without preparation.”.

I thought this word fills a specific and rather interesting place. It made me think a little more about the times I may be extemporizing.

If you are ever bored I highly suggest looking up old words, it can be a very fun activity.

Innovation

These 1920 Inventions Will Shock You!

It amazes me to no end what we humans can come up with. There are many amazing inventions happening right now, but I think some of the most fascinating come to us out of the early to mid-20th century.

Some of these are seriously ingenious! Let us know if you got a favorite one, just shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll take a tally. I think my favorite is the helicopter boat thing. That looks so fun to do.

Entertainment

U2 Rocks Vegas Sphere with First 'Christmas' in 36 Years

U2 Surprises Fans in Vegas with Rare Performance of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"at Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday,after 36 Years. The iconic rock band delighted the audience at their Las Vegas residency with a heartfelt rendition of the holiday classic. The last time they played the song was in 1987 during the Joshua Tree Tour. The intimate performance, part of their extended U2:UV Achtung Baby residency, marked a special moment for fans, with Bono's vocals capturing the song's somber essence. Love, the original artist, praised U2's unique take on the track. The residency, initially slated for 2023, extends into 2024 due to popular demand.

Catch the feels in this awesome concert clip down below!

Environment

Solar Panel Recycling Solution Found?

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular option for supplemental power, particularly because of its reported environmental impact. However, as solar panels reach the end of their lifespan, the question of how to recycle these materials has become a pressing issue. Researchers from Australia's Deakin University are working on a groundbreaking solution to this problem.

Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials has been at the forefront of this research, with Dr. Md Mokhlesur Rahman and Prof. Ying (Ian) Chen leading the charge. Their focus is on repurposing the silicon in used solar panels, which is the most valuable component of the panels. This breakthrough could be the missing piece in the puzzle of solar panel recycling.

The team has developed a process to extract silicon from discarded solar panels and then convert it into nano silicon for use in lithium-ion batteries. This innovative approach not only addresses the issue of solar panel waste but also provides a sustainable source of raw battery materials for the future.

The potential impact of this research is enormous. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be around 1.5 million tons of solar panels lying in waste. The ability to recycle and repurpose these materials could generate recovered materials worth $15 billion, based on the 78 million tons of solar panel waste expected to be generated globally by 2050.

The researchers have also found that the recovered silicon can be used in other applications, such as nano-fertilizers and innovative methods for carbon capture. This means that the technology has the potential to create a circular economy in the solar industry, where waste is minimized and resources are reused in a sustainable manner.

Deakin University's efforts in solar panel recycling are part of a larger initiative called the Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH). This four-year, $380 million project aims to drive new technology in hydrogen, battery storage, and recycling for a circular economy.

World News

Christmas Around the World

Discover a variety of global Christmas traditions—from religious and secular to sweet and slightly menacing. Whether you're into the festivity or using a Christmas demon to keep kids in line, there's a tradition on this list for everyone.

Austria
St. Nicholas and his sinister companion, Krampus, visit children on December 5th to reward good behavior with treats and punish bad behavior. Krampus is often depicted as a half-human, half-goat creature with hooves, horns, and a long tongue. He carries a basket or bag, chains, bells, and birch branches for various menacing purposes.

In addition to this tradition, children in Austria submit their Christmas wish lists to Christkind (Baby Jesus) by burning them in the fireplace. Alongside these folklore elements, Austrians also engage in festive activities such as decorating Christmas trees, singing carols, baking cookies, and enjoying Christmas markets.

Philippines
San Fernando, dubbed the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, lives up to its name with a year-round Christmas-themed park and the famous Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu). The festival, which began in 1931, has gained immense popularity, featuring a competition among 11 villages to craft the most stunning star-shaped lanterns.

Originally, lanterns were made with paper on bamboo frames using rice paste. However, the modern versions are technicolor marvels, constructed with welded steel frames, plastic materials (replacing paper), and adorned with thousands of tiny lights.

Japan
Since a strategic 1974 ad campaign by KFC Japan, fried chicken has become a popular Christmas meal, with many families still following this tradition today. Due to high demand, pre-ordering is necessary, and some may even wait in long lines on Christmas Day for a bucket of boneless wings. In Japan, Christmas is mainly a secular novelty holiday, marked by dazzling Christmas light displays in Tokyo and the exchange of gifts among families.

Germany
In Germany, St. Nicholas travels on a donkey to deliver treats to children on Nikolaus Tag (December 6th), leaving goodies in their shoes. His devilish counterpart, Farmhand Rupert, accompanies him, wearing dark clothing with bells and carrying a stick for naughty children. Germany is home to renowned Christmas markets with billions of lights, gift shopping, live entertainment, and glühwein (hot mulled wine) for adults.

Mind Stretchers

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I have a head like a cat and feet like a cat, but I am not a cat. What am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers
A priest!

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.