Good Morning! 🌞

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it buried Pompeii under volcanic ash and pumice, freezing the city in time. This preserved everything from houses and frescoes to graffiti and household objects, giving us an unparalleled glimpse into ancient Roman daily life. Archaeologists even found loaves of bread left in ovens, still intact after nearly 2,000 years!

You can learn more about Pompeii’s fascinating history in today’s newsletter.

World News

Rewriting Pompeii’s History

Researchers have recently analyzed DNA from skeletal remains preserved in the aftermath of Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 CE, which devastated the Roman town of Pompeii. When the eruption buried the town under layers of volcanic ash, many bodies were preserved in unique plaster casts made by filling the voids left by decayed remains. These casts, painstakingly restored, have provided valuable new insights into the people of Pompeii and the city's social dynamics.

A team led by David Reich and Alissa Mittnik from Harvard University has examined ancient DNA from 14 of the 86 cast bodies. Their findings challenge longstanding interpretations based on cast arrangements and physical proximity. For example, a pair previously thought to be a mother and child turned out to be an unrelated adult male and child. In another case, individuals presumed to be sisters or a mother-daughter pair were revealed to include at least one male. These results reshape historical narratives and highlight the value of genetic evidence in understanding family structures and social relationships in ancient Pompeii.

In addition to uncovering personal relationships, the study showed that Pompeii had a diverse population, with many residents originating from the eastern Mediterranean. This discovery supports the idea that Pompeii, like much of the Roman Empire, was a melting pot of cultures and a hub of immigration and cultural exchange. Reich and Mittnik stress that integrating genetic data with archaeological and historical research is crucial for avoiding misinterpretations rooted in modern assumptions, opening new doors to understanding the rich, multicultural society that thrived in Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption.

Good News

Trying Color Blind Glasses

Kris Sipe, 47, who has been colorblind his entire life, tried colorblind glasses for the first time and was overwhelmed by the vibrant colors around him. He described the experience as "crazy," noting that the glasses revealed the true intensity of colors he had never fully seen, like the green of the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz. While he doesn't wear the glasses all the time due to the overwhelming brightness, he uses them for particularly colorful moments, like admiring a yellow fire hydrant or the blue sky. Since purchasing the glasses in 2021, Kris has gained a new appreciation for the world of color, as optical technology for colorblindness becomes more affordable.

Innovation

Electric Wallpaper

NexGen Heating is trialing an innovative infrared electric wallpaper in Nottingham homes with poor insulation, aiming to offer a greener, cost-effective solution for hard-to-heat spaces. The wallpaper, filled with graphene and powered by electricity, emits infrared heat to warm people and objects directly, bypassing the need to heat the surrounding air. Combined with solar panels and battery storage, the wallpaper could significantly reduce heating costs for households struggling with fuel poverty, especially in social housing where insulation standards are often low.

Designed for homes that are prohibitively expensive to retrofit, this heating solution targets areas most impacted by fuel poverty. Ian Sanderson, CEO of NexGen, explained the company’s focus on making energy-efficient heating accessible, particularly in social housing. "Fuel poverty and hard-to-heat homes are closely linked. We aim to help both people and the environment," he emphasized. Unlike heat pumps, which are less effective in poorly insulated homes, NexGen's infrared wallpaper is intended as an adaptable solution for older properties that are challenging to insulate effectively.

The infrared wallpaper’s graphene layer emits infrared heat when electrified, and copper strips on either side conduct the current, allowing the wallpaper to be customized around fixtures and painted over, blending seamlessly into interiors. The system warms fabrics and surfaces directly, storing heat even after being turned off, creating a "thermal battery" effect. Dr. Mike Siebert from Nottingham Trent University highlighted the health, cost, and carbon-saving benefits of the technology, while Chris Pryke-Hendy of Nottingham Community Housing Association noted its flexibility and near-instant warmth, a promising alternative for older homes transitioning from fossil fuels.

Support Daily Upsider!

Help our mission to share positive, meaningful news! Your support keeps us going without the need to bombard you with annoying ads!

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

S-mile! 🙂 Gerry Moore got this 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