Good Morning! ☀️ 

Today is world teachers day! Make sure to read today’s “Social Saturday” feature!

Innovation

Major Range Boost for Electric Cars

A team of international researchers has discovered why batteries lose capacity over time, a finding that could help electric vehicles travel farther on a single charge and extend battery lifespan.

It’s widely known that older devices, like mobile phones, lose power more quickly, but until now, the cause of this degradation wasn’t fully understood. Led by an engineer from the University of Colorado-Boulder, the team’s breakthrough may lead to improved batteries and energy storage technologies, accelerating the shift to clean energy. “We are advancing lithium-ion batteries by uncovering the molecular processes behind their degradation,” said Professor Michael Toney, the study's lead.

For years, engineers have tried to design lithium-ion batteries without relying on cobalt, a rare and expensive mineral tied to environmental and labor concerns. Alternative materials like nickel and magnesium have been tested, but these led to higher rates of "self-discharge," where internal chemical reactions reduce stored energy. This issue limits most EV batteries to a lifespan of 7-10 years. Toney’s team investigated self-discharge and found that hydrogen molecules from the battery's electrolyte move to the cathode, occupying spots that lithium ions typically bind to. With fewer binding spots, the battery's capacity and electric current weaken.

Toney noted that while some low-cobalt batteries could offer longer driving ranges, it’s important to ensure they remain durable. The team’s findings could guide future developments, such as coating the cathode to block hydrogen or using different electrolytes. "Improving battery performance is crucial for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy," Toney concluded.

Culture

A ‘To-Don’t’ List Instead of a To-Do List

Even activities that are good for you can become counterproductive if you overload your schedule, leading to burnout. ABC News AU’s Emily McGrorey shared her experience of discussing a new meditation habit with her psychologist. Instead of encouraging her, the psychologist suggested she scrap the plan—along with several other routines she had already built. The reason? It was simply too much. The psychologist recommended a 'to-don’t' list.

Rachel Botsman, an Oxford University Trust Fellow, is credited with the concept of 'to-don’t' lists. Writing down goals or tasks often helps with mental clarity, which is why to-do lists are so popular. The same idea applies to removing non-essential tasks. McGrorey found that listing the unnecessary activities crowding her day revealed how many of them could be cut or postponed. Amantha Imber, an organizational psychologist and podcast host, highlighted that while time is finite, we often keep adding more tasks to our to-do lists, thinking it will help us get ahead. But sometimes, the opposite is true.

Imber noted that while some tasks, like parenting responsibilities, are unavoidable, many draining activities can either be stopped or delegated. This insight led McGrorey to add several familiar items to her 'to-don’t' list:

• No meetings between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

• Skip ironing casual clothes—use a non-wrinkle tumble dry cycle instead.

• Do laundry and dishes every other day, rather than daily.

Environment

World’s First Rhino Surgery

A 2-year-old female rhino named Amara recently underwent surgery on her ulna in a first-of-its-kind procedure.

Using techniques typically applied in horse surgeries, a team of specialized veterinarians successfully treated her leg and fitted her with a cast. Amara, a southern white rhino from Knowsley Safari Park in northwestern England, developed a limp earlier this year. Vets consulted equine surgeons from the University of Liverpool, who confirmed via X-ray that she had fractured her ulna. The surgery, performed under anesthesia in her enclosure, lasted five hours and included keyhole surgery on her wrist. The ulna, the bone connecting the elbow to the wrist, is located in the front legs of rhinos, similar to humans.

There was no prior record of this kind of operation on a rhino. Since rhinos are part of the same order as horses, equine surgeons used similar methods to guide the procedure. “We weren’t sure how the cast would hold or how Amara would handle the restriction on her limb,” said Dr. David Stack from the University of Liverpool. “We hoped she’d tolerate it and still be able to move, lie down, and get back up.”

So far, Amara is recovering well. She remains in her enclosure with her arm in a full cast to limit movement.

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

⁉️ 

I lose my head in the morning, but get it back at night. What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
What makes you, young?
- “ng” 😉 

Gerry Moore got the correct answer 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 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.