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Some people love Valentine’s day, some don’t. We’re interested to find out what you think!

Science

The Artemis Program: A New Dawn for Moon Exploration (Part 1 of 5)

Introduction to the Artemis Program

The Artemis program, orchestrated by NASA, marks a revolutionary chapter in the annals of space exploration. Aimed at propelling humans back to the Moon and beyond, Artemis serves as a beacon for future interstellar aspirations, including manned missions to Mars. This endeavor is not only a continuation of lunar exploration but also sets the stage for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

Why "Artemis"?

Named after the Greek goddess of the Moon and Apollo's twin sister, Artemis embodies the spirit of lunar discovery and adventure. This nomenclature not only pays homage to the historic Apollo missions but also signifies a new era where the Moon becomes a gateway for broader cosmic exploration. The program's primary spacecraft, Orion, further ties into this mythological heritage, named after one of the most prominent constellations and known as a hunting companion of Artemis.

The Artemis I Mission

Artemis I, the inaugural mission of this ambitious program, set a precedent with its uncrewed test flight that successfully orbited the Moon in late 2022. This mission was instrumental in testing the foundational technologies that would support future crewed missions, including the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS). Despite facing delays, Artemis I achieved its objectives, orbiting and flying beyond the Moon, demonstrating the capabilities and resilience of the equipment designed to carry humans deeper into space than ever before.

Stay tuned for the next installment in this series, where we'll delve into Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the program, and introduce the Space Launch System (SLS) and the crew poised to take humanity farther into space than we've ever ventured.

Entertainment

The Origin of the Classic Valentine Candy

People celebrate Valentine's Day in different ways. Whether you're into roses or prefer protesting the mushy holiday by wearing purple, there's no right or wrong way to spend February 14th. Some prefers the classic "conversation hearts" to share a sweet treat (and message) with friends and loved ones.

Also known as "Sweethearts" or "Love Hearts," these cute candies are super popular for Valentine’s Day, right after chocolates. In North America, they used to be made by Necco until 2018, when Spangler Candy Company took over (they also make Dum-Dums, Candy Canes, and Canada Mints). But let's go back a bit.

The whole conversation hearts thing started in a pharmacy. Back in 1847, Oliver R. Chase made a machine to cut medicine faster at his Apothecary. When they switched out the medicinal stuff for sugar and flavoring, they got the first candy-making machine. Those round sugar discs became the original Necco wafers, still around today! Then Oliver's brother, Daniel Chase, added a machine to stamp red dye on the discs, putting messages on the candy. By 1901, these turned into the conversation hearts we have now: heart-shaped, pastel-colored candies with short lovey messages.

From Oliver's candy machine to today, making conversation hearts is pretty much the same. Crush sugar into powder, mix with other stuff, shape, stamp, and enjoy! After stamping, the candies dry under heaters, and then they mix different colored hearts before packing. Nowadays, the factories are much bigger, with Necco making 8 billion of these treats every year at its peak.

When Necco switched to Spangler in 2018, we missed out on conversation hearts for a whole year! Even in 2020, when they started making them again, shipping issues meant a year of blank conversation hearts. But luckily, with Valentine’s 2024 around the corner, the candies will be back in action!

World News

Ghana’s Love and Chocolate Week

February 14th isn't just Valentine's Day in Ghana; it's also Chocolate Week! It makes sense, given that chocolates are go-to gifts for the occasion. The National Chocolate Week Celebration kicked off in 2021, signaling a renewed effort among stakeholders for collaborative marketing and promotion.

This move aimed to expand the reach of the Chocolate Day celebration, which started back in 2005. Since then, Chocolate Week has emerged with a new logo and more activities. The Ministry of Tourism initiated Chocolate Day to align with Valentine’s Day on February 14th each year, intending to boost the consumption of Ghanaian chocolate and other cocoa-based products. This celebration is consistently organized under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

The ongoing National Chocolate Week, from February 9-14, 2024, serves as a nationwide event to showcase Ghana's unique cocoa products and position the country as a leading destination for cocoa-based tourism. The goal is also to recognize the contributions of industry stakeholders.

The activities for this year, under the theme "Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, and Grow Ghana," and the sub-theme "Explore Ghana, Eat Chocolate," are a collaborative effort involving the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Cocoa Board, and the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC). Key partners for this year's event include Chocolatiers like Fair Afric, Niche Cocoa, and cocoa liquor manufacturer GIHOC Distilleries.

Sports

On this Day in Baseball History

• 1887 - For a record price of $10,000, the Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, sell current National League batting champ and future Hall of Famer Mike King Kelly to the Beaneaters. The popular box office draw, who will earn his nickname King while playing in Boston, will continue to be productive, hitting .311 for three years during his first tenure with the team. Kelly, who is often credited with popularizing the hit-and-run, will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1945.

• 1911 - A cork-centered ball is introduced, and the number of .300 hitters will jump from eight in 1910 to 27 this season in the American League. The league’s earned run average will go from from 2.53 to 3.34.

• 1948 - Right-handed pitcher Mordecai Brown dies in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the age of 71. Despite losing part of two fingers on his right hand in a childhood farm accident, Brown won 239 games during a 14-year Hall of Fame career.

• 1957 - Some 10 years after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier, the Georgia Senate unanimously approves a bill prohibiting blacks from playing baseball with white players, except at religious gatherings. The bill was put forth by Senator Leon Butts. At the time, Georgia does not have a major league team, but does have several minor league teams.

Mind Stretchers
❔

If you have a cube, each edge two inches long, how many total square inches are there among all eight sides?

Yesterday’s Answer:
Forgive and Forget!

Albert Knox got his answer in 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]

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.