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Daily Upsider - Monday, September 23rd, 2024
Julia Mejia & James Linder
September 23, 2024
In partnership with
Monday, September 23rd, 2024
Good Morning! đ
Make sure to read todayâs motivational monday article. I feel that a lot of us need to hear thisâŚ
Todayâs Upside
Innovation
Worldâs Largest Battery
Artistic rendering to promote Form Energyâs battery tech. The company has also received DOE demonstration project funding elsewhere -credit Form Energy, released to the media.
A company in northern Maine is planning to build the worldâs largest battery, with 8,500 megawatt-hours of storage. Its goal is to store excess renewable energy, like solar and wind, for use when production is low, such as during cloudy or calm days.
The battery uses a process called "reverse rusting." It contains iron, which oxidizes (rusts) when storing energy and returns to pure iron when discharging it. While this method isnât suitable for small-scale devices, it's cost-effective for large-scale energy storageâabout one-tenth the cost of lithium-ion batteries. Form Energy, the company behind this project, has secured over $380 million in Department of Energy grants for projects across the North Atlantic, with $147 million going to the Maine battery.
At full capacity, the battery could power 85,000 homes for up to 100 hours. It will be the largest energy storage system ever built, according to Form Energy CEO Mateo Jaramillo. The energy stored could also power an electric vehicle around the world 1,288 times. Each battery is the size of a washer-dryer unit, and 50 will make up the station.
If you're frustrated by one-sided reporting, our 5-minute newsletter is the missing piece. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you comprehensive, unbiased newsâfree from political agendas. Stay informed with factual coverage on the topics that matter.
Space
First Spacewalk by a Private Citizen
Mission Commander Isaacman exiting the Dragon capsule â credit, Polaris Program, retrieved from X
On Thursday, September 12 at 7:58 a.m. ET, the SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew completed the worldâs first all-civilian spacewalk, 450 miles above Earth. Jared Isaacman, tech entrepreneur and adventurer, exited the Dragon capsule first, followed by SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, as the capsule passed over Australia and New Zealand.
Though there have been celebrations and coverage of the crewâs safe return on Sunday, one key aspect hasnât received enough attention. âThe images of Isaacman and Gillis silhouetted more than 200 miles high against a dramatic backdrop of Earth will be added to the annals of space history at a time when companies such as SpaceX are authoring new chapters of exploration,â Christian Davenport writes in the Washington Post.
The mission tested SpaceXâs latest spacesuit. Isaacman and Gillisâ spacewalks marked the successful debut of the new extravehicular activity (EVA) suit, which is far more mobile than Apollo-era suits. Unlike previous models, the Polaris crew could move freely inside the Dragon capsule and exit through the hatch without an airlock. In a Starlink-powered interview with the Post, Isaacman reported that the suit performed well and that the "pretty good data" would influence the development of two more suits.
SpaceXâs Polaris Program is preparing for the future of commercial space travel. The Polaris Dawn mission tested various technologies, including the EVA suit. The second mission aims to visit the Hubble Space Telescope, which Isaacman suggested his crew could help by giving it a push, as Hubble is gradually being pulled toward Earth.
Good News
A Double Proposal!
A couple who unknowingly planned separate marriage proposals ended up getting down on one knee at the same time during a concert.
Rachel Hundertmark had been preparing for months to propose to her partner, Rashad Polk, at a concert by their favorite band. The couple shared their first kiss at a Modest Mouse concert in 2021, and on June 14, they attended another show with friends, family, and Rachelâs 16-year-old daughter, Jasmine. Rachel had a ring in her pocket, ready to propose, unaware that Rashad had the same plan. Both had told Jasmine about their proposals, leaving her to keep both secrets without spoiling the surprise.
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Mindful Musings
Alan Watts presents a paradox in what he calls "The Backwards Law": the relentless pursuit of feeling better can actually diminish our satisfaction. When we chase constant happiness or improvement, we inadvertently highlight our perceived deficiencies.
Pause for a moment and reflect on this: How often do we find ourselves in pursuit of something that seems just out of reach, only to discover that the very act of pursuing it amplifies our sense of lack? Dive into this concept and explore how embracing the present, rather than constantly striving for better, might lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Let us know what you think of this, we are always excited to hear from all of you! đ
Mind Stretchers
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What common chemical compound is represented by the letters H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O?
Answers to yesterdayâs Mind Stretchers:
Good after noon!
Gerry Moore got the answer first!
The first to send us the correct answer for todayâs 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.
From the Community
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