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Here’s a random fact for today: Did you know that tissue paper was originally invented for royalty? In 6th century China, it was created specifically for the imperial family to use—talk about a luxurious start for something we use every day!

Earth Sciences

World’s Oldest Ice

A team of scientists in Antarctica has achieved a remarkable milestone in climate research by extracting what is likely the world’s oldest ice. After drilling nearly two miles deep into the Antarctic ice sheet, the team retrieved a 2.8-km-long ice core that reached the bedrock beneath. The trapped air bubbles within the ice provide a detailed record of Earth's atmosphere, offering insight into climate history that spans back 1.2 million years. This achievement is part of the European-funded 'Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice' project, now in its fourth mission.

The drilling process took over 200 days, spanning four field seasons on the Antarctic plateau, where the team worked in extreme conditions at an altitude of 3,200 meters and summer temperatures averaging -35°C. The extracted ice core is expected to provide crucial information on the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a pivotal period between 900,000 and 1.2 million years ago when glacial cycles shifted from 41,000 years to 100,000 years. Understanding the reasons behind this change remains a central question in climate science.

“This is the longest continuous climate record from an ice core, revealing links between the carbon cycle and global temperature,” said Carlo Barbante, project coordinator and professor at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The team is also optimistic that even older ice, potentially as much as 2.58 million years old, could be found at the core's base, further deepening our understanding of Earth’s climate history.

US News

Doctor Saves Homes

In a remarkable act of bravery, a brain surgeon and his son chose to stay behind and execute their wildfire emergency plan to protect their Malibu oceanfront home—and their neighbor’s—rather than evacuate. For two days and nights, the pair, joined by neighbor Clayton Colbert, fought the fires as strong Santa Ana winds fueled the Palisades Fire. Dr. Chester Griffiths, who had spent years preparing for such an emergency, equipped his home with high-pressure hoses, professional firefighting gear, and flame-retardant materials, while also ensuring his family was trained in disaster preparedness.

Their relentless efforts, alongside the help of local firefighters, managed to save five homes in a community where many others were lost. "We did it," Griffiths said in a social media video, his exhaustion evident, "Our houses are here!" The Griffiths family's heroic actions not only spared their property but also stood as a testament to the power of preparation and determination in the face of devastating natural disasters.

As the winds began to ease, firefighters gained control over 40,000 acres of wildfires across California, bringing hope to many affected communities. The courageous response by Griffiths and his neighbors is a reminder of the critical importance of readiness when facing nature’s most destructive forces.

Health Sciences

Diabetes Defense System

A new study suggests that a naturally occurring anti-fungal agent found in carrots may help regulate blood sugar, offering a potential low-cost, non-pharmaceutical treatment for diabetes. Conducted in mice, the research indicates that carrots could provide a promising alternative to traditional diabetes treatments. However, the researchers stress that more studies, particularly in humans, are needed to confirm these findings.

Carrots contain two bioactive compounds, falcarinol and falcarindiol, which may positively impact the gut microbiome, an essential factor in digestion and blood sugar regulation. Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that consuming carrots improved the composition of gut bacteria, especially in mice with type 2 diabetes. Over a 16-week period, mice fed a diet supplemented with freeze-dried carrot powder exhibited better blood sugar regulation.

The bioactive compounds in carrots, also present in other plants such as parsnips and parsley, protect the plant from fungal infections and may offer similar health benefits to humans. The researchers are now seeking funding for human trials to explore whether these effects can be replicated in people and to identify the carrot varieties with the highest concentrations of falcarinol and falcarindiol.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I’m soft and thin, yet hold great worth,
I’m there for tears, or moments of mirth.
I fold with ease, I’m light as air,
You’ll find me in pockets, ready to care.
What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I’m often hidden, but when you need me, I reveal the world you cannot see. I need no fire, yet I shine, A flick of a switch and I’m yours to find. What am I? — flashlight!, Debbie Ettinger got this correct early!

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 news@dailyupsider.com or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to news@dailyupsider.com for the chance to be featured