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Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter to find out the results to this fascinating psychological experiment!

The "Pygmalion Effect" in the Classroom

This experiment, conducted by Rosenthal and Jacobson in 1964-1965 at an elementary school in San Francisco, tested whether a teacher's expectations could influence students' performance. Teachers were told that certain students were expected to be "intellectual bloomers" based on a (fictional) test predicting academic "spurts." These students were randomly selected, with no actual testing conducted.

How do you think these students did, compared to their classmates?

Economy

Jeff Bezos Sells Billions

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com Inc., recently sold approximately 12 million shares of the online retail and cloud services giant for roughly $2 billion, according to a company filing. This significant transaction marks the first major sale of Amazon stock by Bezos since 2021.

The sale comes at a time when Bezos has been diversifying his investments and focusing on other ventures, including his space exploration company, Blue Origin, and various philanthropic efforts. While the specific reasons behind this particular sale have not been detailed by Bezos, it aligns with his past actions of liquidating portions of his Amazon stock to fund these other initiatives.

As of the latest reports, Bezos remains one of the largest individual shareholders of Amazon, owning just under 10% of the company according to Forbs. He founded the company in 1994 and led to become one of the most valuable and influential tech companies in the world. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2021 to assume the role of executive chairman, Bezos continues to play a significant role in the company's strategic direction.

This stock sale is part of a broader trend observed among tech billionaires, who periodically sell shares of their companies to reallocate assets or fund their other business and philanthropic ventures.

Let’s hope he uses the money for a good cause and not yet another mega yacht…

Entertainment

Avatar: The Last Airbender

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” is arguably one of the most beloved American animated TV-show. Netflix has decided to bring us a live action TV-show and fans are both excited and cautious.

Originally created for younger audiences, the original show is well known for its complex themes, characters, and stories that have drawn in a very large adult audience. While it remains a great show for younger audiences, it is widely considered an example of superb story telling fit for all ages.

If you are not familiar with the original show, it is an American animated television series that aired from 2005 to 2008. Set in a world where people can manipulate the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air through a martial arts-based practice known as "bending,". The show follows Aang, a young boy who is the Avatar—the only one capable of controlling all four elements.

Aang, along with his companions, embarks on a journey to master all four elements and end the century-long war waged by the Fire Nation against the other nations.

After a very poorly received attempt at a movie adaptation in 2010, most fans of the show have been very skeptical of any trying to adapt the original material. The Netflix show aims to bring the beloved animated series to life, promising a faithful and expansive exploration of its rich, fantastical world and complex characters. We shall see if they succeeded very shortly.

Netflix's live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is set to premiere on February 22, 2024.

I am very interested to see if this show can live up to expectations. If you have never seen the original show, I would highly recommend it, even if you do not usually watch animated shows or kid friendly content. It is a fantastic example of great storytelling that uses it’s medium to the fullest.

Environment

Old Tjikko, the World’s Oldest Tree.

Nestled in the remote wilderness of Fulufjället National Park in Sweden stands the world's oldest known living tree – Old Tjikko. Its estimated root system, over 9,550 years old, has weathered the ebb and flow of civilizations, endured severe Scandinavian winters, and even witnessed an erupting volcano.

Old Tjikko took root shortly after the last ice age, around 11,500 years ago, as glaciers retreated from Scandinavia. The exposed ground allowed seedlings like Old Tjikko's ancestor to grow, although initial growth in the harsh environment was slow. Despite fires, droughts, insect attacks, or extreme winters, the extensive root network persisted underground. The current trunk and canopy started growing about 600-800 years ago, likely due to a more favorable climate.

Old Tjikko has survived numerous challenges, including the migration of Sami reindeer herders, the Black Death in the 1300s, and the climate impacts of the 1783 Laki volcano eruption in Iceland. Discovered by geologist Dr. Leif Kullman in 2008, Old Tjikko's impressive longevity was confirmed through carbon dating its 75-foot-long root system.

Dr. Kullman named the tree "Old Tjikko" after his deceased dog and has chosen to protect its exact location. While a few small tours allow visitors to witness this ancient tree each summer, its humble presence serves as a reminder of the enduring cycles of nature.

World News

Amateur Paleontologists Discover a New Fossil Site

Amateur paleontologists in France have discovered a site with nearly 400 well-preserved fossils dating back 470 million years. The Montagne Noire site, known as the Cabrières Biota, is one of the richest fossil sites from the Ordovician period, spanning approximately 42 million years. During this time, a super-continent consisting of southern Europe, Africa, South America, Antarctica, and Australia moved toward the South Pole.

The fossils found by Eric Monceret and Sylvie Monceret are remarkable for their state of preservation, featuring rare elements like digestive systems and cuticles. Analysis of the Cabrières Biota revealed a diverse array of arthropods and cnidarians, along with algae and sponges.

The high biodiversity suggests the site served as a refuge for species escaping the high temperatures prevalent in northern regions during the Ordovician period. The Cabrières Biota, once situated near the South Pole, provides insights into the composition of southernmost ecosystems during that era.

Lead author Dr. Farid Saleh from the University of Lausanne notes that, during a time of intense global warming, animals sought refuge in high latitude areas to escape extreme equatorial temperatures. The Swiss researchers, in collaboration with The French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), aim to further explore the internal and external anatomy of the fossils, decipher their phylogenetic relationships, and understand their modes of life in a polar ecosystem. Their findings have been published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

I weaken all men for hours each day.
I show you strange visions while you are away.
I take you by night, by day take you back,
None suffer to have me, but do from my lack.
What am I?

Answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
There was a grandfather, a father and a son. 😆 

Albert Knox and Chris Hostetler got the their answers in first and on the exact same minute!

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.