🏆 Champ Becomes a Color

We hope you had a great weekend. From a Vermont boy’s crayon-naming creativity that colored the world, to ancient Roman engineering marvels uncovered in Italy, we’re reminded how imagination and ingenuity leave lasting marks.

In Kentucky, a teacher’s compassion and 3D printing skills gave a student a new hand and new possibilities.

Meanwhile, the LA Dodgers won the World Series against Toronto in an extra-inning game 7. Our heart goes out to Canadians; that was one to remember 🇨🇦⚾️.

—Stephanie S

An iconic shade of blue-green, robin’s egg blue, has a heartwarming origin. In 1992, 8-year-old Chris Straub from Vermont won a Crayola crayon-naming contest with his creative idea.

Decades later, Crayola held a global poll across 180 countries to find the world’s favorite crayon colors. Robin’s egg blue was voted the second most popular, just behind cerulean and ahead of wisteria.

Straub, inspired by his mom’s teaching career and a love of drawing, never imagined millions would cherish his childhood creation.

Now living in New Hampshire, Straub reflects on the joy of seeing his color touch new generations of kids.

Endangered Palau ground doves are making a comeback on Ulong Island after a successful campaign removed invasive rats that threatened native wildlife. Conservationists used trail cameras and field surveys to confirm the doves’ return and even spotted chicks in new areas.

Birdsong and wildlife activity have increased, signaling a healthier ecosystem. Tourists and locals alike are noticing the island’s renewed natural beauty.

This project highlights the power of collaboration and biosecurity in protecting island habitats.

Archaeologists have uncovered a massive stone-lined water basin in the ancient Roman town of Gabii, Italy. Built without concrete, the basin showcases remarkable engineering, using carefully stacked stones and the natural slope of the land.

Dating back as early as 400 BCE, this is Gabii’s first monumental stonework not linked to a temple or fortification. Its purpose may have been both practical and ceremonial.

The discovery highlights the ingenuity of ancient builders and offers new insights into pre-Roman engineering.

When Kentucky teacher Scott Johnson noticed a student missing a hand, he quietly set out to help. Using his school's 3D printing lab, Johnson designed and built a lightweight, functional prosthetic hand for fourth-grader Jackson Farmer.

The project took months of design and collaboration with the E-Nable network, resulting in a custom device made from affordable materials.

Jackson can now grasp and play more easily, and he’ll take the files home to print replacements as needed.

69 years ago today, The Wizard of Oz was televised for the first time, enchanting more than half of America’s TV viewers. Nearly 53% of all households tuned in to watch Judy Garland’s Dorothy follow the Yellow Brick Road, making it one of the most-watched broadcasts of the decade. CBS paid MGM $225,000 per airing — a hefty price at the time — to bring the 1939 Technicolor classic to television screens across the nation.

The film’s success on television cemented its place as a holiday tradition for generations to come. Hosted by Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion, and Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli, the broadcast helped The Wizard of Oz evolve from a box-office underperformer to one of the most beloved films in cinematic history.

Other notable November 3 events:

1838: The Times of India, now the world’s largest English-language daily, was founded as The Bombay Times.

1903: Panama declared independence from Colombia.

1964: Washington, D.C. residents voted in a presidential election for the first time.

2010: Susana Martinez became the first Hispanic female governor in U.S. history.

💉 UK: A new drug trial using amivantamab has shown "incredibly encouraging" results, shrinking tumors in head and neck cancer patients within six weeks.

🕊️ Sri Lanka: A nonprofit has removed 300,000 landmines from former war zones, enabling over 280,000 people to return to their homes safely.

🦎 Bahamas: Peg-legged lizards on Caribbean islands have adapted to life with missing limbs.

🧬 Australia: A new study finds that childbirth and breastfeeding can significantly reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

💰 UK: A family in Hampshire discovered a trove of 69 rare Tudor gold coins buried in their backyard, now set to fetch over $300,000 at auction.

— Lao Tzu

Every day brings amazing advances and uplifting moments that remind us just how wonderful the world can be. Here are five reasons why today is the best time ever to be alive:

♻️ Zero Waste Shops: Zero-waste stores are eliminating packaging by allowing customers to refill containers repeatedly.

💧 Rain Harvest Roofs: Rainwater-harvesting rooftops supply clean water and naturally cool buildings.

🗣️ Medical Translators: AI hospital translators are bridging language gaps between doctors and patients.

🌬️ Air Quality Apps: AI air-quality apps are helping asthma sufferers plan safer outdoor activities.

📚 Mobile Libraries: Mobile libraries are delivering books and internet access to isolated communities.

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