👽 Evidence of Life on Mars

Good morning. It’s been a week of discoveries and hope. NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered minerals on Mars that may be the strongest sign yet of past life, bringing us closer than ever to answering the age-old question: are we alone?

Back on Earth, a volunteer-powered movement in Pittsburgh has rescued 250 million pounds of food from going to waste, turning surplus into meals for those in need and cutting emissions along the way.

Meanwhile, researchers in Mexico are celebrating a 30% rise in the jaguar population, a testament to the power of conservation even in the face of habitat loss.

—Stephanie S

NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered two minerals, vivianite and greigite, in a Martian core sample. These minerals are closely linked to microbial activity on Earth, sparking excitement about the possibility of past life on Mars.

The discovery was made in Neretva Vallis, an ancient river channel that once fed Jezero Crater’s lake. The pattern of these minerals in the sample matches those formed by biological processes on Earth.

While this does not prove life existed on Mars, it is the strongest biosignature found so far. NASA officials call it the closest we have come to discovering life on the Red Planet.

Future missions, possibly involving astronauts, may help answer whether these minerals can only form through life, or if they can also arise without it. The search for Martian life continues with renewed hope.

A volunteer-powered food rescue network inspired by DoorDash has saved 250 million pounds of food from going to waste. Using an app, 25,000 drivers collect surplus food and deliver it to nonprofits, turning it into millions of meals for those in need.

The effort has expanded across several states, preventing 450 million pounds of emissions.

This people-powered movement shows how communities can tackle hunger and climate change together.

After losing his sight at 13 due to a rare reaction to ibuprofen, Canadian Brent Chapman spent two decades in darkness. Now, thanks to a groundbreaking surgery, his own tooth was implanted in his eye to hold a lens and restore his vision.

This rare procedure, called osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, was a last resort after 50 failed surgeries. Chapman can now see the world and his loved ones again.

His story is a testament to perseverance and medical innovation.

Researchers in Mexico are celebrating a 30% increase in the country’s jaguar population over the past 15 years, now estimated at around 5,300 animals. This growth was revealed by a national census using hundreds of camera traps.

The findings are especially uplifting given ongoing threats like deforestation and habitat loss. Conservation efforts and collaboration with local communities have played a key role.

Jaguars remain endangered, but this news offers hope for their future.

50 years ago today, John Cleese stepped out from Monty Python to launch Fawlty Towers, the sitcom that BBC still calls “the British sitcom by which all others must be judged.” Co-written with Connie Booth, the show followed Basil Fawlty, an incompetent, snobbish hotelier inspired by Cleese’s real encounter with eccentric hotel owner Donald Sinclair in Torquay.

Despite only 12 episodes, the series became timeless, winning BAFTAs, producing endlessly quotable lines, and cementing Cleese’s Basil Fawlty as one of the greatest TV characters of all time. To this day, Fawlty Towers remains a jewel in the BBC’s comedy crown, celebrated for its razor-sharp writing and rewatchable chaos.

Other notable September 19 events:

1893: New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote.

1968: Funny Girl premiered, with Barbra Streisand making her Oscar-winning film debut.

1970: Neil Young released his landmark album After the Gold Rush.

1982: The smiley face emoticon :-) was first proposed by CMU professor Scott Fahlman.

✈️ Alabama: Tuskegee University is training a new generation of Black pilots to address the national pilot shortage.

🏡 Canada: After his house burned down this summer, a Canadian man won a new cottage in a charity raffle he had entered just days before the fire.

🐝 South Korea: Scientists have developed a painless, long-lasting drug delivery patch inspired by bee stingers.

🦝 Kentucky: A nurse revived a raccoon found drunk and unconscious in a dumpster by performing CPR.

🍛 India: Cafes in Ambikapur offer a full meal to anyone who brings in 1 kilo of plastic waste, helping to fight both hunger and pollution at the same time.

— James Baldwin

Every day brings fresh insights and uplifting moments that highlight the beauty of life. Here are five reasons why now is the best time to be alive:

🏢 Vertical Crops: Vertical farming in urban areas is reducing food miles and delivering fresh produce year-round.

🧬 Vision Breakthrough: Gene therapies are offering new hope for treating rare inherited vision disorders.

🚀 Startup Support: Tech incubators are supporting young innovators with funding and mentorship to launch impactful startups.

🎨 Art for Change: Public art projects are revitalizing neighborhoods, sparking pride, and reducing crime rates.

📚 Books for All: Global literacy initiatives are translating books into dozens of languages, reaching more readers than ever.

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