Anyone can go viral these days — even a Colorado water utility company. Denver Water released a video last week on the best practices for conserving H20 this summer, but made it fun by getting the message across in a Weird Al-style parody of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” The catchy lyrics, which caught the eye of the ’90s boy band, include, “Tell me why? / Don’t water in the daytime / Tell me why? / Don’t water in the sunshine / Tell me why? / Don’t let it all evaporate / I water that way.” Watch the video (and get some tips on hot-weather water conservation).
At just 12 years old, Kendric Cromer is making medical history. He’s the first person with sickle cell disease to undergo commercially licensed gene therapy, a newly approved treatment that could help cure the condition. The preteen’s medical journey comes less than six months after the Food and Drug Administration authorized two companies to sell gene therapy to those with the genetic blood disorder, which can cause extreme pain, inflammation, infections, and other medical issues. “Sickle cell always steals my dreams and interrupts all the things I want to do,” Cromer, who’s being treated at Washington, D.C.’s Children’s National Hospital, told The New York Times. The hope is that gene therapy, which proved successful in clinical trials, will change not only his life but also those of the estimated 20,000 people with the disease who qualify for the treatment in the U.S. Cromer, who qualified due to the severity of his sickness and his insurance coverage, is already thinking about a future without sickle cell — the A student said he wants to play basketball and then go on to become a geneticist. “I want to be cured,” he shared. Read more about his medical journey.
Together With RYSE
Why You Should Invest in This Smart Home Startup
We’ve all heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder,” right? That’s doubly applicable to RYSE, which can benefit both your home and investment portfolio. The tech startup has patented the only mass market shade automation device, and its public $1.50/share round is open to investors like you for a limited time. RYSE is poised to dominate the smart shades space, which is growing at an astonishing 55% annually. The company has an exclusive deal with Best Buy resembling those that led Ring and Nest to their buyouts — which totaled $1.2 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively.If you missed out on those spectacular early investments in the smart home space, though, RYSE your chance to grab hold of the next one.
We (unfortunately) can’t ask Plato his thoughts on artificial intelligence today, but we can use the technology to learn more about the Greek philosopher and other scholars of the past. Last month, researchers announced they deciphered an ancient papyrus scroll that had been recovered from a villa buried by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption nearly 2,000 years ago. Using AI, they were able to get a better idea of where Plato was buried, The Guardianreports. The scroll is representative of a larger movement to harness cutting-edge technology topiece together ancient documents that previously haven’t been understood (or have been damaged to the point where portions of the text are missing or “unreadable”). “It’s going to have a huge impact,” said Dr. Kilian Fleischer, a papyrologist who worked on the scroll that revealed details of Plato’s life. “There will be scrolls that will be read with these new techniques that contribute to our knowledge of antiquity, and to our knowledge of literature in general. This might be a second renaissance.”
Humanity
Not Your Average Drive-Thru: California Food Bank Gives Free Groceries to Those in Need
We’ve written about produce vouchers, Meals on Wheels, living pantries, and community garden initiatives, proving there’s no lack of innovation when it comes to providing nutritious food to those in need. Another perfect example is The Seva Collective, a drive-thru food pantry in Southern California where cars line up to get free bundles of fresh produce and enough groceries to last two weeks. According to CBS News, Seva (meaning “selfless service” in Sikhism) started as a small group of people delivering food and toys to members of the Santa Ana community dealing with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the group has donated over 4 million meals with an emphasis on fresh produce and unprocessed foods.“Our goal is to get fresh food as well as shelf-stable food to every family’s car or cart who comes through the drive,” said co-founder Bandana Singh. The food bank is run with the help of volunteers who show up before sunriseor even days in advance to get everything ready. “It’s a labor of love,but I know when you see the cars and the number of cars and the number of people in line … it’s making an impact, a positive impact on the community,” said volunteer William Tarango. “It’s nice to be around people that just want to serve, that just want to help.”
In Other News
Delta Air Lines unveiled the plane that will take Team USA to the Olympics — and it’s inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
New York City’s first pet-inclusive homeless shelteropened in the Bronx, starting with a pilot program that includes five families and their animals.
Archaeologists discovered a “mysterious lump” of purple pigmentthat was worth more than gold in ancient Rome.
Scientists are tuning into coral soundscapes to learn more about how to save degraded reefs.
This second grade teacher has capitalized on her summer time off to become one of the rare travelers who’s visited every nation on Earth.
Something We Love
Puffworks If you love a crunchy bite,it’s time to try Puffworks’ peanut butter puffs. Each flavor of the organic, plant-based snack (original, honey, strawberry PB&J, and dark chocolate) has at least 5 grams of protein per serving, making it perfect for a post-workout or on-the-go pick-me-up. There’s also a line of “baby puffs” for the littlest snackers in your life.
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Inspiring Story
Saving lives, one music festival at a time
After losing two friends to overdoses, former addict William Perry and his wife Ingela Travers-Hayward started attending music festivals to distribute naloxone, a fast-acting overdose reversal medication. “What we’re trying to do is prevent those tragedies from happening in other people’s lives,” Perry said.
Cyclists Kim Cadzow of New Zealand and Kristen Faulkner of the U.S. took a much-needed break after the 2024 La Vuelta Femenina ended on Sunday. Faulkner, who won a stage of the prestigious Spanish race, had an unconventional path to pro cycling — the 31-year-old took up the sport later than most and quit her venture capital job in 2021 to commit to it full time. Read her story.
Invest Smarter With RYSE
It’s rare that everyday investors get access to a tech startup poised to take over an entire market, but RYSE is offering just that. The smart shade company recently launched in over 100 Best Buy stores, and early investors have seen their shares grow over 20 times. RYSE’s public $1.50/share round is open for a limited time — learn how you can get in on the action below.
