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- Friday, March 15
Contents: SpaceX Starship Launch is a Big Success Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day SpaceX's latest launch was a big success, and is a big step forward despite the setback it faced. SpaceX went through with the third launch of their Starship rocket yesterday, making it farther than ever before with the rocket. Earlier launches resulted in the rockets exploding just minutes after liftoff, but this Starship made it all the way out of the atmosphere before unfortunately suffering an issue upon re-entry, causing the rocket to disintegrate. This is still a huge step forward, they say, and a big win for SpaceX. They have stated that they plan to go through with six more test flights this year, and hopefully, at least one can make it back to Earth in one piece for a successful ocean splashdown. SpaceX hopes to be sending astronauts to the moon in the coming years using Starship, which is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Fact of the Day: The term 'OK' came from the 1830s when people misspelled 'all correct' as 'oll korrect,' leading to the abbreviation 'OK.' Quote of the Day: Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare. (Angela Duckworth) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Emulate (verb)- If you emulate someone or something, you try to be like that person or thing. The word is used especially when one is trying to equal or surpass someone in accomplishment or achievement. In a Sentence: She grew up emulating her sports heroes.
- Thursday, March 14
Contents: Japan Privately-Owned Space Rocket Explodes Just Seconds After Liftoff Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Unfortunately, Japan's latest space rocket didn't make it very far after its launch yesterday, exploding just seconds after liftoff. Private company Space One has been racing to become Japan's first private company to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, hoping to become Japan's version of Elon Musk's SpaceX. Sadly, their rocket, named Kairos, burst into flames just five seconds after liftoff in western Japan's Kii Peninsula, sending flaming debris flying all over the area and smoke erupting from the launch site. After the engine for the rocket's first stage suffered issues, it terminated the mission immediately and self-destructed, and the company is now investigating what went wrong with the launch. The fire on the launchpad has been extinguished, and no one was injured in the explosion. Japan is aiming to keep up with the rising global demand for commercial satellites, in which the United States, China, and Russia are far ahead of them. However, they are moving ahead in the space industry despite some setbacks, and aim to be launching multiple rockets per year by the late 2020s. Fact of the Day: There is a type of wasp called the Megaphragma mymaripenne, which is smaller than some single-celled organisms! However, the wasp still contains all of the parts of a regular bug: eyes, wings, legs, abdomen, antennae, etc. It also has one of the smallest nervous systems of any insect-- just 7,400 neurons (in comparison, a housefly has 340,000). Quote of the Day: A wise man said, don't be afraid to start over again. This time, you're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cacophony (noun)- A cacophony is a mixture of loud and usually harsh unpleasant sounds. Cacophony can also refer to an incongruous or chaotic mixture. In a Sentence: The sounds of shouting added to the cacophony on the streets.
- Wednesday, March 13
After a wait of multiple months, the finale of Season 3 of American History Stories is finally out! Check out the final episode here. Contents: 50 Injured After Boeing Flight Suffers Dramatic Drop Mid-Flight Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Boeing might be in some serious trouble once again, following their recent 737 Max issues and the crashes in 2018 and 2019. Yesterday, an incident occurred onboard LATAM Airlines Flight 800, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, from Sydney to Auckland where the pilot lost control of the plane for a brief period of time, sending the aircraft plummeting for a few seconds. The Chile-based airline is investigating what happened, but officials have some good eyewitness accounts on the accident. The pilot reported that all gauges went blank for a moment, sending the plane into a freefall for about 10 seconds until everything re-engaged and the plane set back onto its regular flight path. A passenger backed those facts up soon after, stating that he immediately woke up to a plane plummeting about 500 feet, and he saw multiple people fly up across the cabin and stick to the ceiling as the aircraft nosedived for a few brief moments. Those people collapsed back to the ground after just a few seconds, but everyone was extremely shaken from what they thought was a near-death experience. He reported that it was 'mass chaos' during the fall, which ended up injuring about 50 people. Neither Boeing nor investigators have found out the cause of the technical issue, but the black boxes have been recovered and are being analyzed. This comes at a time where Boeing is being questioned by their customers and aviation authorities for their quality control, which has turned up to be unsafe in some aircraft. The aircraft have not been grounded, though, as Boeing has promised to beef up safety and quality controls in the next few months. This could be another setback in regaining their customers' trust, though, which has slowly been returning since the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Fact of the Day: 'Fancy riding' on bikes is illegal in Illinois. This is considered as any fancy, unusual biking like riding without hands or taking your feet off the pedals. Quote of the Day: Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man. (Jimmy Lyon) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ulterior (adj)- Ulterior describes things (usually motives, objectives, reasons, agendas, etc.) that are kept hidden in order to achieve a particular result. In a Sentence: Rory found it hard to not be suspicious of the accountant for offering these services for free; her eagerness to help suggested she has an ulterior motive.
- Tuesday, March 12
Contents: Biggest Wins and Losses From the 2024 Oscars Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day There were some big wins and losses for movies at the Oscars on Sunday night, with Oppenheimer taking home most of the big prizes. Oppenheimer dominated the night, bringing home seven Oscars: Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. Another big winner was Poor Things, bringing home Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design. Before the Oscars, Oppenheimer and Poor Things were looking good, with 13 and 11 nominations, respectively. However, Killers of the Flower Moon was shut out, going in with 10 nominations and emerging with nothing to show for it. Also, the producers of Barbie were slightly disappointed as well, as the box office hit came in with 9 nominations and only came out with one Oscar for Best Original Song, which was What Was I Made For? by FINNEAS and Billie Eilish. Overall, it was a riveting 96th Academy Awards hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and you can watch the replay with either FuboTV, Sling TV, or Hulu in the United States. It can be watched on ITV in the United Kingdom or 7PLUS in Australia. Fact of the Day: For less than a month, between December 18, 1934 and January 9, 1935, the United States Treasury printed $100,000 bills. They had Woodrow Wilson's face on them, but they never went into public circulation-- they were only exchanged within the government. Quote of the Day: Fall seven times, stand up eight. (Japanese Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Refurbish (verb)- To refurbish something is to brighten or freshen it up, or to repair and make improvements to it. In a Sentence: They are refurbishing the old house with the hopes of selling it for a profit.
- Monday, March 11
Check out today's YNH Exclusive that starts out with some important news and also dives into dangerous food additives! Contents: United States FDA Expected to Ban BVO Soon After Proposal in November Other Harmful Additives to Stay Away From Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The United States Food and Drug Administration is expected to officially ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO) soon after proposing the ban in November 2023. BVO is a chemical primarily used in sodas, as the added bromine creates a denser oil that stops citrus flavoring agents from floating to the surface of fizzy drinks. Countries all over the world, such as Japan, India, and all of the European Union, have already outlawed the chemical after recent studies brought its possibly harmful effects to light, which is why Mountain Dew and Fresca are not sold in the EU. BVO has been used in drinks since the 1920s, and the FDA originally placed the chemical on its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list. However, scientists knew that bromine is a huge factor in iodine deficiency, as it can prevent iodine from helping the thyroid create hormones that help with metabolism, which is why they urged the FDA to look further into the safety of BVO. Since the FDA didn't have enough data to justify the restriction of BVO, they limited the level of the chemical in drinks to 15 parts per million while they conducted long-term studies. After years of studies on animals, they concluded that the amount of bromine in BVO can be harmful to the thyroid, liver, and heart, and it can also cause neurological and developmental issues in the brain. Following these studies, the FDA considered banning it, but California got there first. In October 2022, California banned the usage of BVO in any food or drink, along with three other food additives, but it would only take effect by 2027. On the other hand, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co have been phasing BVO out for a while, and the chemical is not included in any of their drinks anymore. Many companies still use it, though, and it can have serious effects on the body. The FDA is expected to make the official announcement after their review process, but in the meantime, make sure to stay away from any drinks containing brominated vegetable oil! On a separate but related note, make sure to also stay away from the other three food additives that California has banned. As previously mentioned, in October 2022, California introduced the California Food Safety Act, which will fine the maker of any consumable item containing brominated vegetable oil, Red 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben starting January 1, 2027. Red 3, also known as erythrosine, is present in over 2,900 food products and is primarily made of petroleum. Some notable foods that contain Red 3 are pink Peeps, various red candies, and maraschino cherries. The chemical is known to cause numerous detrimental health effects, most notably increased chances of cancer, hyperactivity, and neurological issues in children. The latter is also very concerning considering that according to various studies, young children consume over twice as much Red 3 as the general population. Along with Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, Red 3 has been confirmed as a dangerous carcinogen, and is banned in the EU, Japan, China, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, but not by the FDA. Potassium bromate is also known to be a carcinogen, leading to kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancer in animals who have been studied. It is primarily used in baked goods like breads, bagels, and pastries, and the additive is banned in the EU, China, and India. Lastly, propylparaben is generally used in cosmetics, but is also a food additive in various foods, including desserts like muffins and cookies. In animal testing, it was found to cause reproductive issues and disruption of the endocrine system, but the effects of propylparaben are much less harmful than the effects of other additives like Red 3. If you find any of these chemicals in any of your foods, make sure to stay away from them, as these additives can lead to long-lasting effects that could plague your body for life. Upcoming Events: Ramadan Begins (Monday, March 11) International Day to Combat Islamophobia (Friday, March 15) St. Patrick's Day (Sunday, March 17) Fact of the Day: Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries aren't actual berries. By the botanical description, a true berry grows from one single-ovary flower and has multiple seeds, while all of the three aforementioned 'berries' are considered aggregate fruits because they are made of multiple parts. However, eggplants, avocados, tomatoes, bananas, kiwis, and watermelons all fit this description. Quote of the Day: Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way. (Abraham Lincoln) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obeisance (noun)- Obeisance is a synonym of homage that refers to an acknowledgement of another’s importance or superiority. Obeisance can also mean “a movement of the body (such as a bow) showing respect for someone or something.” In a Sentence: The young singer paid obeisance to Otis Redding while on tour in Memphis by singing “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.”
- Sunday, March 10
Contents: World Cholera Vaccine Stockpile Runs Dry Amid Global Outbreaks Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Cholera cases have dramatically increased in the past few years, and vaccines are running low. Following a Haiti cholera outbreak in 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) created a global stockpile for the cholera vaccine, but despite the large amount of cholera vaccines being produced every day, the stockpile is currently empty. The problem is that all of the vaccines produced daily are taken to treat active cases, so the stockpile remains empty. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, who helps run the stockpile, has reported that as soon as doses come in, they are shipped out to various locations due to the numerous active cases going on during this world outbreak. Lesser-developed countries without widely-available access to the modern sewage and water treatment of today have been the primary ones suffering from these severe outbreaks, such as African countries like Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Somalia, South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and the island of Haiti. Since the cholera vaccine is not given to everyone -- its production is based on the demand for it -- it is hard to predict how many will be needed. In addition to this, the vaccine is produced and sold cheaply in poorer areas, meaning that big manufacturers wouldn't make much money by producing the vaccine because they wouldn't profit as much and it is not a steady stream of revenue. Due to this, only one company in the world produces the cholera vaccine: EuBiologics in South Korea. They are struggling to keep up with the high demand for the cholera vaccine as climate change worsens, causing more and more natural disasters that lead to people drinking unhealthy water. Conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine War and Israel's war on Palestine have also contributed, as well as the regular cases. Another factor is that countries are more willing to report cases. In the past, countries would ignore the number of cholera cases and refuse to report them, but awareness has increased, leading the countries to increase the demand for vaccines. Scientists are working towards solutions to make the vaccine easier to produce, and organizations around the world are trying to resume preventive cholera vaccines, which will create the steady stream of revenue that will attract larger manufacturers for the vaccine. Fact of the Day: That earthy rain smell that people smell after (or before, in some cases) rain is called petrichor. It gets its distinct sweet smell from the ozone that is pushed down to our area from the upper levels of the atmosphere during a rainstorm. Quote of the Day: Action and Determination are two habits you must develop at the forefront of all Success. (Machi Block) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Germane (adj)- Germane is a formal synonym of relevant that describes something related to a subject in an appropriate way. In a Sentence: Her comments were not germane to the discussion.
- Saturday, March 9
Contents: TikTok Could be Banned in the US Soon Due to Chinese Spying Fears Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day TikTok, the booming social media app, could soon be banned across all electronic devices in the United States. The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House unanimously approved a bill that could end up banning TikTok in the US altogether. If the bill passes, it would make it illegal to offer TikTok in any app store on any device, stopping the over 170 million American TikTok users from accessing the application. This comes amid fears in the US government that China could be using the social media app for spying purposes, but TikTok CEO Shou Chew has strongly denied this. Due to these fears, the bill would also give TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, 5 months to sell the company before the ban takes place. If TikTok is sold to another parent company, the app will stay legal in the United States. The only way to save the app if that doesn't happen is to create a spinoff under another parent company. ByteDance has severely pushed back against this new bill, but it still has a long way to go before possibly going into action. The bill is now heading to a floor vote in the House, and it also has to make its way through the Senate, which is much harder. However, it has passed one of the numerous hurdles that it must face, and it will be tough for it to make it through the rest. Fact of the Day: Some sea cucumbers literally fight with their guts. They sometimes eject part or all of their digestive systems when threatened, which are poisonous to predators like crabs and fish. However, the organs grow back in a matter of days. Quote of the Day: Find what you love to do, and go do it. You will never be successful until you have a plan, and the discipline and determination to go through with that plan. (Julius Williams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Weltanshauung (noun)- A Weltanschauung is a worldview; in other words, a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint. The word is typically capitalized. In a Sentence: Many people disagree with the writer's personal Weltanschauung, but most can appreciate the quality and thoughtfulness of her work.
- Friday, March 8
Contents: FDA Finds Lead in Ground Cinnamon from Six Distributors After Investigation Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day After finding high amounts of lead in cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration took their investigation a step farther, only to find startling results. Earlier in the year, they discovered that over 460 people had suffered from lead poisoning after consuming cinnamon applesauce pouches from the brands WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis, leading them to continue a full investigation into the cinnamon industry. They discovered that six distributors of ground cinnamon have amounts of lead in their products, although it is thousands of times lower than what was found in the applesauce pouches. They found that ground cinnamon sold by LaFiesta (sold by La Superior and SuperMercados), Marcum (sold by Save A Lot), MTCI (sold by SF Supermarket), Swad (sold by Patel Brothers), Supreme Tradition (sold by Dollar Tree and Family Dollar), and El Chillar (sold by La Joya Morelense) contained lead, which can lead to severe neurological and developmental disabilities. It is extremely crucial that lead is kept out of the diets of everyone, especially children and pregnant women. The FDA has advised any consumer with any of these products in their home to throw them out immediately. Fact of the Day: Since we live on Earth, the atmosphere scatters sunlight, creating the dim shadows we know. However, since the moon doesn't have an atmosphere, shadows are darker on the moon than on Earth. Quote of the Day: Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to. (Henry van Dyke) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Descry (verb)- Descry is a literary word that, like discover or find out, means “to come to realize or understand something.” Descry can also mean “to catch sight of.” In a Sentence: From the tops of the high dunes, we could just descry the ship coming over the horizon.
- Thursday, March 7
Contents: 3 Dead, 4 Injured After Fatal Houthi Attack on Cargo Ship in Red Sea Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Three people are dead and four others are injured after the latest Houthi attack on a ship in the Red Sea, making this the first attack which has resulted in fatalities. True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged cargo ship, was cruising through the Gulf of Aden towards its destination of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia when it was hit by a Houthi-launched missile, causing damage to the ship and sparking a fire onboard. Yemen's Houthi rebels continue to launch their seemingly never-ending supply of missiles at ships in the Red Sea as a protest against Israel's war against Palestine, and the US and UK are starting to retaliate. Both countries have carried out joint strikes across Houthi-controlled bases and ammunition depots recently, in addition to intercepting missiles directed at various ships in the Red Sea. Now that the Houthi attacks have become fatal, the retaliations will be strong, but the US and UK are being careful to avoid another escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Ships from all around the world are being hit, some of which are even leaking oil or dropping fertilizer, which is sparking potential environmental disasters as well. However, the Houthis have pledged to not stop until Israel backs off, which doesn't look like it will happen soon. Fact of the Day: The world's tallest waterfall is actually underwater. In the Denmark Strait, warm and cold water come together, and cold water is heavier than warm water. When they meet, the cold water falls, forming the Denmark Strait Cataract, which is over 2 miles tall. Quote of the Day: Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. (Og Mandino) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ad hominem (adj)- Something described as ad hominem involves an attack on an opponent’s character rather than an answer to assertions or points that the opponent has made. In a Sentence: The debate between the mayoral candidates was going smoothly until the ad hominem attacks began.
- Wednesday, March 6
Contents: Israel-Palestine Ceasefire Talks Continue As Ramadan Approaches Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Ramadan is approaching for Muslims, and countries around the world are worrying if a ceasefire will be put into place by then. Tensions between the two countries have flared in the past during the month, but ceasefire talks are going on right now. Israel has offered a 6-week ceasefire in exchange for more hostages, which Hamas has about 130 of, and they could discuss the return of more Palestinian militants who have currently been imprisoned in Israel during that ceasefire. However, they estimate that about a quarter of the 130 remaining hostages are dead, which is extremely worrying for the families of them. On the other hand, Hamas refuses to accept any ceasefire deal and give back any hostages unless the war is completely put to an end, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called 'delusional.' Israel has killed about 30,000 Palestinians in their retaliation to Hamas' original attacks on October 7, 2023, and they have hinted at future plans to invade the border city of Rafah, where over 1.4 million Palestinians are currently sheltering after their evacuation from Gaza City. They have stated that after intense negotiation (with the help of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar), the deal proposal is on the table, and whether there will be a ceasefire during Ramadan or not is now in Hamas' hands. Fact of the Day: The shortest war in history was the Anglo-Zanzibar War, which only lasted 38 minutes. Quote of the Day: Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them. (T. Harv Eker) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Luminary (noun)- A luminary is a person of prominence or brilliant achievement. The word luminary may also refer to a celestial body, such as the sun or moon. In a Sentence: Luminaries of the art world congregated at the international convention.