Good morning. It's Saturday, Oct. 12, and in this weekend edition, we're covering the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner, a comet approaching Earth today, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.9 million readers. Sign up here.
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A Japanese anti-nuclear weapons advocacy group—made up of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki—was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize yesterday, capping off a week of recognitions in physics, literature, and more. The group is the first Japanese recipient since 1974 to receive the Peace Prize.
The organization, Nihon Hidankyo, was founded 11 years after the end of World War II as a grassroots movement to help support roughly 650,000 survivors of the 1945 US bombings in Japan, who suffered radiation exposure and long-term health consequences. As of March, around 106,000 survivors, known as hibakusha (or "bomb-affected people"), have been registered with the Japanese government, with an average age of 85 years.
Next year marks 80 years since the events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (see background), which ultimately forced Japan to surrender and ended World War II. Roughly 140,000 people were killed as a result of Aug. 6, 1945, when the US dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, and another 70,000 were killed three days later when a second bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced Monday. |
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Hurricane Milton death toll rises to 16, with 2 million still without power.
President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Florida tomorrow to visit areas affected by Hurricane Milton. Federal personnel on the ground have so far assisted with over 4,000 rescues and delivered roughly 2.8 million meals to people. Towns in northeast Florida remain under a coastal flood advisory, while schools in 19 districts across the state reopened Friday.
Over 70,000 new RNA viruses discovered thanks to AI model.
Researchers found 70,500 previously unknown RNA viruses using an AI model that combines machine learning with protein structure prediction to identify viral sequences in genomic data. The breakthrough not only reveals an array of unique viruses, including some found in extreme environments, but also sheds light on AI's potential in exploring the "dark matter" of the RNA virus universe. The findings could also aid in understanding disease origins and microbial evolution. See an overview of RNA here.
One person dead, 23 rescued after elevator mishap at Colorado mine.
The group of people was trapped 1,000 feet underground for about six hours after an elevator malfunctioned at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, about 50 miles west of Colorado Springs. The 1890s gold mine has been inactive since 1961 and has since been a tourist attraction. Four were injured, while the person who died was a tour guide. Read about the history of the gold mine here.
Canada to fully cover costs of contraception and diabetes drugs.
Under legislation passed by Canada's parliament, the government will cover the costs of contraception and diabetes medications for citizens without drug plan coverage and out-of-pocket expenses for those with coverage. The initiative is part of a broader plan to develop a publicly funded national pharmacare program. Roughly 9 million Canadian women and 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes are estimated to receive help.
Comet last seen in Stone Age to make closest flyby to Earth today.
The Oort Cloud comet was discovered last year and is believed to orbit the sun roughly every 80,000 years. It is set to make a close approach to Earth today, flying by about 44 million miles away. The comet is about 2 miles wide; its trail of dust and gases is expected to be visible to the naked eye, according to NASA. Learn more about comets here. |
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Houston native surprises his mom by saving up for nine months to pay off her mortgage. (More, w/video)
An older brother steps in to help his sister during a father-daughter dance when their dad couldn't participate. (More, w/video)
Twin boys born conjoined celebrate first birthday after separation surgery. (More)
Single mother of three, who helped a stranger when a tree fell on his SUV, receives new mobile home thanks to GoFundMe. (More)
Pen pals meet in person for the first time after writing to each other for over 60 years. (More, w/video) |
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In partnership with Miso Robotics |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Sage M. in Boerne, Texas.
"Today, my 5-year-old daughter and I had a handful of errands to run and finished up by going grocery shopping at our local H-E-B. As we were in the checkout line, tired and more than ready to get home for nap time, a kind and thoughtful employee came up to us to give my daughter a handful of fun H-E-B items, such as a coloring book, highlighter pens, pencils, stickers, an eraser, and even a pop-it calculator! His generosity not only put a smile on her face but made her feel so loved. As we walked to our car, she said, 'Today is the best day ever!' Thank you H-E-B employee for showing kindness and going above and beyond to make a morning full of errands 'The best day ever!'"
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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"Like snowflakes, the human pattern is never cast twice. We are uncommonly and marvelously intricate in thought and action, our problems are most complex and, too often, silently borne." |
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