San Diego Zoo Welcomes Rare Sumatran Tiger Cub

Daily Upsider on September 16, 2024

The San Diego Zoo recently welcomed the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub, a critically endangered subspecies with only around 600 remaining in the wild. The cub was born on August 23rd to first-time mother Jillian. This marks a significant step in the zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts for Sumatran tigers.

Wildlife care specialists report that Jillian is adapting well to motherhood, displaying all the expected maternal behaviors, and the cub has been active and vocal while bonding with her. Lisa Peterson, the senior vice president of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, emphasized the importance of this birth, noting that it adds vital genetic diversity to the Sumatran tiger population.

Sumatran tigers are the smallest and most endangered of the tiger subspecies, and they face numerous threats, including habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists encourage the public to help protect these animals by avoiding products made with unsustainable palm oil and refusing to buy items made from endangered species.

Jillian and her cub will remain in their den for several weeks to bond before moving to a specially designed habitat. This period is crucial for the cub’s development. Globally, there are 375 Sumatran tigers in zoos, as part of efforts to ensure the survival of this subspecies.

Sound Waves Treating Pain and Depression

Daily Upsider on September 16, 2024

A new device, called the Diadem, has shown promising results in relieving pain and depression during clinical trials. It uses sound waves to target specific areas of the brain with millimeter accuracy. While non-drug treatments like this can raise skepticism, especially given the widespread use of SSRIs for depression, the research team is enthusiastic.

Lead author Tom Riis, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, reports significant improvements in patients after just one 40-minute session.

“Not every participant saw drastic changes, but for those who did, the results were remarkable,” said Riis. “In some cases, you could see the difference immediately—their mood and behavior had completely shifted.”

The device is in phase 2 trials, and the team is eager to move forward. Of 20 participants, 60% reported a 33% reduction in pain right after treatment. For those with depression, 10 of 14 reported remission a week later after just one session.

The Diadem sends ultrasonic frequencies to areas of the brain involved in pain and emotion regulation, like the anterior cingulate cortex. The device’s precision allows it to reach the target areas through the skull.

One patient described the experience as their brain “waking up,” while another reported feeling unusually clear-headed while walking through a grocery store. The team is now recruiting participants for phase 3 trials and can be contacted at diademclinicaltrials@gmail.com.

Wind Turbine ‘Virtual Factory’

Daily Upsider on September 15, 2024

Offshore wind turbine maintenance is about to improve with the new ‘Jack-up on Jack-up’ concept introduced by Danish naval engineering firm Knud E Hansen. This design creates a “virtual factory” around turbine blades, allowing technicians to work continuously, regardless of weather.

If successful, this concept could greatly enhance the efficiency and reliability of offshore turbine maintenance, pushing the industry towards more operational stability. The design centers around a four-legged platform with a 49.2-foot-wide (15-meter) work area that can be raised to the height of the nacelle (the housing at the top of the turbine). It also features a telescopic weather cover, which provides a controlled environment for technicians to work on blades in almost any weather, day or night.

Knud E Hansen highlights this as a key benefit, noting that traditional methods, reliant on favorable weather for vessel and rope access, often face delays. This new platform allows for a more dependable maintenance schedule, reducing turbine downtime and enabling continuous power production.

A standout feature of the ‘Jack-up on Jack-up’ design is its onboard workshop—a large, air-conditioned workspace at the platform’s rear. This allows technicians to perform complex repairs on-site, eliminating the need to transport damaged blades to shore. The platform also includes a “cherry picker” for easy access to the nacelle, streamlining repairs and reducing logistical challenges. It is designed to handle even the largest turbines, up to 20 megawatts, and operate in water depths of up to 262 feet (80 meters).

Capable of maintaining blades up to 426 feet (130 meters) long and replacing nacelles weighing up to 1,000 tons, this platform is built to meet the demands of current and future offshore turbines.

Tiny, Tiny Homes

Daily Upsider on September 15, 2024

Ryan Donais, a construction manager from Toronto, started building tiny homes on wheels in July to address the city’s growing homelessness crisis, spurred on after his brother became homeless due to a long struggle with addiction.

Concerned about the rise of tent cities, Donais spent 100 hours developing a prototype and two months completing his first unit. Each home, made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, includes basic amenities: a bed, desk, sink, and camping toilet.

His project, Tiny Tiny Homes, is now an official nonprofit, and he’s working on a second unit. The homes are insulated, weatherproof, solar-powered, and designed to offer temporary shelter with storage space for personal items. Donais stresses that these homes aren’t meant to be permanent solutions but a step toward permanent housing.

Donais is raising funds through GoFundMe to scale up production, with each unit costing about $5,000 to build. He’s also seeking material donations and a larger workspace to continue the project.

Dad’s Yearly School Interview Goes Viral

Daily Upsider on September 13, 2024

A dad who interviewed his daughter every year on the first day of school has now shared the final video as she starts her last year of high school before heading to college. Ray Petelin began this tradition with his daughter Elizabeth in 2012, when she was five and waiting for the bus to kindergarten. Each year, he asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, watching her answers shift from doctor to teacher, magician to waitress, and heart surgeon to physical therapist.

Now, after their 13th and final interview, the 47-year-old TV meteorologist shared the video compilation. “I put it together late at night so no one would see me bawling,” Ray admitted. The video, posted on Facebook and Twitter/X, has gained over 50 million views, leading to TV interviews on major networks, including his own station, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Many parents have called Ray “Dad of the Year,” and his tradition has inspired others to do the same with their kids.