Eating Sushi While at War

Despite the challenges posed by Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s economy has shown remarkable resilience, particularly in its culinary sector. The country, which experienced a severe economic downturn following the invasion, has begun to stabilize and adapt.

A key element of this economic adaptation is the flourishing sushi restaurant scene. Sushi, which became popular in Ukraine after the Soviet Union’s dissolution, symbolizes the country’s departure from its past and is now a staple for special occasions and holidays. Olha Nasonova, a restaurant consultant in Kyiv and co-founder of the National Restaurant Association of Ukraine, highlights the importance of restaurants in maintaining a sense of normalcy, likening dining out to therapy.

“Being at a restaurant, sitting at a restaurant is almost like psychotherapy,” says Nasonova. “It’s how we feel the normalcy of life when life is not normal around you.”

Despite logistical hurdles, such as Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and initial reluctance from trucking companies to deliver supplies, sushi restaurants have managed to thrive. Serhiy Fedorchenko, a food supply manager in Zaporizhzhia, notes that although importing ingredients like fresh fish, wasabi, seaweed, and cream cheese (a unique addition in Ukrainian sushi) has been difficult, they have managed anyway.

Restaurants have also adapted to infrastructural challenges, such as power outages, by investing in electrical generators and implementing policies to expedite the import of perishable goods like fish. This adaptability extends to restaurant management, where establishments like Island Sushi, managed by Lapshunkov, are attracting employees with higher salaries and incentives. Lapshunkov observes that the increased military presence in southern Ukraine, coupled with civilians’ desire for normalcy, has boosted business.

A New King in Europe

In a historic moment for Denmark, new King Frederik X has assumed the throne following the surprising abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II. The handover took place at Christiansborg Palace in the capital, Copenhagen, where thousands gathered to witness the commencement of a new era.

Queen Margrethe, who reigned for over five decades, signed a declaration of abdication during a cabinet meeting, officially passing the crown to her son. The emotional scene unfolded amidst large crowds braving frigid weather in the streets.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen continued the tradition, publicly proclaiming the King’s accession from the palace balcony. King Frederik delivered a concise speech, expressing his hope to be a unifying king. His Australian-born wife, Queen Mary, and their four children, including Crown Prince Christian, the new successor, joined him.

While the Danish monarchy, one of Europe’s oldest, lacks a traditional crowning ceremony, the streets were filled with well-wishers. Unlike the grand global spectacles of other royal events, Denmark’s changeover remained a low-key yet significant occasion.

The transition garnered international congratulations, with Britain’s King Charles III extending warm wishes. Denmark, entering a new modern era, faces the challenge of maintaining a popular and relevant monarchy under King Frederik’s reign.

The Danish royal family is well known for its down-to-earth demeanor. As Denmark embraces this new chapter, King Frederik and Queen Mary strive to maintain a monarchy that resonates with the public in a rapidly changing world.

Ancient City Found in the Amazon

An ancient city, hidden for thousands of years by dense vegetation in the Amazon, has been uncovered through LiDAR Technology. The Upano area in eastern Ecuador reveals a complex urban society with houses, plazas, and an impressive network of roads and canals connecting them. This discovery challenges the main stream belief that Amazonian people lived nomadically or in small settlements.

Built around 2,500 years ago, the city thrived for up to 1,000 years, hosting a population estimated in the tens of thousands or more. It is the oldest site known in the Amazon, and the size could indicate that the ancient civilization could rival or have even been larger than the Mayan civilizations in Mexico and Central America.

The archaeological findings, aided by LiDAR technology flown on a plane, exposed 6,000 rectangular platforms arranged in groups around plazas. These platforms, believed to be homes and ceremonial spaces, showcased sophisticated urban planning.

A striking feature was the extensive road network, covering a vast distance that have long straight sections, and sometimes turn using right angles. It is much more common to see roads that follow the lay of the land as it is easier to make. The researchers believe this might suggest a ceremonial or symbolic significance to some of these roads. Causeways with ditches, likely canals managing water resources, were also identified. Signs of threats to the city, such as blocked entrances and ditches, hinted at potential conflicts with neighboring groups.

The first evidence of their being an ancient city was found in the 1970’s, but this is the first time the site has been thoroughly surveyed since then.

Prof Stephen Rostain, director of investigation at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France, was the man who lead the survey. He said he was warned away from the research by other scientist who claimed there were no ancient civilizations in the Amazon. The professor was not deterred, and is quite happy about it, saying “But I’m very stubborn, so I did it anyway. Now I must admit I am quite happy to have made such a big discovery,”.

The researchers plan to explore an adjoining 300 sq km area to see what more they can discover.

This reminds me of the writings of early Spanish explorers, who claimed there were large cities and civilizations in the Amazon. These cities were not found later, and lot’s of scientists and historians chalked it up to fabrications. This is a good reminder that sometimes scientist get a little over confident with with what they “know”.

Hopefully, we continue to learn more about these lost cities and people.

Snoo Smart Sleeper

Dr. Harvey Karp, CEO of Happiest Baby, introduces Snoo, a revolutionary bassinet designed to emulate the soothing rhythm of the womb for infants.

Key Features:
Snoo employs automated rocking and shushing to create a calming environment, addressing the rhythm babies are accustomed to. Notably, it secures infants on their backs, aligning with safe sleep practices and reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

FDA Approval:
In a landmark move, Snoo received De Novo approval from the FDA in March, setting a new industry standard for infant care. This recognition underscores the potential of technology in enhancing infant safety during sleep.

Future Vision:
Happiest Baby envisions the next step – insurance coverage for Snoo. Priced at $1,700, insurance coverage could make this innovative technology more accessible, ensuring its benefits reach a broader audience. As Happiest Baby looks ahead to insurance coverage, Snoo looks to become a widely accessible tool, positively impacting the health and well-being of infants.

Thoughts:
This is certainly an interesting idea, we will see if it catches on. I wonder what you parents think about it? Does this seem like something you would give a try? Or is there something else that works just fine for you?

The Sun, Like Never Seen Before

A telescope, the largest and most powerful of its kind, captured the sun’s fiery surface, sunspots, boiling plasma, and quiet regions in an amazing first.

The National Science Foundation’s recently released set of eight images from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, Hawaii, showcase the sun in incredible detail. They say these images are a crucial step in understanding the sun’s magnetic field and the drivers behind solar storms.

Astronomy experts have previously emphasized the importance of the Inouye Solar Telescope in predicting space weather, which lags behind terrestrial weather predictions by 50 years or more. The telescope aims to fill the knowledge gap by studying the underlying physics of solar activity.

The recently released images represent only a small fraction of the data collected during the telescope’s current operations phase. Scientists expect further groundbreaking results as the Inouye Solar Telescope continues to explore the sun.

If you want to check out the released images, you can find them here. They are absolutely stunning!