🌞 A new mechanical heart

Last night over dinner, my group of friends discussed the one small thing in a day that makes them happy. Some mentioned making a coffee, others mentioned opening the curtains to a sunny day. It was a lovely conversation about gratitude and appreciating the small things in life.

What’s the one small thing that brings you joy in a day? Hit reply to this email and let me know!

An Aussie man in Sydney has become the first person in the world to be discharged from hospital with a mechanical heart implant. During the 6-hour operation in Sydney last year, doctors implanted the world’s first mechanical blood pump into a man who was experiencing heart failure and waiting for a donated heart. 

The surgery took place in November, and he was discharged with the artificial heart in early February. After 105 days, the patient received a real heart transplant earlier this month.

BiVACOR, the company that developed the ‘Total Artificial Heart’, said that the heart is a “bridge to keep patients alive until a donor heart transplant becomes available.” According to the Australian government, every year, over 23 million people around the world suffer from heart failure, but only 6,000 will receive a donor heart.

The Government said this technology could “save millions of lives globally, halving deaths from heart failure”.

Isn’t technology just incredible?!

This photo, of a wild fox photographed at Gran Paradiso, Italy, was a finalist in this year’s World Photography Awards. It’s just so cute!

If you’ve looked up at the sky over the past few days, you will have noticed the moon shining bright and full.

Now imagine if you looked up to the sky and saw not one…but 274 moons. Well, that’s what we now understand is the case on the planet Saturn, which now has 274 moons, taking the “moon king” title from Jupiter.

Astronomers from France, Canada, Taiwan and the U.S. monitored the sky around Saturn over several years to confirm the number of moons. The out-of-this-world discovery was released to the public this week.

Astronomer Dr Brett Gladman said: “These moons are a few kilometres in size and are likely all fragments of a smaller number of originally captured moons that were broken apart by violent collisions.”

Saturn is now confirmed to have almost twice as many moons as all the other planets in our solar system combined.

Got a mid-year trip on the cards?

Save as a team and get there with ease using 2Up. Team up with your bestie, sibling, partner, anyone you want to save with, so you can battle bills, share expenses, and track spending as one.

Digital cards made for two Instantly add your 2Up card to your digital wallet and start spending together.

Bank overseas without the fees Simple toggle on ‘Travel Mode’ in your Up app and live like a local without the international banking fees.

Find your Player 2 and sign up today with code TDA20 for $20 instantly!

Former football player Fran Hurndall will spend an incredible 34 days running across the country to raise awareness and funds for domestic violence support. This May, during Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Fran will run an unbelievable 3,800km (!!!) from Western Australia’s Cottesloe Beach to Sydney in just 34 days.

As part of her challenge, Fran is determined to raise $1 million for RizeUp Australia, a charity that provides life-saving support for families impacted by domestic violence.

While the physical feat itself is set to secure her place in history as the first woman to run 3,800km in record time, the challenge also serves as a tribute to Fran’s sister - a survivor of domestic violence. She said: "Pushing myself to new limits has always been part of who I am and I’m so glad that I can use that determination to help people who really need it.”

We’re all backing you Fran, and can’t wait to watch your incredible challenge begin!

Today’s community good news is courtesy of one of our journo Belle’s friends, Emily Hausman.

Emily launched an organisation called Y-Care in December last year. Y-Care (Youth Care of Dementia) creates a network of support for people in their 20s and 30s who are caring for those with dementia.

It’s personal for 21-year-old Emily, who first saw her grandmother developing dementia eight years ago. As she watched her grandmother deteriorate, Emily tried to find support groups for people who might be experiencing similar emotions as they watched family members experiencing dementia. Unable to identify anything for her age group, she reached out directly to Dr Katya Numbers from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing at the University of New South Wales.

Together, the two women decided to create their own group and spread the message via social media. Today, they’re growing a safe and supportive space for more than 40 young people impacted by dementia, filling the hole Emily experienced all those years ago. The group offers casual meet ups and also hosts workshops led by young professionals with lived experience, covering topics like navigating the healthcare system and dealing with grief.

On today's good news podcast, we discuss the Aussie man who was discharged recently from hospital sporting a mechanical heart, the world's most family friendly country, and the major astronomical discovery this week.