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Happy Sunday!
And welcome to a brand new month!
Fresh calendar page, fresh inbox, same you, slightly more optimistic. If you’re the kind of person who treats the first of the month like a soft reset, this newsletter is your emotional support water bottle. Now let’s start things off with some good news!
🪐 Out of space news
NASA scientists have found a planet that looks like Earth’s frosty twin.
The planet, called HD 137010 b (yes, catchy name) is rocky, Earth sized, and orbits a Sun-like star around 146 light years away. It takes roughly a year to complete its orbit, but it sits right on the chilly outer edge of the star’s habitable zone.
The star itself is cooler and dimmer than our Sun, so the planet receives less than a third of the sunlight we get on Earth. That level of light would leave its surface sitting at -68°C, even colder than icy Mars.
Scientists only saw it once in a single blink in data from the Kepler Space Telescope. This means it is still just a “candidate” until telescopes can confirm it. For now, it is being dubbed a “cold Earth”: same vibe, different climate and definitely not picnic weather.
🎨 U.S. museum to return sculptures to India
The U.S. Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art has announced plans to return three sculptures to India, following research showing they had been illegally removed from temples for American collectors.
The three sculptures - ‘Shiva Nataraja', ‘Somaskanda’, and ‘Saint Sundarar with Paravai’ - were all objects carried in ceremonies in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The Indian Government agreed for the ‘Shiva Nataraja’ sculpture to be on long-term loan for public viewing. Museum director Chase F. Robinson said they are “profoundly appreciative” of the loan.
📸 Photo of the week
Credit: REUTERS/Marko Djurica
You’re looking at the Aurora Borealis, also known as the "northern lights", illuminating the sky over houses in Kapisillit, Greenland. Beautiful stuff.
🎵 Feel good song of the week
Credit: Spotify
Dopamine - Jamie xx Remix - Robyn (2025)
After last week’s heartwarming recommendation, we are back to usual programming (me begging asking the TDA team for a song)
Today’s rec comes from Features Editor Emma, who had this to share, via TDA multimedia journalist Elliot:
“Elliot had the good grace to know I needed to hear it and wow. It's insane. Elliot listens when he exercises, and, as I told him, it even makes me want to exercise... which is the craziest thing I've ever said. An already great song reimagined by one of the best.”
🐀 Scientists make breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer
A Spanish research team has managed to “completely eliminate” pancreatic tumours in mice.
Current pancreatic cancer drugs lose effectiveness because of tumour resistance. However, lead researcher Dr Mariano Barbacid has now designed a therapy that “completely and permanently eliminates pancreatic tumours in mice” with minimal side effects.
While the team is not ready for human trials yet, they say their research could “open a path to designing new combination therapies that can improve survival for patients”.
🫂 Sparks joy: Cuddlers
Credit: St Micheal’s Foundation
Every week I find something that sparks joy – but I think this week is the winner.
Hospitals around the world have launched volunteer baby-cuddling programs. Volunteers cuddle, sing and rock NICU babies, who need extra support.
One example is at Toronto’s St Michael's Hospital, which created its program after research showed babies with withdrawal symptoms from prenatal opioid exposure left the NICU faster after receiving “constant cuddling.”
The program was also expanded to include newborns with parents who can’t be with them. One ‘cuddler,’ Hallace Sheridan, said: “It has made my life joyous. I’ll be doing it as long as I possibly can.”
😭😭😭
A message from Smilie
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😊 Uni grads launch kit to protect students from gambling
Benjamin Parker (left) and Jordan White (right) Credit: University of Bristol
Two University of Bristol graduates have made a toolkit for universities to protect students from gambling.
When Benjamin Parker and Jordan White researched student gambling behaviour, they realised how prevalent it was and wanted to develop a solution. Parker said there was a “massive gap between the awareness of universities and the scale of the problem.”
The toolkit, ‘From Freshers’ Week to Losing Streak,’ includes guidance, tools and an awareness campaign. It’s designed to be integrated into already existing university structures.The toolkit was supported by the University of Bristol and is now being distributed in partnership with a local gambling harm-reduction charity.
Two-year-old snooker champion breaks world records
Credit: Guinness World Records
Meet Jude Owens: the toddler champion breaking world records before his third birthday.
Jude has earned two Guinness World Records, both for being the youngest person to make two different pool shots.
Guinness says he’s also the youngest-known person to have a snooker sponsorship.
For those wondering, his legs don’t even reach the floor yet, and he needs a stool to reach the table.
Anyway, I’m off to have my fourth quarter life crisis of the week!
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