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Getting On the Dance Floor Will Shred Pounds in Overweight People, Improve Blood Pressure and Mental Health

By
Andy Corbley
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Ardian Lumi - Unsplash
Ardian Lumi – Unsplash

Boogying the night away produces meaningful improvements in one’s body mass and waist circumference in people who are overweight or obese, a new study found.

Dancing was also seen to improve blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, physical fitness, cognitive disorders, hypertension, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and mental health—in other words, all the root causes of the non-communicable diseases that kill most people in the West.

The researchers believed that dance would be a more ideal form of exercise because it is sustainable—it’s a sociable, entertaining way of exercising that participants will enjoy, rather than a drudgery they have to push themselves through.

“Dance is effective on fat loss in people overweight and obese and has a significant improvement on body composition and morphology,” said Zhang Yaya, a Ph.D. student at Hunan University, China. “As a form of physical activity that integrates exercise, entertainment, and sociality, dance possesses innate advantages in fostering motivation for exercise.”

To get their results, published in the journal PLoS ONE, the team studied data from 646 participants who were overweight and obese across ten different studies.

They found that dance is very effective for improving body composition and showed that more creative dance types had the most pronounced body composition improvement when compared with traditional dance.

Improvements were also found in overweight children and patients with Parkinson’s disease.

MORE DANCING STORIES: Hula Dancing is Proving to Be an Unlikely Source of Reform for Male Prisoners

Although similar fat loss was seen in aerobic exercise, resistance training, and high-intensity interval training, dance had the additional advantage of reducing fat percentage because of the full-body range of motions that are also less fatiguing, the authors wrote.

Best of all, it is much easier to sustain than other forms of exercise.

The team notes that more research is needed on the topic, but they can confidently conclude that dance is super effective for weight loss.

GRAB Your Friends That Need To Shed A Few And Head Down To The Discoteca…

White House Issues Unprecedented Pardons After FDA Finds Cannabis to Be More Like Tylenol Than Heroin

By
Andy Corbley
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David Gabric
David Gabric

On Friday, January 20th, the federal government waved the white flag in the war on drugs as it regards the cannabis plant.

President Biden issued presidential pardons to any American or lawful permanent resident who has a conviction of cannabis possession on their record.

At the same time, he ordered the Dept. of Health and Human Services to compile a case for the reclassifying of cannabis from a Schedule 1 drug, such as heroin and cocaine, to a Schedule 3 drug, like testosterone and fortified Tylenol.

Decades of advocacy have created a national picture where 38 states have legalized cannabis for medicinal use, and 24 states, two territories, and D.C. have legalized cannabis for recreational use.

The United States FDA Controlled Substance Staff writes in the HHS report that their agency is recommending the rescheduling of cannabis as it meets all three criteria for doing so, namely a lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule 2 substances, an existing and established medical use, and a lower psycho-physical dependency potential.

“The marijuana withdrawal syndrome appears to be relatively mild compared to the withdrawal syndrome associated with alcohol, which can include more serious symptoms such as agitation, paranoia, seizures, and even death,” writes the FDA, which added that while there are many unproven claims about the medicinal use of cannabis, there is “credible” scientific evidence for its use in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.

Sweeping changes would take place if such a rescheduling would occur, which will ultimately be decided by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The already multi-billion dollar cannabis industry would benefit from a much safer banking and tax environment, hundreds of thousands of people, particularly young adults, wouldn’t be turned into criminals by choosing to use a largely harmless substance for recreation, and people—particularly veterans—who live in states where recreational and medicinal cannabis is not available could obtain it safely.

SIMILAR NEWS: Oregon Pardons 45,000 People of Cannabis Possession Charges While Forgiving $14 million in Fines

Relating to the Presidential Pardon, Biden announced the war on drugs had failed, and that it was time to “right these wrongs”.

Anyone who has a possession charge of cannabis, which may be impeding employment or housing opportunities, can apply for a certificate that shows they have been pardoned, and the conviction is off their record, at Justice.gov here. 

“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said.

MORE GOOD GREEN NEWS: Cannabis Products With High THC Levels Do ‘Cut Chronic Pain’

This does not apply to use imprisoned or convicted of selling cannabis.

A Gallup poll conducted in October 2023 found that 70% of Americans believe cannabis should be completely legalized in all its forms.

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World’s First Magma Observatory Poised to Monitor Volcanoes While Generating Tons of Energy

By
Andy Corbley
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Screengrab- credit Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, YouTube.
Screengrab- credit Landsvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, YouTube.

Reprinted with permission and alterations from World at Large, an independent news outlet covering world news, conflicts, travel stories, conservation, and science news.

Theorized as a potential future center of volcanology on Earth, a “magma well” in remote Iceland is the site of the world’s first magma observatory.

The hopes are that the observatory, called the Krafla Magma Testbed, can lead to breakthroughs in volcanology and geothermal energy technology, as well as offer seismologists the ability to monitor potential eruptions much more accurately.

While scientists have found many substandard workarounds throughout history, direct observation and recording of magma under the Earth’s crust has never been done before, but the molten rock under the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) is so close to the surface that such observations can be achieved.

Work on the KMT goes all the way back to 2009, when the state-owned geothermal energy company Landsvirkjun was looking to drill down around 5,000 meters to tap the energy from supercritical water reservoirs above magma flows as part of the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project.

Their project in the remote Krafla Caldera was brought to an abrupt end when after just 2,100 meters, it was clear they struck something totally unlike what they were boring for.

“We were unable to retrieve the whole thing, but a section of the drill string that was freed was filled with fragments of freshly quenched glass. When that happens it’s clear we have penetrated magma,” said Sveinbjorn Holgeirsson, project manager for Landsvirkjun, in a 2015 video documentary.

Krafla is unique because never before has magma been found so close to the surface of the Earth, giving those in the field essentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Now however, financing from the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, and several million in additional funding from Icelandic and EU government programs has allowed the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) to enter a testing phase to see if a long-term magma observatory is feasible.

“What we know about magma comes from interpreting activity measured at the surface, the geology of fossil magma chambers, and laboratory experiments. The Krafla drilling project will provide direct samples and observations, helping the world to read signs of volcanic unrest better,” said Univ. of Alaska Volcanologist John Eichelberger.

“It will improve civil protection for the 800 million people who live within 100km of an active volcano: be they the millions of Indonesian citizens living under the veil of the archipelago‘s active volcanoes or the millions of tourists visiting America‘s Yellowstone National Park”.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: New Google Geothermal Electricity Project Could Be a Milestone for Clean Energy

Highly corrosive gas and superheated steam of 450°C pose supreme technological challenges, but the rewards are immense, for example 13 megawatts of geothermal energy, or enough to power 60,000 homes from just 2 boreholes over the magma well, compared to 18 boreholes in a similar situation elsewhere on the island.

Such energy potential could only be available when drilling into magma chambers, which are almost always out of reach of drilling equipment.

By drilling through the rock–magma interface and into magma, KMT can establish where and under what conditions magma is stored beneath a volcano, and use fluid injection to measure reactions to test all manner of scientific theories. Further still, operators will eventually place sensors near and even in magma to provide direct measurements of things like a sudden rise in temperature, extent of crystallization in and around the magma, change in gas content, or increases in pressure that could lead to an eruption.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The Perfect Energy Source Is Already Here – Endless Geothermal Is Poised for Release From Deep in the Earth

Most of us have an image of magma as an underground pit of lava, but in reality they tend to be pockets of liquid snaking between crystallized grains, surrounded by superheated gas.

Currently, KMT’s drilling partners are developing steel that can expand and contract with extreme heat of up to 1,000°C, while others are working on electronics that can endure the conditions, both of which could be used many times over to explore Venus, writes Paul Voolsen for Science.

Recent project updates have set a date for the initial drilling attempt in 2026.

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Woylies Are the Ecosystem Engineers of Australia–Critically Endangered but They’re Making a Comeback

By
Andy Corbley
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A Western quoll, or 'chuditch' - credit Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
A woylie eating the roots and tubers it loves – credit Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

A critically endangered Australian marsupial is being seen at the greatest-ever frequency since a government agency started working to conserve them.

Australia is filled with small endangered marsupials that have been overhunted by feral foxes and cats, and the woylie, an herbivore native to the state of Western Australia, is an unhappy example of this invasive predation.

But in a forest landscape 3 hours south of Perth, a conservation program initiated by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions of Western Australia has recorded a record number of woylie sightings this year.

34 woylies have been trapped and tagged with GPS tracking anklets, where just 2 were found in the Batalling State Forest in all of 2019.

“There are a lot of challenges for our native fauna and flora across Western Australia and Australia due to the threats to biodiversity, but these kinds of results are really promising,” program coordinator Ashley Millar told ABC News Australia.

Woylies are one of Australia’s native ecosystem engineers—like bison and beavers in Europe and North America—meaning a species whose behaviors cause cascading changes that alter the entire ecosystem in which they live.

MORE ON AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS: ‘Turning Back the Tide of Extinction’ Australian Mammals Are Coming Back: Bandicoots, Bilbies, Potoroos

Beavers do it by building dams, bison do it by trampling things, and woylies do it by digging for the roots and tubers that they eat.

Their preferred food item is actually the truffle—the same one that bumps up the price of a bowl of pasta by $10, and which some dog species are specially-bred to find.

A Western quoll, or ‘chuditch’ – credit Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Part of the conservation program has involved the management of wild foxes and cats; brought to Australia by European settlers and unwittingly caused an ecosystem disruption. The ground-dwelling marsupials never needed to evolve the speed or stealth to escape such successful predators as cats and foxes, and all across Australia these species have to be managed so as not to overhunt the local wildlife.

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR MARSUPIALS: Threatened Western Quolls Return to Western Australia After 100 Year Absence

Also in Batalling were found a growing number of Western quolls, or ‘chuditch’ another of the continent’s endangered marsupials, and despite being no bigger than a raccoon is Western Australia’s largest carnivorous mammal.

SHARE This Encouraging Return Of The Woylie On Social Media… 

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” – Maya Angelou

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” – Maya Angelou

Photo by: Jackson David

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Indian Teen Invents Gadget to Transform Dementia Care – Out of Concern for His Grandmother

By
Andy Corbley
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Courtesy of Hemesh Chadalavada family photo
Courtesy of Hemesh Chadalavada family photo

An Indian teen who is a self-confessed ‘nerd’ who loves robotics, also loved his grandmother Jayasree dearly. Together, they led him to create a new invention that could greatly improve care for Alzheimer’s patients.

Hemesh Chadalavada was 12 years old when one summer evening in 2018, he observed his grandmother go to the kitchen to make tea for herself. When she exited the room, she had left the gas on.

It shocked Hemesh, but also drove him to convert the hours spent on YouTube learning about robotics into a solution that would help ensure accidents like this could be detected if he weren’t there—a question he found himself asking several times.

Jayasree was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the year before, and in 2023 passed away from the delibating neurodegenerative disease.

By then, Hemesh had invented the Alpha Monitor, a badge-like monitoring device that sends out alerts if the person wearing it wanders off or falls.

MORE NEWS LIKE THIS: Devoted Son Took His Mom With Alzheimer’s on Incredible Round-the-World Adventure–And She Improved

“She used to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning and go outside, thinking she was on a train,” Hemesh told the Guardian, who developed the wearable with information gleaned from a visit to a care center run by Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India.

They told him that it couldn’t be a watch because the patients often take them off if they’re heavy or uncomfortable, and that it couldn’t use Bluetooth, which has a very limited range. Even though still in high school, Hemesh was determined to get his wearable ready for manufacture.

Hemesh Chadalavada at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

In 2022 he beat 18,000 entries to win a Samsung-sponsored science fair called Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, from which he pocketed a $120,000 grant and the opportunity to mentor under some of Samsung’s most experienced engineers.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Boy Invents Smart Spoon for His Uncle’s Trembling Hands that Is Affordable in India

His victory also won the admiration of his country’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who posted on X that he “really admired” the young man.

Hemesh’s exams conclude in March, and it’s then that he says he will throw his full weight of time and effort into getting the Alpha Monitor on the market by September. After that, he wants to go abroad and continue studying robotics.

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100-Year-old Walks Around Garden 40,000 Times to Raise Money for Charity

By
Andy Corbley
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Lance Corporal Harold Jones - SWNS
Lance Corporal Harold Jones – SWNS

A 100-year-old veteran of World War II has walked hundreds of miles around his garden to raise money for charity—every day, rain or shine.

Strolling behind his 3-wheeled walker, Lance Corporal Harold Jones circles his back garden 30 times every day no matter the weather, and has been doing so since 2020. He was inspired by the worldwide media stories during the early days of the pandemic that hailed the late ‘Captain Tom’, who did the same thing and raised a huge amount for hospitals.

Corporal Jones is a great-grandfather-of-six, and he started walking circuits around his bungalow during lockdown like Captain Tom, and has so far taken his walker a total of 661 miles, equating to 41,550 laps around his garden, or about the same distance as his home in Birmingham to the border of Germany.

“I always refer to myself as Lance Corporal Harold. Captain Tom was a captain so I thought I’d go to the other end of the spectrum,” said the centenarian, referring to the military hierarchy. “One other reason I started was to keep fit and keep moving. With Covid we had to stay in and all sorts of things.”

“I saw it was what Captain Tom had done to raise money. I had lost three friends with Motor Neurone Disease and I thought I’d do the same,” he said.

OTHER PEOPLE TOM INSPIRED: Inspired by Captain Tom, 5-Year-old Walks On New Prosthetic Limbs Raising $1Million for Hospital That Saved Him

As the anniversary of Captain Tom’s death approaches in two weeks’ time, Jones is still racking up the steps in honor of the Captain who touched the hearts of the nation.

The spritely pensioner reckons the secret to his long-lasting fitness is down to his time in the Armed Forces setting him up with a “high level of endurance.”

Harold, who served in the British Army from 1942 until 1947, was stationed first in India and then in Burma during WW2 as a non-combat office worker. He began fundraising for the MND Association and has since raised over £43,000 in just under four years.

“It has become a daily routine ever since. I [first] set out to try and get to £1,000,” he explained. “I didn’t know how people would respond. I reached a grand in a year. When I reached £10,000 a friend doubled it.”

IN THE NAME OF THE CAPTAIN: Captain Tom Moore’s Family Launches Online Bulletin Board Where Strangers Share Favorite Moments of Kindness

“It’s the walking that keeps me fit. I previously broke my back in three places but my ankles, knee joints, and hips are perfect. I walk in the morning after breakfast in whatever weather, You have to have the determination to get up and go,” said Harold. “That’s so important.”

He has since been awarded a Points of Light award by the Prime Minister for his valiant efforts after the MND Association put his name forward.

WATCH the Lance Corporal Go go go… 

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Stranger on Airplane Quickly Crochets Beanie for Baby Mesmerized by the Yarn in Motion Across the Aisle

By
Andy Corbley
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By Kelly Levine
By Kelly Levine

Kelly and Jake were nervous about taking their 5-month-old daughter on an airplane, as most new parents would be. Flying from New Jersey to Mexico isn’t a short haul, and they weren’t sure what to expect.

But it was on the flight home that the unexpected arose, when little Romey was calmly fascinated by the woman across the aisle who was crocheting—her hands constantly moving was transfixing the tot.

The crocheter, Meegan Rubin, noticed the baby watching her, and also realized the yarn she was using for her project matched the little girl’s outfit. With an hour left on the flight, she decided to make a beanie for Romey, and surprised the family with the hat once they landed.

Captured and summarized by the mom on her TikTok account, it went viral and has racked up almost 8 million views to date.

“Never seen someone work so fast in my life. I had no idea it was for us,” the Mom recalled to Good Morning America. “What a cool way to just do something nice for a stranger,’ and in turn, light up everyone else’s day.”

“I couldn’t help it. I was like, this baby is getting something because she’s too cute,” Rubin who only took up crocheting during the pandemic, admitted.

MORE KITTING STORIES: Stray Cat With No Ears Finally Adopted After Shelter Worker Crochets Her a Pair of Purple Ones

“It just took my mind off everything and it’s really a zen, great place to be,” Rubin said. “Creating something out of a string is so rewarding. It’s like holding the entire universe inside your hands.”

WATCH the video on TikTok… 

@kellyryan49 Good people are the best #babies #babiesoftiktok #flyingwithkids #payitforward #goodnews #goodnewsmovement #firstflight #flyinghacks #united @United Airlines ♬ Gods creation - daniel.mp3

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2,000-Year-Old Home Found Under a Seaside Playground May Be Pliny the Elder’s Villa

By
Andy Corbley
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Photo courtesy of Comune Di Bacoli
Photo courtesy of Comune Di Bacoli

If you’ve ever felt that planning permission is hard to get in an American city because of zoning regs, imagine the difficulty in a country that’s both orders of magnitude smaller, and ground zero for the archaeological remains of one of the world’s most sophisticated classical civilizations.

The Commune of Bacoli outside Naples was trying to build a children’s playground, but the kids will have to make do with their backyards because preliminary surveys uncovered a Roman villa on the same spot.

2,000 years ago, the villa would have sat on a cliffside and commanded 360° views of the Gulf of Naples, with the islands of Ischia and Procida visible in the distance. In fact, the archaeologists excavating the ruins believe it could have been the oppulent haunt of Pliny the Elder.

An author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, Pliny Sr. wrote the Naturalis Historia which became a publishing model for encyclopediae in our time. He was also a naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and Bacoli sits today where the city of Misenum was located—the dockyard of the Roman navy’s Tyrhennian Sea fleet.

He died from inhaling the toxic gasses of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption, which he witnessed from his villa across the Gulf, and into which he organized several ships for a rescue mission. Overweight and asthmatic, he couldn’t flee from the plumes of gas after arriving at the town of Stabiae with a team to rescue the citizens trapped there.

“It is likely that the majestic villa had a 360-degree view of the gulf of Naples for strategic military purposes,” Simona Formola, lead archaeologist at Naples’ art heritage, told CNN in an interview. “We think (the excavation of) deeper layers could reveal more rooms and even frescoes — potentially also precious findings.”

The archaeologists found that the walls were made of limestone blocks cut into diamonds and arranged in a pattern that resembled a fisherman’s net.

Commune of Bacoli, released to the press

Currently, the terraces of the villa are just a few meters above the sea, whereas in the time of Misenum they would have been higher up the cliff. The whole area is sinking ever-so-slowly into the sea with each century of seismic and volcanic activity, and the dock where boats to service the villa would have arrived is now underwater.

MORE NEWS LIKE THIS: Tiny Italian Town Dug Up an Extremely Rare Roman Temple while Trying to Build Supermarket

The whole area south of Naples was a suburban area of Roman settlements, including Mesinum and Puteoli, which attracted visitors across the empire to relax in the natural thermal springs and warm mud pools.

The villa is going to open in a few months as an open air museum.

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“Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” – Garrison Keillor

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.” – Garrison Keillor

Photo by: Krisztina Papp

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Astronomers Discover Blockbuster Star They Nicknamed Barbenheimer Because ‘We’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’

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Good News Network
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An illustration accompanying the Barbenheimer Star study shows an artist depiction of a red giant star with pullout showing elements measured in the star J0931+0038 AKA The Barbenheimer Star. See SWNS story SWMRbarbieheimer. Astronomers have discovered a blockbuster star so unusual they named it the 'Barbenheimer Star'. Sky-watchers from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) have uncovered evidence for an enormous ancient star that exploded in a way previously thought impossible; resulting in an unusual pattern of elemental ashes that left behind a trail of evidence still visible billions of years later. SDSS believe the star, scientific name J0931+0038, could have been at least 50 to 80 times the mass of our Sun. It formed from the supernova remnant of whatever star was there before. SDSS say: "In fact, that ancient supernova must have been so massive that astronomers are surprised it could happen at all – previous theories predicted that such big stars should collapse straight into black holes, without creating a supernova first. So its unusual composition means that the star that was there before must have also been highly unusual. It is that ancient, weird star whose remains we see preserved today that astronomers have nicknamed the Barbenheimer Star." Alex Ji of the University of Chicago and SDSS, the lead author of the study, says: "We’ve never seen anything like this. Whatever happened back then, it must have been amazing. We nicknamed it the ‘Barbenheimer Star’ for its spectacular nucleosynthesis.” The humourous moniker is a reference to the headline-making blockbuster performance of the thematically opposed Barbie and Oppenheimer films released in 2023.
The unusual mix of chemical elements measured helped reconstruct the giant star’s history – University of Chicago / SDSS-V / Melissa Weiss (SWNS)

Astronomers have discovered an enormous celestial entity so unusual they named it ‘the Barbenheimer Star’ – a moniker referring to the recent cultural phenomenon of two blockbuster movies, Barbie and Oppenheimer, which were so opposite, yet so successful at the same moment (‘Barbenheimer’).

The team from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) uncovered evidence of a ‘blockbuster’ ancient star that exploded in a way previously thought impossible.

The explosion resulted in an unusual pattern of elemental ashes that left behind a trail of evidence still visible billions of years later.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” said the lead author of the study, Alex Ji of the University of Chicago and SDSS. “Whatever happened back then, it must have been amazing.”

Ji and colleagues followed the trail back in time using a process called ‘stellar archaeology.’

Just as archaeologists use evidence found in the present to reconstruct the past, astronomers use evidence found in today’s stars to reconstruct conditions in the ancient universe. Today’s stars are like chemical time capsules: they preserve what a piece of the universe was like when the star was born.

The star (scientific name J0931+0038) was captured in an image by the SDSS Milky Way Mapper program, which observes a star’s spectrum, its temperature, and chemical composition—and it was chemistry that first led Ji and his team of stellar archaeologists to notice it.

CHECK OUT: Ringed Planet That Defies Known Physics Discovered in Outer Reaches of Our Solar System

Stars are mostly made of hydrogen and helium, but they also incorporate some of the heavier elements, which were created in previous generations of stars and released into the universe in supernova explosions.

Illustration of supernova explosion with elements flying out from the center of J0931+0038, The Barbenheimer Star – Credit: University of Chicago / SDSS-V / Melissa Weiss via SWNS

J0931+0038 had an unusually low amount of magnesium, prompting further followup from the Magellan telescopes in Chile. When Ji and colleagues first viewed the followup spectrum of J0931+0038, they were amazed.

“As soon as I saw the spectrum, I immediately emailed the rest of the team to talk about how to learn more,” said Ji, who eventually nicknamed it the ‘Barbenheimer Star’ for its “spectacular nucleosynthesis”.

Several things made the star different from other stars: low abundances of elements with odd numbers on the periodic table like sodium and aluminum; a large amount of elements close to iron in the periodic table like nickel and zinc; and an overabundance of heavier elements like strontium and palladium.

“We sometimes see one of these features at a time, but we’ve never before seen all of them in the same star,” says Jennifer Johnson of the Ohio State University, another member of the stellar archaeology team.

What makes it a blockbuster?

So what made J0931+0038 look the way it looks? The star formed from the supernova remnant of whatever star was there before – and so its unusual composition means that the star that was there before must have also been highly unusual. It is that ancient, weird star whose remains we see preserved today.

WOW: NASA Captures The Sun in a Big Smiley Face Made of Wind (LOOK)

Whatever the Barbenheimer Star was, it must have been a blockbuster—at least 50 to 80 times the mass of our Sun. In fact, that ancient supernova must have been so massive that astronomers are surprised it could happen at all.

Previous theories predicted that such big stars should collapse straight into black holes, without creating a supernova first. As surprising as it is to learn that such a massive star could go supernova, even that doesn’t explain the full picture.

“Amazingly, no existing model of element formation can explain what we see,” says Sanjana Curtis of the University of California, Berkeley, co-lead of the published study. “It’s not just, ‘oh, you can tweak something here and there and it’ll work out – the whole pattern of elements seems almost self-contradictory.”

WANT MORE? Astronomers Detect Radio Pattern ‘Like a Heartbeat’ From a Galaxy Far Away

To resolve the apparent contradiction, the astronomers need more and better computer simulations to make predictions about what happened with stars in the early Universe. And they need more observations of today’s stars to provide evidence for the simulations. Considering that the SDSS team discovered evidence for the Barbenheimer Star the very first night they followed up their initial observations, we can expect many more blockbuster results in the coming years.

“The Universe directed this movie, we are just the camera crew,” says Keith Hawkins of the University of Texas at Austin and SDSS spokesperson. “We don’t yet know how the story will end.”

BLOW Some Minds By Sharing The Discovery on Social Media…

Historic Effort Returns 136 Juvenile Galápagos Tortoises into the Wild

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Good News Network
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Juvenile tortoises released into their natural habitat on Isabela Island ©Galápagos Conservancy
Juvenile tortoises released into their natural habitat on Isabela Island ©Galápagos Conservancy

The Galapagos Conservancy successfully airlifted 136 juvenile tortoises to the volcanic terrain on Isabela Island, their only natural habitat on Earth.

The giant Galápagos tortoises between the ages of 5 and 9 years were hatched and raised at the Breeding and Rearing Center on the island, where dedicated park rangers ensured their well-being and development from birth.

They were safely moved via helicopter, which is a crucial new tool for repatriating this species.

Without the helicopter support, paid for by public donations, the only alternative would be to transport them by sea and then carry them on shoulders across several miles of lava fields and challenging terrain that would take a long time and multiple expeditions.

The 136 animals all grew up healthy and were ready to take the exciting journey back to their homeland, where they now can enjoy a lifetime in their natural state, living over 100 years on average.

After being quarantined, dewormed, analyzed for health, and microchip marked for identification, the tortoises were flown to their destination in the picturesque south of Isabela Island “under strict safety standards”.

Helicopters are key for transporting tortoises to the volcanic terrain of Isabela Island – ©Galápagos Conservancy

These Galápagos projects play a crucial role in restoring the ecological balance of the Ecuadoran island chain in South America. Tortoises are primary herbivores that actively participate in shaping the landscape and dispersing seeds. These are crucial factors in maintaining ecosystem stability.

CHECK OUT: 100-Year-Old Galápagos Giant Tortoise Found on Fernandina Island is Indeed Member of ‘Extinct’ Species

Successfully rehoming this new group of 136 juvenile turtles by helicopter marks “a crucial milestone in our conservation mission in Galápagos,” said Dr. Jorge Carrión, the Director of Conservation at the Galapagos Conservancy.

Another crucial milestone reached by the Galápagos National Park two years ago saw their rodent eradication program completed on two Galapagos Islands—with conservationists excitedly declaring the lands rat-free. Now, native biodiversity can return to normal in those ecosystems of Seymour Norte and Mosquera islands.

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Diver Spends 5 Minutes Pulling Fishing Hook From Frightened Stingray’s Mouth (Watch)

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Good News Network
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Diver rescued stingray – SWNS Photo / Valais Sarbach

A diver painstakingly worked to remove a stray fishing hook from the mouth of a frightened stingray.

Good Samaritan Raffa Wake-Valais Sarbach was enjoying the clear waters off the Dominican Republic this month when he and his partner spotted the ghost fishing line.

They saw three fish had already died attached to hooks along the 20-meter line—but, then noticed a juvenile stingray was caught on one end, a hook stuck in its mouth.

After carefully turning over the ray, the 37-year-old divemaster worked for almost five minutes to dislodge the hook in the animal’s mouth without causing injury.

Watching it finally swim away was a great moment.

“Fortunately I think we were lucky and that it wasn’t hooked for too long, likely less than an hour,” said Raffa, from Switzerland.

Video grab of good Samaritan diver painstakingly removed fishing hook from the mouth of stingray off Bayahibe, Dominican Republic – SWNS Photo / Valais Sarbach

“It took me a good five minutes to remove the hook. Apart from slight injuries to the mouth, the stingray seemed fine.

“If I hadn’t managed to remove it, the hook could have caused the stingray to die. It could have had trouble eating and been unable to swim away.”

Videoshot of diver Valais Sarbach with stingray – SWNS

“The line had two fishes still alive before we got to the stingray—and we freed them too.”

SEE ALSO: Ocean Lover Saves 1,000 Seals off Britain–And Even Built Them a Hospital

Watch the timely rescue below…

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Grocery Worker Rescues Mom By Asking a Crying Toddler if She Wants to Scan Items (WATCH)

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Andy Corbley
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Cashier Fatima helps Mary-Ann's daughter - SWNS
Cashier Fatima helps Mary-Ann’s daughter – SWNS

It doesn’t matter how expert you are and calming your child, sometimes they are simply inconsolable; and parallel to that fact is another that as much an expert as you may be at calming your child, every so often you meet a person who is a master.

That was the case for Mary-Ann Byrnes, 38, who was shopping at a Dollar Tree in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, when her two-year-old daughter, also named Mary-Ann, started to have a meltdown.

Fortunately for the Mary-Anns, they were in the presence of such a master—the cashier, who was recorded picking up the youngster and instantly calming her down with an invitation to scan the items together.

“I went to a Dollar Tree store about a town away with my daughter and mom to pick up some stuff for Christmas,” Mary-Ann said. “My mom had a separate cart and was still shopping by the time we were in line and the store was pretty busy.”

“My daughter is of that toddler age where she gets restless and she wants to be picked up all the time. So she started to cry and have a little meltdown, which was hard to manage with all my stuff that I was trying to pay for and not keep people waiting behind me,” she explained.

The cashier Fatimah Leftwich noticed that Mary-Ann was struggling and kindly asked the toddler in her Terrible Twos if she wanted to help behind the counter.

MORE LIKE THIS: Triplets Reunite With Garbage Truck Driver–Their Childhood Hero—4 Years After Adorable Story Went Viral

The little Mary-Ann immediately said yes.

“She asked if it was cool for her to pick my daughter up and then helped her scan all of my items and even some of the people’s items behind me!

“I saw a woman who had the ability to calm my daughter down with such a wonderful, trusting energy. It was amazing,” said her mother.

KIND HEROES EVERYWHERE: Good Samaritan Surprising Strangers with Kindness Every Day for 3 Years Is Crowned UK Hero with a Statue

A video shows Mary-Ann completely at ease in Fatimah’s arms, scanning items whilst being encouraged by Fatimah telling her that “she’s a fast learner.”

Mary-Ann and Fatimah have kept in contact since the video was filmed and Fatimah has since been transferred to a Dollar Tree closer to her home.

WATCH the master work below… 

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“There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself.” – Louis XIV

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Quote of the Day: “There is little that can withstand a man who can conquer himself.” – Louis XIV

Photo by: Ian Stauffer

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Girl Hatches a Quail From a Supermarket Egg And Now Has a Devoted Pet (Video)

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Zara Sutcliffe, 13, from Manchester, England hatched a quail – SWNS
Zara Sutcliffe, 13, from Manchester, England hatched a quail – SWNS

A 13-year-old girl hatched a quail from a supermarket egg—and now hopes the bird might start its own family.

Zara Sutcliffe calls the affectionate fowl her “best friend” after she reared him from an egg purchased at the local grocery store in England.

For months she had begged her mother to try an incredible project she heard about online about how a shopper had managed the same feat with a duck egg.

Mrs. Sutcliffe eventually relented and bought her a box of Clarence Court quail eggs, even though her husband had insisted the family ‘couldn’t have any more animals’.

At the store, Zara had a choice between chicken and quail eggs, and she loved how small the quail eggs were.

After three weeks of warming and nurturing the egg, Zara hatched “Pebbles” at her suburban home outside of Manchester, and began raising him in her bedroom.

“It was exciting but also scary because you always wonder if you’re going to do anything wrong,” said the teen.

Mom Claire recalls, “She kept checking them and she said, ‘I think one’s got one in it.’”

Zara Sutcliffe / SWNS

“When they did hatch they ended up in her bedroom, so she had them in a mesh dog crate with a heater, a brooding lamp, and he ended up living in her room for weeks.

“When she goes to the cage, Pebbles lifts his bum up in the air—that’s what they do when they’re excited. And he gets giddy and runs up and down.”

Last week, the family went a step further and bought a “harem” of six new female quails so that Pebbles could start living among his own kind—and maybe even have some chicks of his own.

“Pebbles is a life that never should have been,” Zara said, “and he might end up making life.”

Their collection of pets already includes a dog, three cats, and two red-footed tortoises, but now mom is a big supporter of enlarging the quail klan.

“They are really sweet little birds and they will sit on your knee. I don’t know why more people don’t have them.”

WATCH: Man Takes His Turkey Everywhere: Inseparable Companions Even In the Pub and Sleeping at Home

Zara Sutcliffe holds the box of eggs she bought which hatched a quail. – SWNS

Claire said she had a tough time breaking the initial news to her husband Simon. “He’d said ‘no more animals’ (so) he was fuming. But there’s nothing you can do, it happened. It’s just one of those things.”

“They will always be with us.”

After the eggs hatched in a heated tank, Pebbles spent six weeks living in Zara’s room, going from strength to strength, and now treats her as a mother figure.

He is now settling in well with his gaggle of six females living in a chicken coop in the back garden of their property—with occasional invitations to come in the house for a visit.

OMG. THIS VIDEO: Farmer Filmed the Adorable Moment His Newborn Quails Caused a Mini Stampede in His Home

Zara with her flock of quails – SWNS

Claire, who wants to work with animals when she’s older, reported, “He’ll be coming up to breeding season soon, so he’ll be a proper quail with his harem.”

Watch the adorable video below…

SHARE THE ‘TWEET Story With Other Families on Social Media…

Popping a Daily Multivitamin Could Prevent Cognitive Decline as we Age, Shows Third Study

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By Julia Zolotova

Researchers found that those who took a daily multivitamin improved their memory and slowed cognitive aging by two years.

The team from Mass General Brigham says their research “confirms consistent and statistically-significant benefits” of a daily multivitamin versus placebo for both memory and global cognition.

“The meta-analysis of three separate cognition studies provides strong and consistent evidence that taking a daily multivitamin, containing more than 20 essential micronutrients, helps prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging,” said first author Chirag Vyas, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

The team crunched data from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS)—a meta-analysis of 5,000 participants—and also gathered 573 participants and had them undergo detailed, in-person cognitive assessments over a two-year period.

Some of the participants took a daily multivitamin supplement during this time, while others took a placebo pill.

They found that those taking the multivitamin had better global cognition and episodic memory than those taking the placebo, with the multivitamin slowing cognitive aging by two years. No impact on executive function or executive attention was observed.

ALSO GET SOME SAFFRON: Herbs May Improve Mild Dementia Using Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, and Crocus Sativus – Study

“Cognitive decline is among the top health concerns for most older adults, and a daily supplement of multivitamins has the potential as an appealing and accessible approach to slow cognitive aging,” said Vyas.

Olivia Okereke, director of Geriatric Psychiatry and the study’s senior author, added: “These findings will garner attention among many older adults who are, understandably, very interested in ways to preserve brain health, as they provide evidence for the role of a daily multivitamin in supporting better cognitive aging.”

ALSO SEE: Experts Find Why Exercise Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease–Which Could Lead to Cure

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition this week, also highlights that this is the third COSMOS experiment that praised daily multivitamins in this way—adding even more weight to the findings.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that many aging adults in the future will be at elevated risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease unless interventions can help preserve cognitive function before deficits begin.

Dr. JoAnn Manson, who led the overall COSMOS trial, said the findings from these three separate placebo-controlled studies were very “exciting”.

OPTIMISM WORKS TOO: Looking On the Bright Side of Life Could Help Cut Your Risk For Dementia

“It further supports the promise of multivitamins as a safe, accessible, and affordable approach to protecting cognitive health in older adults.”

URGE FRIENDS to Stay Healthy By Sharing This on Social Media…

Critically-Endangered Gorilla Born at London Zoo–in Moments Mom is Gently Cradling Her Newborn (Photos)

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Mjukuu holds up her baby born at the London Zoo on January 17 – SWNS
Mjukuu holds up her baby born at the London Zoo on January 17 – SWNS

A critically endangered western lowland gorilla has been born at the London Zoo—and the photos are beyond precious.

Mjukuu gave birth for the second time on January 17, following an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy and a speedy 17-minute labor.

Just moments after the birth, she could be seen gently cradling her tiny infant, before welcoming the gorilla troop’s curious youngsters Alika and Gernot to examine the new arrival.

London Zoo said the birth was a cause for celebration, as western lowland gorillas are classified as critically endangered.

Zookeepers were carrying out their usual morning duties when they first spotted that Mjukuu was in labor. They decided to give her some space, but monitored her via CCTV cameras installed in the ceiling.

“After a very quick labour, Mjukuu was spotted on camera tenderly holding her newborn and demonstrating her wonderful mothering instincts – cleaning her infant and checking it over,” reported London Zoo’s Primates Section Manager Kathryn Sanders.

Western lowland gorilla cradles her newborn in the London Zoo – SWNS

The infant was fathered by Kiburi, a western lowland gorilla who arrived at London Zoo from Tenerife in November 2022 as part of an international conservation breeding program.

The preservation program aims to promote a genetically diverse and healthy population of western lowlands – a gorilla subspecies – in response to their decline.

“To say we’re happy about this new arrival would be a huge understatement,” said Kathryn. “We’ve all been walking around grinning from ear to ear.”

“We’ll be giving mum and baby lots of time and space to get to know each other, and for the rest of the troop to get used to their new addition.

“They’re as excited as we are and can’t stop staring at the baby.”

Western lowland gorillas examine the baby born in London Zoo – SWNS

DID YOU KNOW: Apes Remember Friends Even Though They’ve Not Seen Them for 25 Years (LOOK)

Zookeepers are yet to confirm the sex of the infant, who has primarily remained cradled in its adoring mum’s arms.

If it is male, it could reach a height of up to 6ft.

LOOK: Watch the Adorable Moment a Baby Gorilla Born Prematurely is Reunited With its Family

The infant is expected to remain in close contact with Mjukuu for the first six months of its young life.

ANNOUNCE THE ADORABLE Arrival By Sharing The Story on Social Media…

Your Horoscope for the Week: A ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny

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Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of January 20, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
In the fall of 1903, The New York Times published an article that scorned human efforts to develop flying machines. It prophesied that such a revolutionary technology was still at least a million years in the future—possibly 10 million years. In conclusion, it declared that there were better ways to apply our collective ingenuity than working to create such an unlikely invention. Nine weeks later, Orville and Wilbur Wright disproved that theory, completing a flight with the airplane they had made. I suspect that you, Aquarius, are also primed to refute an expectation or prediction about your supposed limitations. (Afterward, try not to gloat too much.)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Your sweat and tears are being rewarded with sweets and cheers. Your diligent, detailed work is leading to expansive outcomes that provide relief and release. The discipline you’ve been harnessing with such panache is spawning breakthroughs in the form of elegant liberations. Congrats, dear Pisces! Don’t be shy about welcoming in the fresh privileges flowing your way. You have earned these lush dividends.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries chemist Percy Julian (1899–1975) was a trailblazer in creating medicine from plants. He patented over 130 drugs and laid the foundation for the production of cortisone and birth control pills. Julian was also a Black man who had to fight relentlessly to overcome the racism he encountered everywhere. I regard him as an exemplary member of the Aries tribe, since he channeled his robust martial urges toward constructive ends again and again and again. May he inspire you in the coming weeks, dear Aries. Don’t just get angry or riled up. Harness your agitated spirit to win a series of triumphs.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Taurus actor Pierce Brosnan says, “You struggle with money. You struggle without money. You struggle with love. You struggle without love. But it’s how you manage. You have to keep laughing, you have to be fun to be with, and you have to live with style.” Brosnan implies that struggling is a fundamental fact of everyday life, an insistent presence that is never far from our awareness. But if you’re willing to consider the possibility that his theory may sometimes be an exaggeration, I have good news: The coming months could be less filled with struggle than ever before. As you deal with the ease and grace, I hope you will laugh, be fun to be with, and live with style—without having to be motivated by ceaseless struggle.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Gemini author and activist William Upski Wimsatt is one of my role models. Why? In part, because he shares my progressive political ideals and works hard to get young people to vote for enlightened candidates. Another reason I love him is that he aspires to have 10,000 role models. Not just a few celebrity heroes, but a wide array of compassionate geniuses working to make the world more like paradise. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to gather new role models, dear Gemini. I also suggest you look around for new mentors, teachers, and inspiring guides.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
I want you to fulfill your desires! I want you to get what you want! I don’t think that yearnings are unspiritual indulgences that divert us from enlightenment. On the contrary, I believe our longings are sacred homing signals guiding us to our highest truths. With these thoughts in mind, here are four tips to enhance your quests in the coming months: 1. Some of your desires may be distorted or superficial versions of deeper, holier desires. Do your best to dig down and find their heart source. 2. To help manifest your desires, visualize yourself as having already accomplished them. 3. Welcome the fact that when you achieve what you want, your life will change in unpredictable ways. You may have to deal with a good kind of stress. 4. Remember that people are more likely to assist you in getting what you yearn for if you’re not greedy and grasping.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
I regard Leo psychologist Carl Jung (1875–1961) as a genius with a supreme intellect. Here’s a quote from him that I want you to hear: “We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy.” You may already believe this wisdom in your gut, Leo. But like all of us, you live in a culture filled with authorities who value the intellect above feeling. So it’s essential to be regularly reminded of the bigger truth—especially for you right now. To make righteous decisions, you must respect your feelings as much as your intellect.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
In 1916, most women in the world could not vote. Many men considered women to be inferior—lacking in courage and initiative. It was the Dark Ages! That summer, two sisters named Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rebelled against the stereotypes by riding their motorcycles across America. Roads were poor, rains were frequent, and police arrested them frequently for wearing men’s clothes. Male-dominated media derided them, with one newspaper criticizing their escape from “their proper roles as housewives.” I nominate them to be your role models in 2024, no matter what gender you are. It will be a favorable time to transcend conventional wisdom, override decaying traditions, and be a cheerful rebel.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Even if you are currently bonded with a spouse or partner, I recommend you consider proposing matrimony to an additional person: yourself. Yes, dear Libra, I believe the coming months will be prime time for you to get married to your own precious soul. If you’re brave enough and crazy enough to carry out this daring move, devote yourself to it with lavish abandon. Get yourself a wedding ring, write your vows, conduct a ceremony, and go on a honeymoon. If you’d like inspiration, read my piece “I Me Wed”.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Talking about a problem can be healthy. But in most cases, it should be a preliminary stage that leads to practical action; it shouldn’t be a substitute for action. Now and then, however, there are exceptions to this rule. Mere dialogue, if grounded in mutual respect, may be sufficient to dissolve a logjam and make further action unnecessary. The coming days will be such a time for you, Scorpio. I believe you and your allies can talk your way out of difficulties.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Sagittarian cartoonist Charles M. Schulz wrote, “My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?” I suspect that in 2024, you may go through a brief phase similar to his: feeling blank, yet quite content. But it won’t last. Eventually, you will be driven to seek a passionate new sense of intense purpose. As you pursue this reinvention, a fresh version of happiness will bloom. For best results, be willing to outgrow your old ideas about what brings you gladness and gratification.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
We all go through phases that feel extra plodding and pedestrian. During these times, the rhythms and melodies of our lives seem drabber than usual. The good news is that I believe you Capricorns will experience fewer of these slowdowns than usual in 2024. The rest of us will be seeing you at your best and brightest on a frequent basis. In fact, the gifts and blessings you offer may flow toward us in abundance. So it’s no coincidence if you feel exceptionally well-loved during the coming months. PS: The optimal way to respond to the appreciation you receive is to ratchet up your generosity even higher.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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“I have woven a parachute out of everything broken.” – William Stafford

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Quote of the Day: “I have woven a parachute out of everything broken.” – William Stafford

Photo by: Sgt. Sara Keller, Department of Defense

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

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