Good morning! 🌞 

New month, fresh slate—and just like that, it’s July. Half the year behind us, half still waiting. Today, we’re not chasing fireworks; we’re pausing to look at where we’ve been and what still matters most. Let’s step into the second half of the year a little wiser—and see where it takes us!

Health Science

Game-Changer for Cancer?

A deadly fungus once blamed for ancient tomb-related deaths has become the unlikely source of a powerful new cancer-fighting compound. Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus suspected of contributing to mysterious fatalities after the opening of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, has now shown promise in lab tests against leukemia. Researchers isolated a new class of molecules from the fungus that rival FDA-approved chemotherapy drugs, revealing a potential breakthrough in fungal medicine. “Fungi gave us penicillin,” said Sherry Gao, Presidential Compact Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and senior author of the study published in Nature Chemical Biology. “These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.”

The compounds belong to a class known as RiPPs—ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides. While RiPPs are well-documented in bacteria, they’ve been largely overlooked in fungi due to their complex structures and previous misclassification. “Purifying these chemicals is difficult,” said Qiuyue Nie, a postdoctoral fellow and first author of the study. “The synthesis of these compounds is complicated, but that’s also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.” After screening several Aspergillus strains, the team pinpointed A. flavus as a promising RiPP producer. Genetic analysis identified a key protein involved in RiPP production—when its gene was disabled, the compounds vanished.

From there, the researchers purified four previously unknown RiPPs and named them asperigimycins. Two showed potent anti-leukemia activity without any modification. A third, enhanced with a lipid molecule found in royal jelly, performed as strongly as established leukemia treatments like cytarabine and daunorubicin. The compound’s entry into leukemia cells relied on a gene called SLC46A3, which may also help other peptide drugs penetrate cancer cells. Notably, asperigimycins showed little to no effect on breast, liver, or lung cancer cells—hinting at targeted action, a crucial quality for future therapies. “Even though only a few have been found, almost all of them have strong bioactivity,” said Nie. With similar gene clusters now identified in other fungi, the discovery may mark the start of a much broader search. “Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,” added Gao. “It’s up to us to uncover its secrets. As engineers, we’re excited to keep exploring, learning from nature and using that knowledge to design better solutions.”

Environment

‘Badger’ Bridge

Nationally protected badgers—and many of their wild neighbors—just got a safer way to cross a busy highway in Cornwall, thanks to a new wildlife bridge approved by the local council. Nicknamed the “badger bridge,” the green overpass spans nearly 150 feet and 40 feet wide across a four-lane divided road. Though designed with badgers in mind, the crossing also supports voles, birds, reptiles, and insects, allowing them to move freely between habitats without risking their lives in traffic.

The bridge is part of National Highways’ $375 million (£330 million) A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross project near Marazanvose. Built by contractor Costain, the dual-deck structure will serve both wildlife and people, featuring a path for walkers and a trail for horse riders. “We’re really proud of the environmental work being carried out as part of this project, and the creation of the green bridge is a leading part of that,” said Andrew Alcorn, National Highways’ Program Manager. “Our green bridge will be the third for the company, one of only a handful across the country.” As of now, 33 multi-species crossing points have been built for the project, with more environmental upgrades on the way.

Topsoiling is already turning the bridge from grey concrete to a brown, plant-ready surface. In the autumn, it will be planted with native hedgerows—hawthorn, elder, and more—restoring a green corridor above the road. Originating in France in the 1950s and widely adopted in the Netherlands in the 1990s, green bridges are increasingly recognized for their ability to reconnect fragmented habitats and boost biodiversity. In the U.S., California has pioneered massive wildlife crossings for mountain lions, and now, Cornwall is doing its part too—planting 87,000 trees as part of the larger A30 initiative. Over 40,000 are already in the ground. Once complete, the bridge and surrounding green infrastructure could offer new access for badgers, otters, bats, hedgehogs, and other native species—building a more connected and resilient landscape.

Earth Science

A Trip to Mariana Trench

Today, we’re featuring something both fascinating… and frankly, a little terrifying (at least to me): The Deepest Dive Humanly Possible, a journey into the Mariana Trench—the deepest known part of the ocean.

Thousands of meters below the surface, sunlight disappears and the water pressure is enough to crush steel. And yet, there’s life down there—strange, delicate, and quietly stubborn. The video itself isn’t dramatic or hyped up; it’s thoughtful, patient, and somehow calming… if you can ignore the part where you’re literally sitting at the bottom of the world.

I’ll admit, the ocean has always made me uneasy. The idea of drifting somewhere so dark and silent? Gives me chills just thinking about it. But watching this made me pause: even if the deep sea scares us, isn’t it incredible that places like this still exist—untouched, unseen, and largely unknown?

What about you?
👉 Would you ever want to go that deep?
👉 Does the thought spark wonder… or pure terror?

Either way, it’s a reminder that our planet still keeps a few secrets—and sometimes, that’s both the scariest and most beautiful thing of all.

Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

— try to understand, Chris Hostetler got this correct first! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.