Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Good Morning! 🌞

Hey,

Life moves fast. It’s easy to get stuck on what’s not working, what’s missing, or what’s next. But today’s a good day to hit pause and just say thanks—for whatever’s holding steady, showing up, or quietly getting us through.

No long speeches. No guilt trips. Just a moment to recognize what’s worth appreciating.

Here’s what we’re thankful for this week👇

Innovation

Light-Speed Computer Chips

A tech breakthrough could soon reshape the future of computing. Lightmatter, a startup specializing in photonic computing, has unveiled new chips that process data using light instead of electricity—delivering vastly improved speed and energy efficiency. Detailed in two papers published in Nature, the chips blend light and electricity to outperform traditional silicon-based systems, handling demanding AI workloads while consuming far less power. Unlike conventional models, where circuit expansion has hit physical and financial limits, photonic processors promise faster, more scalable solutions.

Lightmatter’s CEO, Nick Harris, emphasized that AI is pushing computing infrastructure to its limits, with today's systems struggling to keep up. Their photonic processor manages 65.5 trillion operations per second using just 78 watts of electrical power and 1.6 watts of optical power—marking the highest level of integration for this kind of technology. Tested on advanced AI models like BERT for natural language processing and ResNet for image recognition, the chips have proven capable of handling complex tasks from text generation to gaming, all while fitting into existing manufacturing processes and standard motherboards. This means mainstream adoption could happen much sooner than with other experimental computing technologies.

While quantum and DNA-based computing continue to develop, Lightmatter's photonics offers a practical, immediate path forward. Harris believes photonic chips can complement these emerging fields, helping the industry move beyond the constraints of shrinking silicon. “For the first time in computing history, we’ve demonstrated a non-transistor-based technology capable of running complex, real-world workloads with accuracy and efficiency comparable to existing electronic systems,” Harris said—signaling not just an incremental improvement, but a new era for computing.

Culture

Bronze-age Dagger Found

A rare Bronze Age dagger has been discovered on a beach in northern Poland, revealing a striking piece of ancient craftsmanship with possible ties to a long-lost solar cult. Found by local metal detectorists Jacek Ulkowski and Katarzyna Herdzik after a coastal storm, the intricately designed dagger was embedded in clay dislodged from a nearby cliff. The pair immediately reported the find to the Museum of the History of Kamien Land, where archaeologist and museum director Grzegorz Kurka called it “a true work of art” and unlike anything previously found in the region.

Measuring around 10 inches long, the blade is decorated with crescent moons and star-like crosses, leading experts to speculate it held ritual or symbolic meaning. The museum described it as a “masterpiece of metallurgy,” with possible links to a solar cult—an ancient belief system that revered celestial bodies. The craftsmanship and style suggest it may have been made in the tradition of southern European daggers, possibly imported from Greece, where similar ceremonial weapons have been found.

The dagger dates to around 500 BCE and likely belonged to the Hallstatt Culture, a major Bronze Age society that spanned central and eastern Europe. While Hallstatt artifacts have been uncovered across regions like Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, finds this far north are relatively rare. The discovery not only sheds light on the reach of ancient trade and cultural exchange, but also adds a stunning artifact to Poland’s archaeological record—one that may offer new insight into prehistoric spiritual life.

Good News

Saving 1.5 Million Lives

What began in 2016 as a donation of 88 ambulances from India to Sri Lanka has quietly transformed into a nationwide lifeline. That initial gift laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s first national emergency medical service—operating 24/7, free of charge, and modeled after systems like 911 in the U.S. or 999 in the U.K. Nearly a decade later, the fleet has expanded to 322 ambulances, delivering critical care across the country and helping to build one of South Asia’s most effective emergency response networks.

Since its launch, the service has reached 2.44 million people, most suffering from life-threatening emergencies such as strokes, cardiac arrests, or road accidents. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, noted that about 65% of patients received care within the critical “golden hour,” dramatically improving survival rates. In a message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jayatissa estimated that nearly 1.5 million lives have been saved thanks to India’s early support—a striking testament to the long-term impact of international aid.

Even before the ambulance program, Sri Lanka’s healthcare system was a regional standout, with strong global rankings and a life expectancy of 75.5 years, well above the global average. Since then, the country has only advanced further, hitting disease-eradication goals ahead of schedule and deepening its culture of community support. Ranked 5th on the World Giving Index, Sri Lanka’s story is one of resilience and cooperation—demonstrating how both local solidarity and international partnerships can create lasting change.

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Mind Stretchers

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Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it. Who uses it can neither see nor feel it. What is it?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

What is half of two plus two? — 3! Chris Hostetler got this correct early 🌞 

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]or reply to email.

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.