Good Morning 🌞

It’s Friday—finally!
The week may have had its twists, turns, and triple-shot coffees, but you made it. Today’s a gentle nudge to pause, smile, and soak up the little wins. In this edition, we’ve gathered the good stuff—stories to uplift, inspire, and carry you warmly into the weekend.

Health Science

Memory Boosting Herbs

Rosemary has long been tied to memory, so it’s no surprise that scientists are studying its compounds—along with those from sage—as potential tools against Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at Scripps Research have focused on carnosic acid, a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in both herbs. While effective in theory, carnosic acid is too unstable for drug use. To solve this, scientists developed a more stable version called diAcCA, which converts into carnosic acid in the gut and is then absorbed into the bloodstream.

In a new study published in Antioxidants, diAcCA improved memory and increased synapse density in Alzheimer’s mouse models. Since synaptic loss closely correlates with dementia, the findings are encouraging. The compound also reduced Alzheimer’s biomarkers—amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau proteins—and lowered brain inflammation. Notably, the compound only activates in inflamed tissue, potentially reducing side effects. “By combating inflammation and oxidative stress with this diAcCA compound, we actually increased the number of synapses in the brain,” said senior author Professor Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD. “We also took down other misfolded or aggregated proteins such as phosphorylated-tau and amyloid-β.”

Backed by the National Institutes of Health, the study showed that mice treated with diAcCA for three months performed better on spatial learning tests, and their brain tissue showed more synaptic connections and fewer harmful protein deposits. “We did multiple different tests of memory, and they were all improved with the drug,” Lipton said. “And it didn’t just slow down the decline; it improved virtually back to normal.” Mice tolerated the treatment well, even showing reduced gastrointestinal inflammation during digestion. With its strong safety profile—carnosic acid is already FDA-designated as GRAS—Lipton believes diAcCA could enter clinical trials soon and potentially be used alongside existing Alzheimer’s drugs or even in treating other inflammation-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s.

History

A Giant Archaeological Puzzle

Excavations at a construction site in London have uncovered one of the largest collections of painted Roman wall plaster ever found in the city. The fragments once decorated a high-status Roman building in Southwark, which was demolished before 200 CE. Among the finds are rare pieces, including ancient Greek graffiti and a painter’s partial signature—exceptional discoveries that shed new light on Roman art in Britain. The site, already known for mosaics and a rare mausoleum, confirms the area’s importance in Roman-era London.

The fragments were discovered by archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), scattered in a large pit where they were dumped during the building’s original demolition—not due to modern construction. MOLA’s Han Li, a senior building material specialist, spent three months carefully sorting and reconstructing the plaster. “This has been a once in a lifetime moment, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when I started to lay the plaster out,” Li said. “Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together… like assembling the world’s most difficult jigsaw puzzle.”

The restored designs feature rare yellow panels with black borders, adorned with birds, fruit, lyres, and floral motifs—elements meant to reflect the wealth and taste of the original owner. Yellow panels were uncommon in Britain, previously seen only at elite sites like Fishbourne Roman Palace. The fragments also mimic luxury materials like Egyptian red porphyry and African marble, echoing styles from across the Roman Empire, including Germany, France, and Pompeii. One plaster piece bears the Latin word FECIT—“has made this”—within a Roman tabula ansata, marking the first known painter’s signature of its kind in Britain. Another fragment shows a nearly complete Greek alphabet, likely etched by a skilled writer for practical use. As Han Li continues piecing together the ornate designs, MOLA plans to publish and possibly display the findings, preserving artwork not seen since Roman times.

Lifestyle

Built From the Wild

Lately, I’ve been feeling a stronger pull toward the outdoors—maybe it’s the chaos of the world, or maybe it’s just a craving for something real. Camping videos, off-grid living, building with your hands… all that grounding, elemental stuff.

That’s how I came across Madison Clysdale, a creator whose videos are as raw and quietly magnetic as the wilderness she films in. Her latest shows her building a bushcraft-style log cabin from scratch on her 15-acre property in British Columbia—no power tools, no shortcuts, just basic gear and what she gathers from the land. There’s no flashy editing or sponsor shoutouts—just the sound of trees falling, logs stacking, and moss being pressed into place for insulation. Her dog’s always nearby (and honestly deserves his own channel), keeping her company through the stillness, the storms, and the occasional visit from a bear or raven.

What I love about Madison’s work is that it never tries too hard. It doesn’t need to. It’s quiet, patient, and real. Watching her build feels like stepping into a different pace of life—where every action has weight and every moment holds its own kind of meaning. It made me pause and wonder: Could you see yourself living like this? Off-grid, no Wi-Fi, just the forest, a fire, and something you made with your own hands?

Let me know—I’m genuinely curious who else has been daydreaming about disappearing into the woods (even if just for a weekend).

Mind Stretchers

⁉️

I have a head but wear no hat,
I strike with force, imagine that.
I can build or I can break,
In careful hands or a madman's quake.
What am I?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I do not speak, yet stories I tell,
Of warriors, lovers, and oceans that swell.
I vanish by day, but at night I appear,
A million tiny lights, cold and clear.
What am I? — stars! ✨ Debbie Ettinger 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]or reply to the 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.