Good Afternoon! 🌞 

Today’s a reminder to hit pause on the hustle.
August 11 is National Son’s and Daughter’s Day—a day to celebrate the little (or not-so-little) humans who make your heart full. Whether your kids are still at home, grown with lives of their own, or furry and four-legged, take some time today to connect. Share a meal, swap stories, or simply enjoy each other’s company—because these moments are the ones that stick.

Health Science

Miracle Mitochondria

A bold new medical approach is emerging: injecting healthy mitochondria—the tiny, energy-making structures inside cells—into damaged organs to help them recover. The concept, known as mitochondria transplantation, could one day aid in treating heart attacks, strokes, and even revive donor organs before transplant. The idea began nearly 20 years ago when Boston Children’s Hospital researcher James McCully unexpectedly tested it on a pig’s heart that had stopped beating. After injecting freshly extracted mitochondria into the heart, it immediately turned pink and began pumping again. Since then, his team and others have replicated the results in multiple animal models and begun cautiously applying the technique in critically ill human patients.

One of the most promising uses so far has been in newborns recovering from heart surgery. Cardiac surgeon Sitaram Emani approached McCully with a challenge: some infants with heart defects couldn’t recover after surgery because prolonged loss of blood flow damaged their heart cells’ mitochondria. In a small study, the team took muscle samples from the babies, extracted and tested their own mitochondria, then injected them into their hearts. Of 10 infants treated, eight recovered enough to come off life support—double the success rate seen in similar past cases—with much faster recovery times. Encouraged by the results, the team has now treated 17 babies and is exploring ways to extend the approach to other organs.

Researchers worldwide are experimenting with similar methods for strokes, kidney damage, and donor organ repair. Early animal studies suggest transplanted mitochondria can reduce inflammation, limit cell death, and boost energy production—but only if they are fresh and functional. While scientists agree the concept is intriguing, they stress it is still in its infancy. Many questions remain about how it works, how to deliver mitochondria effectively, and whether large-scale production or even “mitochondria banks” will be possible. “We’re so much at the beginning—we don’t know how it works,” says McCully collaborator Lance Becker. “But we know it’s doing something that is mighty darn interesting.”

Good News

‘Designing’ the Future

For two women with a shared vision, the question wasn’t what happens behind the closed doors of the World Economic Forum—it was, Where are all the artists? For all the political leaders, corporate executives, and big-name thinkers convening in Davos, it seemed strange there was no real platform for authentic creativity. That question sparked an idea: if the WEF could unite the world’s power players to shape the future, artists should be part of that conversation—bringing imagination, cultural insight, and the spirit of the times.

That idea became the Future of Humanity Experience, a series of art-and-ideas gatherings launched in Basel during Art Basel Week. Over four full-day sessions, each hosting around 40 global participants, artists, innovators, and thought leaders met to co-create visions for the future. Founders Iwona Fluda and Murièle “Solange” Bolay, who met in Davos through entrepreneurial circles, had already tested the concept with their Future of Humanity Art Walk earlier this year. That smaller Davos project reached over 300,000 people online, drew 4,000 in-person visitors, and featured artists aged 6 to 85 from every continent. In Basel, they expanded the concept into curated exhibitions, presentations, open forums, and shared meals—drawing around 100 artist submissions from as far as Trinidad and Tobago and China.

For Fluda and Solange, the project is about more than showcasing art—it’s about rebuilding the “public square” as a space where business, politics, and creativity converge. They see art as a catalyst for the kinds of deep, exploratory conversations that are often missing in boardrooms and policy meetings. Bootstrapped and crowdsourced, the Basel edition came together in just nine months, and the founders say it’s only the beginning. With momentum building, they envision the Future of Humanity Experience evolving into a movement and global community—one that gives artists an equal seat at the table when imagining the world ahead.

Environment

A Solar Powerhouse

For the first time in history, solar power has taken the lead in Europe’s electricity mix, generating more energy than any other source in June 2025. According to new data from energy think tank Ember, solar accounted for 22.1% of the EU’s electricity last month—beating nuclear and leaving fossil fuels far behind. At least 13 member states hit all-time highs, with the Netherlands producing 40.5% of its electricity from solar and Greece reaching 35.1%, driven by expanded capacity and a run of scorching early-summer weather. The surge came at the perfect moment, helping to meet soaring demand from record-breaking heatwaves.

Coal use, meanwhile, sank to its lowest share on record—just 6.1% of EU electricity, down from 8.8% a year earlier. Even Germany and Poland, the bloc’s coal strongholds, hit historic lows, with Germany drawing just 12.4% from coal and Poland 42.9%, well below past levels. Ten EU countries used no coal at all in June, including Ireland, which shut its last coal plant on June 20. Spain and Slovakia are set to follow by year’s end. Belgium, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Slovakia also reached their highest-ever solar shares, fueled by strong public support, falling costs, and community-led projects that share both the benefits and decision-making.

Solar’s rise has been dramatic: in 2008, it made up just 1% of Europe’s renewable power; by 2023, it was 20.5%. Analysts see even more potential, with the Global Energy Monitor estimating that turning disused coal mines into solar farms could produce enough electricity to power a country the size of Germany. Wind is also making gains, supplying nearly 16% of EU electricity in May and June. Still, fossil fuels provided about a quarter of power last month, underscoring the need for better storage, smarter grids, and flexible demand planning. “Low-cost renewables are already helping to get Europe’s energy system off the rollercoaster of fossil energy prices,” says Ember’s Chris Rosslowe. “The next big opportunity comes from adding battery storage and flexibility to extend the use of renewable power into mornings and evenings.” For now, the sun is Europe’s brightest star—and the continent’s energy transition is heating up alongside it.

Support Daily Upsider!

Help our mission to share positive, meaningful news! Your support keeps us going without the need to bombard you with annoying ads!

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I thrive where others gasp for air,
Need little love or daily care.
Dressed in spikes instead of lace—
I’m green, I’m tough, I own my space.

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I don’t speak, yet say your name.
Without me, you can't play the game.
I hold your past and mark your flight—
Stamped in ink, yet not by right. — passport 🛂 Cheri M. got this correct first! 🌞 

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