Good Afternoon! 🌞

Okay, so this one blew our minds: imagine strapping on a jetpack... not to soar through the sky, but to glide underwater.

In today’s short YouTube video, we’re diving into the CudaJet Underwater Jetpack—a marvel crafted with Formula 1-level precision. It’s sleek, powerful, and somehow makes underwater flight feel both futuristic and oddly natural.

I couldn’t help but wonder: if you could try this, would you? Or does flying beneath the waves sound a little too wild? 🌊⚡

Health Science

Paralysis Cure, Next?

In a breakthrough that could reshape how paralysis is treated, scientists have successfully used a tiny spinal implant to restore movement in rats with spinal cord injuries. The study, led by researchers at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, offers new hope for people living with injuries once considered permanently disabling. “Unlike a cut on the skin, which typically heals on its own, the spinal cord does not regenerate effectively, making these injuries devastating and currently incurable,” explained Dr. Bruce Harland, senior research fellow at the university’s School of Pharmacy.

The technology builds on the body’s natural healing signals. Before birth—and to some extent after—electric fields help guide nerve growth along the spinal cord. Researchers are now trying to mimic that process by delivering controlled electrical signals directly to damaged areas. “We developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly on the spinal cord, precisely positioned over the injury site in rats,” said Dr. Harland. The rats receiving daily electrical stimulation over a 12-week study showed stronger movement and faster reactions to gentle touch than untreated rats. “This indicates that the treatment supported recovery of both movement and sensation,” Harland said. Just as crucially, the implant caused no inflammation or damage, proving the approach is both safe and effective.

Professor Darren Svirskis, director of the CatWalk Cure Programme at the University’s School of Pharmacy, emphasized the potential for human application: “The aim is to stimulate healing so people can recover functions lost through spinal-cord injury.” While rats naturally recover better than humans from such injuries, the study offers compelling proof of concept. “Long term, the goal is to transform this technology into a medical device that could benefit people living with these life-changing spinal-cord injuries,” added Professor Maria Asplund of Chalmers University of Technology. The next step will involve testing different dosages—fine-tuning the strength, frequency, and duration of stimulation—to get closer to a therapy that could one day help patients and even pets.

Earth Science

July Meteor Showers

Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere—and lucky viewers in southern parts of the Northern Hemisphere—are in for a rare celestial treat this July. Two meteor showers, the α‑Capricornids and the Southern δ‑Aquariids, will peak on the same night: July 30th to 31st. The overlap could produce up to 30 meteors per hour combined, making it a must-see event for stargazers.

The timing couldn’t be better. The Moon will be in its waxing crescent phase and set early, leaving behind a dark sky—ideal conditions for meteor viewing. To catch the show, look for the constellations the showers are named after. Capricorn, visible in the south-southeastern sky, is the easier of the two to locate. Once found, look slightly eastward to spot the more active Southern δ‑Aquariids, which radiate from Aquarius. Aquarius can be a bit tricky to identify, but the increased meteor activity in that direction should help guide your eyes.

According to Starwalk, α‑Capricornids are slower and often noticeably bright, making them easier to distinguish from the faster δ‑Aquariids. Just remember: the farther north you are, the lower these showers will appear on the horizon—so you’ll need an open, unobstructed view. The farther south you go, the higher in the sky they’ll appear, making for an even better viewing experience.

Environment

Mass Blossoming

After record-breaking wet season rains along Australia’s east coast, floodwaters are finally receding—and in their wake, a dramatic transformation is set to unfold across the landscape. Hills and valleys in New South Wales are preparing for a mass flowering of native eucalypt trees, a phenomenon that may play a vital role in saving one of Australia’s most endangered birds: the regent honeyeater.

With around 800 eucalypt species across Australia, the regent honeyeater relies on the nectar of several key types. This year, the bloom coincides perfectly with the bird’s breeding season—a rare and fortunate alignment. Buds are already appearing on trees like red gum, ironbark, grey gum, white box, swamp mahogany, and spotted gum in regions including the Mid-North Coast and Hunter Valley. BirdLife Australia has reported hundreds of honeyeaters gathering in areas where blossoms have begun to emerge. “To know that so many trees will be flowering from a breeding season, right through summer and winter… is significant for a critically endangered species that relies almost exclusively on nectar,” said Mick Roderick, the organization’s regent honeyeater recovery adviser.

The bloom also signals a comeback for Australia’s beekeepers. Years of drought, followed by devastating rains and a varroa mite outbreak, have made recent seasons difficult. But this year, prospects are bright. “Some species are very tolerant of flooding and waterlogged soils and are much more drought sensitive, while other species are much more drought tolerant,” explained eucalypt expert Dean Nicolle. “The species described [in the Hunter], like spotted gums and ironbarks… can take up as much water as they want, grow lots of leaves and then flower heavily.” That’s welcome news for beekeepers like Col Wilson, who’s worked in the Hunter Valley for 45 years. “Recent years had been tough for many in the trade,” he told ABC News, “but they now face a season worth remembering—for both honey production and bee numbers.”

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Mind Stretchers

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Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

— family circle! Chris Hostetler got this early! 🌞 

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.

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