Good Morning! 🌞 

We’ve officially hit the peak of the week — the perfect moment to pause, breathe, and refuel your mind. Whether you’re coasting or crawling toward the weekend, we’ve got something to help you push through with purpose. Inside today’s edition: a spark of inspiration, a sprinkle of perspective, and just the right dose of "you got this." Let’s make this Wednesday work for us!

Environment

Probiotics for Corals

A new study from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History reveals that a probiotic treatment may offer critical protection to Caribbean coral against a fast-spreading and deadly disease. Since emerging off Florida’s coast in 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has swept through the region, killing over 30 coral species, including brain and pillar corals. “SCTLD is unusually aggressive,” the researchers noted, with colonies losing tissue and dying within weeks. While the cause is still unclear, harmful bacteria are strongly suspected. Given that coral, like humans, rely on healthy microbiomes, scientists explored whether introducing beneficial bacteria could help corals fend off the disease.

Over six years of lab and field testing, the team studied disease-resistant corals and tested over 200 bacterial strains before identifying Pseudoalteromonas sp. McH1-7—found in the great star coral—as the most promising. “The goal of using the probiotics is to get the corals to take up this beneficial bacterium and incorporate it into their natural microbiome,” said Dr. Valerie Paul, head scientist at the Smithsonian Marine Station. Field trials began in 2020 off Fort Lauderdale, where researchers applied a McH1-7 solution to infected corals using weighted plastic bags to hold the treatment in place. “This created a little mini-aquarium that kept the probiotics around each coral colony.” Over two years of monitoring, they found the probiotic slowed disease progression and preserved the coral's existing microbial balance.

Compared to the current method—applying an amoxicillin paste directly to lesions—the probiotic shows promise as a longer-lasting, more sustainable solution. “Antibiotics do not stop future outbreaks,” said Dr. Paul. “The disease can quickly come back, even on the same coral colonies that have been treated.” While the probiotic worked consistently in northern Florida reefs, it showed mixed results further south, suggesting regional variations in the disease. Still, Dr. Paul sees the approach as vital: “Corals are naturally rich with bacteria and it’s not surprising that the bacterial composition is important for their health. We’re trying to figure out which bacteria can make these vibrant microbiomes even stronger.”

Good News

Smart Birds Sip Proudly

When behavioral ecologist Barbara Klump first spotted cockatoos operating a public water fountain in Australia, she was stunned—and full of questions. How did they learn this complex task? Why go to such lengths when a stream was nearby? Could other birds do it too? At first, she assumed someone had simply left the fountain on. But video footage later revealed that the sulfur-crested cockatoos were turning the spring-loaded handle themselves—gripping it with one claw, using body weight to rotate it, and drinking from the spout with the other claw.

To investigate further, Klump launched a video research project that monitored a single fountain over 44 days. The results, recently published in Biology Letters, documented 525 attempts to activate the water, with just 46% ending in success. The birds' efforts were described as a coordinated sequence of movements—impressive, but clumsy. “Requires a coordinated sequence of actions, with only 41% of observed attempts ending in success,” Klump wrote. Despite the effort, the birds kept trying. “They’re so innovative and good at problem solving that they seem to eventually figure out a solution,” she told The New York Times. “In a weird way, cockatoos constantly surprise me, but I’m also never that surprised.”

As for why they prefer the fountain over the nearby stream, Klump suspects a mix of practicality and social behavior. The fountain water may be cleaner or offer more safety from predators like eagles. But it could also be fun—a bit like a kid repeating a trick they just mastered. She also points to a possible social dimension: cockatoos were seen lining up on a chain-link fence, waiting as long as ten minutes for their turn. “There might be a ‘watercooler effect,’” Klump suggests, where the fountain acts as a shared meeting spot. It’s a playful theory, but one hard to dismiss when you see birds patiently queuing up, even when easier options are just a short flight away.

Good News

Life’s Top Mentor

In honor of the upcoming Father’s Day, a new survey uncovered some of the most remarkable “dad acts” that show just how far fathers will go for their children—from paying off credit card debt to donating a kidney. Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by SweatBlock, the poll highlighted how dads have consistently stepped up in both extraordinary and everyday ways. One respondent recalled, “The most heroic thing my father has ever done for me was during Hurricane Harvey—he trudged through the waters to come get me.” Another shared, “He stopped working and took care of me when I had a car accident,” while someone else said, “My dad came and stayed with me when I got a divorce,” adding that she asked him to stay as long as he wanted.

The survey revealed that most people who grew up with a dad see him as one of their greatest mentors. Many shared that their father is the first person they call when stressed, in need of support, or seeking advice. Over the years, dads have played critical roles—from helping children recover after breakups to making rent payments when money was tight. Others recalled emotional support during major life moments, like losing a job or the death of a spouse. As one person recounted, “When I wanted to go into business and asked him to [be a] co-signer and put up his house as collateral and he did.” Another remembered, “My dad passed away when I was 14, but right before he passed he bought me tickets to go see my favorite singer in concert… it was a dream come true.”

Beyond emotional support, dads have also been key in teaching life skills—practical and personal alike. They've taught everything from how to drive and change a tire to the importance of self-care and physical and mental wellness. Many people said their dads taught them how to stand up for themselves, be their best selves, and even how to tie a tie or use shaving cream. Some said their father bought them their first deodorant, while others remembered lessons in taking pride in their appearance. All these responses underscore a central theme: that good fathers aren’t just helpers in a crisis—they’re lifelong anchors who shape, support, and uplift their children in ways big and small.

It makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? Maybe your dad wasn’t the loudest, the flashiest, or the most emotionally expressive—but if you dig into the memories, chances are there were quiet sacrifices, quirky life lessons, and maybe even a flat tire or two he fixed without complaint. So here’s your cue: send the text, make the call, or dust off that old photo. Say thank you—not just for being there, but for being that rock when everything else felt like quicksand.

Now tell us—what’s the most unforgettable thing your dad ever did for you?

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Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

Simple nearly beyond compare. He is noble. He is rare. He makes you squeak! Quiescent! Light! Bright coloured things He brings to flight! For all of that (so we are told) He can be amazingly cold. Who is He? —

"He" is the chemical symbol for Helium. Helium is the second simplest element. Helium is a "rare" or "noble" gas. When inhaled, helium leads to a high-pitched voice. Helium is stable and lighter than air, two properties which make it the natural choice for filling balloons. Helium can be supercooled down to a few millionths of one Kelvin.

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.