Good Morning 🌞

Hope the day’s treating you well so far. Here’s a quick lineup of good stuff to keep you thinking, smiling, or just slightly less overwhelmed!

Health Science

Scanner Detects Heart Failure

An AI-powered foot scanner may soon help detect early signs of heart failure—right from a patient’s bedside. Developed by Heartfelt Technologies in collaboration with the UK’s National Institute of Health, the device captures 1,800 images of a person’s feet to detect oedema, or fluid buildup, a key early warning sign of heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart can’t effectively pump blood, often causing fluid to collect in the lungs and extremities. “This device detects one of the big three warning signs for people with heart failure before they end up in hospital,” said Dr. Philip Keeling, lead author of the study and consultant cardiologist at South Devon National Health Service Foundation Trust. “Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly.” In the face of staffing shortages, he added, “a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people’s health.”

The technology was tested in a small study involving 26 patients across five NHS trusts. The scanner predicted five out of six hospitalizations, on average providing a 13-day advance warning. That window could give care teams a crucial opportunity to intervene before a crisis. After the study, 82% of participants opted to keep the device. “This small study suggests a simple device could significantly improve outcomes for at-risk patients with heart failure by keeping them out of hospital,” said Dr. Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation.

History

Myth Collides With History

As with much of Greek history, myth and reality often intertwine—and the island of Ithaca may be one of the clearest examples. Long celebrated as the home of Odysseus, Homer’s epic hero, the island now holds physical evidence of its ancient past. Archaeologists have uncovered tiles bearing the name “Odysseus” at a site called Agios Athanasios in northern Ithaca, lending weight to theories that the area was once a center of hero worship.

Led by Professor Yiannos G. Lolos and Dr. Christina Marabea of the University of Ioannina, the excavation at Agios Athanasios—sometimes called the School of Homer—has revealed striking connections to the Mycenaean era (1600–1100 BCE), the very period in which Homer’s epics are set. The fortified site sits on the eastern slopes of Exogi and includes rock-cut staircases, natural springs, and a Hellenistic-era tower. Inside a large underground cistern, archaeologists found pottery from 30 different vases dated to the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. These, alongside earlier findings, suggest the site played a dual role in antiquity: managing water distribution and monitoring nearby port access.

Over 100 artifacts have been recovered, including coins, jewelry, and pottery from the Hellenistic period. Some tiles are inscribed with references to Apollo and public works, hinting at a later transformation into a place of communal worship. But the most significant discovery came in the form of tiles marked with “ΟΔΥCCEOC” and “ΟΔΥC[CEI],” both referencing Odysseus. Scholars now believe the site may be the long-sought Odysseion, a cult center mentioned in ancient sources as a place where Odysseus was honored with Olympic-style games. The presence of a Greco-Roman bronze bust of the hero adds to the mounting evidence that this hillside sanctuary was a lasting tribute to one of mythology’s most enduring figures.

Lifestyle

Slow Living…

Today, we’re taking a pause from the fast pace of modern life and heading into the serene forests of northern Sweden—virtually, of course. In Foraging Mushrooms in Autumnal Northern Sweden, we follow along on a slow, mindful trek through a landscape bursting with color, silence, and the satisfying thrill of finding food where most people would see… just trees.

This video isn’t flashy. It’s not trying to sell you a new lifestyle. But there’s something grounding about it—watching someone patiently search the forest floor, learning the shapes of safe mushrooms, and soaking in the stillness of an autumn day. It’s the kind of content that makes you breathe a little slower and maybe, just maybe, consider stepping away from the screen.

Would you ever try foraging? Or does the idea of accidentally poisoning yourself kill the vibe?
Do you think learning where your food comes from—literally, from the dirt—would change how you eat or live?
And if you had to forage one thing for the rest of your life… what are you betting your survival on?

Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

I don’t wear a cape, but I chase down wrong,
I keep the peace where things go wrong.
You’ll find me flashing red and blue,
Upholding laws—yes, that’s my cue.
Who am I? — a policeman! 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.