Good Morning! 🌞 

For today’s Social Saturday, we decided to write a quick article packed with some of the most interesting facts about the Queen Victoria, one of Great Britain’s most impressive monarchs. 👑 🇬🇧 

Now you will have a great conversation starter for this weekend. 😁 But first, some Queen Victoria trivia.

Earth Sciences

3 Billion Year-Old Crater

Researchers in Western Australia have identified what may be the world’s oldest known asteroid impact site, dating back 3.57 billion years. The site, located in the Pilbara region, features key geological markers such as shatter cones, pillow basalts, and a central dome structure—strong indicators of an ancient impact. Geologist Tim Johnson and his team propose that a 250,000-square-kilometer area, known as the Pilbara Craton, was shaped by this event, predating the second-oldest known impact by 1.5 billion years.

Their study focuses on a 35-mile-wide dome that remains visible today, believed to be the impact’s epicenter. Johnson explains that when a massive asteroid strikes, the center of the crater rebounds, creating a dome. His team also suggests that such structures may have provided early conditions for life to develop. Supporting their hypothesis, they highlight the presence of shatter cones—distinctive rock formations that only form under extreme pressure from a meteorite impact—as well as pillow basalts, which could have resulted from lava flowing underwater after the collision.

While the findings are significant, some scientists remain unconvinced about their broader implications for Earth’s early evolution. Johnson and his team plan further analysis of the site’s rock formations to strengthen their argument and clarify the role of asteroid impacts in shaping the planet’s history.

Good News

The Best Prom Gift

Steve Carell surprised high school seniors in Los Angeles with an unexpected announcement: their prom tickets had been fully covered by a nonprofit. Appearing in a recorded video, Carell addressed students at six schools in Altadena, California, revealing that Alice’s Kids, a Virginia-based charity supporting low-income students, had donated $175,000 to cover the cost of prom tickets for 800 seniors.

The schools remained standing after the Eaton Fire, which burned 14,000 acres, but many students lost their homes. Recognizing the financial strain on families, Alice’s Kids stepped in to ease the burden of tickets costing between $50 and $185. “The prom is a party, and more than anything, these kids need a party,” said Ron Fitzsimmons, the nonprofit’s executive director.

The donation covers students at Aveson Schools, Blair High School, John Muir High School, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, and Rose City High School. “This means everything to our students,” said Marshall Fundamental principal Lori Touloumian. “It brought so much joy this morning, and that’s something our students have really been missing.”

Environment

Financing for Nature

Recent UN climate and biodiversity summits ended with disappointing outcomes, but private investment in nature protection is rising sharply. A new UN Environment Program report shows that private sector funding has grown elevenfold in four years, surpassing $100 billion. Investments come from sources like managed accounts, exchange-traded funds, debt-for-nature swaps, and venture capital. If current trends continue—though unlikely—the private sector could contribute over $1 trillion by 2030.

Despite agreements at COP29 (climate) and COP16 (biodiversity) to increase funding, commitments from developed nations remain far below targets. The $200 billion annual biodiversity fund set during COP15 is already falling short. In contrast, private capital—including banks, hedge funds, and investment firms—is stepping in, offering sustainable funding streams that are less vulnerable to political shifts.

Philanthropy, which accounted for $2.5 billion of private sector funding in 2020, has proven unreliable, with donations dropping by $700 million by 2025. However, overall funding for nature has continued to rise, with private equity now driving 60% of investments. If the sector reaches $1 trillion by 2030, it will exceed the direct government funding targets set at COP15 and COP16, underscoring the increasing role of private finance in conservation efforts.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I'm red but not always bold,
Covered in dots, a sight to behold.
Though called one thing, I break the rule,
Sweet and fresh, best when cool.

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers

I can be red, green, or gold,
A symbol of wisdom, or stories old.
Tempting bites, a crisp delight,
Keeps the doctor out of sight.
What am I? - an apple 🍎 🍏 , Cheri M. got this early! 🌅 

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.