Good morning,

Hey there, and welcome to August! 🌞

We’re officially in a brand new month—fresh page, fresh energy. To ease you into the day (and the month), here’s a little nature clip to kickstart your morning. Let it remind you to breathe deep, move with purpose, and seize the heck out of today.

Let’s make August count. 💪

Health Science

Venom’s Antibiotic Power

Hundreds of potential antibiotics have been discovered in snake and spider venom—thanks to artificial intelligence doing the heavy lifting. In a global screening effort, researchers used AI to comb through massive venom libraries and surfaced dozens of “promising” drug candidates. While AI has already proven useful in scanning plant compounds and existing drugs for antibiotic potential, this new focus on venom from snakes, spiders, and scorpions opens up an entirely different and largely untapped resource.

Antibiotic resistance currently contributes to more than a million deaths worldwide each year, making the search for new antimicrobial compounds one of medicine’s most pressing challenges. To address this, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania deployed a deep-learning tool called APEX to scan more than 40 million venom-encrypted peptides (VEPs)—tiny, naturally occurring proteins evolved to target nervous systems, blood, and organs. Within hours, the algorithm flagged 386 peptides with the molecular hallmarks of next-gen antibiotics. “Venoms are evolutionary masterpieces, yet their antimicrobial potential has barely been explored,” said senior study author Professor César de la Fuente. “APEX lets us scan an immense chemical space in just hours and identify peptides with exceptional potential to fight the world’s most stubborn pathogens.”

From that initial list, researchers synthesized 58 peptides for lab testing. The results, published in Nature Communications, were striking: 53 killed drug-resistant bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus—without harming human red blood cells. “By pairing computational triage with traditional lab experimentation, we delivered one of the most comprehensive investigations of venom-derived antibiotics to date,” said co-author Dr. Marcelo Torres. In addition, APEX identified over 2,000 antibacterial “motifs”—short amino acid sequences responsible for the peptides' pathogen-fighting power. The team is now using medicinal chemistry to refine the most promising compounds, aiming to develop a new generation of life-saving antibiotics from nature’s deadliest molecules.

Culture

A Hidden Mural

A massive new mural now crowns the roof of the Blenheim Shopping Centre in Penge, south-east London — but unless you're airborne, odds are you won’t spot it. The piece, showing a pair of huge eyes gazing toward the sky, is being called the capital’s largest non-commercial street art by the team behind it. The mural was painted over the course of seven days by Abraham O, a Salvadorian-born artist based in London. “No one is going to see it,” he remarked. The £1,600 project was crowdfunded by local street art group London Calling Blog, who got the green light from developers to paint it — even though the building is already slated for demolition.

Environment

Polynesia’s Wild Comeback

Tuvalu has achieved a major conservation milestone by eradicating invasive rats from six of its 124 islands—a significant step in protecting fragile tropical ecosystems. The effort also nearly wiped out two other destructive pests: invasive mosquitoes and yellow crazy ants. Supported by Island Conservation and multiple regional and international partners, the project stands as a model for how community-led conservation, backed by government support, can deliver lasting results. “The project has led to the successful eradication of invasive rats from six islets... significantly reduc[ing] the threat to native seabirds, coastal biodiversity, and island ecosystems,” said Mr. Soseala Tinilau, Director of Tuvalu’s Department of Environment.

One of the worst-hit areas was Tepuka in Funafuti Atoll, overrun by yellow crazy ants—fast-moving, aggressive “tramp ants” known for ecological destruction, including the collapse of ecosystems on Christmas Island. Their colonies can grow at alarming rates, expanding by nearly 10 feet per day. Meanwhile, the islands of Sakalua, Motumua, Teafuone, and Teafuatule in Nukufetau Atoll were cleared of rats, restoring hope among residents. “We used to see fewer birds and crabs around, but now they’re coming back, and it feels like our island is breathing again,” one community member shared. Locals also took part in awareness and training sessions, ensuring long-term vigilance against reinfestation.

Backed by groups including the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program, the project drew on Island Conservation’s expertise from similar efforts on 65 islands globally. The ecological turnaround has already been remarkable. “The last time we were here, we saw very few coconut crabs. Now, birds and crabs are free to flourish,” said Jesse Friedlander, a project manager with Island Conservation. A follow-up mission confirmed the eradication was successful, laying the groundwork for broader application across Tuvalu. “Removing these predators will create a safer environment for native species, benefiting biodiversity and supporting sustainable practices for the Nukufetau community,” said Sam Panapa, Tuvalu’s National Invasive Species Coordinator.

Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

"I'm white but not snow,
I pour but don’t flow.
From cows I may come,
In cereal, I'm yum.
What am I?" — milk! 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.