Good Morning! 🌞 

Did you know that, even when you’re daydreaming, your brain burns about as much power as a 10-watt light bulb. Quiet work, always running in the background.

In today’s edition, we look at what often goes unseen but still matters—from overlooked details to small shifts that add up over time.

Let’s get into it.

Health Science

Why Your Wisdom Teeth Matter

For most people, wisdom teeth are just expensive “bio-baggage”—a painful dental rite of passage that empties wallets and fills oral surgery recovery rooms. But a stunning new discovery suggests these often-discarded molars could hold something far more valuable: a unique form of human stem cell capable of regenerating bone, heart tissue, and even neurons.

It all begins with the soft tissue at the center of the tooth called dental pulp, which helps keep the tooth alive. Scientists at the University of the Basque Country in Spain, led by Dr. Gaskon Ibarretxe, have successfully transformed these pulp cells into several different cell types—including electrically excitable pseudo-neurons that demonstrated “essentially electrical activity” when paired with proper neurons. These cells could potentially help restore brain function after injury or disease. According to Earth.com, dental pulp stem cells have some surprising advantages: they produce mineralized tissue faster than bone marrow stem cells, have shown promise in improving heart function in mice with heart failure, and lay down orderly sheets of collagen and calcium—making them a candidate for cartilage repair as well.

Wisdom teeth also offer practical benefits as a stem cell source. Unlike painful bone marrow extractions or ethically complex embryonic stem cells, wisdom teeth are commonly removed during the teenage years—when their dental pulp is still young and largely free of DNA damage, making them exceptionally safe and versatile. Earth.com reports that 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted annually. With simple logistics—a kit ordered from a company like Stemodontics, shipped to the dentist, and returned on dry ice to a lab—patients could preserve their own cells as personalized, rejection-free regenerative medicine. “No donor cells means no risks of rejection,” and potentially no waiting list. If dental insurance begins to cover this process, it could save tens of thousands of dollars in future healthcare—transforming what was once a throwaway surgery into a life-changing opportunity.

World News

The World’s Oldest Rock

A stretch of ancient stone on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay may hold the oldest rocks ever discovered on Earth. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in Quebec, long known for its streaked gray rock formations, has been the focus of scientific debate for decades. Now, a new study may finally settle the question: just how old are these rocks?

Two decades ago, some researchers estimated the rocks at a staggering 4.3 billion years old, placing them in the very earliest chapter of Earth’s history. Others, however, argued the dating methods were flawed—suggesting contamination had skewed the results, and the rocks were closer to 3.8 billion years old. In the latest study, researchers sampled a different part of the formation and applied both original dating techniques, which track how radioactive elements decay over time. This time, the results matched. “The different methods gave exactly the same age,” said study author Jonathan O’Neil from the University of Ottawa. The newly confirmed age? Around 4.16 billion years. The findings were published Thursday in Science.

Earth formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, but due to tectonic recycling and magma flows, rocks from that early period are incredibly rare. Scientists have previously found 4-billion-year-old samples in Canada’s Acasta Gneiss Complex, but these new results suggest the Nuvvuagittuq rocks may predate even those. “To have a sample of what was going on on Earth way back then is really valuable,” said Mark Reagan, a University of Iowa volcanologist not involved in the study. However, future research faces a challenge: the site lies on Inukjuak tribal lands, and the local Inuit community has restricted further sampling after discovering significant damage and even seeing pieces sold online. “There’s a lot of interest for these rocks, which we understand,” said Tommy Palliser of the Pituvik Landholding Corp. “We just don’t want any more damage.” The community now hopes to collaborate with scientists to create a provincial park—one that both protects this ancient site and supports responsible research.

Good News

Mailman Adopts Veteran’s Dog

That old stereotype of the mailman running from a barking dog has been turned upside-down by a Texas letter carrier and a dog named Floyd. Ian Burke first met Floyd three years ago while delivering mail in Denton. The German Shepherd and Border Collie mix came charging up behind him and introduced himself in the only way an energetic puppy knows how. What started as a surprise encounter turned into something more.

During his route, Burke got to know Floyd and his owner—a Vietnam veteran in a wheelchair. Floyd was equal parts service dog and loyal companion. Over time, their house became one of Burke’s favorite stops, where he would deliver not just mail, but also plenty of pets, pats, and gentle scratches. “He loves to hug me,” Burke told CBS News. “He treats everybody like a friend, like you’ve known him forever.” Eventually, Burke also learned Floyd’s full name: Pretty Boy Floyd, named after the infamous bank robber—though this version was only guilty of stealing belly rubs. A year and a half ago, Burke’s route changed, and he lost touch with Floyd and his owner. Then, earlier this month, came news: Floyd’s owner had passed away, and a dog matching Floyd’s description was at the City of Denton animal shelter. Burke didn’t hesitate—he was first in line when the shelter’s hold on Floyd expired. Just like that, the once-rowdy pup had a new home—with the mailman he never forgot.

“Based on the media that’s out there in the world and some old, old, old wives’ tales, mailmen and dogs don’t always get along,” said Jenny McGee of the Denton Animal Shelter. “It was great to not only see that Floyd found a wonderful home, but also that the old myth about mailmen and dogs isn’t always true.” Burke said he’s honored to be Floyd’s new owner and takes the responsibility seriously. Known for carrying treats and looking after animals on his route—including feeding local cats—he hopes Floyd’s story inspires others to adopt from shelters.

After all, if a mailman and a “gangster dog” who charged him at first sight can end up as best friends, there’s probably hope for everyone else too.

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Mind Stretchers

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Born white, I age to yellow; I break what I meet, yet am broken too. I speak without words, reveal without sound; Part of your smile, buried when found.

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

"BLOW OUT OF PROPORTION," as "BLOW" is literally out of the "proportion" of the box.  —we gotchu today!

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