Today’s topics

• TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year

• $25,000 down payment aid for first-time homebuyers

• Pixel 9's Add Me Feature

• Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) to search for alien life

  and more…

Stocks wrapped up their best week of 2024 with a strong finish on Friday, as recession fears eased and hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts grew. The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all edged up 0.2%, ending a rough start to the month. This rally extended into Monday, with the S&P 500 rising 1% and the Nasdaq climbing 1.4%, marking their eighth consecutive day of gains. The S&P 500’s recent rally, up 7.9% over eight days, is its largest since March 2022 and brings its year-to-date gain to 18%, just 1% shy of its July record.

Heman Bekele named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for cancer-fighting soap. At just 15, Annandale's own Heman Bekele has been honored as TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for his groundbreaking work in skin cancer treatment. Originally from Ethiopia, Heman’s innovative soap promises to revolutionize skin cancer care by offering a more accessible and affordable way to deliver medication. This achievement builds on his early childhood fascination with science experiments, showcasing his impressive leap from mixing potions to developing life-changing medical solutions.

Harris to propose $25,000 down payment aid for first-time homebuyers. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to unveil a bold new proposal offering up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Announced in a campaign email, this initiative aims to support working families who have consistently paid rent on time and are now seeking to buy a home. Building on President Biden’s previous plan, Harris’s proposal promises expanded benefits, including increased aid for first-generation homeowners. The campaign estimates that over the next four years, more than 4 million first-time buyers could benefit from this program.

Gold tops $2,500: 4 savvy moves to make now. Gold's meteoric rise has captivated investors worldwide, with the precious metal shattering multiple records this year alone. From its initial 2024 peak in March to its latest milestone of $2,506 per ounce in August, gold's steady ascent is drawing in a fresh wave of market participants. If you're looking to capitalize on this golden opportunity, now's the time to consider your investment options and make some strategic moves.

Starbucks sweetens the deal for new CEO Brian Niccol. Starbucks has rolled out the red carpet for Brian Niccol, its incoming CEO and Chair, with a lucrative pay increase and substantial one-time awards to entice him from Chipotle Mexican Grill. Niccol, set to take charge on September 9, faces the formidable challenge of revitalizing the coffee chain’s flagging sales, enhancing in-store experiences, and addressing issues in its struggling China market. With this hefty compensation package, it’s clear that Starbucks is betting big on Niccol to steer the company back to success.

Include Everyone in Your Photos with Pixel 9's Add Me Feature

Capture every moment perfectly, even the photographer, with Pixel 9’s new AI editing feature. Group photos just got a lot easier—no more awkward selfies or missing faces. The Add Me feature uses AI to seamlessly include everyone in your pictures, ensuring no one’s left out. Whether it’s an ultrawide selfie or combining multiple shots, Pixel 9’s got your group shots covered!

The Atacama Desert’s Colossal New Stargazer

In the heart of Chile's Atacama Desert, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) is building a groundbreaking tool for astronomy: the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). With a 129-foot primary mirror, this giant—dubbed "the world’s biggest eye on the sky"—will soon be the largest visible light and infrared telescope on Earth, specifically designed to search for signs of alien life. Set to begin operations in 2028, the ELT promises to ignite a seismic shift in our understanding of the cosmos, potentially rivaling Galileo’s transformative discoveries 400 years ago.

How to catch August's spectacular blue supermoon. This week, August's rare blue supermoon will dazzle with a size and brightness that outshine most full moons. As the first of four consecutive supermoons this year, it's a must-see celestial event. According to NASA, the full moons in September and October are set to be nearly as close to Earth, making this month’s supermoon a perfect kickoff to a series of spectacular lunar views. Don't miss this chance to witness the sky's stunning showcase!

Surgeons Successfully Implant Titanium Heart

In a medical first, surgeons have implanted a titanium heart powered by the same maglev technology that propels high-speed trains. This innovative device holds the promise of saving countless lives for those on transplant waiting lists and might even become a permanent replacement for failing human hearts in the future.

Smart nanorobots target cancer cells with precision in breakthrough study. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed an innovative nanorobot system that selectively kills cancer cells in mice by exploiting the acidic environment within tumors. These pH-responsive nanorobots change their structure in the tumor microenvironment, triggering a targeted attack on cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. By honing in on cancer-specific conditions, this approach could pave the way for a new generation of highly effective, stimulus-responsive cancer therapies, overcoming the limitations of previous non-selective methods.

The unexpected spiritual awakening behind psychedelic therapy. As psychedelics like psilocybin gain mainstream traction—legalized for recreation in Colorado and therapeutic use in Oregon—many first-time users are finding themselves unexpectedly spiritual rather than just medically treated. This shift challenges the view of psychedelics as mere medical tools, highlighting their deep-rooted spiritual potential. Despite this, the FDA recently declined to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, citing insufficient data and a need for further trials. The setback, described as an "earthquake" by Michael Pollan, underscores the ongoing debate over psychedelics' role in healing and spirituality.

Giant 60-Foot Buoy Harnesses Ocean Waves to Generate Clean Energy

Swedish company CorPower’s 60-foot-tall buoy, the C4 Wave Energy Converter, has completed a successful six-month test off Portugal's coast. This massive three-story buoy weathered four major Atlantic storms and adapted to varying wave heights, showing promising potential for generating clean energy. While final results are pending, the test suggests that this innovative technology could be a key player in the transition to sustainable energy.

Chernobyl fungus: radiation-eating superhero. Scientists have discovered that a unique fungus from Chernobyl has a remarkable ability to "consume" radiation. Known since 2007 for its extreme resilience, this fungus thrives in the most radioactive environments by using its dark melanin to absorb and harmlessly process radiation into energy. This remarkable organism is now being grown on the International Space Station, potentially paving the way for innovative biomimetic materials that could shield against radiation and convert it into a renewable energy source.

Switzerland’s cash prize to clean up munition-laden lakes. Switzerland is turning to innovative minds to tackle an underwater challenge: retrieving old munitions from its picturesque lakes. For years, lakes like Lucerne, Thun, and Neuchatel served as disposal sites for obsolete ordnance, with Lake Lucerne alone harboring an estimated 3,300 tonnes. To address this issue, the Swiss defense department is offering a 50,000 franc (£45,000) prize for the best solution to remove these dangerous relics, which range from 150 to just 7 meters deep.

Wizz Air's $550 Annual Pass: Unlimited Flights Across Europe for a Year

Wizz Air is shaking up European travel with a new annual subscription pass, offering unlimited flights for just 499 euros ($550). This "all you can fly" pass lets travelers book flights to any of Wizz Air's international destinations—like Athens, Madrid, and Paris—up to three days in advance. Available at an introductory rate until Friday (after which it jumps to 599 euros), the pass also comes with a modest 9.99-euro booking fee per flight and extra charges for additional luggage. Pack your bags and prepare to explore Europe with no limits!

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Smashes Record as Highest-Grossing R-Rated Film

Marvel's "Deadpool & Wolverine" has clawed its way to the top, surpassing "Joker" as the highest-grossing R-rated film ever with $1.086 billion worldwide. Released on July 26, the film raked in $211 million during its domestic debut, marking it as the sixth-biggest opening of all time. With $516 million from North America and $568 million internationally, the film outpaced the entire earnings of its predecessors, "Deadpool" and "Deadpool 2," within just two weeks. It joins Disney’s "Inside Out 2" as one of the year’s two billion-dollar blockbusters and becomes the second R-rated movie to hit this milestone.

Burning Man revives ticket sales with last-minute release and discounted options. Burning Man, known for its desert revelry that turned to mud last year, is making a bold move to revive ticket sales by releasing an extra 3,000 tickets at the last minute. With attendance dipping post-pandemic due to extreme weather events, including a chaotic flooding last Labor Day, the festival is hoping to attract both newcomers and returning enthusiasts. For the first time, last-minute tickets are available without prior pre-registration, and the festival’s ticket aid program has been reactivated, offering lower-priced $220 tickets to reignite the desert spirit.

Glasswing butterflies: nature’s masters of transparency. Glasswing butterflies live up to their name with wings so transparent they can virtually disappear in plain sight. Recent research reveals that these butterflies achieve near invisibility through a combination of narrow, bristle-like scales and a waxy, glare-reducing coating. Unlike most moths and butterflies, which boast vibrant colors from flat, shingle-like scales, glasswings use unique adaptations to create their clear wings.

Fisherman hooks ultra-rare blue lobster with a one-in-two-million odds. A fisherman off the coast of Portland, Maine, got the surprise of a lifetime when he hauled up a stunning blue lobster, a rare catch with just a one in two million chance of occurring. The vibrant crustacean, known for its unique hue, was promptly photographed and released back into the ocean to continue its growth. The rare find quickly made waves online.

What a camera sees with zero light pollution: a stunning cosmic showcase. In the absence of light pollution, a camera captures an awe-inspiring view of the cosmos, revealing celestial wonders often obscured by artificial light. From the intricate details of the Milky Way’s spiral arms to distant nebulae and star clusters, the clarity of the night sky transforms into a breathtaking panorama of astronomical beauty, offering a glimpse into the universe’s true splendor.

Squirrel’s sweet gesture: a cookie for the woman who feeds it. A woman who regularly feeds a local squirrel was met with a delightful surprise when the squirrel returned the favor by leaving a cookie out for her. This heartwarming exchange highlights the charming and unexpected ways animals can show their appreciation. Watch the video.

TikTok of the day: watch here

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