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In the headlines...

🗓️ Hispanic Heritage Month starts today! Unique in its mid-month start, the timing of this important awareness month intentionally overlaps with several Latin American Independence Day celebrations — and we collected the best ways to join in celebrating.

🏆 The Hispanic Heritage Awards gave its top, the humanitarian award, to the people of Minnesota for their resilience during ICE raids.

🔋 Under a new law, Massachusetts will require data centers larger than 25 megawatts of peak demand to supply their own power and guarantee that it adheres to the state’s clean energy requirements.

Clean energy

Amid record-breaking temperatures and drought in Europe, solar performed better than any other energy source

This summer, Europe recorded its hottest June on record, at the same time that drought brought rivers to record low levels. Both crises put pressure on the region’s energy system, as nuclear, gas, and coal plants had to reduce their output due to a lack of water for cooling systems. Even wind output was impacted by the hot, stagnant weather.

But one energy source performed better than normal: solar power. When combined with batteries, it covered the rise in electricity used by air conditioning units amid the historically hot weather.

Europe’s solar panels produced 17% more power during the summer’s heat waves than they normally do, keeping the region’s grid stable as cooling demand grew in the afternoon.

Why is this good news? Studies have found that individual heat events are, and will continue to be more likely and more intense because of climate change. Humanity will need adaptation solutions like AC to withstand extreme weather — notably only 23% of European households currently have access to or use AC — and we’ll need clean energy sources like solar to supply it. This news proves its merit as a reliable source of power in a warming world.

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More Good News

​An Indigenous community in Colombia went “from hunter to protector,” trading shark fishing for conservation. While Indigenous communities still see shark as a valuable source of protein, their fishing methods have changed drastically.

​In a landmark conservation project, nearly 2,000 acres along a Wisconsin river are now permanently protected. It’s one of the most significant land conservation efforts in southern Wisconsin in recent years.

​Student engineers created a wearable device that can help visually impaired people detect obstacles that canes or guide dogs may miss. Inspired by one student’s airport experience, the device uses time-of-flight sensors to detect nearby objects and haptic feedback to alert the person wearing it.

​A new federal grant program is helping provide financial aid to students enrolled in short-term job training. Previously not covered by Pell grants, the expenses associated with a shorter-term class can be an obstacle for cash-strapped students who need it to get a job or a wage increase.

​The largest-ever molecular “map’” of autism may help develop new targeted therapies. Using artificial intelligence and data on tiny brains grown in the lab, researchers mapped out the ways in which certain genetic mutations that are associated with autism can rewire the brain and lead to the condition.

​An orphaned Bornean sun bear cub in Malaysia is getting a second chance through a “soft release” into the wild. As opposed to a one-time release into the forest, the approach models the support a cub would typically receive from its mother.

Science

Scientists figured out a way to map the planet’s melting permafrost in real time

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good progress

Homicides are down 51% in Mexico since President Sheinbaum took office in September 2024

In July, there were an average of 42.5 homicides per day, representing the lowest monthly average in nearly two years. It was also the least-violent July in more than a decade.

In the first seven months of the year, homicides are down 30.8%, the lowest for the time period since 2015.

While authorities acknowledged the real progress, they also said “the job is not finished, as crime is concentrated in certain states and areas — nearly half of murders are happening in seven out of Mexico’s 31 states.

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More Good bits

🏠 Intergenerational living is all pros, no cons.

📣 And a reminder to not pass judgement at a noisy neighbor.

🌎 Think the planet is doomed? Cut that out (please).

🌾 Nature just needs a little space to grow.

⚾️ That’s how you look out for your teammate.

☀️ States that voted for Trump are installing the most solar.

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