For those who wish they could skip over Halloween and Thanksgiving and jump right to the season of tinsel-wrapped trees and red-and-green everything, we have good news: Christmas is just 99 days away. That festive fact aligns nicely with the recent launch of the U.S. Postal Service's annual Operation Santa, an initiative that connects families who write letters to Santa Claus with individuals and organizations who want to fulfill their Christmas wishes. Click here to learn how to send a letter or how to be someone's Santa this year.
A rare celestial meet-up of sorts will be visible this week across the Northern Hemisphere — no telescope necessary
Health
Breakthrough AI Tool Can Predict Vision Loss in High-Risk Patients Years in Advance
Roman Budnyi/ iStock
Over the years, we've covered stories about how AI is making life more accessible for people who are blind. And now, the tech is going one step further: Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind AI tool that can help detect a patient's risk of vision loss years before symptoms start — potentially preventing permanent blindness. Trained on more than 36,000 eye scans from 6,684 patients with keratoconus, a progressive eye condition affecting up to 1 in 350 people, the breakthrough algorithm can predict which patients are likely to experience vision loss and need early treatment, and which can be safely monitored. Unlike current methods that require years of follow-up to detect progression, the tool makes assessments from a patient's first visit, thus reducing unneeded checkups and enabling timely care. "Our results could mean that patients with high-risk keratoconus will be able to receive preventative treatment before their condition progresses," study co-author Shafi Balal said in a statement, adding: "Low-risk patients will avoid unnecessary frequent monitoring, freeing up health care resources." Looking ahead, researchers plan to continue testing and exploring how the tool could be integrated into eye care to prevent permanent vision loss, particularly for young patients. In the meantime, get a refresh on some good (and bad) habits for eye health.
Together With Pacaso
How 433 Investors Unlocked 400 Times Return Potential
Institutional investors back startups for outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore: Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently. Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400 times buyout offer from the company, as Revolut's valuation increased 89,900%. No wonder more than 11,000 everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso. Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso's co-ownership tech reshapes a $1.3 trillion market. The company has earned over $110 million in gross profit to date and even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. The same investors that backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay also backed Pacaso. And you can join them — but only until tomorrow night. Invest before this opportunity ends for good.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Culture
Time to Bring Music Back Into Your House: "The Sound of Music" Turns 60 This Year
Bettmann/Getty Images
The hills are alive, because 2025 marks The Sound of Music's 60th anniversary — and there are plenty of ways to celebrate before the year is out. The movie returned to theaters nationwide last week and is being released in a new 4K Blu-ray on Tuesday (complete with audio commentary from director Robert Wise). And to commemorate the milestone, People recently published an interview with some behind-the-scenes insight into the cast's bond, from 1965 to now. Angela Cartwright, who played Brigitta von Trapp in the film, said she and the rest of the then-child actors are still close well into their 60s and 70s. "We call ourselves 'Non-Trapps,'" 73-year-old Cartwright told the outlet. "We visit, we've been at births and marriages and deaths and been through experiences together." She also waxed poetic about working with the iconic Julie Andrews: "Between takes … she would sing, she would teach us songs, we would dance, and she was part of that. She didn't go off to her dressing room. She was a real part of us being a family." For fans who know the lyrics to the songs by heart (just us?), the Hollywood Bowl is hosting an anniversary watch party of the movie on Saturday, along with a sing-along and costume contest. The outdoor amphitheater in Los Angeles has been conducting sing-alongs since 2000, including a sold-out celebration of The Sound of Music's 50th birthday. Learn how to get tickets to this year's show and watch Cartwright and her castmates' 2022 sing-along tribute to Andrews.
Environment
Long-Lost "Ghost Ship" Found in Lake Michigan After Nearly 140 Years
Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association
Ready for a real-life ghost (ship) story? Nearly 140 years ago, the F.J. King sank in the waters of Lake Michigan without a trace, leaving a mystery that earned the vessel the reputation of a "ghost ship." After decades of searching and conflicting reports about its location, the schooner's wreck was finally discovered this summer, less than a half-mile from a lighthouse keeper's original sighting. Built in 1867, the 144-foot, three-masted cargo ship was transporting iron from Escanaba, Michigan, to Chicago when it was caught in a severe gale in September1886. Although the ship sank, all crew members were thankfully rescued. The wreck was nowhere to be found in the decades following, until a team led by Brendon Baillod used side-scan sonar technology to locate the site this past June. "A few of us had to pinch each other," Baillod, president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association, said in an announcement, per the Associated Press. "After all the previous searches, we couldn't believe we had actually found it, and so quickly." Get a closer look at the shipwreck.
In Other News
After 50 years of international action, the ozone layer is expected to fully heal in the coming decades (read more)
Do you have signs of hypertension? Apple Watch's new feature can help you find out (read more)
Tufts University will be tuition-free next fall for U.S. families earning less than $150,000 per year (read more)
Wildlife rescue win:A rehabbed gull was spotted thriving in British Columbia 24 years after its release (read more)
The northern lights sparkled overNew Hampshire this week — watch a time-lapse of the surreal show (read more)
Inspiring Story
Delicious mission
Go to a restaurant in Altadena, California, and you may spot a group of residents dining out for a good cause: saving local restaurants following the devastating wildfires earlier this year. The Altadena Dining Club is on a mission to support local eateries, but the community effort has also had an unexpected result of deepening bonds among neighbors. "It's fun to eat out … but what keeps me coming back is a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, a sense of safety," said Benji Zobrist, an Altadena resident.
Photo of the Day
Art Zelin/Getty Images
RIP, Robert Redford. The Oscar winner and iconic filmmaker died at his home in Utah yesterday morning at age 89, leaving behind an incredible legacy of classic films — you know the ones, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Sting,and so many more. He also founded the organization behind the Sundance Film Festival in 1981 and was known for being a passionate environmentalist. Look back at Redford's life in photos.
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Odds & Ends
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Quote of the Day
"Poetry has a crucial role to play in our lives, society, and the world. It helps us slow down, hear clearly, see deeply, and envision what matters most in our lives."
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