☀️Scaling Skyscrapers and Saving Hearts

Happy Sunday!

In this issue, things are looking up—literally. We’re highlighting Alex Honnold’s death-defying climb and a brand new cancer lab in space.

Closer to Earth, the news is just as uplifting: U.S. homicide rates are plummeting, heart disease is on the retreat, and the UK is making "going green" actually affordable.

And we’ve got some heartwarming stories too like the 92-year old woman who can finally retire from her retail job thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Let's get into it! 💛

Danielle
Founder & Editor, The Bright Beat

If you've been doomscrolling headlines about crime, here's something that might actually restore your faith: homicide rates across major U.S. cities dropped a dramatic 21% in 2025, continuing a trend that started the year before.

Cities like Denver, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles all reported big double-digit declines. Denver’s homicides fell 41% while Washington D.C. saw a 40% drop. Even smaller cities joined the trend. Overall, the national homicide rate is approaching pre-pandemic levels—a significant turnaround after the spike in 2020-2021.

Some possible factors for the drop: increased community policing programs, violence intervention strategies that work directly with at-risk individuals, and improved coordination between law enforcement and social services.

Analyzing data from 35 cities, the Council on Criminal Justice also found consistent declines across other crimes as well including shoplifting, carjackings and aggravated assaults. While there's still work to do, this represents real progress. Cities are getting safer, strategies are working, and the trend is moving in the right direction. Read more.

Alex Honnold, the guy who free-soloed El Capitan untethered (a 3,000-foot cliff), just added another mind-bending feat to his resume: successfully scaling Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest buildings, completely rope-free. And he did it on live TV. Yikes! I can barely make it up an escalator without getting queasy. 

Standing 1,667 feet tall, Taipei 101 isn't your typical climb. Alex navigated glass, metal, and architectural features that weren't exactly designed for human hands. The climb took meticulous planning, including studying the building's structure and practicing on similar surfaces. One wrong move, one slippery handhold, and... well, let's not think about that.

Fun fact: Alex's mother, Dierdre Wolownick, is also an accomplished rock climber who began the sport at age 58 to better understand her son’s passion. She’s since set several age-related climbing records of her own. When your mom takes up extreme sports in her late 50s just to get closer to you, that's some next-level parenting.

A replay of Alex’s amazing accomplishment is available to stream on Netflix. Just maybe don't watch it while eating. Read more.

Heart disease has been America's leading killer for decades, but there's encouraging news: deaths have dropped significantly in recent years, and the American Heart Association credits improved prevention and treatment strategies.

Better awareness about risk factors—like high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes—means more people are taking action before problems escalate. Advances in medications, including statins and blood pressure drugs, have become more accessible and effective. Surgical techniques have improved, and emergency response times for heart attacks have gotten faster. Public health campaigns emphasizing exercise, healthy eating, and regular checkups are also making a measurable difference.

The decline isn't uniform everywhere; disparities still exist based on income, geography, and access to healthcare. But the overall trend shows that when people have information, resources, and support, they can significantly reduce their risk. This is a great example of disease prevention actually working. Read more.

Tech giant Nvidia has developed AI models that generate weather forecasts up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, potentially revolutionizing how meteorologists predict hurricanes, floods, and severe storms. Faster, more accurate forecasts mean better preparation and saved lives. Read more.

General Motors announced it's moving production of its Buick Envision from China back to the United States, creating domestic manufacturing jobs and reducing supply chain vulnerabilities. The shift reflects changing global economics and a renewed focus on American manufacturing. A win for U.S. workers. Read more.

Waymo's autonomous vehicles are now cruising Miami's streets, expanding the company's robotaxi footprint beyond California, Arizona, Georgia and Texas. Riders can use the app to hail driverless rides—minus the awkward small talk and debates about the AC temperature. Miami's diverse traffic conditions will test the tech, but early reviews are promising. The future is here! Read more.

Researchers created a modified sugar molecule that tastes sweet but doesn't cause the blood sugar spikes linked to diabetes and obesity. It's absorbed differently by the body, offering potential benefits for diabetics and anyone watching their glucose levels. Sweet news, literally. Read more.

Washington University developed a non-invasive breath test that analyzes compounds to assess gut health—no stool samples or invasive procedures needed. The test could help diagnose digestive disorders, monitor treatments, and track how diet affects your microbiome. Just exhale into a tube and get answers about your gut. Medical science just made things a lot less yucky. Read more.

Scientists have created a special teeth-whitening powder that works with your electric toothbrush. Most whiteners use harsh chemicals that can hurt your teeth, but this powder uses the toothbrush's vibrations to gently scrub away stains. It might even help fix your enamel. Another good reason to smile. Read more.

Europe plans to build the first specialized cancer lab in space to study how cancer cells grow and spread in a microgravity environment. Without gravity's constant pull, researchers can observe cell behavior in ways impossible on Earth—potentially revealing new treatment approaches. Turns out the best place to fight cancer might just be out of this world. Read more.

Engineers created a fully autonomous robot less than 1 millimeter in size that can navigate through liquids independently. Potential applications include targeted drug delivery inside the human body and environmental monitoring. Big problems, meet microscopic solutions. Read more.

The UK government has unveiled a flagship $20.6 billion (£15bn) "Warm Homes Plan" to upgrade five million properties by 2030. Homeowners can now access low and zero-interest loans to install solar panels, heat pumps, and batteries. By reducing upfront costs, the plan helps families slash annual energy bills while cutting carbon emissions. It’s a major win for greener, toastier, and more affordable living. Read more.

Team USA named its Winter Olympics roster for the 2026 games in Italy – it’s largest winter team in U.S. history. The 232 athlete roster features returning champions like figure skater Evan Bates and snowboarder Chloe Kim alongside breakthrough athletes like 15-year-old ski jumper Abby Winterberger. It also includes curler and personal injury lawyer Rich Ruohonen, who at age 54 is the oldest American to ever make the winter team. From the slopes to the rink, American athletes are gearing up to bring home some medals starting February 6. Let the games begin! Read more.

The Eagles' "Greatest Hits" just became the first album ever certified quadruple-diamond by the RIAA—that's 40 million copies sold in the U.S. alone. "Hotel California" is right behind it. Looks like classic rock is selling better than ever. Read more.

Trinity Rodman signed a three-year, $2 million annual deal with the Washington Spirit, making her the highest-paid female soccer player globally. The 23-year-old forward is redefining what's possible in women's sports—and getting paid what she's worth. Read more.

Getting into Yale is hard, but paying for it just got a lot easier! Yale announced that families making less than $200,000 a year won’t have to pay a penny for tuition starting in the fall of 2026. If a family makes under $100,000, Yale covers everything—including food and housing. It’s an Ivy League gift that helps more students chase their big dreams. Read more.

At 92 years old, Muriel Connick was still working at a Burlington store in Florida, because her living expenses were just too high. After a kind shopper shared her story, over 2,000 people raised $100,000 (and counting) to help her pay her bills and repair her home. Now, Muriel can finally relax and retire—all thanks to the kindness of strangers. Watch the video.

Students at a Virginia high school are repairing donated cars and giving them to single mothers who need reliable transportation. The program teaches students valuable skills while directly helping families get to work, school, and appointments. Now that’s what I call putting kindness in gear. Watch the video.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt got tired of waiting decades for government-funding, so he's investing hundreds of millions of his own money to build four cutting-edge space telescopes—including Lazuli, essentially a modern Hubble upgrade that'll capture sharper images of distant galaxies and stars. All data will be freely available to scientists worldwide. When billionaires choose science over yachts, we all win. Read more.

Students at a high school in Florida got a surprise that was way better than a pizza party. An Orlando-based nonprofit awarded the entire student body—that’s 1,600 students—a full-ride college scholarship to a local community college. With tuition covered, these hard-working teens are now headed toward a bright, debt-free future! Watch the video.

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