✨ A Discovery in the Margins

Grandma’s hobbies take the world by storm, and lava the length of three football fields shoots into the sky. But first, let’s head to Italy for a new discovery in a centuries-old book ...👇🏽 

"Archival research does not always repay the efforts of those who undertake it; more often it results in patient waiting, silences, false trails. Sometimes, however, it happens that perseverance, together with a bit of luck, is rewarded by a discovery capable of changing the perspective of a gaze that has become accustomed."

Historian Ivan Malara on his unexpected discovery of handwritten notes from Galileo in a 16th-century copy of Almagest, revealing the young astronomer once studied Earth-centered models before championing the now-accepted idea that planets orbit the sun. In fact, Galileo — known as the "father of modern science" — would later spend the rest of his life under house arrest for defending that view.

The find comes as NASA eyes an April 1 launch date for Artemis II, highlighting how humanity's curiosity of the heavens — once scribbled in book margins — now fuels historic missions around the moon.

🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:

📆 On the Calendar: Hollywood makes its final preparations for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday. Here are the presenters and performers to know.

🇮🇷 Iran: A columnist for The New York Times lays out four possible scenarios for what could come next for the country — from regime change to internal collapse. Here is a good resource for coverage of the war, from interactive maps to special reports.

💳 $119 Billion: The estimated amount of money Americans lose to scams each year. Investment scams rank as the most commonly reported. Here are a few resources to protect yourself.

🧠 “Mixed signals”: After reviewing existing research on AI and mental fatigue, Harvard Business Review conducted its own study on the technology’s effects. The results linked heavy AI use to “brain fry,” but also found cognitive boosts when the tools are used effectively. One thing the study notes for the workplace? “Leadership and training could play a critical role” in the outcome.

🌋 1,000 Feet: The height of lava fountains shooting out of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano for the 43rd time since December 2024. Falling ash and volcano fragments from the world’s most active volcano prompted highway and park closures this week on the island. Catch the live stream here.

📚 Stagnant Scores: Reading levels for first and second graders — who were babies during the pandemic — still lag behind pre-COVID levels, according to new research. “We can’t pinpoint one specific cause,” one researcher said.

🦅 “Protective dad”: This famous bald eagle protected his nest of eggs as 60-mph winds whipped through California's Big Bear Lake region. A 24/7 feed of Shadow and his partner, Jackie, helps scientists better understand America’s national bird — while thousands online also tune in to watch. The Los Angeles Times breaks down how Shadow and Jackie "became social media's hottest love story."

🦌 Reindeer Races: In northern Finland, reindeer aren’t just pulling Santa’s sleigh— they’re racing skiers across frozen tracks in a tradition dating back to the 1950s.

📱 8: The number of new Apple emojis available on the latest iOS software update. Meanwhile, here's what to possibly expect in the next round of new icons.

👵 Grandma Era: Screen-free hobbies such as cross-stitching are taking off among Gen Z and millennials. Simultaneously, the centuries-old game of Mah-Jongg is also gaining popularity (we also wanted to spell it "MahJong" but stand corrected!) — here’s the history behind the game. Notoriously expensive, we found a slightly more affordable set at Walmart.

🎙️ This Week From Jenna:

Is China at the center of all current global conflict? Is the risk of war rising?

Whether we take a closer look at Venezuela or Iran, we find roads that lead to China. Why? And what should we know about the state of the largest communist nation in the world?

Jenna interviews author and analyst Gordon Chang about China’s growing instability and global posture amid shifting events involving Venezuela, Iran, and potential Trump–Xi talks.

🎙️ SCOOP (approx. 54 minutes) The Untold Impact of Iran’s Conflict – From Petroleum To The Press. Watch or Listen. (SCOOP Insiders can attend this live broadcast once a week and get their news questions answered; they also receive the special video report EXCLUSIVELY delivered to their inbox along with a "cheat sheet" for the week ahead — learn more HERE).

🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:

With kids and a dog running around, our floors take a beating.

That’s why I've used Ruggable for years — the top layer detaches and goes straight into the washing machine. No professional cleaning, no stress over spills.

This week, I did a little spring refresh and added a new style to the kitchen. How long do you give it before it needs to be washed? 🤭

Want to do a little refresh for yourself? Use code SMARTHER15 for 15% off.

“I didn’t quite realize how much I valued them on a talisman level until they were gone. When they were suddenly there again, I understood how much that mattered. The older I get, the more they mean.”

Production designer Rick Carter reflecting on the moment the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences replaced his Oscar statuettes after they were destroyed in the recent Los Angeles wildfires.

In an Instagram post, the Academy wrote, “... these new statuettes stand in for more than what was lost. They honor a visionary whose work has defined the visual language of modern film ...”

The Academy rarely discusses what happens when an Oscar is lost, stolen, or destroyed, making the announcement a notable public show of respect for Carter.

Interestingly, Carter isn’t the first artist whose Oscar statuette has disappeared or been destroyed.

And that's The Weekend Digest!

❤️,  
Jenna and the SHN Team

Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.