Hello!
It's been a difficult week here in Indianapolis—a lingering sickness on the personal front, but also a dread that seems to pop up everywhere.
Maybe it's because I'm off the road for the moment, trying to write, and so I don't feel the same go-go-go sense of purpose that accompanied the book tour. Maybe I'm sad because so much in the world is sad—so much loss, so much separation, so much failure. I was heartened by good news (albeit in modest doses) from the efforts of TB Fighters and others to support global health funding in the U.S., but it feels at the moment like there are so many losses for each win.
I don't like the newsletter to be a bummer, and I promise the rest of it won't be, but I also don't want to pretend to be immune to the horrors that abound in every direction. But still, as the name of this newsletter boldly and hopefully proclaims, we're here. We're here. We beat on, boats against the current, etc.
Hope you’re well,
John
You can always email us at [email protected]
This Week in Stuff
Frederick, Maryland, hosted a penny-farthing race through their historic downtown. (Instagram)
Someone created an amazingly detailed Patagotitan sugar cookie. (TikTok)
One Florida town seems to be flood-proof, and the town’s engineer explained why. (YouTube)
Chimpanzees are using grass to make a fashion statement, but probably not how you’d expect. (CBC.ca)
This was a big week for posts from people who rarely post! Vsauce had their first video in 2 years, as did Molly Garcia! Both of these are extremely worth watching for extremely different reasons. (YouTube)
Please send us stuff you think we should feature to [email protected]
Every year, 230,000 children are spared from HIV thanks to treatments that reduce mother-to-child transmission
Hannah Ritchie
It’s hard to imagine many things that are more terrifying than your baby contracting HIV. This is the reality for around 130,000 families every year.
Just a few decades ago, this figure was over half a million. Most of these infections were passed on from mothers who had HIV themselves.
But the introduction of anti-retroviral (ART) drugs and other interventions has meant that most infections can be prevented. If the mother takes ART during pregnancy, it dramatically reduces the risk of passing on HIV. In some cases, giving ART to the baby in the first few weeks of life can help too.
In the chart, you can see this decline in new HIV infections in children. On top, you can see the huge number of cases estimated to have been averted thanks to these interventions; they amount to almost a quarter of a million cases every year.
Our World in Data is a UK-based non-profit organization that publishes research and data to make progress against the world’s largest problems. You can find more of their data insights here.
This Week at Complexly
Study Hall: College Journeys is back with a new episode featuring Hank and fellow educational YouTuber, Gohar Khan!
While Gohar's initial dream of becoming a Minecraft YouTuber was eventually replaced with a computer programming degree, he found his TRUE calling during the pandemic when he began sharing college advice on TikTok. His relatable, insightful content quickly made him the internet’s go-to guide for navigating higher education.
In his College Journey interview with Hank Green, Gohar reflects on how his own college experience shaped his drive to make education more transparent and accessible. Whether you’re applying to college or rethinking your path, Gohar’s story is a reminder that learning can take unexpected forms—and sometimes, your side project becomes your purpose.
What does food sovereignty mean—and why does it matter? In this episode of Crash Course Native American History, we’ll explore how Native peoples’ deep ties to their traditional foods splintered under colonization, and why many Native people are fighting to keep those foods in their communities or bring them back.
Some Games to Play!
SpellCheck.xyc (by Answer in Progress)
4×3 (by Hank Green)
How to play: Find 4 categories with 3 words in each category. One special word will be used in all 4 categories! This 4×3 puzzle was made by Allison.
This Gubbins postcard was made by Eden. Send yours to [email protected]
If you post your results on social media, we’d love it if you post a link for folks to subscribe to “We’re Here” (https://werehere.beehiiv.com/subscribe)
Our name acrostics
Last week, we asked for an acrostic poem of your name featuring things you love. Thanks for sending us so many poems! We love learning fun little things about the folks in this community.
Jumping through the crystal ball
Ocean sings nature's call
Yearning to make sense of it all
Take to the woods, dive in the rivers, stroll in the desert
Always nature girl, even if it earned teasing while young
Ready to explore and try new things
And also happy to stare at a videogame screen
Coming home
On a lightning-bug night,
Loving you, and everything that makes us cry, and
Especially this, our little contribution to the great human story.
Sunshine
Animals
Reading
Applesause
Hugs
Ocean breeze languidly drifts across my face, a promise of salty security.
Warm sun kisses my shoulders, a reminder that strength can be gentle.
Elysian paradise, you hold me like a mother nurturing her newest child.
Now is all that matters, being still in, connected to, fascinated by you.
Galvanized into love by the world's branching plea:
Everything grows in the same shape, you see,
Oranges split in slices like how libraries are free, like how
Roads will always harbor the flowering of the weeds,
Generosity shaped like veins, lightning, roots of a tree,
Intertwined as life meets itself, all fractal glee,
A "hi there! I missed you!" as salt to the sea.
Everyone is a little bit beautiful.
My name is Ember
Because I glow, if you look closely.
Everyone's beauty can be overlooked. But remember the small things. Like
Roses, fairy lights, stormy seas, cups of cocoa. The small things are often the most beautiful of all.
Too many times I've taken the toppy-tip,
Icebergs that is, I've seen only the point,
Adventure for curiosity alone was lost on me,
However, heating up, it heaved and rolled over,
Now there's no point, yet so much to see!
Today's amazing
I'm alive, the sun is bright
Maybe a new start
If my cat wrote an acrostic poem of his favorite things, this is what he would write:
Buses and other big vehicles
Upending end tables
Scratchies under the chin
Talking all the time
Eating (obviously)
Running down the hallway at top speed
Buster the cat
Pretend you’re hosting a dinner party for yourself and 5 guests. Anyone you invite, alive or dead, will show up! Who will you invite?
Send your guest list to [email protected].
