Happy Monday 👋

Did you know that the radio is still the most popular form of media across the US?

Since its invention by Guglielmo Marconi in the late 1800s, radio broadcasting has been a vital source of information for people around the world, from weather reports to emergency situations. 

So, today, I’d like to share an awareness event with you that highlights the benefits of radio and honors the inventors who created it.

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Celebrating the invention of the radio 📻
• The development of fungal batteries 🍄
• The promising ability of building materials to capture carbon 🏢
• And more… 💚

📻 Event of the Week: Public Radio Broadcasting Day

👉 Did you know that January 13 is Public Radio Broadcasting Day? This event was founded to honor those who invented the radio and the profound impact it has had on our daily lives. 

1️⃣ The big picture: Public Radio Broadcasting Day marks the date of the first public radio broadcast in 1910, when a live opera featuring some of the most famous opera singers of the day was broadcast for several hours. The sound quality was poor but this was an important milestone in the journey toward the 24/7 radio play we have today. Reminiscing about past inventions is important to recognize the growth we have made as a society and honor those inspiring inventors. Public Radio Broadcasting Day is a celebration of the voices that challenge, inform, and entertain us.

2️⃣ Why is this important: In our modern age with a wide range of entertainment options to choose from, 92% of Americans still listen to the radio weekly. Radio stations are essential for supporting local artists and businesses, as well as providing weather and news updates in real time. Furthermore, the radio has been instrumental during times of crisis. For example, during World War I the radio was primarily used to contact ships out at sea and was used almost exclusively by the military. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in Public Radio Broadcasting Day by turning on your favorite radio station or discovering something new by exploring their digital and streaming content. Alternatively, you can raise awareness of the benefits of radio through your social media channels or organize a fundraising event for your local radio station. 

If you are looking for inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

🍄 The creation of a biodegradable fungal battery:

• As part of a three-year research project, researchers from Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory have developed a functional fungal battery, which is completely biodegradable and non-toxic unlike other batteries.
• Fungi are still under-researched and under-utilized in the field of material science. And, as yet, the new batteries created from living cells don’t produce a lot of electricity. However, the team are now researching ways to make them more powerful and longer-lasting.
• This research project marks the first time that two types of fungi have been combined to create a functioning fuel cell. On the anode side there is a yeast fungus whose metabolism releases electrons. The cathode is colonized by a white rot fungus, which allows the electrons to be captured and conducted out of the cell.

🏢 Scientists study the ability of building materials to store carbon:

• Construction materials such as concrete and plastic have the potential to lock away billions of tons of carbon dioxide according to a new study by civil engineers and earth systems scientists at the University of California.
• Other proposed schemes have already been discussed for storing carbon, such as storing it in the deep ocean. However, these approaches come with both practical challenges and environmental risks.
• The carbon-storing approaches studied included adding biochar into concrete, using artificial rocks that can be loaded with carbon as concrete and asphalt pavement aggregate, and including biomass fiber into bricks. These technologies are at different stages of readiness, with some still being investigated and others already available.

🛵 World’s largest electric vehicle maker unveils new sodium battery electric motorbikes:

• Yadea, which has held the title of the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker in the world for six years running, has just launched a new electric motorbike powered by their innovative HuaYu sodium-ion battery technology.
• Most electric vehicles, especially electric two-wheelers, rely on lithium-ion batteries. Lithium is notoriously difficult to extract and is only found in specific regions. In contrast, sodium is an abundant element that is less prone to overheating, making it a cheaper and safer option for electric vehicles.
• Yadea’s status as a major electric motorbike maker also means that its adoption of sodium-ion battery technology could help lead the entire industry toward this battery chemistry as a sustainable alternative to lithium. 

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

🧠 January 14, World Logic Day:

• UNESCO officially proclaimed January 14 as World Logic Day in 2019.
• The purpose of this day is to bring awareness to the intellectual history, conceptual significance, and practical implications of logic, like problem-solving, decision-making, and persuasion.

🧑‍💻 January 15, Wikipedia Day:

• On this day in 2001, Wikipedia published its first article. Since then, it has become an indispensable resource for knowledge on millions of topics, utilized by millions of people every day. 
• Wikipedia readers and editors alike celebrate the free encyclopedia by hosting events to share their experiences and show appreciation.

✍️ January 12-18, Universal Letter Writing Week:

• With today’s technology, handwriting a letter is becoming a lost art. 
• During this week, organizations encourage people of all ages to write a letter to someone they care about.

Related: You can discover all the 47 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for January 2025!

📜 These Days in History

🚗 January 13, 1942: American industrialist Henry Ford patented plastic automobile construction. 

🖤 January 13, 1990: Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the first African American governor in the US. 

📚 January 13, 1832: Horatio Alger, one of the most influential American writers of his generation, was born in Revere, Massachusetts. During his lifetime, he wrote over 100 books for boys, many featuring “rags to riches” tales of poor boys overcoming life’s obstacles. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Henry Ford, American industrialist

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚