Self-driving Crash Trucks, a Small Solution to a Big Problem and The Simple Joys in Life: What I’m Reading This Week

Earlier this year, I wrote about dogsitting. I’ve had the privilege of watching Cocoa again the past week. I’ve done my absolute best to spoil her rotten. Every day, I feel like I learn more about humanity by watching her.

She’s given me a few frights, but there’s no place else I’d rather be or nothing I’d rather be doing than sitting next to her. Cocoa has pulled me into the present and is forcing me to slow down and appreciate the beautiful fall weather. I'm so grateful for the reminder and opportunity to be still.

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I hope you can find some peace and quiet and can practice some self-care, too.

Until next time, stay safe, be well and be kind.

Self-driving Crash Trucks

I’m skeptical of self-driving cars, but self-driving crash trucks? Yes, please.

The Denver Gazette covered a recent demonstration by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for an autonomous truck-mounted attenuator, described as “a driverless crash-protection vehicle designed to absorb impacts in roadside work areas.”

“Those vehicles are designed to get hit so people don’t have to,” said Kay Kelly, CDOT’s chief of innovation mobility. “We want to remove the human from that truck whenever possible.”

Previously the state required a worker in the cab of autonomous truck-mounted attenuator, meaning a person was still at risk in one of the most dangerous work zone assignments. Autonomous follower systems use an array of sensors and tools to follow a work truck, creating a barrier between workers and highway traffic.

CDOT already has three autonomous trucks and is looking to buy more with state and federal funding. The company that developed the technology, Kratos Defense, told The Denver Gazette it has 18 trucks operating across the U.S. plus one in England.

It costs about $1 million to outfit the existing trucks with the technology required to make it an autonomous vehicle, but officials say it’s impossible to put a cost on human life.

What an exciting use of technology and a powerful reminder of what we’re all here for.

Read the full story here.

A Small Solution to a Big Problem

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has been announcing the 2025 Nobel laureates. Most of the time, I don’t recognize their names. Heck, most of the time I don’t fully understand their work.

Even so, my excitement never diminishes at seeing the announcements or rejoicing in their accomplishments. I am buoyed by the work of these individuals who seek to solve society’s most difficult problems.

On Wednesday, the committee awarded the Nobel in chemistry to scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for their work in developing a new form of molecular architecture, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The committee compared the MOFs to Hermoine’s handbag from “Harry Potter” because of its disproportionate size to storage ratio.

The MOFs are described as a porous material about the size of a sugar cube that could contain as much surface area as a football pitch. They have the potential to capture greenhouse gases in the air and PFAS or “forever chemicals” in water.

The scientists collaborated globally, which offers me hope that we can solve tough problems when we all come to the table ready and willing to work.

“Science is the greatest equalizing force in the world,” said Yaghi, who is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Reuters notes that Yaghi was born to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, where his family shared a one-room home with the cattle the family was raising. The Washington Post notes that Yaghi’s parents could barely read or write.  

What a humbling and inspiring reminder of what humanity is capable of.

Read the Nobel chemistry announcement here.

The Simple Joys in Life

If you’ve read these weekly roundups for a while, you know that I have a fondness for the simple joys in life. This article is all about that—with a modern (read: viral) twist.

Charlotte Ward has a straightforward approach to social media. She posts three photos from her daily walk and one photo of what she ate. Ward lives in Yorkshire, England, so there’s plenty of lush landscapes to capture, though she’s not too far from London, either.

In a recent interview, Ward told The New York Times that she started her daily walks with her father during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and she started posting on social media as a way to stay in touch with friends.

Before she started her walks, Ward thought she wanted—nay, needed—to leave England to find some place better suited for her. Instead, she learned to reconnect with nature and gained an appreciation for what she already has around her.

All too often, we hear of someone who didn’t know what they had till it was gone. Ward’s story is a good reminder to stop what we’re doing and embrace the moment. There’s usually some beauty to behold and maybe, if we’re lucky, there will also be a delicious treat to enjoy.

Read the full story and see some gorgeous English landscapes here.