👶 A tiny beanie with big promise | Morning Newsletter
And what to know about proposed data centers in the Philly region.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to Sunday. What a lovely day for a run — mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Good luck, marathoners!
Penn is testing a high-tech hat that aims to connect NICU babies with their parents and block out harmful noises in the hospital environment.
Plus, AI data center proposals are worrying Philly-area communities. Three human reporters unpack the buzz.
— Erin Reynolds (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The NICU has a noise problem. All those beeping machines and alarms can stress infants. In the short term, they struggle to eat or sleep. In the long term, they’re at a higher risk for language delays.
But Penn graduates Gabby Daltoso and Sophie Ishiwari are working on a solution.
They’ve developed a high-tech beanie that mimics the womb. It filters out high-frequency sounds and lets human voices at low frequencies in. The device also delivers audio messages recorded by parents for their babies.
For Pamela Collins, whose son spent months in HUP’s intensive care nursery, the beanie was a game changer. “I know my baby can listen more than he can see,” she said, “and I’m excited to know he’s listening to our voices.”
Reporter Kayla Yup shares what’s next for the Sonura Beanie team.
More than 150 data centers already exist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and demand for them is only increasing.
âś… Data center proponents say the buildings generate significant tax revenue, create jobs, and attract other businesses to the region.
❌ Opponents worry about pollution, noise, water use, and their electric bills.
What kinds of jobs do data centers actually create? How much water do they use? What’s proposed for the Philly region? Reporters Erin McCarthy, Frank Kummer, and Chris A. Williams answer some FAQs.
What you should know today
The Philadelphia Marathon is today, after a half marathon drew crowds despite the weather.
Thousands of tabletop role-playing game enthusiasts have descended on Philly. This weekend’s annual gaming convention is essentially their Valhalla.
Tyrese Maxey gave out 3,000 Thanksgiving meals to families in need. With each passing year, since it started in 2022, the event continues to make massive leaps.
Dalessandro’s earned a Michelin honor. But the news took the owners by surprise: They found out via the family group chat.
How did The Inquirer review Michelin’s top Philadelphia picks in the past? Take a look.
Mama’s Pizzeria, serving its signature cheesesteak with a three-cheese blend on the Main Line since 1960, is closing its doors next week.
Lower Merion became the first township in Pennsylvania to ban gas-powered leaf blowers.
Philadelphia is at risk of losing more than 7,500 subsidized rental homes during the next decade, a new report found.
A Drexel autism expert says the CDC’s new website on vaccines and autism “feels like deliberate gaslighting.”
In her new book, Having It All, Wharton economist Corinne Low uses data to explain the pressures on women and how to resolve some of them.
The Eagles are helping this “childhood cancer warrior” show other kids they’re not fighting alone.
âť“Pop quiz
SEPTA’s trolley tunnel has been shut down as crews complete repairs to the overhead catenary power system. The transit agency says the tunnel will remain closed through:
A) Nov. 30
B) Dec. 15
C) Jan. 1
D) Nov. 25
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Albert C. Barnes built a large collection of works by this self-taught French artist
HEARSE RUINOUS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Allyn Zygmund-Felt, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: King of Prussia. Add some slime (the fun kind) to your holiday shopping experience this year.
Photo of the day
đź‘‹ Thanks for reading! Julie will be back in your inbox tomorrow.