The Chinese Communist Party has escalated its persecution of Christians by arresting more prominent church leaders and putting them in detention centers, The Daily Wire has learned. At least seven Christians affiliated with the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, a city in southwestern China, were arrested on Tuesday, according to the church. The arrests began in the early morning and continued until evening. Early Rain Covenant Church is a prominent evangelical Presbyterian church that has earned the ire of the Communist Party for being part of China’s underground church movement. The arrests of the Early Rain members come just a few months after the Chinese government rounded up prominent leaders at Zion Church, another well-known underground church. Those arrested included Li Yingqiang, an elder at the church whose home in Deyang was searched, and preacher Dai Zhichao. Dai was arrested at the church office after being told by authorities he was not allowed to leave his home, according to the church. “At around 11:00 a.m. on January 6, he was taken under control at the church office, then brought to his home where it was searched, after which he went out of contact. It has now been confirmed that he is at the Jinniu District Case-Handling Center,” a message from Early Rain said. Others who were taken by authorities included elder Yan Hong, preacher Wu Wuqing, the family of Ye Fenghua, and deacon Zeng Qingtao. A woman named Shu Qiong was also taken by police and charged with “suspected provocation and police disturbance,” according to a source familiar with the arrests. A photo obtained by The Daily Wire shows the police showing up at her home. One of those arrested was able to return home on Tuesday, according to the church. The church is currently locating lawyers for those arrested. At the same time, police targeted the Early Rain Academy, a school operated by the church. “The academy immediately organized teachers and students to evacuate and leave the site. Subsequently, the owner of the teaching site was summoned to the police station and pressured, and was informed that all items must be removed from the site by Friday,” the church said in a release. The CCP’s targeting of Early Rain stretches back to 2018 when it began arresting prominent leaders, including Pastor Wang Yi. Wang was convicted in 2019 of subverting the government and sentenced to nine years in prison. While still imprisoned, he was just awarded a Democracy Service Medal by the National Endowment for Democracy. Corey Jackson, who heads up the advocacy organization Luke Alliance, said the arrests were part of a broader pattern of targeting of unregistered churches. He said in recent months that more pastors were being brought into local police offices for “tea times” and told that they must register with the state or face harsh treatment. “One person reported that they had been told by the domestic security police that churches, ‘house churches,’ are going to face complete prohibition. Participants will face imprisonment, and there’s going to be less pattern of warning, fines, and leeway,” Jackson told The Daily Wire. Jackson said that the government really wants to exert more control over the churches, and make them register any online services they have before meeting. He also said the government doesn’t want parents educating kids in their faith if they are below the age of 18. Jackson added that he would like to see the Trump administration put some pressure on China over their repression of Christianity. “We need to apply pressure on China with human rights,” he said. “We must continue not to just be transactional in our approach with China, but to also recognize that China is the one of the worst abusers of human rights in the world.”

If you want to stay in the know, social media is one of the best ways to get information. Whether it’s music, trends, recipes, memes, or following your favorite celebrities, these apps are here to stay. Celine Dion has long embraced her social media presence, but recently decided to up her TikTok game. The Because You Loved Me singer posted a fun video in early January promising to devote more time to fans through the app. As always, her self-deprecating humor hit a home run with fans. “They told me, ‘Celine, it’s time…’ I asked, ‘Time for what?’Turns out…something completely new. My team then said they’d handle everything, handed me back my phone, and then quietly disappeared. So here I am, learning how this TikTok world works…one video at a time! Thank you for being here, I’m glad we’re here together.- Celine xx…” she wrote in the video’s caption. @celinedion They told me, “Celine, it’s time…” I asked, “Time for what?” Turns out…something completely new. My team then said they’d handle everything, handed me back my phone, and then quietly disappeared. So here I am, learning how this TikTok world works…one video at a time! Thank you for being here, I’m glad we’re here together. – Celine xx… ♬ original sound – Celine Dion Celine Dion Has Millions of Followers on TikTok TikTok isn’t a new venture for Celine Dion, just one she hasn’t put much effort into personally. According to her, that’s about to change. Her fans positively loved seeing Celine in her black hoodie, smiling and playing with silly filters. She teased that she didn’t know she was “cool,” but fans shut that down very quickly. “’Celine Dion is cool?’ Let’s be clear, Celine Dion was never NOT cool,” one person wrote. “’Celine Dion becoming cool.’ NO QUEEN YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COOL!” A fan agreed. Fans let her know that she’s in the exact right place. “Celine you’re so TT coded already and you don’t even know it,” another fan added. Having Celine Dion on TikTok seems right, doesn’t it? “This app was made for Celine Dion. Talented and entirely unhinged. Let’s goooo!” A happy fan wrote. This story’s featured image can be found here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM To wrap up our Best of 2025 series, we’re sharing something a little more personal… our Staff Picks! These are the articles that sparked extra chats, late-night musings, and genuine delight among our team. They made us think, smile, and (of course) feel a little more optimistic. We hope they do the same for you. There’s something almost magical about the simple act of making things with your hands. Whether it’s cutting paper for a collage, knitting a scarf, or shaping clay into a coffee mug, crafting has a way of pulling us into the present moment—and that’s exactly where its healing power begins. Crafting has been enjoying a well-deserved renaissance lately. In a world full of uncertainty and stress, people are turning to creative hobbies not just for fun but as a way to cope. And the psychological benefits are very real. “Crafting is akin to a meditative activity,” explains licensed psychotherapist Elise Robinson. “You’re engaged in it, you are really focusing on the task, which means you’re very present.” That kind of focus helps calm a stressed-out mind, quiet racing thoughts, and lower cortisol—the stress hormone. When we’re immersed in a creative activity, our brains can shift away from anxiety and into something more grounding. Meagan Mahaffy, artist and founder of the wellness-focused creative collective Art Gurl, encourages people to use even small moments of crafting as a tool. “If instead of forcing yourself to meditate when it’s not working, you pick up a pen and do a five-minute doodle—even if it’s just scribbling—your brain is busy thinking about the movement of your pen and what you’re creating,” she says. That means fewer spiraling thoughts and more mental space for peace. Building confidence and resilience, one stitch at a time Beyond stress relief, crafting helps us build a sense of self-trust and accomplishment. Creating something from nothing—whether it’s a drawing, a collage, or a handmade pot—helps strengthen self-efficacy or the belief that we’re capable of making things happen. “Generally, the more we believe in ourselves and our abilities, the less stress we’re going to carry overall,” says Robinson. When crafting becomes part of our routine, we start to approach life with more confidence and compassion for ourselves. Studies also suggest that creative expression improves emotional regulation and flexibility during stressful times. Crafting is also a safe space for learning to handle mistakes. As Robinson puts it, “We’ll have increased tolerance for messing up, and life is messy, so that’s a wonderful thing.” Whether it’s trying to figure out a tricky stitch or reworking a pattern, each moment of trial and error builds problem-solving skills and emotional resilience. “You are actually strengthening your problem-solving skills, your self-trust capacity, your self-esteem,” says Mahaffy. And you’re doing it in a low-stakes, joyful way. Creating community through creativity One of the most beautiful aspects of crafting is that it connects us—not just to ourselves but to others. From community art nights to pottery classes to knitting circles, crafting has a unique way of bringing people together. “If you’re at an event where you are creating art… it’s easy to build connections between you and other people there,” says Mahaffy. Conversations start naturally as people share what they’re working on, and those conversations often lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships. Finding a shared creative space can be especially powerful for anyone struggling to build community or feeling isolated. It offers not only social connection but a sense of purpose and belonging. Starting your own creative practice The best part? You don’t need to be an artist—or even particularly “good” at crafting—to start. Consistency is key, not skill level. Daily doodles, simple paper collages, or even coloring pages can all be part of a supportive creative routine. “We’re not necessarily going to be able to pinpoint and say, ‘Oh well, I started crafting last week, and now I have all of these things,’” Robinson notes. “But in time, we will become more self-confident, we’ll have higher self-esteem and self-efficacy.” Think of it as a form of everyday wellness. A creative ritual to help you feel more grounded, capable, and connected. As Robinson puts it, “Every single person deserves to feel happy and confident in themselves. They deserve to feel worthwhile. And crafting can really bring that to light.”   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM To wrap up our Best of 2025 series, we’re sharing something a little more personal… our Staff Picks! These are the articles that sparked extra chats, late-night musings, and genuine delight among our team. They made us think, smile, and (of course) feel a little more optimistic. We hope they do the same for you. In a small Finnish town with a big climate goal, an unassuming tower of sand is quietly storing solar and wind energy all while making a powerful statement about clean tech innovation. Pornainen, in southern Finland, is now home to the world’s largest sand battery: a 13-metre-high, 15-metre-wide thermal storage system built by Finnish company Polar Night Energy. Capable of holding 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of heat, the new battery will slash emissions from the town’s district heating network by nearly 70 percent and phase out the use of oil. “Our goal is to be climate neutral by 2035, and the sand battery is a major step toward that,” says Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö, which operates the heating system. With its large-scale rollout, the battery is now the network’s main energy provider. Wood chip use is expected to drop by 60 percent, while an existing biomass boiler will offer backup during energy demand spikes. The surprising power of sand The Pornainen battery isn’t Finland’s first foray into sandy storage. In 2022, Polar Night Energy launched a smaller prototype in Kankaanpää, just as Russia cut off gas supplies. The timing made a strong case for homegrown, renewable energy solutions. Engineers and co-founders Markku Ylönen and Tommi Eronen came up with the idea in 2018. “We were talking about how—if we had the liberty to design a community for ourselves—how could we solve the energy problem?” said Markku. “Especially here in the north, you run into the problem of energy storage.” Sand turned out to be the perfect candidate: affordable, abundant, and surprisingly spacious when it comes to storing heat. Lithium batteries, while useful in certain situations, fall short for large-scale energy storage due to cost and environmental concerns. Sand, by contrast, can store heat for days or even months at a time. How does a sand battery work? The system is relatively straightforward. A tower is filled with low-grade sand and heated using excess electricity from solar or wind power. This is done via resistive heating, where friction from the electrical current generates heat. That hot air then flows through a heat exchanger, charging the sand. Stored at around 500 degrees Celsius, the heat is held until needed. When temperatures drop, the battery releases the hot air to warm water in the town’s district heating system. In Kankaanpää, it helps heat homes, offices, and even the local swimming pool. “There’s really nothing fancy there,” Markku explains. “The complex part happens on the computer; we need to know how the heat moves inside the storage, so we know how much is available and at what rate we can discharge and charge.” What makes this one different? The Pornainen system is about ten times larger than the Kankaanpää model. It’s built using crushed soapstone, a by-product from the Finnish fireplace company Tulikivi. As project manager Naskali notes, “The soapstone they use is a very Finnish thing.” And it’s not just nostalgic; it’s practical. Soapstone meets the density and heat tolerance needed to store thermal energy efficiently. “We always choose the storage medium based on the customer’s needs,” says Naskali. “Examining and testing different materials is crucial for us to use options that are cost-effective and support the circular economy.” Mayor Antti Kuusela is a proud supporter. “This project has gone very smoothly,” he says. Town buildings like the school, library, and town hall all run on district heating. “Pornainen wants to be a front runner in sustainable energy solutions.” In summer, the battery can meet nearly a month’s heating demand; in winter, about a week’s. Each year, it’s expected to eliminate 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Can sand really save the world? Well, maybe not all sand. A Dutch study recently warned that demand for construction sand will surge by 45 percent in the next 40 years, with harmful impacts on rivers and lakes. But Polar Night Energy isn’t after beach sand. “We wanted to find something that can be sourced nearly everywhere in the world,” said Markku. Their solution is to use any sand-like material that meets thermodynamic standards. That flexibility keeps costs low and helps promote sustainable sourcing. With successful pilots in Kankaanpää, Tampere, and now Pornainen, the company has big dreams. Earlier this year, it announced a pilot in Valkeakoski to explore converting thermal energy back into electricity. International expansion is also on the horizon. “We want to build a hundred times larger storages around the world as fast as possible,” Markku asserted. From backyard brainstorms to international headlines, Finland’s sand battery movement is proving that sometimes the simplest materials can offer the smartest solutions.   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM To wrap up our Best of 2025 series, we’re sharing something a little more personal… our Staff Picks! These are the articles that sparked extra chats, late-night musings, and genuine delight among our team. They made us think, smile, and (of course) feel a little more optimistic. We hope they do the same for you. “Who’s your best friend?” It’s a question many of us grew up answering on playgrounds and in cafeterias, a marker of social worth reinforced by movies and TV shows. From Christina and Meredith in Grey’s Anatomy to Blair and Serena in Gossip Girl, pop culture tells us that true friendship means having one ride-or-die. But what happens if you don’t? “This idea of having one singular BFF can feel like proof that you’re loved and secure,” says Christina Ferrari, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Miami. The notion is that if someone has declared you their “best,” then you’ve achieved the gold standard of friendship. Yet Ferrari emphasizes that not having a best friend isn’t a sign of failure; it’s simply reality. The one-and-only BFF is an idealized standard that most people can’t, and according to research, shouldn’t even try to meet. The myth that leaves us guilty and insecure Barbie Atkinson, LPC, founder of Catalyst Counseling in Houston, calls the “BFF trope” a wonderful fantasy, but one that “clashes profoundly with the reality of adulting.” To maintain a Grace-and-Frankie-level friendship, you’d need near-constant availability, total alignment in life stages and priorities, and freedom from outside pressures like family, partners, or work. “So while the essence of unwavering loyalty and deep understanding can exist in adult friendships, the manifestation of this constant availability and all-encompassing presence is unrealistic for the vast majority,” Atkinson explains. Even if it were possible, experts note that a hyper-attached, almost codependent dynamic isn’t ideal. “It’s the same reason we don’t put all our investments in one stock,” Ferrari says. “Putting all of your emotional needs into one person just isn’t healthy or sustainable.” Building a circle that supports you Instead of striving for one best friend, Atkinson suggests celebrating the variety of roles different people can play in your life: The emotional anchor:  Your confidant for vulnerable conversations about heartbreak, family challenges, or tough days. The practical problem-solver:  The friend who helps you think through career decisions, financial moves, or travel plans. The playmate:  The one who brings out your fun, spontaneous side. They’re perfect for last-minute adventures and light-hearted banter. The contextual companion:  These friends may not be in your inner circle, but they make daily life brighter, like a running buddy, a book club pal, or a coworker who makes lunch breaks more fun. Why it’s okay not to have a BFF So, despite what sitcoms and movies try to sell us, you don’t need a single crowned “best” friend to feel supported and loved. What matters most is the network of people who, together, provide happiness, validation, and a sense of belonging. Letting go of the pressure to find one inseparable BFF opens the door to celebrating the friendships you do have. Each of which are valuable, unique, and worthy of appreciation.     Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM To wrap up our Best of 2025 series, we’re sharing something a little more personal… our Staff Picks! These are the articles that sparked extra chats, late-night musings, and genuine delight among our team. They made us think, smile, and (of course) feel a little more optimistic. We hope they do the same for you. For decades, the burden of birth control has largely fallen on women. Pills, implants, IUDs, injections; the options are many, but they all target the female reproductive system. Meanwhile, male contraceptives have remained stuck in the basics: condoms or vasectomy. Now, that could be changing. A new hormone-free male birth control pill called YCT-529 has cleared its first human safety trial, offering a hopeful step toward a broader and more equitable range of contraceptive choices. The results, published in Communications Medicine, indicate that the oral medication is well-tolerated in healthy participants and could become a viable, reversible option for men in the future. “We really need more reversible contraceptive methods for men,” said Stephanie Page, an endocrinologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who was not involved in the trial but has worked on male contraceptives for over 20 years. How YCT-529 works Unlike hormonal methods that rely on testosterone or progestin, YCT-529 takes a different approach. It blocks a vitamin A metabolite from binding to receptors in the testes, a critical step in initiating sperm production. This targeted mechanism allows the pill to suppress sperm creation without affecting hormones linked to mood, libido, or sexual function, presenting a potential advantage over hormone-based options. The goal is reversibility: take the pill, pause sperm production; stop the pill, and fertility gradually returns. But this trial wasn’t designed to measure efficacy just yet. Instead, it focused solely on safety and how the body absorbs and processes the drug. Trial design and early findings The phase 1 clinical trial enrolled 16 healthy men aged 32 to 59, all of whom had previously undergone vasectomies. This extra safeguard ensured that even if the pill unexpectedly affected fertility, it wouldn’t pose a risk to participants. The trial was overseen by YourChoice Therapeutics, the company developing YCT-529. Participants were divided into two groups. One group received 10- and then 30-milligram doses of the drug; the other received 90- and then 180-milligram doses. Placebos were given to some in each group. A few participants also tested how food affected absorption by taking the pill after a high-fat breakfast. “We saw good and quick bioavailability,” said Nadja Mannowetz, chief science officer and co-founder of YourChoice Therapeutics. Blood levels of the drug dropped by half in about two to three days, suggesting it could be effective as a once-daily pill. Most notably, no adverse side effects linked to the drug were observed. Mannowetz added that, since the pill is hormone-free, there’s theoretically less risk of mood changes or sexual dysfunction, which are common concerns with hormonal contraceptives. What’s next? Efficacy trials are now underway to test whether YCT-529 reliably reduces sperm counts and to determine the optimal dosage for real-world use. Mannowetz expects the final approved dose to be closer to the higher levels tested in the study, around 180 milligrams. Though early, these findings could signal a shift. “It would be overstating the data to say they know much about side effects yet,” Page cautioned, but she acknowledged the results are promising. “Every medication on the market has side effects.” A growing pipeline of male contraceptives YCT-529 isn’t alone in the race. NES/T, a gel containing testosterone and the progestin Nestorone, is further along in clinical development. Users apply the gel to their shoulders and arms daily. Like YCT-529, NES/T takes about three months of daily use to suppress sperm production, with fertility returning roughly three months after stopping. Other innovations are in the works as well. Hormonal male birth control pills are in early-stage research, and a non-hormonal hydrogel implant called ADAM is being tested as a reversible, physical block in the vas deferens, essentially a temporary vasectomy. Public interest is high Surveys suggest a strong interest among men for new contraceptive options. A 2023 study found that 75 percent of more than 2,000 men in the U.S. and Canada were open to trying new male birth control. Another 2019 report found nearly half of U.S. men aged 18 to 49 who were sexually active but not seeking pregnancy said they would be “very interested” in novel contraceptives. “Men are very eager to have more reproductive agency and to participate in contraception,” Page said. With several approaches moving through clinical trials, the future of male birth control could be one where shared responsibility is finally built into the system. Source study: Communications Medicine— Safety and pharmacokinetics of the non-hormonal male contraceptive YCT-529     Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM To wrap up our Best of 2025 series, we’re sharing something a little more personal… our Staff Picks! These are the articles that sparked extra chats, late-night musings, and genuine delight among our team. They made us think, smile, and (of course) feel a little more optimistic. We hope they do the same for you. Fighting malaria has always been a game of adaptation. As mosquitoes evolve resistance to insecticides and Plasmodium parasites dodge existing drugs, scientists have been racing to find smarter solutions. Now, a team from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Johns Hopkins University may have made a breakthrough: a simple genetic edit that could stop the disease in its tracks. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, researchers introduced a naturally occurring variation into mosquitoes, effectively making them immune to malaria infection. Their study, published in Nature, reveals a promising new method for rendering mosquitoes inhospitable to both major human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. How one amino acid makes all the difference At the center of this innovation is a mosquito protein called Fibrinogen-related protein 1, or FREP1. This protein, which plays an essential role in mosquito physiology, also unwittingly helps malaria parasites make their way from the mosquito’s gut to its salivary glands, the final step before human infection. Previous studies had identified a variant of the FREP1 gene that seemed to block this process. So UCSD biologist Ethan Bier and his colleagues decided to see what would happen if they replaced the most common form of FREP1 (one that includes the amino acid leucine at position 224) with a naturally occurring version that swaps in glutamine instead. That one-letter substitution had big effects. Mosquitoes with the altered FREP1 gene (Q224) showed strong resistance to infection from both P. falciparum and P. vivax parasites, effectively cutting off malaria transmission without harming the mosquitoes themselves. The phantom gene drive What makes this strategy especially clever is how it spreads through mosquito populations. Rather than using a traditional gene drive, a genetic hack that forces an entire gene to spread rapidly and persist indefinitely, the researchers created what they call a “phantom” allelic drive. This more subtle version nudges the natural Q224 variant into the population but allows it to fade over time. “You can insert the cassette in a gene where it incurs a fitness cost, and when you do that, over time it disappears,” Bier explained. In other words, the edit can work its magic while it’s needed, but won’t permanently alter wild populations. This reduces the risk of long-term ecological consequences, which has been one of the chief criticisms of gene drive technologies. The concept isn’t entirely new. Bier’s team has previously used a similar method to “re-wild” pesticide-resistant fruit flies. But this is the first time such an approach has shown strong promise against malaria. A new ally in the global fight Though the gene tweak is powerful, Bier stressed that it’s not a silver bullet. The strategy is meant to complement, not replace, existing malaria interventions. “The idea is to use them in combination with what’s out there in terms of the standard vector control mechanisms and have that whole package hopefully work together,” he said. Other experts are taking note. Maciej Maselko, a mosquito genetics researcher at Macquarie University who was not involved in the study, called the approach “a promising path toward modifying wild mosquito populations.” He added that with global public health funding under pressure, cost-effective and scalable solutions like this one are urgently needed. The next step? Field trials to test the approach in real-world settings. If successful, this microscopic tweak could help rewrite the story of one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest foes.   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

'nobody is shedding a tear'

One Year Later: LAFD Admits Palisades Fire Report Was Edited to Protect Leadership

Greenmars/Wikimedia CommonsThe SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship to ever sink in Lake Superior. “Superior, they said, never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early,” Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot wrote in the aftermath of the 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. On Nov. 10, 1975, the 729-foot-long freighter went down in Lake Superior during a vicious storm, resulting in the loss of the entire crew of 29 men. The vessel remains the largest ship to have ever sunk in the Great Lakes. In the days after the wreck, aircraft detected a magnetic anomaly under the lake’s surface around 17 miles off the coast of Michigan. And in May 1976, an underwater recovery vehicle was deployed to the site and photographed the Edmund Fitzgerald beneath more than 500 feet of water. The ship had split in two, earning it the nickname the “Titanic of the Great Lakes.” The story of the vessel’s final voyage was immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot’s song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” which was released in 1976. As the lyrics go, “All that remains is the faces and the names of the wives and the sons and the daughters.” The Story Of The SS ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ When the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was launched in June 1958, it was the largest ship on the Great Lakes. Its 729-foot-long hull earned the vessel the nickname the “Queen of the Lakes” until the 730-foot SS Murray Bay came along the following year. It was named after the president and chairman of the board of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the company that invested in the construction of the ship. An estimated 15,000 people gathered to watch the massive vessel enter the water for the first time — but the event was marked by a series of bad omens. The champagne bottle that was smashed over the bow didn’t break until the third attempt, the crew of the shipyard struggled to get the freighter into the lake, and one attendee died from a heart attack. Still, once the Edmund Fitzgerald was in service, it quickly became a legend. Public DomainThe Edmund Fitzgerald without cargo, on its way to collect a shipment. Date unknown. The Fitz, as the freighter came to be known, carried iron ore from mines in Minnesota to foundries in Detroit, Toledo, and other Midwestern port cities. In addition to being one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was also one of the most efficient. It set seasonal hauling records multiple times, and it became so famous that onlookers would gather along its route to watch it float by. At the time, the Great Lakes were known to be dangerous for ships. Between 1875 and 1975, an average of one vessel was lost in the region every week. But the Fitz was so large that it seemed untouchable. Then, on Nov. 10, 1975, a violent snow storm struck. The ‘Fitz’ Meets Its Fate On Lake Superior The final voyage of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald began on the afternoon of Nov. 9, 1975. There were 29 crew members onboard, including Captain Ernest McSorley. The ship departed from Superior, Wisconsin, carrying nearly 30,000 tons of taconite, a type of iron ore. The Fitz was heading toward a steel mill on Zug Island near Detroit, a journey of nearly 750 miles. That evening, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a gale warning for all of Lake Superior. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation reported in the aftermath of the sinking that the NWS was predicting wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and 16-foot waves for the morning and afternoon of Nov. 10. However, conditions were seemingly much worse than that. Public DomainThe route likely taken by the Fitz on its final voyage. The Edmund Fitzgerald was traveling slightly ahead of another freighter, the Arthur M. Anderson, which was captained by Bernie Cooper. Around 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 10, it started snowing heavily, and the Anderson lost sight of the Fitz. Less than an hour later, Captain McSorley radioed Captain Cooper to let him know that the Edmund Fitzgerald was taking on water. “Anderson, this is the Fitzgerald,” said McSorley, as reported by the SS Edmund Fitzgerald Online. “I have sustained some topside damage. I have a fence rail laid down, two vents lost or damaged, and a list. I’m checking down. Will you stay by me ’til I get to Whitefish?” The two freighters began to make their way to Whitefish Bay on the coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, hoping for some reprieve from the harsh storm. McSorley’s last communication from Fitz to the Anderson came at around 7 p.m. Cooper had asked McSorley, “Fitzgerald, how are you making out with your problem?” “We are holding our own,” McSorley responded. This was the last and final message of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Shortly after, the ship vanished from the radar. James Lefevre/Wikimedia CommonsA lifeboat salvaged from the Edmund Fitzgerald on display at the Museum Ship Valley Camp in Michigan. According to a 2005 issue of Telescope, the magazine of the Great Lakes Maritime Institute, Captain Cooper radioed the Coast Guard not long after the Fitz disappeared saying, “I am very concerned with the welfare of the steamer Edmund Fitzgerald. He was right in front of us, experiencing a little difficulty. He was taking on a small amount of water and none of the upbound ships have passed him. I can see no lights as before, and don’t have him on radar. I just hope he didn’t take a nose dive.” Tragically, Cooper’s words proved prophetic. The Fitz seemingly sank so quickly that McSorley didn’t even have time to make a mayday call. So, what exactly happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald? The Mystery Surrounding The Sinking Of The SS ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ While it’s clear that the violent storm caused the Fitz to sink, theories differ on why exactly the vessel went down. The low visibility caused by the snow may have caused the ship to accidentally pass through shallow water, leading to structural damage. Another theory posits that the Edmund Fitzgerald was taken down by a group of rogue waves reported in the area at the time. Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical SocietyFor a time, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the longest ship on the Great Lakes. However, when the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published their investigation in 1978, they noted that “the probable cause of this accident was the sudden massive flooding of the cargo hold due to the collapse of one or more hatch covers.” A few days after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, a U.S. Navy plane flew above Lake Superior scanning for magnetic anomalies and detected an inconsistency around 17 miles from Whitefish Point, Michigan. Several months later, a remotely operated underwater vehicle captured striking photos of a shipwreck at that very spot. The name Edmund Fitzgerald was clearly visible on the hull of the vessel. The wreckage was located 530 feet beneath Lake Superior. The Fitz had been torn in half, with its bow sitting upright and its stern resting upside down on the floor of the lake. However, there was no sign of the 29 crew members, who all perished. Two decades later, in 1994, the remains of one man were found nearby, but he was left undisturbed in his watery grave. Rklawton/Wikimedia CommonsA memorial to the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald at Whitefish Point. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship to ever sink in the Great Lakes, joining thousands of other vessels that have gone down in the region over the centuries. The SS Arlington sank in Lake Superior in 1940, and the SS Western Reserve wrecked in a storm in 1892. Divers are still discovering other ships beneath the surface, too, such as the SS James Carruthers, which sank in Lake Huron during a blizzard in 1913, and the Frank D. Barker, which sat beneath Lake Michigan for 134 years before it was found in 2025. Still, the Fitz remains perhaps the most famous of all the ships lost in the Great Lakes. This is partly due to Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” which he wrote after reading news reports in the immediate aftermath of the sinking: “In a musty old hall in Detroit, they prayed in the Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral. The church bell chimed ’til it rang 29 times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.” After reading about the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, discover the stories behind nine other famous shipwrecks. Then, look through 33 photographs of the Titanic. The post The Story Of The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, The 729-Foot Freighter That Split In Two During A Violent Storm On Lake Superior appeared first on All That's Interesting.