Kick starting the week with an uplifting bundle of concise snippets of positive news.
Conservation Success
The vast Atlantic Forest, along the eastern coast of Brazil and Argentina, was once home to wild tapir but had been eradicated from the Rio de Janeiro state by 2014. It was once a crucial member of this ecosystem. But now, just as with wolves in Yellowstone and beavers in the UK, the tapir is being reintroduced to accelerate restoration of its degraded habitat. Since 2017, four captive-bred males and three females have been put into the forest. Recently, for the first time in more than a century, a wild tapir was born.
Today's a big day for NASA. It's going to crash a $330 spacecraft into an asteroid to test if it's able to gently push it off course. If this test is successful, the same technique could be used to deflect an Earth-threatening asteroid in the future, should one ever be discovered. You can watch the impact live on NASA's YouTube channel. The broadcast starts at 18.00 ET today (23.00 GMT), right up to the 19.14 impact. Buckle up for the first view of its kind in history!
Extraterrestrial Water
For the first time, extraterrestrial water has been found in a meteorite that crashed into the Earth in the UK. The Winchcombe meteorite, which struck a road in the town of Gloucestershire last February, is also believed to contain information about the origins of the water that makes up the planet's immense seas. Dr. Ashley King, a researcher in the planetary materials group at the Natural History Museum, stated that water made up 12 percent of the sample and that as the least contaminated specimen collected, it provides a wealth of information. “The composition of that water is very, very similar to the composition of water in the Earth’s oceans."
Marathon Record
Eliud Kipchoge smashed his own marathon world record by 30 seconds with yet another extraordinary display in Berlin at the weekend. The double Olympic champion looked as serene as it is possible to be after 26.2 miles of hard toil, crossing the line in 2 hrs 1 min and 9 secs to surpass his previous best set four years ago. For good measure, the 37-year-old Kenyan also beat the second-placed Mark Korir by nearly five minutes.
Brilliant Idea
A trio of Australian companies have produced glow-in-the-dark road paint to better illuminate highway lanes at night, with a teal-green hue. Currently being tested in Victoria, Australia, the lane markings use photoluminescence - the same technology used in glow sticks and other glow-in-the-dark products that absorb the Sun’s light during the day and release it after dark. Tarmac Linemarking say they have been swamped with calls from businesses and town councils wanting their own roads illuminated.
Sagacious
Know someone who is wise and always uses great judgement? That person is sagacious.
Zero-Emission Flights
Zero-emission passenger flights are set to become a reality in Sweden after a start-up unveiled a 30-seater plane powered by electricity. Heart Aerospace’s ES-30 airliner boasts a range of 120 battery-fuelled miles, which can be doubled using the plane’s reserve hybrid system of turbo generators powered by sustainable aviation fuel. The firm has already landed orders for 200 aircraft from United Airlines and Mesa Air Group. Meanwhile Air Canada and Saab – the Swedish aerospace and defence company – have each invested $5m in the firm, which aims to have a working prototype ready for test flights in 2026.
Do Fabulous Things
Alain Robert has a nickname: 'French Spiderman'. It's for good reason - he has climbed over 150 towering structures around the world -- from the world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa; to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and even San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. He climbs without a harness, using only his bare hands, climbing shoes, and a bag of powdered chalk to wipe off sweat. So, it's only natural that, to celebrate his 60th birthday, he scaled a 48-story skyscraper in Paris. Dressed in red, he raised his arms as he reached the top of the 613-foot (187m) TotalEnergies building. "I want to send people the message that being 60 is nothing. You can still do sport, be active, do fabulous things," Robert stated.
Domestic Workers
After decades of advocacy by labour activists, Spain has passed a landmark law improving the rights of domestic workers. The new regulations, which enter into force on 1 October 2022, will give over 370,000 domestic workers (almost all women) the right to unemployment benefits, appeal against unfair dismissal, and health and safety protections equivalent any other employed person.
Quote of the Day
“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something”.
T. H. Huxley
On this Day
26 September 1960: The first ever televised presidential candidates debate (seen by some 85 to 120 million viewers) between John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
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Mood Booster
Starting with doggy paddle, this adorable seal pup is taking his first dip in the icy Arctic waters, with a close eye from mum.