Upbeat News Tuesday
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Today's smorgasbord of tasty upbeat news nuggets.
People's Choice
This image just won the public vote in the biggest astrophotography competition on the planet, run by Royal Museums Greenwich in London. The striking photo is the winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award 2026. Titled 'Dragon Tree Trails,' it was captured by Benjamin Barakat in the Firmihin Forest in Yemen. It shows a lone Dragon's Blood tree set against the backdrop of multiple arches of trailing stars. 'Star trail' images like these show the apparent movement of the stars across the sky, caused by Earth rotating on its axis. "To capture the stars’ movements, I took 300 individual exposures and stacked them to create the final image," says Benjamin.
Fastest Ever
An ultramarathon runner has become the first woman in history to win the Cocodona 250, a 250-mile endurance race, and setting a course record in the process. Endurance athlete Rachel Entrekin crossed the finish line of the Cocodona 250 in Flagstaff, Arizona, after running for more than two days. Her time of 56:09:48 set an overall course record of the fastest person ever, male or female, according to Aravaipa Running, which organizes the race. "I didn't expect to be a pinnacle or champion for women's sports and what I just got to be a part of," Entrekin, 34, told ABC News in an interview after her victory. "So, yeah, it's pretty incredible."
The Fastest Animals in The World: Whether it is on land, air or sea, speed is essential for many reasons. Hunting for your next meal or escaping from a set of sharp teeth all require speed and lots of it.
French Uni Students
University canteens across France have introduced three-course meals for €1 ($1.16) to address financial hardship among students. This helpful intervention follows research revealing that almost half of French students have gone without food for financial reasons. The €1 scheme was previously only available to students receiving financial aid, but has now been made universal.
US Male First Names
Liam may be dominating the most popular baby name lists as of late (spoiler: the new 2025 list is no different) - but when it comes to people of all ages in the U.S., Michael is the clear frontrunner. For the first time since the 1990 census, the federal government has released stats on the most common first names in the country. Based on data collected during the 2020 census, the top five were Michael, John, James, David, and Robert. The reason male names lead the rankings (even though women slightly outnumber men) is that there’s less variety in male names compared to female ones, says the Census Bureau's senior geographer.
Surf's Back
Believed to be the first-ever river surfing spot, Munich’s Eisbach river has reopened after its natural wave disappeared last fall due to a city dredging project. “We are happy, relieved, and deeply grateful to see this place return - not only as a wave, but as a symbol of Munich’s surf culture,” Munich Surf Club wrote on Instagram.
New Legal Ruling
In a landmark case that will generate a powerful, beneficial impact across Europe, a Dutch court has ruled that bottom trawling in a marine protected area is unlawful. Hitherto, the Dutch government has given trawlers a free pass to plunder the Dogger Bank protected area without a permit or environmental assessment. However, this week a district court in The Hague ruled against the status quo. It’s the first known ruling in Europe where a court has confirmed that governments have a responsibility to regulate the impact of bottom trawling on protected areas.
“A flower blooming in the desert proves to the world that adversity, no matter how great, can be overcome.” Matshona Dhliwayo
On This Day
19 May 1952: Time magazine features 'Theseus', an electrical learning machine built by American scientist Claude Shannon - bringing the concept of artificial intelligence from speculative science fiction into tangible reality.
Today's Articles
Making History: Jannik Sinner is continuing to write his name into the record books at an extraordinary rate.
Audio Treasures: Beyoncé’s hit Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) and other “audio treasures” have been added to the US national playlist.
Habits to Slow Ageing: Harvard scientist shares his recommendations for brain health and making sure you age well.
Mood Boosting Video
World's Oldest Sweet Shop: Traditional treats from the 1820s remain its best sellers after nearly 200 years in business.