Today's smorgasbord of tasty good news nuggets to brighten the day.
Urban Garden
Brazil's city of Rio de Janeiro is working with local favelas to build a giant urban garden the size of 15 soccer fields. This year, it's estimated that the 56 gardens that make up the government-funded "Hortas Cariocas" project will produce 80 tons of food. When the project is completed and fully operational in 2024, production is expected to double - and become the world's largest urban garden. So far, 450 garden beds have already been built. Half the harvested produce is donated to local community and residents, and the other half is sold by gardeners at affordable prices. In addition to boosting food security, the gardens also nurtures the community. The gardens sit in an area that was once a hotbed for drug consumption. "Before, you would open your door and see the 'crackland'. Today, you open your door and see a garden" states Julio Cesar Barros, founder of the initiative. He is optimistic the project will encourage urban sustainability and healthier lifestyles.
Artistic Awakening
For centuries, his ancestors ruled over a powerful kingdom in what is now Benin (West Africa), but the first time sculptor Euloge Ahanhanzo Glèlè saw his great-great-great grandfather's throne was in a Paris museum a decade ago. The throne, then surrounded by artworks looted by colonial forces in the 19th century, is now back in Benin after France returned 26 artifacts last year. More than 200,000 people have visited a free exhibition in the presidential palace, "Art of Benin From Yesterday and Today: From Restitution to Revelation." Children have asked their parents to bring them because they didn't want to miss what friends were discussing at school, and spiritual leaders have traveled from across Benin to contemplate the ancient artifacts. The exhibition is also showcasing 34 contemporary artists.
Dimorphos Deflection
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will be the first mission to test planetary defense technology in space. According to a NASA statement, the DART spacecraft will impact its target asteroid, Dimorphos, on Monday 26 September. And the event will be live streamed for all to see on NASA's YouTube channel. OGN will remind you nearer he time so you can tune in. While Dimorphos poses no danger to Earth, the test will allow NASA to assess whether a spacecraft impact can be used to alter the trajectory of a hypothetical hazardous asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
Brain Teaser
What five letter word has one left when two letters are removed?
(Answer at base of page)
ePlane
Canadian aviation company Harbour Air completed its first point-to-point test flight on an all-electric seaplane this week, a milestone moment in its plans to become the world's first all-electric airline. "I am excited to report that this historic flight on the ePlane went exactly as planned," Harbour Air's vice president of flight operations, Kory Paul, said in a statement. The company is the largest seaplane airline in North America. Every year, it transports about 500K passengers in 30K commercial flights, so switching to electric will not only blaze a trail but also save a lot of carbon emissions.
Student Loans
The Biden Administration has announced plans to forgive $10,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000/year. The administration estimates this will eliminate the student loan debt of about 20 million borrowers. Additionally, borrowers who received Pell Grants - loans specifically for those from lower-income backgrounds to pursue higher education - are eligible for an additional $10,000 forgiven, helping ensure the debt relief goes to those who need it most. The plan still has hurdles to overcome, but it's potentially very good news for millions of students.
Sunny Dubai
Life isn’t all sunshine and light… unless you’re in Dubai, where it kind of is. And they’re making the most of all that sunshine by constructing the world’s largest solar park . Or rather, continuing to construct it. It’s a wonder to behold, and is a key part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy. The latter aims to provide 100 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. The park will produce 5 gigawatts of energy by 2030 - that's enough to power around 3.75m homes.
Quote of the Day
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Carl Sagan
On this Day
27 August 1964: The musical film Mary Poppins, an adaptation of P.L. Travers's book, had its world premiere in Los Angeles, and it became a Disney classic, especially noted for the performance of Julie Andrews, who was making her screen debut.
Astronomers have discovered a nearby planet that may prove to be the first such world covered in water. Will it contain alien life? Read on...
Mood Booster
Citizens from all around Vancouver dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams.
Answer: Stone.