OGN Friday
- Editor OGN Daily
- 23 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Wrapping up the week with today's eclectic global collection of upbeat news stories.
Luminous Doughnut
An extraordinary image has been captured by an amateur astrophotographer in northern Italy, showing a remarkable red ring, 143-miles wide, hovering in the sky. Valter Binotto snapped the otherworldly sight over his hometown of Possagno, in the foothills of Monte Grappa. The luminous doughnut-shaped red rings are known as ELVES, an upper-atmospheric lightning event sometimes caught in long-exposure images above distant thunderstorms. (ELVES stands for Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources). They’re a type of ‘transient luminous event’ which occurs in the lower ionosphere, dozens of miles above the Earth, directly above powerful lightning storms.
Enjoying Meals Together
Preparing a meal with friends and family - particularly at this time of year - can make the process all the more fun (and efficient), and some marine mammals might agree. Footage captured off the coast of British Columbia shows northern resident orcas trailing dolphins as they hunt for salmon, potentially marking the first evidence of these two species collaborating. In a new study, scientists posited that the “cooperative foraging” helps the killer whales detect their prey, while the dolphins benefit from feasting on the food scraps once the salmon is caught. “These whales are top salmon hunting specialists. They’re highly specialized and highly skilled predators. To see them following dolphins as though they were leaders was really counterintuitive - and really exciting,” said the study's lead author.
The Great Wave
Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa - also known as The Great Wave - is arguably one of the most recognizable works of art from Japan’s Edo period. The woodblock print from the artist’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series has captivated global art lovers for generations, so, when it appeared at a recent Sotheby’s auction, it sparked a wave of excitement. The masterpiece went on to achieve a record-breaking result, selling for US$2.8 million, which was almost three times the high estimate. First printed around 1831, The Great Wave is thought to have had about 8,000 impressions produced, but only around 130 are known to survive today. “No other Japanese print is more internationally renowned, occupying an iconic place in modern visual culture,” says Sotheby’s.
Comfort And Joy
A whiff of pine can conjure images of Christmas trees, snow-capped mountains, and cozy fireside chats. But our feel-good reaction doesn’t have to do with anything inherent in the scent, scientists say. Instead, it’s our association with it that matters. For many of us, pine elicits fond holiday memories - hanging ornaments, placing presents under the tree, and spending time with family - so our brains link the aroma with comfort and joy. “If I have an emotional association around a certain smell, that’s going to be instantly activated upon smelling a particular scent.” Assuming the association is positive, this will lead to an automatic mood-boost, which can then pave the way for happy nostalgia, says Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist at Brown University.
Closest Approach
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth today, marking a key moment in the journey of one of the rarest visitors ever observed in our solar system. It's only the third confirmed interstellar object known to have passed through our cosmic neighborhood. While the comet will keep a safe distance from Earth, the flyby still holds significance for researchers. In recent months, multiple space agencies and observatories have turned their attention to this interstellar visitor. By observing 3I/ATLAS near its closest approach, astronomers will have an opportunity to study the dust and gases released from its icy nucleus as the comet is warmed by the sun, offering a rare insight into how comets and planetary material form around other stars.
Battery Power
According to a new report from the energy analysis thinktank Ember, there's good news about battery storage: it has become cheap enough for solar power to be delivered around the clock. The cost of large-scale battery storage fell by a whopping 40 percent in 2024 and continues to drop in 2025. Over the past decade, battery costs have fallen by an average of 20 percent per year while deployment has increased by 80 percent per year. This does not mean that solar with batteries can automatically replace all electricity production year-round, but being able to shift half of the day's solar power generation to evening and nighttime is a crucial step. Indeed, globally, mega-batteries are now unlocking mega-energy and are the key to unlocking the clean energy revolution.
"I have never in my life found myself in a situation where I've stopped work and said, 'Thank God it's Friday.' But weekends are special, even if your schedule is all over the place. Something tells you the weekend has arrived and you can indulge yourself." Helen Mirren
On This Day
19 December 1843: English author Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, which became one of the outstanding Christmas stories of modern literature.
Today's Articles
Changes Over Millennia: Remarkable cross-section shows the layers of a road in England from 4,000 years ago to today.
Mood Boosting Video
Stunning Contrasts: Soaring over Italy's mighty Dolomite Mountains.