Tuesday's Upbeat News
- Editor OGN Daily
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
Some tasty bite-sized chunks of positive news to perk up the day.
Groovy, Baby
Image of praying mantises dancing in sync wins world’s biggest photography competition. Talented amateur photographer, Hasan Baglar from Cyprus, has been crowned the overall winner of the Cewe Photo Award for his close-up photograph of two praying mantises, dubbed Danlock. The annual competition, which attracts professional and amateur photographers from around the world, had a fittingly global theme: 'Our world is beautiful'. The photographer’s triumph comes during a record-breaking year for the competition, where a whopping 656,738 entries were recorded and judged by a panel of industry experts, journalists and professionals.
Secret to Longevity?
It could be in your fridge. Maria Branyas Morera lived a whopping 117 years, and before her death due to natural causes last year, she was the oldest person alive. Scientists who study aging wanted to know how this "supercentenarian" did it, so they looked for answers in her daily habits and secrets hiding in her genetic code. Some of what they found in her genome was expected: several genes that protected her from age-related illnesses. She lived a healthy lifestyle, too, abstaining from smoking and drinking, walking for an hour every day and sticking to the Mediterranean diet. Another, more surprising contributor to her long life may've been Morera’s habit of eating yogurt three times daily. It may’ve contributed to her healthy gut microbiome, comparable to that of someone much younger.
Unlikely Haven
A sewage farm may seem an unlikely paradise for birds, the Western Treatment Plant on Melbourne’s outskirts has become one of Australia’s richest bird habitats. It’s home to more than 300 species - including endangered brolgas (pictured) and the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot. With numerous lagoons and marshes, the 40 sq. mile site (about twice the size of Manhattan island) treats more than 200bn litres of sewage each year. Its nutrient-rich waters, a byproduct of this process, provide food for insects, vegetation and migratory shorebirds - making it a crucial refuge in drought years and a model for wetland conservation globally. Its birdlife has drawn birdwatchers from around the world and is a reminder of how even the most unlikely places can become havens for wildlife.
Playing in Safety
Kherson is possibly the most dangerous city in Ukraine. But there is some good news within the gloom of war. In an underground shelter in the city, up to 50 children each day can socialise, have fun, feel safe and be, well, children. This makeshift underground play centre is one of the few places where they can socialise in safety, and get support from teachers and psychologists. For a few hours, at least, the war can seem far away. When the explosions get too close, teachers working at the centre clap louder or turn up the music to drown out the noise.
New Park in Nepal
Nepal has announced the establishment of its 13th national park. The Chhayanath National Park will protect alpine forests, rivers, and snow leopard range across 620 square miles and helps Nepal’s push to put 30 percent of its land under protection by 2030. Tiger Encounter says that the new park "is a significant step for Nepal’s conservation efforts. Not only does it expand the network of protected areas... it strengthens the country’s fight against poaching." Adding that it "represents a model of community-centered conservation, setting the stage for sustainable wildlife and environmental management in the region."
Leading US States
Texas and California added more clean power capacity in 2024 than the next 30 US states combined. In California, two Bay Area refineries (around 15 percent of that state’s capacity) are closing as demand for gasoline falls into permanent decline. Together, the trends show America’s largest energy economies driving a decisive shift from fossil fuels to renewables, says CleanTechnica.
"Autumn leaves shower like gold, like rainbows, as the winds of change begin to blow." Dan Millman
On This Day
30 September 1960: The Flintstones, the first animated sitcom created by Hanna-Barbera, premieres on ABC in the US. Joseph Barbera formed a partnership with William Hanna in 1957 after producing Tom and Jerry (1940). They became the first animation studio to successfully produce animation especially for television.
Today's Articles
Strange But True: Earth's invisible halo nearly reaches the Moon, and NASA is to try and photograph it.
12 Rules For Life: The rules suggested in answer to: “What are the most valuable things everyone should know?”
Mood Boosting Video
Head-Down Formation: Skydivers attempting to break the Vertical World Record this week.
