An upbeat collection of positive news nuggets to help ensure it's a sunny day.
Hurricane Hazel
When Hazel McCallion retired in 2014 as the mayor of the Canadian city of Mississauga, she was 93. But while most people her age typically retreat from the spotlight of public life, “Hurricane Hazel” has shown little interest in slowing down. At 101, she just accepted an offer to extend her role as a director for the greater Toronto airport authority (the largest in Canada), and this news comes less than a month after she renewed her role as special adviser to the University of Toronto Mississauga, with the school praising her “encyclopaedic knowledge of politics”.
Pink Moon Syzygy
Tonight, the Pink Moon will reach peak illumination - otherwise known as its syzygy - when the Moon is directly between the Sun and the Earth. As the full Moon will occur minutes after moonrise, it could mean that we’re in for an Easter treat, as it will likely appear more yellow or orange than a full Moon that has risen higher. Why is it called the Pink Moon? It's thought to derive from pink flowers, particularly phlox (Phlox subulata), which starts to bloom in the spring. Phlox is native to eastern North America and it’s thought that the name Pink Moon originates from the 1930s when the Maine Farmer’s Almanac began publishing names for each full Moon in the year. Since then, these names have gained popularity and are now used around the world.
Embarrassy
Civilians around the world are doing their best to embarrass Russian embassies around the world by projecting the Ukrainian flag on to their facades. Keep it up guys! Pictured above are the Russian embassies in London, Lisbon and Washingto DC.
Act of Kindness
Jamie Emmett from Idaho tells this story: "While going through a divorce, my mother fretted over her new worries: no income, the same bills, and no way to afford groceries. It was around this time that she started finding boxes of food outside our door every morning. This went on for months until she was able to land a job. We never did find out who left the groceries, but they truly saved our lives."
UK Renewables
Wind turbines set a new record in the first three months of the year in the UK, generating almost as much electricity as gas-fired power stations. Furthermore, renewable sources overall generated more power than gas and coal, according to data from market specialist EnAppSys. It highlights the growth of renewables in Britain’s electricity system amid the push to cut carbon emissions.
Magic Wand
For all mascara users in America, there's a better destination for your old, dried-out mascara wands than a stinking landfill - the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center! That’s right, when teeny tiny animals (like baby birds) are rescued, their fur or skin can sometimes be infested with pests that are difficult to remove safely. However, wildlife rescuers have discovered that clean, repurposed mascara wands make this painstaking grooming process easier for them and more comfortable for the animals. So far nearly 1 million wands have been donated to Wands for Wildlife. If you’d like to send in your used wands, soak them first in hot, soapy water, and then use an old toothbrush to remove any leftover mascara gunk. Dry them completely before packaging them and enclose a wand donation form.
National First
New York enacts first-in-nation plan to electrify all state school buses. New York’s 2023 state budget marks the beginning of a new era for the iconic yellow school bus – one in which children are no longer forced to inhale toxic exhaust fumes and instead breathe clean air on electric buses. That's very good news as most of New York’s 50,000 school buses currently run on diesel fuel, exposing children across the state to harmful pollutants with proven links to respiratory conditions and cognitive impacts.
Quote of the Day
“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” Mary Lou Retton
On this Day
16 April 1912: American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel, guiding her French Blériot monoplane from Dover, England, to Hardelot, France.
Dive in Deeper
Museum takes the viewing experience to a whole new level by enabling visitors to inhale fragrances of flowers depicted in a Breughel masterpiece called The Sense of Smell.
Nature Mood Booster
Blue tits time-lapse: from empty nesting box to first egg in a few mesmerising minutes!