OGN Wednesday

Editor OGN Daily
2 days ago
3 min read

Mid-week collection of upbeat news stories to brighten the day.

Silhouette of an orchestra against a blue background — Credit: Vienna Tourist Board

Most Exclusive Concert?

On May 31, Voyager 1 will be the guest of honour at what may be the most exclusive concert in history. To mark the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, the European Space Agency will beam a live performance of By the Beautiful Blue Danube to NASA's deep space probe that's now 15 billion miles away, well beyond our solar system. When Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 lifted off on their mission to Jupiter and beyond, bolted to the hull of both spacecraft was a copy of NASA's Golden Record, which was a gold-plated copper LP disc containing images and sounds from the planet Earth as a cosmic postcard to any beings who might find it eons in the future. However, much to the disappointment of many, the disc did not contain a recording of Blue Danube by Strauss. Now the Vienna Tourist Board, ESA, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra hope to make some small amends by beaming the waltz to Voyager 1 as part of what is billed as an interstellar live broadcast.

New Antibiotic

The first new antibiotic in 50 years to tackle a common superbug will be tested on patients. The drug, which targets one of the bacteria considered to pose the biggest threat to human health, has been hailed as an “exciting” development in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, has announced that it will take zosurabalpin into the third and last phase of testing on humans. It is the first drug in five decades to show promise of tackling Acinetobacter baumannii, a pathogen which is described as a “priority” by the World Health Organisation and an “urgent threat” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US national public health agency. The drug-resistant bacteria disproportionately impact patients who are in the hospital, causing infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.

Young woman working from home on her laptop

WFH Analysis

Britain has been named Europe’s work from home capital, with employees spending more days away from the office than in any other nation on the continent. Workers in the UK spend an average of 1.8 days working from home each week, according to a new report from King’s College London, which was more time than all nations bar Canada – at 1.9 days – among the 40 nations studied. Britain’s work from home average was the highest in Europe and well above the global average of 1.3 days working from home each week. Workers in South Korea average half a day at home per week, with those in Greece and China typically putting in 0.6 days remotely, the King’s study found. This rises to one day in France, 1.2 in Australia and 1.6 in Germany and the US.

Hungary Takes Crown

Hungary has emerged as a global leader in solar, which provided 25 percent of its 2024 electricity, more than any other country at any time in history, says Progress Playbook. The solar surge has cannibalised coal power, which dropped from 15 percent to 6 percent, while helping Hungary achieve 74 percent low-carbon electricity generation with a 90 percent target by 2030.

Which Countries Get All Electricity From Renewables?

Global Green Economy

A new analysis shows that, as of April 2025, the global green economy, if considered as a standalone sector, accounts for 8.6 percent of listed equities with a combined market capitalisation of US$7.9 trillion. This makes it the world's fourth largest sector by market capitalisation, after technology, industrial goods and services, and healthcare.

Nature Restoration

Foresters and conservationists have restored over 10,000 hectares of native vegetation in Brazil's Cerrado, in what may be the largest-ever restoration initiative in the region. The project creates nearly 40,000 hectares (approx. 160 sq. miles) of connected habitat in one of world's most biodiverse seasonally dry ecosystems. To date, more than 500 species have been identified across the properties.

“Receive with gratitude; share with generosity.” Danna Faulds