Good News Thursday
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Today's smorgasbord of tasty good news nuggets from around the world.
Dream Shot
When Dr. Sudhir Hasamnis retired after a very busy life, he took up photography and started going on trips to develop his hobby. One such trip took him to the Tharpaling Monastery in Bhutan, a place in the Himalayas that Hasamnis describes as sacred and serene. This is where he took this glorious photo. Located in the Chumey Valley, at an altitude of approximately 11,800 feet, it can get very cold - the area was 21°F (-6C) and covered in snow when he visited, with icy winds sweeping across the landscape. While he had taken some images of the Himalayan Monals there, he had not photographed one flying yet. Despite the cold, he got to work and finally achieved his dream shot. You can follow Dr. Sudhir Hasamnis on Instagram.
Lifetime Achievement
Bill Nye is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards next month. Nye is being honored for his work as a science educator, engineer, television presenter, inventor, and New York Times bestselling author. His TV credits include Bill Nye the Science Guy, among other shows; in 2025, Nye was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden. He was included in the Time 100 Health list, has a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and served for 15 years as CEO of The Planetary Society, a non-governmental space organization co-founded by Carl Sagan.
"Momentous Occasion"
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has announced the acquisition of a rare painting by the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th century’s most influential female painter. Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, painted circa 1625, will be on view beginning later this month. It’s the gallery’s first painting by the Italian artist, and art historians consider it to be one of her finest works. “It is a momentous occasion to bring Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy into the National Gallery’s collection as our first notable example of Artemisia Gentileschi’s remarkable work,” says Kaywin Feldman, the gallery’s director. “This acquisition marks a major addition to our historical holdings, reflecting our continued commitment to deepening our collection, and in turn, expanding public access to great works of art.”
Oops, Wrong Language
Shoppers in a branch of Tesco supermarket in Cornwall in south west England were left amused after spotting bilingual signs in Welsh rather than Cornish. For example, bilingual signs pointed shoppers to bwyd môr in Welsh, or seafood, rather than boos mor in Cornish. Councillor Loveday Jenkin welcomed the idea of bilingual signage in supermarkets in the area, but said it should be in "Cornish not Welsh". She added the error in the Helston branch of the chain could spark a push for Cornish language signs in major supermarkets. A Tesco spokesperson apologised for the "mistake" and said it had removed the signs. Around 400 to 500 people are thought to be advanced speakers of Cornish, while between 2,500 and 5,000 have some basic understanding of the language.
The Countries That Speak The Most Languages: In most countries around the world, there are one or two dominant languages that are spoken. But that's certainly not the case everywhere.
Not So Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny held the top 6 spots on Spotify's Top 50 U.S. chart the morning after his history-making halftime show performance at the Super Bowl on Sunday night. Perhaps not surprising when you consider that the half time show drew 128.2 million viewers and Bad Bunny's social media views topped 4 billion. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican superstar's performance was the first-ever to be sung primarily in Spanish at the most-watched sporting event in the United States. It included tributes to Puerto Rico and Latino culture, surprise appearances by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and others, and even a real wedding.
Ford's EV Bet
Ford's US$5 billion bet to stave off competition from beyond America's borders is steadily taking shape. CEO Jim Farley revealed some stuff in the works on the company's latest product, a midsized electric pickup truck with a $30,000 targeted starting price. This follows Ford's August 2025 announcement of its plans for a Universal Platform that will allow the automaker to build an entire new range of affordable EVs more efficiently. The idea there was to rethink the production process to streamline manufacturing, reduce the number of parts per vehicle, and bring down costs for customers. The first model from this grand experiment is the aforementioned truck scheduled to arrive next year.
"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." Ralph Waldo Emerson
On This Day
12 February 1947: French fashion designer Christian Dior introduced the Dior Bar suit, a stark departure from practical wartime styles. With its full skirt, tight waist, and pronounced bust, Dior described this “New Look” as “the return to an ideal of civilized happiness.”
Today's Articles
Recognise Anyone? Thrift store Zeiss camera hid an undeveloped film from the 1950s. But who is in the photos?
"Revolutionary" Power Pack: The clever boffins at MIT have come up with a new fuel cell that may enable electric aviation.
One Simple Thing: Discover the numerous health benefits of drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning.
Mood Boosting Video
Final Trailer: Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling. Out on 20 March.