Good News Monday
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Kick-starting the week with a global collection of good news nuggets.
Red Sprites
Photographer Dong Shuchang has been lucky and persistent enough to capture red sprites over the breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas multiple times. This weather phenomenon is pretty elusive, typically spanning an altitude range of 25 to 50 miles and lasting for just a few milliseconds. So when he shared on Instagram that he had captured “the most stunning red sprite I’ve ever observed,” the world quickly paid attention. "I captured a spectacular display of red sprite lightning by the shores of Lake Puma Yumco in Shannan, Xizang, at an altitude of over 5,000 meters [16,404 feet] above sea level,” wrote Shuchang. The photographer then explained that red sprites are a type of transient luminous events (TLEs) in the middle and upper atmosphere, occurring above the anvil tops of intense thunderstorm clouds.
Some Good Stats
3x: Increase in parental leave taken by American fathers since 2019.
90: Percentage share of countries that now have laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
10 Million: A proposal to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million was rejected by voters. The outcome signals an interest to remain close to the EU and a disinterest in hardline immigration policies.
7: Number of US states that have adopted balcony solar, with dozens more considering it.
Mothers: A study in Italy found that remote work wiped out much of the “motherhood penalty,” the earnings loss that often follows having a child. (The Wall Street Journal argues that it’s the “biggest innovation for ambitious women with children since the dishwasher.”)
1st: Solar generated more electricity than coal in the US for the first time in May. The milestone follows another in March, when renewables overtook gas for the first time.
Bar Fairies
Sometimes, there are moments in life that become so significant that time becomes measured only as “before” and “after.” Approximately two and a half years ago, Beth McBride’s life changed in an instant when her son was killed by a drunk driver. But her “after” inspired others when she turned her grief into a mission to prevent her tragedy from repeating itself in other families with Montana Bar Fairies. Together, with a group of volunteers, she leaves coffee shop gift cards on the windshields of cars left at bars and events to thank the owners for not driving under the influence. Her goal is to change the culture, using positive reinforcement while pushing for legislation changes.
Routine Traffic Stop: Ten years ago, a cop pulled over a woman in Lebanon, Ohio - it changed their lives in ways neither person could have imagined.
Cantilevered Views
Positioned on a mountain over 3,000 m (9,840 ft) above sea level, the Titlis Tower began life as a telecommunications antenna, but following an ambitious renovation the utilitarian structure has been transformed into a dramatic visitor destination. The building was originally commissioned by the Swiss postal service in the 1980s and is located at the summit of Mount Titlis, a prominent mountain in the Swiss Alps. Herzog & de Meuron was tasked with turning it into a visitor attraction as part of a move to boost tourism in the area and it is now open for mountain visitors to enjoy.
Bit of a Racket?
There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly cut grass. And now Wimbledon has sought to package England's favourite summertime aroma, with a £55 price tag. The championship organisers have released grass-scented candles on their website as part of their 'Wimbledon at Home' range, with prices ranging from £35 for a diffuser to up to £55 for a candle with three wicks. Prices of the tournament’s gifts may seem a bit of a racket, but the players’ prize pool has also risen substantially. The championship starts on Monday 29 June.
EV Boom in EU
Global EV sales reached 1.8 million units in May 2026, according to new data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, bringing total sales for the first five months of the year to 7.5 million vehicles. That was up 3 percent from May 2025 and 7 percent from April 2026. The global picture continues to be a tale of three very different markets: Europe is booming (up 26 percent YTD), China is still recovering from a slow start to the year, and North America remains stuck in reverse.
"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does - that makes you a winner right there." Venus Williams
On This Day
22 June 1675: Royal Greenwich Observatory is established in England by King Charles II. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren on the foundation of a medieval watchtower in Greenwich Park, it was established to solve the "longitude problem" and improve navigation for British sailors.
Today's Articles
Counterclockwise: Extraordinary new study reveals that humans prefer to turn counterclockwise - and scientists are baffled.
Mood Boosting Video
Ozolini: Latvian folk song for celebrating mid summer.
