Today's tasty selection of bite-sized nuggets of positive news.
A Good Sign
Thanks to a reader who spotted this uplifting sign and sent a photo to OGN. If any of our other readers feel so inclined to do such things, they're always greatly appreciated. Please don't hesitate to send us pictures, ideas and stories.
Stress Reduction
For every six minutes spent reading, you reduce two thirds of your stress… Yes, you read that right. Research claims reading daily can minimize your stress to a great extent. When you immerse yourself in a good book, you escape from the pressures of the outside world and allow your mind to relax and focus on the present moment. This helps to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
Nap When You Can
Did you know that people who nap habitually might have a 37 percent lower risk of death from coronary heart disease? Naps have also been shown to “improve performance in areas such as reaction time, logical reasoning and symbol recognition.” They also improve your mood. If you do it right, that is. Ever nap and then feel awful for the next few hours? That’s called sleep inertia, defined as “a temporary disorientation and decline in performance and/or mood after awakening from sleep.” The easiest way to solve that is to nap for less time. According to Sleep Foundation, 20 minutes is perfect. So take more naps. And remember what Lord Byron said: “Always nap when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
Late Night Snacks for Better Sleep: Here are 6 of the best foods and drinks you can enjoy before bed to enhance your quality of sleep...
‘Extinct’ Lion Spotted
In a sign of hope for lions, conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Government of Chad were overjoyed when a remote camera captured the majestic image of a healthy female lion in Chad’s Sena Oura National Park, where not a single lion had been spotted in almost 20 years. The conservation team described the female lion as, “A beautiful lioness, in her prime and clearly in great health,” a press release from WCS said.
Gas and Oil Ban
Germany to ban new gas and oil heating beginning in 2024, reports the Financial Times. A recently approved bill stipulates that any heating system installed in new or old buildings after 1 January 2024 must be at least 65 percent based on renewable energy.
First Ever Wind Turbine
Professor James Blyth (1839 - 1906) was a Scottish electrical engineer and academic at Anderson's College, now the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow. He was a pioneer in the field of electricity generation through wind power and his wind turbine, which was used to light his holiday home in Marykirk, was the world's first-known structure by which electricity was generated from wind power. Blyth patented his design and later developed an improved model which served as an emergency power source at Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary & Dispensary for the next 30 years. Although Blyth received recognition for his contributions to science, electricity generation by wind power was considered uneconomical and no more wind turbines were built in the UK until 1951, some 64 years after Blyth built his first prototype.
"My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant to be your own person, be independent." Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On this Day
26 April 1768: The prestigious English Royal Academy of Arts, led by its first president, Joshua Reynolds, hosted its first art opening.
Mood Booster
Top Secret Swiss Drum Corps performing in Edinburgh last year.