OGN Friday
- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Celebrating the end of the week with today's upbeat collection of positive news nuggets.
Egg-cellent
Ever wonder what it would look like to crack open the Sun? The Egg Nebula, a dying Sun-like star, helps unscramble this question, thanks to this remarkable image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The star has shed its outer layers, and a bright, hot core (or "yolk") now illuminates the milky "egg white" shells of gas and dust surrounding the centre. The central lobes and rings are structures of gas and dust recently ejected into space, with the dust being dense enough to block our view of the stellar core. Light beams emanate from that blocked core, escaping through holes carved in the older ejected material by newer, faster jets expelled from the star’s poles. Astronomers are still trying to figure out what causes the disks, lobes, and jets during this short (only a few thousand years!) phase of the star’s evolution, making this an egg-cellent image to study. The image was released by NASA this week as one of its daily photographs of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Chance For a Medal
The 2026 Winter Olympics are in the rearview mirror, but the chance of getting a medal is not over. You don’t even need to be a superstar athlete - just some deep pockets. Bids are open for several Olympic medals on the auction block - including one (pictured) from the first modern Olympics in 1896. While the first known Olympics were in southern Greece in 776 BCE, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Athletes from 14 countries participated, with the largest delegations coming from Greece, Germany, France, and Great Britain.
Bloom Time
Improbable as it may sound for those still knee-deep in snow, early signs of Spring are clearly in evidence in Japan. While most cherry blossoms don’t bloom until late March or April, the 8,000 Kawazu-zakura hybrids lining the banks of the Kawazu River on Honshu's Pacific coast get a head start. Their deep-pink petals peak in February, drawing over 1 million visitors to the riverside Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival each year to soak in the stunning scene (and fragrances).
Zootopia 2
The movie continues to make history at the box office. This week, the Disney Animation Studios blockbuster passed up A Minecraft Movie ($423.9 million) to rank as the highest-grossing domestic release in America of 2025 with $424.2 million in ticket sales. The Oscar-nominated pic was already the top-grossing Hollywood title of the year at both the global and international box office, animated or otherwise. That’s not all. The latest milestone caps one of the most surprising, and remarkable, runs in the history of the genre. When the sequel opened over Thanksgiving, no one could predicted it would become the top-grossing animated film of all time, not adjusted for inflation. Now, the film’s global haul stands at roughly $1.85 billion.
Fold-Flat Mouse
In an era of ultra-thin laptops and lightweight technology, the computer mouse remains one of the last bulky accessories. But not any more. GoFold is an origami-inspired mouse that snaps from a flat sheet into a full-size device in a second. Turning it into a full-size device is simple: with a quick snap, the flat surface arches into a curved, ergonomic shape. The body is made from vegan leather with a fabric-like texture. Early backers can secure one for a pledge of US$49 – assuming the Kickstarter campaign is successful.
Planetary Alignment
A six-planet “alignment” - often called a planet parade - will briefly appear in the evening sky tomorrow night, creating a stunning celestial lineup. According to Space.com, the alignment will be visible soon after sunset on Saturday 28 February, when Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Mercury will appear grouped together from our perspective on Earth. While not all six will be visible to the naked eye, the sight of multiple planets sharing the same stretch of sky is still a special event. The best viewing window will be about 30 minutes to one hour after sunset, facing the western sky.
"If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt." Phil Knight
On This Day
27 February 1827: The first, albeit informal, Mardi Gras celebration in the New Orleans area occurred in 1699, when French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville landed just south of the present-day city on the Mississippi River and named the spot Pointe du Mardi Gras. While colonial Louisiana observed the tradition throughout the 1700s, the first recorded, organized street parade in New Orleans took place on 27 February 1837.
Today's Articles
Remarkable Discovery: Earliest-known human writings have been found and are 35,000 years older than other discoveries.
Making a Marque: Jonny Ive, Apple's original design guru, has designed the interior of the new electric Ferrari.
Staying Positive: The Swedish winter tradition of 'Little Saturday' that actually takes place on Wednesdays.
Mood Boosting Video
'Rolling Meadow': Citizen scientists discover a Great Barrier Reef coral giant.
