Good News Thursday

Editor OGN Daily
12 minutes ago
4 min read

What better way to start the day than with some good news nuggets?

skydiver seen falling across the face of the sun in a cleverly timed photo — Credit: Andrew McCarthy | cosmicbackground.io

The Fall of Icarus

It's the hottest new photo (literally) from astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy. Skydiver and friend of McCarthy, Gabe Brown, can be seen falling across the face of the sun in the new photograph, which the two built around a seemingly impossible idea around an alignment of freefall, pilot precision and high-definition solar photography. "I didn't know if it was even possible," McCarthy said in an interview with Space.com. "There were so many factors to consider." Brown made the jump from an ultralight aircraft timed to cross the sun from McCarthy's viewpoint on the Arizona desert floor, creating a silhouette that had to pass through a narrow field of view only a few arcminutes wide. They called the remarkable resulting image The Fall of Icarus.

Thanksgiving

While European settlers in North America had long observed days of thanks, prayer, and reflection, the “first Thanksgiving” most often refers to a 1621 meal between the Pilgrims and the native Wampanoag people. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day on the final Thursday of November to be celebrated each year. A large meal shared with loved ones is the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving celebrations, where the average gathering size is seven. What began as a neighborly meal to celebrate a successful harvest has transformed into an annual economic and cultural powerhouse: The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for air travel as Americans prepare to eat upward of 40 million turkeys and 80 million pounds of cranberries.

Thanksgiving Quotes: A dozen thoughtful, inspirational quotes to toast gratitude and gathering. It’s really for everybody, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from.

Somalian boxer Ramla Ali wearing a UNICEF cap — Credit: UNICEF

Every Dream Matters

Before she was an Olympian, Somalian boxer Ramla Ali spent a year on the run. She fled to Kenya with her family to escape civil war before settling in London, where she learned to box. She returned to Kenya to visit women and girls at the Dadaab refugee camp, one of the largest camps in the world. Ali spent time with mothers and daughters who were working hard to get to a better future, despite cuts to aid, by joining recycling programs and a filmmaking initiative that puts cameras in the hands of refugee children. Ali hopes her journey would inspire the girls she met and emphasize how necessary it is to fund aid programs. “Even in an environment like this, they’re still hopeful and determined to achieve their dreams,” Ali said. “Every dream matters.”

Africa Renewables

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has pledged more than 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) of financing for renewable energy projects on the African continent over the next two years.

The projects will include hydroelectric, solar and wind power plants, as well as the expansion and upgrading of transmission and distribution facilities, the bank said in a statement.

Group of friends eating in a restaurant — This year's dining trends

US Dining Connections

According to a recent report, researchers analyzed responses from 1,000 U.S. diners, and found that “dining in 2025 was all about connection.” How exactly was this sense of connection reflected among patrons? One way was through shared plates, which are no longer “unique to tapas restaurants.” In fact, over 94 percent of respondents (and over 97 percent of Gen Z) said they’re likely to share their meal when eating out. Ninety percent of Gen Z also enjoyed dining at communal tables, with two thirds of those surveyed noting that they’re a great way to meet new people.

Lifestyle Habits of Gen Z Brits: Two new studies show that Gen Z (those aged between 13 and 28) are doing things a bit differently. In a lot of ways, Gen Zers are unapologetically square.

Ban Vindication

With so many bird species in decline, it's good to hear some heartwarming news from France: insect-eating bird populations are showing tentative signs of recovery, after a ban on bee-harming pesticides. The increase was noted four years after the EU ban on the most common class of insecticide, neonicotinoids, which are used in agriculture. Researchers said even such a small increase (3 percent) proves the ban is an effective conservation measure.

Wet Wipes

England is to phase out the sale of wet wipes containing plastic by 2027, after the government signed legislation to tackle the stubborn and costly source of pollution. “This ban will put an end to plastic wet wipes which choke our sewers, litter our beaches and poison wildlife,” said the environment secretary.

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” Lauren DeStefano

On This Day

27 November 1895: Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel establishes the Nobel Prizes through his will, dedicating the bulk of his fortune to funding annual awards for those who have conferred the "greatest benefit to humankind"