What better way to wrap up the week than with a bundle of good news nuggets?
Magellanic Cloud
NASA has released a batch of breathtaking images from the James Webb Space Telescope. Behold, our closest galactic neighbour, as seen by Webb: the image is of the Large Magellanic Cloud. What’s next? Officials on the ground are continuing to test Webb's highly advanced equipment, with the first experiments starting this summer. From then on, the updates are going to increase in frequency, as the future of astronomy begins to accelerate like never before, and the history of the universe begins to unfold, right before our eyes.
Goddess Discovered
Palestinian farmer, Nidal Abu Eid, was cultivating his land in the Gaza Strip when he came across a sculpture of a head wearing a snake tiara. “It was muddy but when I washed it with water, I realized that it is a precious thing,” he told The New Arab. “At first, I hoped to sell it to someone to make some money, but an archaeologist told me that it was of great archaeological value.” Experts think the nine-inch-tall limestone sculpture depicts Anat, the Canaanite deity of love and war. And it's 4,500 years old.
First Time Record
When Gerwyn Jones was offered the opportunity to pair a bull to a cow of his choice as a “thank you” for his work as a stockman, he thought it might provide a good investment opportunity. Little did he realise just how much of an opportunity. The bull that was bred as a result of that pairing has broken the record for the sale of a Limousin breed in Mr Jones’s first ever sale. The bull, called Graiggoch Rambo, went under the hammer at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s auction and achieved a whopping £189,000 ($232,000).
LiveWire
After months of teasing, Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire brand has unveiled its second all-electric motorcycle, the new middleweight Del Mar, capable of accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in under four seconds and with a projected range of about 100 miles. It's expected to go on sale in the spring of 2023, and LiveWire said it’s targeting a price of $15,000.
Today's obscure word: Tintinnabulation - the ringing or sound of bells.
Penguin Parade
A record number of penguins have crossed the beach at Penguin Parade on Phillip Island in Australia. "We had the highest number of penguins cross last week with 5,219 penguins crossing our Penguin Parade beach, which is amazing," said Phillip Island Nature Parks research officer Paula Wasiak. "Usually, we have record-breaking nights when the penguins are at the peak of their breeding season, so around November and December." Wasiak believes the rise in numbers is due to conservation efforts and "excellent feeding conditions".
Floating Solar
Europe's largest floating solar park is taking shape on Portugal's Alqueva reservoir. Two tugboats are currently moving a vast array of 12,000 solar panels, the size of four football pitches, to their mooring. Blessed by long hours of sunshine and Atlantic winds, Portugal has accelerated its shift to renewables. Even though the country uses almost no Russian hydrocarbons, its gas-fired power plants still feel the squeeze of rising fuel prices. So, it's good news that electricity produced from the floating park, with a capacity of 5MW, will cost a third of that produced from a gas-fired plant.
Quote of the Day
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart." Eleanor Roosevelt
On this Day
13 May 1940: British politician Winston Churchill faced the House of Commons for the first time as prime minister and told the members that “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
Dive in Deeper
A wildlife photographer got the surprise of her life when the owl she was snapping swooped down and landed on the lens of her camera. Read on...
At their small restaurant in Ontario in the 1970s, this couple later learned the value of trading their dishes for the talents of local artists. Read on...
Travel Mood Booster
Explore the streets and markets of Marrakech, Fez, the blue city of Chefchaouen, the Arfoud desert, and the ancient city of Ouarzazate.