Happy News Saturday

Editor OGN Daily
Mar 1
3 min read

Celebrating the start of the weekend (and a new month) with a global round up of positive news stories.

Making a Difference

This is what zoologist and primatologist Jane Goodall has to say on making a difference: "The greatest danger to our future is apathy. We can't all save the world in a dramatic way, but we can each make our small difference, and together those small differences add up. Every single person makes an impact on the planet every single day. The question is: What kind of impact do you want to make?" For her part, the Jane Goodall Institute is a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. "By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. Everything is connected - everyone can make a difference."

Walnuts with muesli and yoghurt in a small bowl — Brain booster

Going Nuts

Eating walnuts at breakfast boosts brain performance, according to a study by the University of Reading in England. Adults who ate about two ounces of walnuts with muesli and yogurt in the morning had faster reaction times and better memory throughout the day. Brain scans showed improved neural efficiency, while blood tests indicated positive changes in glucose and fatty acids. Scientists posit that the nut's mix of omega-3s, protein and polyphenols enhances cognitive function.

Hear Hear

Britain is the latest country to approve Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earbuds for use as "clinical grade" hearing aids. Users take a five-minute hearing test, and if mild to moderate hearing loss is detected, the AirPods can "boost certain sound frequencies" when necessary. In the U.S., the FDA approved the hearing aid feature last fall.

By the Numbers

80: The percent reduction in maternal mortality in Tanzania over a seven-year period.

81 million: The amount, in British pounds, awarded by the United Kingdom’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency to develop an early warning system for climate tipping points.

81 trillion: The amount, in US dollars, that Citigroup mistakenly credited a client’s account with when it only meant to send $280, eventually spotting the input error only after two employees had missed it, the Financial Times reported yesterday. $81 trillion is enough to buy the entire US stock market, with enough spare to buy China’s entire stock market, if you felt like it.

JetWind

Pods on the tarmac at Dallas Love Field capture jet exhaust and turn it into electricity to power the airport, said The Dallas Morning News. Designed by JetWind Power, the 6-foot-tall pods - described as "wind turbines-in-a-box" - collect exhaust during preflight checks and when airplanes push off; solar panels on top of the pods also feed power into the grid. After a successful pilot program, Dallas Love Field aims to expand from five pods to 14. Other airports are watching with interest.

UK Net Zero Economy

The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis has found, providing high-wage jobs across the country while cutting climate-heating emissions and increasing energy security. The net zero economy grew by 10 percent in 2024 (it grew by 9 percent in 2023) and generated £83bn in gross value added, a measure of how much value companies add through the goods and services they produce. The analysis, by the Confederation of British Industry, found that 22,000 net zero businesses, from renewable energy to green finance, employ almost a million people in full-time jobs. The average annual wage in the businesses - £43,000 - was also £5,600 higher than the national average.

“I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it look before they cross the road.” Stephen Hawking

On This Day

1 March 1872: Yellowstone National Park, situated in the western United States and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, was established by the U.S. Congress as the country's - and the world's - first national park.