What better way to wrap up the week than with a bundle of uplifting news nuggets?
This gorgeous swirling image was taken by Nasa’s Juno mission, which is currently orbiting Jupiter. The image was taken when the spacecraft was 18,900km away from Jupiter’s clouds and reveals complex flow patterns, akin to cyclones in Earth’s atmosphere, and striking effects caused by the variety of clouds at different altitudes, sometimes casting shadows on layers of clouds below. Thank you Juno for showing us a different view of a familiar planet.
Good news for those with range anxiety: A Tesla vehicle equipped with a next-generation battery was able to travel more than 1,200km (750 miles) on a single charge. The first road test of the Gemini battery, developed by Detroit-based startup Our Next Energy (ONE), achieved nearly double the typical range that a standard Tesla Model S is able to achieve, and more than the highest range of any mass-produced gasoline-powered vehicles. Travelling across Michigan, the results “set a new benchmark for the entire automotive industry”, according to ONE founder and CEO Mujeeb Ijaz.
$87 million dollars have been secured to create a wildlife crossing over California's I-5 freeway, with construction set to be completed by 2023. Wildlife crossings have successfully worked to save animal lives all across the globe. For example, the 'animal crossing' over the Trans-Canada highway has prevented nearly all elk collisions. However, this project in California will be the biggest of its kind in the world. The bridge will extend across Liberty Canyon, strategically placed to encourage a certain direction of migration. Also engineers have planned to use matte material which deflects sound and light from the vehicles below. Providing a safer journey space for wolves, mountain lions, butterflies, rabbits, snakes, and more.
Linda Hoffman, 73 from Denver, and Harriet Carter, 76 from Sacramento, both signed up for Ancestry.com but never imagined what would happen. The two women found out that they were biological sisters separated more than 70 years ago. Their parents never shared with anyone that when they were 18, they gave Harriet up for adoption. Because of the pandemic, the sisters spent another two years apart talking every day on the phone and planning their face-to-face meeting. When they finally met, they shared all about their lives and showed each other childhood pictures. "I think we found each other when we were supposed to," Linda commented.
A joint effort between Bolivian and Brazilian conservationists has just led to the release of one million baby turtles into the Amazon River close to the border between the two countries. A huge crowd gathered to watch the amazing moment when so many baby turtles scrambled their way to the water. “We have chosen this area because it is the largest spawning area for Amazonian turtles,” Camila Ferrara with the Wildlife Conservation Society explained. “The turtles are biologically important to the environment due to the recycling of nutrients and dissemination of seeds.”
Mike Burke, 54, was given a metal detector by his wife for Christmas and where better to start than his own front garden in Cornwall, south west England. It didn't take him long to make his first discovery and he's 'still getting shivers' after finding an ancient gold ring just a few paces from his home. Remarkably, he unearthed a Roman intaglio ring (depicting Ceres, Roman goddess of farming, engraved on a chalcedony gemstone) dating from around the 1st or 2nd century AD. Burke said: 'I wouldn't normally have permission to go metal detecting in my front garden, because my wife's got a lot of flowers out there. But I decided since everything was dying back and we were getting ready to rake everything up - I was like, it's no problem, she won't mind me going in there.'
One of the only populations of Ishasha tree-climbing lions in the world resides in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. Unfortunately, the population faces numerous threats such as loss of habitat and illegal wildlife trade, but the good news is that both local and international conservation groups are coming to their rescue to protect them, monitor them to learn more about their unusual behaviour, and help boost the population's numbers. Several cubs have been born recently, leading to a more hopeful future for these unique creatures.
Quote of the Day
“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words." Goethe
On this Day
21 January 1506: Swiss Guards first arrived at the Vatican as watchmen for the pope.
Dive in Deeper
Why arugula is so good for you: Arugula, also known as rocket, has arguably the coolest name in the vegetable kingdom, and is packed with nutritious benefits. Read on...
What is Love
Upbeat dancing mood-booster to kick off TGI Friday.