Wrapping up the week with a collection of positive news nuggets from around the globe.
Double-Take
When we think of sand sculptures, castles likely first come to mind. But you can do a lot more with sand than construct tiny buildings; artist Andoni Bastarrika is proof of it. He creates realistic animal portraits that are so lifelike you'll do a double-take when you see them. To create the illusion, Bastarrika tightly packs the sand to create a blank canvas for textures like fur and wrinkles. He adds to the realism with stone powders that color the sand as well as other materials as necessary. In this case, the resulting horse appears to be laying on the ground with an ocean view behind them.
Excitement at CERN
A team including physicists of the University of Bern has for the first time detected subatomic particles called neutrinos created by a particle collider, namely at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. The discovery promises to deepen scientists’ understanding of the nature of neutrinos, which are among the most abundant particles in the universe and key to the solution of the question why there is more matter than antimatter.
Conservation Success
The Indian state of Gujarat is the only place outside of Africa where you can hear the roar of a lion in its natural habitat. It's a sub-species called the Asiatic lion. Local conservation programs have raised the numbers of these animals so successfully in Gir National Park that the state government now needs to relocate some to a new wildlife sanctuary to expand their territory and ensure this growth continues.
Too Good to Go
Rescue food that’s headed for the trash can at restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops and juice bars with Too Good to Go. Whether you’re looking to cut down on grocery costs, rescue food waste or just find a quick meal, browse participating venues in your neighborhood to reserve a “Surprise Bag.” The bags usually cost only a few dollars / pounds / euros etc. - which provides an incentive for businesses to participate - and contain anything from fresh produce, to leftover buffet items from a deli, to expiring groceries, to unused ingredients or pre-made meals from restaurants. Stores give a brief outline of what’s normally in their Surprise Bags, including whether you can expect vegetarian goods. They’ll also provide an appointed pick-up time.
Ramadan Lights
The London mayor has switched on the London’s first ever celebratory Ramadan lights, in Piccadilly Circus. It's the first time a European city has seen such a grand display for the festival, with the installation featuring 30,000 sustainable lights. The iconic West End location will be lit up for the month of Ramadan, which is observed by Muslims, including the mayor of London himself. The lights read Happy Ramadan, with glittering moons and stars to match, while the curated concept depicts the phases of the moon throughout the month of Ramadan.
World’s Whitest Paint
The world’s whitest paint, which has the ability to reflect about 98 percent of incoming sunlight, was created last year by Purdue University engineers using their knowledge of materials science. This paint has significant promise for improving building energy efficiency by reducing the need for air conditioning - something that becomes even more important as the world’s climate becomes more extreme. The team has since modified the recipe and created a thinner, lighter version, which they claim is perfect for usage on automobiles, trains, and airplanes. Teamed up with sunglasses for windows, these products could make a vital difference.
"A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self."
Charles Dickens
On this Day
24 March 1945: With the debut of the Billboard magazine pop album chart, American pianist and singer Nat King Cole's King Cole Trio became the first record album to appear at No. 1.
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Mood Booster
Line Riders: Clever 'racing' graphics artfully synced to Beethoven's 5th.
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