Concluding the week with an upbeat collection of good news nuggets.
Stars Being Born
In a new image released by the European Southern Observatory, an extraordinarily high rate of star formation has been caught on camera by the Very Large Telescope. The baby stars, according to the ESO, are produced by dazzling, golden swirling clouds of gas, which are all shown in the stunning new image. The new galaxy, called NGC 4303, often known as Messier 61, is a spiral galaxy and is 50 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Virgo. "It has an unusually high amount of stars being born and has been used by astronomers as a laboratory to better understand the fascinating phenomena of star formation," the ESO explains.
Fond Farewell
You will no doubt have heard by now that the second Elizabethan age has, sadly, come to an end. Even though this is a very, very long way from being good news, the team at OGN feel it's entirely appropriate to say a fond farewell to the United Kingdom's longest serving - and greatest - monarch. The new monarch, King Charles III, is Britain’s longest-serving heir-apparent and is the oldest new monarch in the country’s history. Long live the king!
End of Coal
Hawaii has shut its last remaining coal-fired power plant, which emitted 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 each year. “Today marks a major milestone in Hawaii’s clean energy transition,” said Scott Glenn, Hawaii’s chief energy officer. Policymakers approved legislation in 2020 to phase out coal-fired power generation by the end of 2022, building on previous climate commitments, including the nation’s first state law - passed in 2015 - mandating 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2045.
Fractured Art
An American artist, who lives in Finland, braves the freezing temperatures to paint portraits on giant floating blocks of ice in the Baltic Sea. 29-year-old David Popa creates the giant portraits by swimming out to sea in the freezing water and using charcoal and soil in a spray can to paint the surface of huge blocks of ice. Each portrait in his “Fractured” project had to be created in around four hours as the ice floats would invariably either sink or float away. The pieces are known as ephemeral art - designed to only last a moment before disappearing.
Eudaimonia
A contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous.
World eRecord
A manufacturer of electric recreational marine propulsion for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), has broken the 100 mph (160 kph) speed barrier on an electric watercraft and set a new world record - in front of 100,000 spectators at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.
No Meat Ads
The Dutch city of Haarlem will become the first in the world to ban meat adverts from public spaces in an effort to reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Haarlem, which lies to the west of Amsterdam and has a population of about 160,000, will enact the prohibition from 2024 after meat was added to a list of products deemed to contribute to the climate crisis. Recent studies suggest global food production is responsible for one-third of all planet-heating emissions, with the use of animals for meat accounting for twice the pollution of producing plant-based foods.
Plants With More Protein Than Meat: Most of us are now aware that cutting down our meat consumption is good for both the planet and our health, but many are worried that if they wish to eliminate or reduce their meat intake their diet won’t provide them with adequate protein. Here are some recommendations for delicious plant-based foods that offer even more protein than meat. Read on...
Quote of the Day
“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.” Maya Angelou
On this Day
9 September 2015: Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history, surpassing Victoria's record reign of 63 years and 216 days.
Fascinating image of a bonobo cuddling a little mongoose like a treasured pet - shortlisted in Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Read on...
Plastic, for the first time ever, has been turned into tiny diamonds in the blink of an eye after being blasted with a laser beam. Read on...
Mood Booster
Rita Hayworth, plus an assortment of leading men, artfully synced to the Bee Gees classic: Stayin' Alive.
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