OGN Wednesday
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Today's eclectic global collection of uplifting news nuggets.
No Joke
A month before he turns 100 years old, comedian and EGOT winner Mel Brooks has announced that he will donate thousands of documents and photographs from his long career for preservation and public display at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York. Brooks’ trove of materials spans decades. From jokes and notes he kept while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II to materials from every feature film he directed or produced - including hits The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein - each chapter of his seven-decade career will be commemorated in the brick-and-mortar archive. “I’ve always been proud to say that I make people laugh for a living,” says Brooks. “So, knowing that my work will have a home at comedy’s national archive and continue making people laugh leaves me with a deep sense of pride.”
Exclusive Membership: EGOT, an acronym for the four biggest awards in the entertainment industry, only has 21 members.
Lamb Mowers
In neighborhoods around Washington, D.C., yard work is turning into a community event thanks to a flock of hardworking sheep that are winning hearts while clearing weeds. Instead of firing up noisy lawn equipment, hundreds of residents are calling in a team from a company called Lamb Mowers, where adorable Babydoll Southdown sheep handle the job naturally, quietly, and with plenty of charm. The company transports its friendly flock to homes and businesses across the area, where the sheep get straight to work munching through overgrown weeds, including poison ivy. Once they arrive, temporary fencing is set up if needed, and then the sheep are released to do what they do best.
Amazing Results
Chile’s maternity leave reform boosted women’s employment by 16 percent. Doubling postnatal leave from 12 to 24 weeks let more women stay in the workforce after having children. Remarkable.
Staying Cool
With rising temperatures on the way, Dyson’s new handheld fan could be the key to staying cool this summer. The pocket-sized device delivers 55 mph of airflow, all while weighing just 7.5 ounces. This compact cooling gadget also features five different speed settings, allowing users to customize their temperature-regulating experience on the go. Though Dyson first became famous for its vacuums, the company has since built a strong reputation for products like air purifiers, humidifiers, heaters, and haircare devices. Now, the company has brought similar technology to the HushJet™ Mini Cool, apparently changing the game for portable cooling. Priced at around £100 / $130.
Dyson Grows Strawberries 24/7 on Ferris Wheels: The 26-acre glasshouse in England is home to 1,225,000 strawberry plants, which are grown all year round.
Unintended Consequences
Sales of electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are accelerating in China, in yet another sign that the war in Iran is accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. According to analysis by Bloomberg, electric truck sales in China tripled in 2025 (and now make up 20 percent of new truck registrations), whilst separate data from Reuters indicates that electric truck sales rose by 45 percent in the first quarter of 2026 amid spiralling diesel costs. Electrifying HGVs is key as they account for a disproportionate amount of road related emissions. In the UK, they produce around 17 percent of emissions - despite making up just 1 percent of traffic.
World's First Dentist
The earliest known dental procedure dates back 59,000 years and was conducted by a Neanderthal, a new study reveals. Archaeologists discovered the molar in a Siberian cave. A deep hole suggests a sharp tool, possibly a toothpick made of local jasper, was used for the beginnings of a root canal. The process would have taken between 35 and 50 minutes, according to researchers, who conducted similar procedures on three modern human teeth. Wear patterns indicate the Neanderthal was able to continue eating with the tooth following the procedure. The discovery marks the first such procedure by any species other than Homo sapiens. It also challenges prior understandings of Neanderthals’ cognitive abilities, showing they could identify a source of pain as well as determine - and administer - proper medical treatment, which would require physical dexterity.
“I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.” J. B. Priestley
On This Day
20 May 1873: Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patent the first blue jeans with copper rivets. This invention, which reinforced stress points to prevent rips, created the iconic blue jeans that revolutionized global fashion.
Today's Articles
Inaugural Prize: A new reader-led literary prize sidesteps "the traditional barricades of the book industry.”
Mood Boosting Video
Midday Sun: How do Kangaroos survive Australia's extreme heat?
