Getting the day off to a sunny start with an eclectic bundle of positive news stories.
Lest We Forget
Yesterday, in a beautiful tribute to the brave soldiers who set forth from England to Normandy on D-Day 80 years ago, poppy fields were in full bloom across many parts of the UK - a lovely sight and a timely reminder of D-Day's anniversary - marking eight decades since the Allied invasion of Western Europe during World War II. Poppies serve as a symbol of remembrance of those who have died in war.
"Extremely Impressive"
The world’s first personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma halves the risk of patients dying or the disease returning, according to trial results that doctors described as “extremely impressive”. Melanoma affects more than 150,000 people a year globally, according to 2020 figures from World Cancer Research Fund International. Patients who received the vaccine after having a stage 3 or 4 melanoma removed had a 49 percent lower risk of dying or the disease recurring after three years. Iain Foulkes, the executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said the results marked another milestone in “the exciting, developing landscape of cancer vaccine research”.
Iron Man Arm
A five-year-old boy born without a left hand is believed to have become the youngest in the world to receive a bionic hero arm. Jordan’s life-changing Iron Man-style arm was an “instant confidence boost” for him, his mother Ashley Marotta said. The custom-made, 3D-printed prosthetic was produced by Bristol-based Open Bionics for Jordan, from Long Island in New York. “As a mum, you just want your child to be happy, and he is generally happy and resilient, but after getting the Hero Arm he was on top of the world and glowing," Ms Marotta said.
Succulent Restoration
An initiative in South Africa will restore a native carbon-absorbing succulent, called spekboom, over 250,000 acres (100,000 ha) of degraded land across the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. In addition to removing an estimated 30 million tonnes of carbon, the project will also create 1,000 jobs for local communities.
Airbus Beluga
The world's silliest-looking plane, the Airbus Beluga, now has its own airline. The bulbous, smiling cargo planes are a favourite among plane-spotters around the world and have been in service for close to two decades. Now, a new version of the Beluga is replacing the original fleet, which has gone on to power a standalone freight airline called Airbus Beluga Transport - perfect for oversized items that need moving from A to B. Mostly, however, it's just fun to look at pictures of them.
Top 10 Solar
Solar energy continued to surge and break records across the globe in 2023, generating an estimated 5.5 percent of global electricity. According to the latest Global Electricity Review from energy research firm Ember, solar has been the fastest-growing source of electricity for 19 consecutive years. Ember expects 2024 to be another record-breaking year for solar worldwide. That would mark an annual growth rate of at least 32 percent, higher than the 26 percent annual growth that will be needed to reach net-zero global emissions by 2050.
"Challenge yourself; it’s the only path which leads to growth." Morgan Freeman
On This Day
6 June 1892: Chicago's elevated Loop train line (commonly known as the “L”) began operating, and it became one of the longest and busiest mass transit systems in the United States.
Today's Articles
Polypills: These tailor-made multi-purpose 3D-printed pills are likely to be an important part of the future of health care.
Grate News: New cheese museum opens in Paris, in a nation of fromage lovers that camembert a day without it.
Florida Beach 1948: Inspiration for the birth of the now ubiquitous barcode - a seismic event in the world of commerce.
Mood Boosting Video
Hilarious video of cyclists being chased by an ostrich.