Today's Good News

Editor OGN Daily
Oct 1
4 min read

Wednesday's selection of upbeat news stories from around the globe.

Tim Curry in 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' movie, 1975 — Credit: 20th Century Fox | Everett Collection

'Rocky Horror' Turns 50

Originally a 1975 film adaptation of a stage musical, Rocky Horror Picture Show follows a stranded couple (played by Susan Sarandon as Janet and Barry Bostwick as Brad) who stumble into the mansion of a flamboyant scientist (Tim Curry) and his eccentric guests. The film initially flopped, earning roughly $1m ($6m today) before being pulled from theaters. But then, a funny thing happened: Fans began watching it over and over, and the failed glittery musical was reborn - becoming a cult classic, earning around $160m worldwide, and remains the longest-running theatrical release in history.

Seagrass in shallow water — Seagrass sequesters 10 x more CO2 than rainforest

The Power of Seagrass

A California-based nonprofit has saved over 1.5 million acres of island forest and marine ecosystems over the years, and now Seacology’s latest project is working to protect and restore Greece’s seagrass, a natural resource that protects the country’s coastline from erosion and sequesters ten times more carbon per acre than a rainforest. Seacology is entirely funded by donations - from individuals, foundations and corporations - not the federal government, which has “really worked well for us,” given the Trump administration’s slashing of federal agencies like USAID.

World's Biggest Plant: A recently discovered seagrass meadow is around 4,500 years old and could continue expanding indefinitely. It already covers more than 77 square miles (200 sq.km). That's nearly four times the size of Manhattan, and it may be immortal.

Simprella

A startup called Simp Design is hoping that lots of people like the idea and convenience of a new iPhone-sized umbrella that they call a Simprella. When folded up, a process the company claims takes just a few seconds, it can fit into a back pocket. It weighs just 173.9 grams (roughly equivalent to three Snickers bars) and is constructed from aluminum alloy and stainless steel for durability. The fabric, custom-designed to shed water and dry quickly, is made primarily from recycled materials. Simprella has raised many multiples of its funding requirements on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter so, it seems, lots of people do want one - and this pocket-sized product should be available soon for around $50.

2 Hours to 2 Minutes

Would you be brave enough to cross this bridge that touches the clouds? It's called the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge and is now officially open to the public. The structure stretches above a gorge in the Guizhou province in southwest China, and towers at 625m (2,050ft). It has now set the record for both the world's highest bridge (more than twice the height of the Eiffel Tower) and largest span bridge built in a mountainous area. The mega project, constructed over three years and eight months, will cut travel time between the two sides of the canyon from two hours to two minutes and connect major tourist spots, officials said. The bridge even has a high-speed glass elevator that can send visitors to a coffee spot 2,600 feet above the river.

Boosting Trust

California's governor, Gavin Newsom, has signed a bill prohibiting most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business. The legislation, which is the first of its kind in the USA, is a direct response to recent immigration raids in Los Angeles where masked federal agents made mass arrests. This new law is intended to increase transparency, boost public trust in law enforcement, and prevent people from impersonating officers to commit crimes.

New AI Law in Italy

Italy has become the first country in the European Union to pass a comprehensive law regulating the use of artificial intelligence, including imposing prison terms on those who use the technology to cause harm, such as generating deepfakes, and limiting child access. The government says the legislation, which aligns with the EU’s landmark AI Act, is a decisive move in influencing how AI is used across Italy.

“This life is mine alone. So I have stopped asking people for directions to places they’ve never been.” Glennon Doyle

On This Day

1 October 1890: By an act of the U.S. Congress, Yosemite National Park was created, eventually becoming one of the most visited national parks in the USA. The park, surrounded on all sides by national forest lands, encompasses 1,189 square miles (3,080 sq. km). It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.