An eclectic bundle of positive news nuggets from around the world to help perk up the day.
New Ruler Discovered
The name of a previously unknown Iron Age ruler or king has been discovered emblazoned on a 2,000 year-old coin that was uncovered in a field in Hampshire, southern England. Dating from around 50 BC and made of gold, the coin is stamped with the name Esunertos, a previously unrecorded Iron Age ruler. The find has been described by experts as “one of the outstanding discoveries of recent decades”. The coin dates back to the very beginning of written language in the British Isles and was struck sometime between 50 and 30 BC, shortly after Julius Caesar’s first Roman raid of Britain.
Giant Leap
They charted the stars for pitiful wages, knowing their observations about the universe would be attributed to male colleagues, and died in relative obscurity, their scientific achievements unrecognised and overlooked. Now, in a tribute to trailblazing British female astronomers, two asteroids have been named for Annie Maunder and Alice Everett, among the first women in the world to earn a living in astronomy. They became friends while studying mathematics at Girton College in Cambridge in the 1880s and were early members of the British Astronomical Association (BAA), which put their names forward to the Catalina Sky Survey for the honour.
“These were extraordinary women who did extraordinary things,” said Mike Frost, head of BAA’s historical section. “They deserve their place up in the sky.”
Trailblazing Women in Astronomy: You may never have heard of the 'Harvard Computers', but they were 80 women who helped to build the foundations of modern astronomy. Finally receiving recognition...
Good News For Men
For the first time, scientists have fully sequenced the Y chromosome, the smallest and most complicated of all, reports CNN. Scientists have been working on fully mapping all 46 human chromosomes for the last two decades, and in 2022, the Telomere-to-Telomere Consortium announced it sequenced the complete human genome. Still, more than half of the Y chromosome's sequence was a mystery until now, researchers wrote in a new study published last week in the journal Nature. "Research is emerging that shows proper Y chromosome gene function is incredibly important for the overall health of men," said senior study author Charles Lee, a professor and research director at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Connecticut. "Our study enables the inclusion of the full Y chromosome in all future studies when sequencing male genomes to understand health and disease."
Coco Gauff
Congratulations to Coco for winning the US Open tennis! Even though she's only 19 years old, she seems wise beyond her age: "At first, I used to think negative things, like why is there so much pressure? why is this so hard? ... I realized in a way it's pressure but it's not. I mean, there are people struggling to feed their families, people who don't know where their next meal is going to come from, people who have to pay their bills. That's real pressure, that's real hardship, that's real life. I'm in a very privileged position, I'm getting paid to do what I love and getting support to do what I love. That's something that I don't take for granted ... I have a lucky life, and so I should enjoy it."
Nessie Spotted?
A disputed sighting of the Loch Ness monster could become the eighth time the “mythical beast” has allegedly been seen this year, said The Telegraph. Eoin O’Faodhagain, a “veteran Nessie sleuth”, believes he has spotted the creature - but the jury is still out. He insists the disturbance he filmed on the surface of the loch - described as a "20 foot black hump" - could only be caused by Nessie and not sturgeon, otters or eels. “I won the lottery with this video clip,” he said.
Just Chillin'
A 'laziest citizen' contest in Montenegro has been going strong for more than three weeks now, and the remaining handful of contestants are still lounging around happily and generally avoiding responsibility or worry. "All of us feel good, excellent, there are no health problems, they are pampering us, all we have to do is to remain lying down,” said 2021 champion Dubravka Aksic, 38. The contest was launched in the tiny Adriatic country 12 years ago to mock a popular myth that labels Montenegrins as lazy, said Radonja Blagojevic, the organizer and owner of the resort where the contest is held (because of course, it's held at a resort).
"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward." Princess Diana
On this Day
12 September 1953: U.S. senator and future president John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island.
Rare uncorrected Harry Potter proof sold in ‘fairytale’ auction to the benefit of schoolchildren. JA Rowling...
2,000 white rhinos to be released into the wild from the world’s biggest private captive breeding operation. Lifeline...
Dad Jokes: Notoriously cringeworthy or hilariously funny - depending on your point of view. Best of the worst...
Mood Booster
Remarkable story: Every year, this penguin swims 5,000 miles to visit the man who saved his life.
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