Today's eclectic bundle of positive news nuggets.
Mountains Discovered
An ocean research vessel has just discovered four underwater mountains, the tallest almost 3 kilometres high, that might be hotspots of deep-sea life. The 'new' underwater mountains were found in the high seas off the west coast of South and Central America. “The tallest is over one-and-a-half miles in height, and we didn’t really know it was there,” says Jyotika Virmani at the Schmidt Ocean Institute in California. The team came across the seamounts whilst navigating from Costa Rica to Chile last month.
Cupid's Choice
With cupid’s aim squarely on your wallets for tomorrow's annual celebration, loving Americans are forecast to spend a whopping $14.2 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation. You can't go wrong with red roses, which are, once again, expected to be the most popular choice.
Music Rights
Sony Music Group has reportedly bought half of the late Michael Jackson's recording and publishing rights for $600m. The deal, if finalized, values the iconic pop artist's music catalog at $1.2bn, the richest to date. Classic music catalogues are increasingly viewed as safe long-term assets able to withstand economic upheaval. Investors in recording rights earn royalties every time a track is bought or streamed, while publishing rights holders can license the music for use in film, TV, ads, and more.
Remarkably Preserved
The only intact chicken's egg found from Roman Britain is now thought to be the only one of its type in the world - after scientists found it still had liquid inside. The egg, which is about 1,700 years old, was found during a dig in Buckinghamshire, in southern England. Researchers said at the time it was a "genuinely unique discovery". However, they admitted they were "blown away" recently to find it still contained the yolk and egg white. A micro CT scan - that produces 3D images - revealed the contents of the egg, complete with the air sac.
Crazy But True
A Swedish man has created a Volvo out of Lego bricks and David Gustafsson's 1:1 scale car actually drives. Volvo recently shared some photos from the Ecar Expo in Gothenburg, Sweden, where the Lego car was on display. Most life-size Lego replicas are static displays, never meant to move. Most don't even have interiors. Gustafsson's Volvo, on the other hand, not only features a full interior, but has doors that swing open, side mirrors that pivot, just like the real thing, as well as active headlights that swivel along with the front wheels when the steering wheel turns. The pièce de résistance is the fact that this Volvo actually drives, thanks to an electric motor and battery pack. Speeds must be kept low, of course, but it can start, move, steer and brake via a remote control. The Volvo's only non-Lego parts are the wheels and tires, powertrain and a metal frame.
Spiced Coke
Coca-Cola has announced it's introducing a new permanent flavour to its lineup: Coca-Cola Spiced. The first permanent addition to the Coke lineup in three years is laced with flavours of raspberry and spice, according to Coke, and comes in both regular and zero sugar variations.
Favorite Sport
Americans continue to name football as their favorite sport by a wide margin. 41 percent of U.S. adults say football is their favorite sport to watch. Baseball and basketball essentially tie for second at 10 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Football has been the top sport in Gallup polling since 1972, when it eclipsed baseball. For clarity for everyone in the rest of the world, we're talking American football here.
January is for dreamers… February is for doers." Marc Parent
On This Day
13 February 1982: Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon marks 402 weeks on Billboard Top 200 Album charts.
The Dragon has started providing cost-effective, sustainable and predictable energy to the grid. New power source...
The entire contents of the eclectic personal library of naturalist Charles Darwin is now available to view online and read. Bookshelves...
In a world first, a dolphin that lives alone among harbour porpoises has been found to change its vocalization in an attempt to communicate with its neighbours. New language...
Mood Booster
The sword-billed hummingbird: the only bird with a beak longer than its body.