An eclectic bundle of uplifting news nuggets from around the globe.
EU Clothing
The EU has approved a ban on the destruction of unsold clothing as part of a broader initiative to address the environmental impact of "fast fashion" and reduce waste. The agreement is part of proposed changes to the EU's ecodesign rules, aiming to make products longer-lasting and easier to reuse, repair, and recycle. MEP Alessandra Moretti, who spearheaded the legislation through parliament, said: "It is time to end the model of 'take, make, dispose' that is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy. New products will be designed in a way that benefits all, respects our planet and protects the environment."
Youngest Ever
Glasses on, Peter Park has a superpower, but it isn’t spinning webs and catching thieves just like flies, it’s a brilliant brain that has seen him become the youngest attorney in California’s history. The Korean American currently working at the Tulare County District Attorney’s office as a law clerk passed the rigorous California bar exam on his first attempt, making him the youngest person to ever pass the exam at age 17.
Strange But True
As brand crossovers continue into the alcohol space, Doritos has unveiled a collaboration with the flavor company Empirical: Empirical x Doritos Nacho Cheese Spirit. This limited-release smells and tastes just like the real thing, the companies say, bringing the flavor of these nacho cheese chips into the spirits aisle. “We’re always pushing our fans to try new things, so we figure it’s time we disrupt the spirits category by offering our iconic nacho cheese flavor in a bottle.” Yuk or yummy?
Gynandromorphism
Thee's a new word for you! A bilateral gynandromorph is an animal that is born with one male half and one female half. The animal is usually divided down the middle with characteristics of two sexes in one body. It's very rare, but you can clearly see it in this photo of a wild green honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) spotted in Colombia. While there are a range of theories of how gynandromorphic animals form, scientists believe that it could occur in birds when a female egg cell develops with two nuclei.
Fair Drug Pricing
The Biden Administration last week announced it would be seizing patents for drugs and drug manufacturing procedures developed using government money - if the price the drug is offered for is deemed too high. And it will encompass a lot of drugs. A research paper from the Insitute for New Economic Thought showed that “NIH funding contributed to research associated with every new drug approved from 2010-2019, totaling $230 billion.” The new executive order is the first exercise in what is called “march-in-rights” and whilst the NIH has long had such rights, previous directors have been unwilling to use them.
Almost Half Way
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have released their first joint report to strengthen understanding of renewable energy resources and their intricate relationship with climate variability and change. The good news is that today, about 40 percent of power generation globally is renewable, due to rapid deployment in the past decade, according to the report.
"Ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been." David Bowie
On This Day
14 December 1911: One of the greatest figures in the history of polar exploration was Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who left Norway for Antarctica in June 1910 and on this day in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole.
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Mood Booster
Japanese anime legend Hayao Miyazaki's latest film has topped the box office charts on its North American release. The long-awaited animated fantasy from Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.
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