Tuesday's Good News
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- 4 min read
An eclectic global collection of upbeat news nuggets to brighten the day.
Split Portraits
Do people ever tell you that you look just like one of your parents? Or maybe you look almost identical to your sibling. Through his ongoing Genetic Portraits series (which began in 2008), Quebec-based designer and photographer Ulric Collette explores how members of the same family resemble each other, how they’re different, and the role genetics plays in a person’s physical appearance. Collette’s images aren’t your ordinary family portraits. He takes photographs of two people from the same family, digitally splits each face in half, and then combines them into a single composite image. The striking results reveal just how similar people can be when they share DNA.
Who Knew?
A team of volunteer divers removing abandoned fishing nets from the Strait of Sicily last month came face-to-face with an adult great white shark. One crew member filmed the encounter and it is thought to be the first underwater footage of the species in the Mediterranean. Derk Remmers said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Statistically, it is way more likely to win the lotto jackpot than to meet such an iconic animal underwater. You spend decades diving wrecks and removing ghost nets, but nothing prepares you for a moment like this,” he said.
First Ever Orange Shark Discovered: A routine day on the water turned into a once-in-a-lifetime discovery when a group of fishermen caught something extraordinary off the coast of Costa Rica.
Three Records
A father and son have broken three world records after spending a year cycling 18,000 miles around the world. Josh, 23, and George Kohler, 57, set off on their mammoth challenge in March 2025, from their home near in Norfolk, south east England. In total, the duo traveled 18,000 miles (30,400 km) and were welcomed home by 70 cyclists, who joined them for the final leg of their journey on May 2, 2026. They spent 400 days away from home, traveling through South America, Australia, Asia and Europe. When they arrived home, the all-conquering pair were presented with Guinness World Record certificates for the fastest bicycle circumnavigation of the world by a father and son, the longest bicycle journey by a father and son, and the most countries visited in a continuous bicycle journey by a father and son.
Vast New Reserve
French Polynesia has made one of the single biggest contributions to ocean protection ever after its government announced a new marine reserve the size of France. Some 200,000 sq miles of ocean surrounding the Austral and Marquesas Islands - two of the most biologically rich archipelagos on Earth - will receive the highest level of protection, with mining, trawling and industrial fishing prohibited. Artisanal fishing, central to local food security and culture, will be preserved.
Celestial Event
The two brightest planets visible from Earth are putting on a spectacular sky show right now. Venus and Jupiter are appearing unusually close together in the western sky after sunset, culminating in a striking alignment with the crescent moon tonight and tomorrow night (June 16 and 17). The celestial event centers on a planetary conjunction, which occurs when objects appear close together in the sky from Earth’s perspective. Mercury joins the display lower on the western horizon, forming a diagonal line of planets that stretches across the twilight sky. The arrangement has earned the nickname “planetary skewer” among some skywatchers.
Remarkable Recovery
The population of a rare butterfly species has increased by more than 90 times in Kent (south east England) over two decades. There were fewer than 50 Duke of Burgundy butterflies in 2005, but this rose to nearly 600 last year, Butterfly Conservation said. Dr Dan Hoare, director of nature recovery at the charity, said this rise is a positive sign for the local environment. "They're an indicator species," he explained. "Butterflies act as a flagship for smaller insects. When a population recovers, it tells you you're getting something right."
Instant Hit
There's a rebellion underway against the always-on, infinitely-scrollable nature of the smartphone. Younger shooters in particular are reaching for more tactile, intentional ways to capture everyday life. Instant film, with its limited shots and instant physicality, fits that mood perfectly and Polaroid's tiny new Go Gen 3 is hoping to capitalise on this. It launched earlier this month priced at $89.99, with five colors to pick from and running costs are modest by instant-film standards, with a double pack of Go film holding 16 photos for around $22.
“Point out the good when you see it. In life, in others, in yourself.” Topher Kearby
On This Day
16 June 1903: Ford Motors under Henry Ford incorporates. Introduced in 1908, the Model T became wildly successful and eventually propelled Henry Ford to produce nearly 90 percent of the world's automobiles. In 1913, Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing by introducing the moving assembly line to his factory in Highland Park, Michigan. This innovation dropped the production time of a single Model T from over 12 hours to roughly 90 minutes. Consequently, the price of the car decreased from $850 to as low as $250.
Today's Articles
Voice-Over Mega-Bucks: Previously unglamorous role is now wildly profitable for those stars lucky enough to land the right gig.
Delightfully Innovative: Man makes two-person solar-powered car from a couple of e-bikes and a bit of soldering know-how.
Mood Boosting Video
Arancina or Arancino? Stanley Tucci gets to grips with Sicily’s most debated street food.