Good News Tuesday

Mar 17
4 min read

Today's smorgasbord of tasty good news nuggets from around the globe.

black-and-white image of a heron gliding low over a canal — Credit: Michelle Jackson | LCE Photographer of the Year 2026

Unintended Result

The photographer didn't even intend to capture a heron that morning - she was waiting for kingfishers. But instinct, timing, and lightning-fast reflexes turned an unexpected visitor into a contender for the LCE Photographer of the Year 2026 Awards. Michelle Jackson's image Heron in Flight is a stunning black-and-white capture of the bird gliding low over the canal, wings spread with effortless grace. Having her camera set up for fast action, intended for kingfishers, Jackson quickly made the decision to capture the heron's elegant low-level flight in sharp detail against a simplified, monochrome background. Because sometimes, the best photographs come when you least expect them... and when you're ready to react!

Origin of Tuesday

The English name is derived from Middle English Tewesday, from Old English Tiwesdæg meaning "Tīw's Day", the day of Tiw or Týr, the god of single combat, law, and justice in Norse mythology. Tiw was equated with Mars in the interpretatio germanica, and the name of the day is a translation of Latin dies Martis.

Spiral arms of galaxy NGC 5134 — Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA

The Deep Past

“Although 65 million light-years may seem like a huge distance, the light that the James Webb Telescope collected to create this image has been journeying to us from since soon after Tyrannosaurus rex went extinct,” says NASA. The recently captured image offers a view from the deep past. Studying “nearby galaxies” like NGC 5134, which is in the Virgo constellation, is aiding astronomers in their understanding of far more distant systems that appear only as faint points of light. The relative proximity of the star system allowed two of JWST’s powerful cameras to join forces to pick out fine detail in the galaxy’s tightly wound arms.

Ruby red berry known as àgbáyun in Africa — Credit: Hamale Lyman

Miracle Berry

A species of red berry native to Africa and now grown in Florida is helping cancer patients reclaim the ability to enjoy food (by removing the metallic taste of 'chemo mouth') thanks to the berry’s properties which aptly bears a “miracle” moniker. “Miracle berry” is known as àgbáyun in its West African home. Scientifically, it’s designated Synsepalum dulcificum, with ‘dulcificum’ referring to its unique ability to turn sour foods sweet. So magical is the effect on those who consume it, the active ingredient inside the plant’s fruit is a glycoprotein that’s literally called miraculin. Studies investigating this compound report that at low pH (resulting from ingestion of sour foods) miraculin binds proteins and becomes able to activate the sweet receptors, resulting in the immediate perception of sweet taste.

Best Anti-Cancer Foods: If you’re looking to improve your health and add some of the best anti-cancer foods to your diet, StudyFinds analysed ten expert websites, creating a Top 5 list based on the top recommendations across these sites.

An ID.UNYX 08 rolling off the production line | VW

VW Reclaims Title

After BYD ended Volkswagen’s 15-year run as China’s top-selling car brand in 2023, VW is looking to make a comeback. Volkswagen was once again the best-selling auto brand in China in February 2026, ahead of its biggest EV offensive yet. As part of its “In China, for China” strategy, the European automaker is going on the attack, with plans to launch a new EV every two weeks on average this year, starting with the ID.UNYX 08. The ID.UNYX 08 is Volkswagen’s first fully connected, purely electric full-size SUV developed through its partnership with XPeng. With German engineering infused with advanced local technology, the electric SUV is Volkswagen’s most advanced EV for the Chinese market and a cornerstone of its ambitions to reclaim market share in the region.

Cleaner Air

Over the past two decades, Paris has eliminated 50,000 parking spaces and traded streets for bike lanes and green spaces. And now, an independent analysis found that levels of fine particulate matter have decreased 55 percent since 2005, and nitrogen dioxide levels by half. The dramatic decline is attributed to “regulations and public policies” that limited traffic and banned the most polluting vehicles - thus demonstrating how progressive, proactive policies can directly improve health in major urban areas.

“I would tell my younger self, just be yourself - that who you are is good enough.” Viola Davis

On This Day

17 March 1861: Italy is unified into a single kingdom under Victor Emmanuel II following the campaigns led by Giuseppe Garibaldi (pictured). While formed in 1861, the kingdom was not fully united until Venice was acquired in 1866 and Rome was captured in September 1870, after French troops withdrew.