OGN Monday

Editor OGN Daily
5 minutes ago
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Ensuring the week gets off to a bright start with today's global selection of upbeat news stories.

First-Ever Image

Long before researchers knew about quasars or black holes, astronomers were photographing what is known today as Quasar OJ287. Indeed, as far back as the 1800s. Now, a new image of the celestial object has provided the strongest visual evidence yet that binary black holes exist, because scientists have captured the first-ever image of two black holes orbiting each other, as reported in The Astrophysical Journal. “For the first time, we managed to get an image of two black holes circling each other. In the image, the black holes are identified by the intense particle jets they emit,” says first author Mauri Valtonen, in a statement. “The black holes themselves are perfectly black, but they can be detected by these particle jets or by the glowing gas surrounding the hole.”

Irish Artists

Several years after launching a trial, Ireland is set to make its basic income for artists program permanent starting in 2026. Under the program, selected artists receive about $1,500 per month. There are 2,000 spots available, with applications set to open in September 2026. The current program, which began in 2022, was launched to support the arts sector following the pandemic. Many artists suffered disproportionate income losses during that time due to the cancelation of live performances and events.

First Time in 200 Years

The ancient Parthenon temple in Athens is scaffolding-free for the first time in 200 years. Visitors, lucky enough to have perfect timing, can view the ancient marble wonder without any of the unsightly scaffolding that has been erected, somewhere on the site, for the last two centuries. The removal of the latest iron cage - erected about 20 years ago on the temple’s western façade - happened earlier this month revealing a clear view of the UNESCO World Heritage site that was built in the 5th century BC. However, those wanting to see the pristine view need to be quick because work is scheduled to continue on the historic structure in November with another set of scaffolds being constructed for further conservation.

Hair Regrowth Pill

A new oral drug stands to become the first prescription pill specifically designed to regrow hair in both women and men. If approved, it would be the first new treatment for pattern hair loss in nearly 30 years - and the first oral therapy for women approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drug, from Connecticut-based biotech company Veradermic, is currently in multiple Phase 3 trials across the US. It's believed that if VDPHL01 (as it is currently known) continues on its promising path in this stage, the makers will seek FDA approval early next year.

Jaguar Rivers Initiative

It is the title of a spectacular cross-country collaboration to create a massive wildlife corridor across the heart of South America. Supported by Tompkins Conservation and announced by its president Kris Tompkins, the effort aims to reconnect fragmented ecosystems and restore the jaguar’s historic range. “We all know the urgency of the biodiversity and climate crises,” Tompkins said. “This bold initiative underlines the need for coordinated, large-scale action before it’s too late. I’d call it a lifeline to our planet.”

Ocean Conservation

The Spanish government has given the go-ahead to six new marine protected areas, offering a lifeline to vulnerable species and sensitive habitats. “It is very satisfying to see that areas of great biological value have finally been protected,” said Michael Sealey, senior policy advisor at the campaign group Oceana in Europe. With this expansion, the marine area protected in Spain now covers 22.45 percent, well on the way to its commitment of 30 percent by 2030.

Global Investment

In the first six months of the year, the world invested a total $386 billion in renewable energy projects from small rooftop solar installations to huge offshore wind farms - 10 percent more than the first half of 2024, reports Bloomberg. That progress is happening despite the U.S. investing 12 percent less in the same time period. It was made up largely in the European Union, which invested 27 percent more in the first half of the year. In the U.K., investment tripled. Worldwide, offshore wind saw more financial support in the first six months of 2025 than all of last year. Small-scale solar is gaining ground, particularly in China and Africa.

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." From Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan

On This Day

Australia's Sydney Opera House illuminated at night

20 October 1973: Australia's Sydney Opera House - designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, whose dynamic, imaginative, and problematic plan won an international competition in 1957 -was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on this day in 1973.