Good News Tuesday

6 minutes ago
4 min read

Ensuring the day gets off to an upbeat start with a global collection of positive news nuggets.

The Iguazú Falls seen through trees and a gentle mist — Credit: Arnaud Farré | Category Winner, Forests, 2026 Environmental Photography Award

Spirits of the Falls

Wrapped in mist and cascading water, the rainforest scene feels almost mythical. Dense greenery disappears into soft fog while waterfalls cut through the landscape, emphasizing both the beauty and vulnerability of forest ecosystems. The Iguazú Falls (“great water” in the indigenous language) have the distinction of being split between two countries, Argentina and Brazil. They consist of a system of 275 waterfalls spanning nearly three kilometres and are protected by a national park in both countries. On the Argentine side, Iguazú National Park covers 67,000 hectares. It was created in 1934 to protect one of the country’s most beautiful and most visited natural sites, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The park is home to more than 450 bird species, including the toco toucan, an iconic bird native to the subtropical forest. It is the largest species in the toucan family and can be identified by its long bright orange bill. These birds feed on fruit and inhabit the upper canopy.

Some Good Numbers

31: Countries that have eliminated the eye disease trachoma; Tunisia is the latest.

100: Number of dams removed in the US last year, reconnecting nearly 5,000 miles of waterways - a record.

The death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry | Wikimedia Commons

New Perspective

The Bayeux Tapestry was woven in the 11th century shortly after the famous invasion of England it depicts. After hanging vertically at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, France, for years, the nearly 1,000-year-old masterpiece is about to be viewed in a whole new orientation. While its home in Northern France undergoes renovations, the tapestry is heading to the British Museum, where it will be displayed flat - when the special exhibition goes live in September. The 224-foot-long, 20-inch-tall sheet of linen cloth is getting its own custom case, so museum guests will be able to view it up close. In addition to displaying the piece’s 58 embroidered scenes in a more accessible configuration, the show will incorporate digital elements that provide historical context. In addition to being displayed flat for the first time in a very long time, the British Museum’s upcoming exhibition also marks the tapestry’s first time in its country of origin in nearly a millennium.

Roe de Vie

French police have warned drivers to “beware of drunk deer” behaving erratically after eating alcohol-laden fermented fruit, said UPI. The Saône-et-Loire gendarmerie posted a viral video of a roe deer “running in circles” that appears to be intoxicated, warning of “totally unpredictable behaviour” and sudden road crossings. “If Bambi overindulges on the forest aperitif, it might not be the time to drive like you own the road,” the post said.

Cactus in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument — Credit: National Parks Conservation Association

Dark Skies

Stargazers, you may want to add this desert destination to your bucket list. Southwest Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Park following increased efforts to protect its nocturnal ecosystems, which are prone to disruption from artificial light. Located in the Sonoran Desert, the world’s most biodiverse desert, the monument encompasses 330,000 acres and is home to several wildlife species that require darkness for survival, including mountain lions, moths, and bats.

a ribbon worm — The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Gustav Paulay

New-to-Science

In what’s being hailed as a “landmark ocean census,” scientists have detailed 1,121 new-to-science marine species that were discovered within a single year. The findings highlight both the vast amount of ocean life that has yet to be documented (an estimated 90 percent) as well as “the importance of building scientific data that policymakers and marine managers need to protect the ocean,” says the team behind the trove of findings. Among the newly discovered life forms is the ribbon worm (pictured), which carries unique toxins that are being investigated as possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

"You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute." Tina Fey

On This Day

Dracula, by Irish author Bram Stoker - the original 1897 hardback release featuring distinctive yellow cloth binding with red title text.

26 May 1897: Dracula, by Irish author Bram Stoker, is published by Archibald Constable and Company in London. The original 1897 hardback release featured distinctive yellow cloth binding with red title text. The book introduced Count Dracula and helped establish modern conventions of vampire lore, eventually becoming deeply embedded in global literary and pop culture.