Ensuring the week gets off to a sunny start with today's global collection of short upbeat news stories.
The Palau Pledge
Around 500 miles east of the Philippines, the Republic of Palau is home to just 18,000 people, making it the fourth-smallest sovereign state on the planet. Though it comprises about 340 islands, only nine are inhabited. Many of the others are entirely untouched and set in spectacular clusters of towering limestone and coated from shoreline to peak in ancient tropical forest. In short, it’s paradise - and its government is determined to keep it that way. In 2020, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary was established, protecting 80 percent of the country’s waters, covering an area larger than France. Since 2017, every tourist who enters has been obliged to sign the Palau Pledge, a commitment “to act in an ecologically and culturally responsible way on the island, for the sake of Palau’s children and future generations of Palauans”. What a good idea.
Delaying Menopause
A preliminary study suggests that the drug rapamycin, which can delay menopause and extend a woman’s fertility by five years as well as increase lifespan, is safe. Hailed as a "paradigm shift", a co-leader on the study told The Guardian that the study is “the first in human history” and gives hope to women with age-related fertility issues. “In a way, our results are too good to be true - except, because rapamycin is so well-studied, we know they are true... These results are like a dream come true.”
Pedal Paddle
A man is preparing to travel the width of Scotland and back again in a bicycle canoe built by hand according to the time-honoured British tradition of performing eccentric adventurous feats for charity. The 36-year-old spent two months building his unique contraption, which he calls Pedal Paddle, and will see him take on over 150 miles of land and sea. He is raising money for the charity A Leg To Stand On, which provides prosthetic limbs for children in developing countries across the world. He also hopes to inspire people to go outside and explore the world. Like to donate? Go to benkilner.com
Ecuador School Meals
In 2023, the World Food Programme launched a school meals programme for 1,000 children in Ecuador in rural areas with high malnutrition and poverty levels. Almost immediate improvements were recorded, including better academic performance and reduced illness. This year, the program rolls out nationwide, expanding meal provision and diversifying diets for tens of thousands of kids.
Tree Bark's Power
Trees are a key component of a healthy planet. Through photosynthesis, trees take in atmospheric carbon dioxide and release the oxygen we need to breathe. New research offers another reason why forests may be critical to keeping climate change in check. Trees absorb methane through their bark, thanks to methane-hungry microbes. Through this mechanism, forests could be as much of a methane sink as soil, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The findings could help balance our understanding of Earth’s climate budget and also bolster reforestation projects.
Highest Grossing
Inside Out 2 just surpassed Frozen 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Released June 10 by Disney's Pixar Animation Studio, Inside Out 2 has now generated global box-office receipts of $1.46 billion, the entertainment giant said. That surpasses the $1.45 billion earned by Disney's Frozen 2 after its release in 2019.
Pedal to The Metal
The transition to greener steel is afoot, says a new report from Global Energy Monitor. While most steel production still uses traditional, coal-based methods, about half of new steelmaking projects in development will use an electric arc furnace, which melts iron into steel using clean electricity. These plans, if executed, put a 2030 net-zero target for steel within reach.
"When you're good at something, you'll tell everyone. When you're great at something, they'll tell you." Walter Payton
On This Day
29 July 1836: The Arc de Triomphe, one of the largest triumphal arches in the world, was officially inaugurated in Paris.
Today's Articles
Distance Plunge: The "formidably soporific" Olympic sport that was only held once and, of course, the record has never been broken.
Koalas Predict Hot Days: A new study has found that koalas have the ability to regulate their body temperatures more than previously thought.
Dull and Boring: A woman from Dull visited Boring on vacation, and asked the town councils if they felt like spicing things up. Then Bland joined in.
Getting Rid of Anger: A recent study has identified a powerful yet surprisingly simple solution. It's called “backward magical contagion.”
Mood Boosting Video
Flash-Mob Sing-Along: To brighten the Monday commute, strangers sing a Bob Marley classic together, at the same time around the world.
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