Thursday's Good News
- Editor OGN Daily
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
A smorgasbord of tasty good news nuggets to brighten the day.
Scottish Trio
You’re looking at the Maclean brothers - Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan - who just set a world record for the fastest unsupported, non-stop row across the entire Pacific Ocean. Over 139 days, the Scottish trio traveled 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia aboard a carbon-fibre boat (which harnessed lightweight technology used by Formula 1 teams) named Rose Emily, in memory of their late sister, and they raised over $900,000 to support clean water initiatives in Madagascar. Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan became the first three brothers to row any ocean when they crossed the Atlantic in 2020.
Requiem for a Dream
"January, a few years ago, in the northern Alps, France. The tent is pitched in the snow, and a sea of clouds filters the light from the town of Chamonix. An incredible atmosphere… and it’s even more incredible to realize that the town, despite the clouds obscuring the light, shines right up to the summit of Mont-Blanc (on the far right of the photo)!” So says photographer Ambre de l’Alpe about her winning submission to the Capture the Dark 2025 competition. You can see more of her stunning images on instagram.
Bogs For Security
Finland and Poland are drawing up plans to restore their wetlands to mitigate two looming threats: climate change and Russian tanks. Despite being vital carbon sinks, many of Europe’s bogs have been drained to make way for agriculture. But amid concerns that Russian tanks could roll across the border, Finland and Poland see the wetlands as a useful ally, and plan to restore them along their borders with Russia. “It’s a win-win situation that achieves many targets at the same time,” Tarja Haaranen, director general for nature at Finland’s environment ministry, told Politico.
No Digging Needed
A simple family walk near the village of Gudersleben in central Germany, has turned into a remarkable archaeological moment. A 3,500-year-old Bronze Age dagger, identified as a plate-tanged dagger, was discovered lying on the ground - likely exposed by heavy rains that had washed away the soil. ArkeoNews reports that experts say the find is not only exceptionally rare but also offers a direct link to the craftsmanship, rituals, and daily life of Europe’s Bronze Age societies. According to the Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology, such a find in this state of preservation is exceptionally rare. “Objects like this are not everyday discoveries. To see a Bronze Age dagger so well preserved is something truly special.”
Space in The 1960s
Never-before-seen photographs of NASA astronauts have been released to mark the 60th anniversary of Gemini V - one of the missions from Project Gemini, a predecessor of Project Apollo. The images were taken during the Gemini era, from 1965 to 1966, and the Project Mercury era, from 1961 to 1963. Project Mercury was NASA’s first human spaceflight program, testing to see if humans could travel into orbit. Project Gemini saw NASA astronauts learn how to fly, live, and work in space for two weeks, the time necessary for people to travel to and from the moon. The two projects paved the way for the Apollo 11 mission, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first individuals to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. Digital restoration expert Andy Saunders has compiled the restored photos in a book just out titled Gemini and Mercury Remastered.
Great Wolf to UK
Great Wolf Lodge is North America’s largest group of indoor water park resorts, with new plans to expand across the pond with three ‘lodges’ in the UK. Bicester, first on the roster, will soon to be home to Europe’s first Great Wolf Lodge, a £200 million hotel complex built on a former golf course. Plans include a hotel, an adventure play park and - of course - a water park, the star attraction. Construction has already begun, though an exact opening date is yet to be announced. But while it might be several years until British holidaymakers are testing out the Howlin’ Tornado for themselves, plans for the UK lodges suggest they will look a great deal like their US counterparts.
Green Investment
Global investment in green energy projects hit a record $386bn in the first half of the year - a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year - according to analysis by Bloomberg. China accounted for 44 percent of global renewables investment.
“There’s power in looking silly and not caring that you do.” Amy Poehler
On This Day
4 September 1888: George Eastman patents the first roll-film camera and registers the brand name 'Kodak'.
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