OGN Wednesday
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Mid-week collection of tasty bite-sized chunks of uplifting news.
And The Winner Is...
The microscopic world is full of wonders. Luckily for us, scientists around the world work tirelessly to document it all; not only to study it, but to also share its beauty with us. Evident Scientific, a top microscope manufacturer, has shared the results of its 6th Image of the Year Award, which celebrates the best in scientific microscopic imaging. The winning images are both breathtaking and insightful. Katie Holden of the United Kingdom was named the Global Winner for her image of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurospheres. “It reveals how neuronal cells self-organize into structures that mirror the layered complexity of the human brain, blending scientific insight with striking visual beauty,” explains Evident.
Proprioception
Walking’s ability to boost physical and mental well-being has been sung far and wide - but the activity comes with one health pro you may not have heard of. As we age or after an injury, our proprioception, aka our “sixth sense” that enables us to identify where our bodies are in space, declines. Walking on uneven surfaces such as grass or sand, however, can help train your proprioception in your lower body and improve your balance.
Proprioception: After a decade-plus of touch screens, brands across various industries are turning back to the tried-and-true pleasures of physical buttons for their newest products.
Octopus Discovery
A tiny, bright blue octopus Microeledone galapagensis is about the size of a golf ball, but good luck trying to meet one. According to marine biologists, you’ll likely have to settle with admiring it from afar for now unless you have access to a deep sea submersible - and a ticket to the Galápagos Islands. M. galapagensis is described for the first time in a study published this week, but scientists actually first encountered the octopus in 2015. While conducting a deep sea expedition aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus, biologists spotted the diminutive invertebrate as they piloted a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) along the ocean floor near Darwin Island. Its vibrantly blue coloration stood out from the underwater mountainslope at a depth of about 5,800 feet, prompting a closer inspection.
Blue Planet III
More than two decades after the original Blue Planet changed the way audiences saw the oceans, the BBC has officially announced that Sir David Attenborough will return to narrate Blue Planet III. The legendary broadcaster, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, is once again lending his unmistakable voice to what promises to be one of the most ambitious wildlife documentary series ever filmed.
Hole-y Moly
A lorry sent to repair potholes on a Somerset road in south west England fell into a vast hole itself. The lorry was left stuck at a near 45-degree angle, forcing the workers to abandon it.
Ancient "High-Tech"
Adobe bricks have been used for construction for millennia - and though their popularity has faded in the U.S., a revival is now underway for the ancient building material. Typically consisting of water, earth, and a natural binder like straw or grass, adobe is being used to build everything from museums to DIY homes. The simple mixture is arguably “very high-tech,” UC Berkeley architecture professor Ronald Rael told CBS Sunday Morning. “If you think about inviting material scientists to come up with a building material that was low-cost, nontoxic, fire-resistant, and recyclable, you’d probably spend millions of dollars trying to find what that material is, but humans have spent 10,000 years developing that material, a material that responds to every climatic zone on the planet.”
“If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.” John Irving
On This Day
27 May 1930: The iconic 1,046-foot (319m) Chrysler Building in Midtown Manhattan officially opened to the public. Commissioned by auto tycoon Walter Chrysler and designed by architect William Van Alen, it held the title of the world's tallest man-made structure until the Empire State Building was completed 11 months later. However, the Art Deco masterpiece remains the tallest brick building in the world utilizing a steel framework, consisting of over 3.8 million hand-laid bricks. Van Alen infused the structure with nods to the Chrysler Corporation. The 61st-floor eagle gargoyles were modeled after 1929 Chrysler hood ornaments, and the 31st-floor brickwork references the era's radiator caps.
Today's Articles
Mon Dieu: For the first time in France’s recorded history, beer has overtaken wine as the drink of choice.
New Solution: World’s first offshore wind-powered (and water-cooled) underwater data center starts operations.
Sponge Cities: If you don't already live in a sponge city, you soon will - a win-win for people and urban ecosystems.
Mood Boosting Video
Orphaned Hippo: Bumpy spends his first night being cared for by Keeper Simon.