Thursday's Upbeat News
- Editor OGN Daily
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
An eclectic global round up of tasty bite-sized chunks of positive news.
Remarkably Rare
Last week, astronomers stationed at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Observatory in northern Chile awoke to a rare sight: fresh snow had fallen in the world’s driest non-polar desert. The Atacama Desert, known for its arid and rocky landscapes that evoke the red surface of Mars, was covered instead with a surprising dusting of white. Precipitation during any season is rare in the 40,000-square-mile Atacama, which sits within a double rain shadow created by unique regional geography. To the desert’s west, the Pacific Ocean’s cold Humboldt Current flows north along the Chilean coast, cooling the air above and limiting the formation of rain clouds. To its east, the tall Andes Mountains block the westward movement of most atmospheric moisture. In some parts of the desert, rain has never been recorded. “AWESOME! The Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest in the world, is SNOWY!” the observatory wrote on X.
Brain Function
A safe and affordable treatment to slow the advancement of Parkinson's dementia has emerged - in the form of a commonly available cough syrup that's already being studied for its positive effect on other degenerative diseases. Researchers at St Joseph’s Health Care London's Lawson Research Institute have released the results of a 12-month clinical trial investigating the cough medicine Ambroxol and its potential to slow Parkinson's-related dementia. “Current therapies for Parkinson’s disease and dementia address symptoms but do not stop the underlying disease. These findings suggest Ambroxol may protect brain function, especially in those genetically at risk. It offers a promising new treatment avenue where few currently exist.”
Robotic Transplant
Surgeons in the U.S. have completed the first-ever fully robotic heart transplant. The patient recovered quickly thanks to reduced surgical trauma and lower risk of infection, and the procedure marks a significant leap in robotic cardiac surgery, offering new hope for patients with advanced heart failure.
State Fossil
It’s official: Minnesota’s state fossil is the giant beaver, an extinct creature the size of a small bear that roamed around the Twin Cities more than 10,000 years ago. The giant beaver’s journey to becoming Minnesota’s state fossil has been a long and winding one. The saga dates back to at least 1988, when a group of third graders first proposed making the massive mammal the official state fossil, according to Minnesota Star Tribune. Since then, the proposal has come up again and again. Each time, lawmakers have said no - but that changed this year, officially taking effect this month.
Bygone-Era Gullwing
While it’s claimed that Enzo Ferrari referred to the Jaguar E-Type as “the most beautiful car in the world” when it debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, many would argue that a model from the previous decade is equally deserving of such praise - the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” Coupe. As far as the classic-car market is concerned, Jaguar’s E-Type may have an iconic aesthetic, but its value is dwarfed today by that of the German marque’s original 300 SL, which has become a bona fide blue-chip collectible. The enduring allure of the bygone-era “Gullwing” will be evident when one such example is soon made available to the public through Bonhams. Estimated to sell for at least $1.5 million.
World's Oldest Road-Going Ferrari: It's the fourth road car ever made by Ferrari and is still being driven around in a rather unexpected place. Story, plus video.
'Green Fee'
Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to charge a tourist ‘Green Fee’ to help fund climate resilience. From 1 January 2026, Act 96 will raise the state's current transient accommodations tax by 0.75 percent to 11 percent and will apply to the nightly lodging rate. The fee will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term vacation rentals, and for the first time ever, cruise ships. Tourist taxes are emerging worldwide as more destinations face the impacts of over-tourism and climate change.
Street Parklets
Car-sized urban gardens are creating a buzz in Britain – and not just among pollinators. Highlighting how parking spaces can be converted into urban oases, three ‘parklets’ scooped an award at the coveted Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in London. The demonstration gardens come amid a growing desire to reclaim the public realm from motor vehicles. The council said the parklets highlight “how we can provide a better balance between roads and pedestrians in our town centres”. The featured gardens will be installed in locations across Surrey, neighbouring London to the south west, at the end of the festival.
“The best work ethic requires a good rest ethic.” Kevin Kelly
On This Day
10 July 1962: Telstar 1, the first communications satellite to transmit live television signals and telephone conversations across the Atlantic Ocean, was launched - inaugurating a new age in electronic communications. Weighing only 77 kg (170 pounds), it was powered by nickel-cadmium batteries, recharged by 3,600 solar cells, and contained more than 1,000 transistors.
Today's Articles
Ethical AI: Student creates new method to bring old paintings, currently stored in the back rooms of galleries with limited conservation budgets, to light.
Mycological Treats: Mushrooms provide us with a whole range of health benefits. Here are three reasons why you should be eating more.
Mood Boosting Video
Joy and Cuteness: Relax and watch these adorable baby animal moments that will put a smile on your face.
