Global round up of good news nuggets to help put a spring in your step.
What Are The Odds?
Outdoor enthusiast Dylan McWilliams has had a rough few years, but he isn't turning his back on nature. Over the course of three years, the 20-year-old was bitten by a shark, attacked by a bear, and bitten by a rattlesnake. What do you think the odds of that happening are? One in a million? One in 10 billion? Nope, one in 893 quadrillion. Despite his run of bad luck, McWilliams is still enthusiastic about the great outdoors and encourages everyone to experience it as often as possible. "I still go hiking, I still catch rattlesnakes, and I will still swim in the ocean,” he told the BBC.
U Turn
Brittany Baldrica, a senior rescue biologist with Clearwater Marine Aquarium, got a call from a concerned local that a dolphin was hanging about in a canal in Clearwater, Florida. It had clearly got lost after it had swum up a Florida canal. So, after a couple of days of observation, Brittany rounded up no less than 30 biologists and volunteers to form a human chain to block its passage further up the waterway. Their efforts successfully resulted in the dolphin turning around and going back out into Tampa Bay, saving it from a life of losing its ability to fend for itself and eventually ending up as an aquarium resident.
Nacreous Clouds
Sky-gazers across Scotland were treated to a rare sight this week as nacreous clouds were spotted. As one of the highest clouds in our atmosphere, they form in very cold conditions and with their shimmering colours they are often referred to as "mother-of-pearl". Nacreous clouds normally form over polar regions and within the stratosphere, around 12 to 19 miles high. Way above our normal clouds. They are rarely spotted in the UK because of the very cold conditions needed.
Billion Dollar Tour
Sir Elton John has topped the table for the highest grossing tour of all time after racking up £665 million after the latest leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road show. Sir Elton, 75, has outdone Ed Sheeran who previously held the record. According to Billboard Boxscore, the American music analytics company, Sir Elton is on track to reach $1 billion in ticket sales after the 2023 leg of his tour concludes.
Arte
The European culture channel Arte has a huge archive of documentaries, concerts and programmes that can be watched for free online. There is a particularly strong dance selection including this captivating 2022 production for the Grand Theatre of Geneva by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, meditating on a world in constant motion.
Compostable Case
Pela have created the world's first 100 percent compostable phone case. They're soft and smooth to the touch, protect your devices, and when they've reached the end of their life (or you get a new phone), you can compost them right in your backyard. Better yet, Pela says its production process uses 34% less water, and creates 30% less carbon emissions and 80% less waste, compared to plastic phone case companies. Click here to order.
“For myself I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.”
Winston Churchill
On this Day
3 February 1960: The Italian dramedy La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini, had its world premiere - and became widely hailed as one of the most important films in cinema.
Achieving the Impossible
End is Nigh for US Coal
It's now more expensive to keep coal-fired power plants running than it is to build a new solar or wind energy operation nearby. Read on...
From the Archives
Dalai Lama Longevity Tips: His top 5 recommendations for enjoying a long, healthy life. Read on...
Mood Booster
North Korea's Military Choir performing Queen's I Want to Break Free. Well, not really.