Ensuring the week ends on an upbeat note with today's global bundle of positive news nuggets.
Statue Imbalance
Denmark has pledged to put up more statues of women, with the country’s culture minister saying the capital has “more statues of mythical beasts and horses”. According to the Danish government, only 31 of 321 statues and busts in Danish cities are of women. Of the 101 named statues in Copenhagen, only five are of women, while there are 26 dedicated to animals and 70 to men. The culture minister has pledged to spend up to 50m Danish kroner ($7.3m) on correcting the imbalance and will set up a committee to propose women to be commemorated with new statues. Appealing for ideas, he wrote on social media: “Will the next generation really grow up in cities with more statues of mythical beasts and horses than of women. No!"
Fresco Revealed
Researchers in Pompeii have discovered a remarkably well preserved 2,000-year-old fresco depicting Phrixus and Helle, twin siblings from Greek mythology. The vibrant work was unearthed at the House of Leda, an ancient mansion that archaeologists have been excavating since 2018. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pompeii is Italy’s second most frequented tourist destination, surpassed only by the Colosseum in Rome. It is hoped that the House of Leda (named after a fresco in one of its rooms depicting a scene from the mythological story of Leda and the Swan) will eventually open to the public.
Every 4 Years
The 12th issue of a newspaper published only once every four years hit newsstands in France last week, on 29 February. La Bougie du Sapeur is a "proudly politically incorrect" tabloid packed with "cringe-worthy puns and commentary" on events spanning the four years between each leap day, said AP News. The satirical paper was started by a group of friends as a joke in 1980, but has acquired a significant fanbase, with the last edition selling 120,000 copies. When the world is "out of whack", says the latest issue's editorial, "sometimes you have to laugh about it".
Coolcations
Summer vacations in colder climates are getting more popular, travel experts say, as people turn to 'coolcations' to avoid record-breaking heat. Despite the wince-inducing name, 'coolcationing' could potentially reshape the travel and resort industries, as climate change alters where people choose to recreate. Condé Nast Traveler named coolcationing one of the "biggest travel trends to expect in 2024," noting that heat waves are making a summer vacation in Norway seem more appealing than one in Sicily or southern France.
Wellness Ring
Samsung has previewed its first smart ring at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, positioning it as a comprehensive health tracker enhanced with AI insights. For those who don't want to wear the smartwatch you can instead slip on the tiniest wearable. The Galaxy Ring is set to launch later this year and, according to Samsung, will offer a simplified way to track many different body metrics and support wellness goals. The ring will connect to an updated version of the company's digital wellness platform, Samsung Health, which will include a new "My Vitality Score" combining data around sleep, activity levels and heart rate variability.
Fearsome New Species
Scientists have discovered remains of a “nightmarish” new sea lizard species with dagger-like teeth that dominated the oceans 66 million years ago. Khinjaria acuta would have lived alongside dinosaurs, co-existing with behemoths such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.
Around eight metres long - about the same length as an orca - the creature was the apex predator of its time. The fearsome Khinjaria - whose remains were uncovered at a mine south-near Casablanca, Morocco - belongs to a family of giant marine lizards known as mosasaurs, the ancient relatives of today’s Komodo dragons and anacondas.
Best School Bus
Electric school buses performed better during extreme cold winter school months than diesel buses. In one of the coldest towns in the U.S., Kremmling, Colorado, electric school buses have been proving they’ve got more than what it takes to get students to school in even extremely cold temperatures. The town frequently sees 30-below temperatures during the morning school commute, due to high altitudes and northern winds. Just like gas and diesel vehicles, electric vehicles see shorter ranges in extreme weather conditions - but sometimes, a diesel vehicle won’t start at all. The electric buses can hold their charge and start up even in the coldest weather.
"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Maya Angelou
On This Day
8 March 1817: The New York Stock Exchange was formally created.
Mood Booster
Funny Snickers Mr Bean TV commercial.