Thursday's worldwide collection of concise, upbeat news stories.
Meteor Shower Season
If you make a wish every time you spot a “shooting star,” July 30 will be a busy night for you. Two different meteor showers are scheduled to peak on that night. As a result, it will be possible to see a meteor every two minutes during the darkest hours. Especially if you live in southern latitudes, the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids will inspire even those with the shortest attention spans to keep their eyes on the sky. While it might be hard for those of us farther north in the Northern Hemisphere to catch a glimpse of the meteor showers, the good news is that we'll have our turn with the Perseid meteor showers which peak in mid-August.
Pacific Record
Two best friends have become the fastest duo ever to row across the Pacific Ocean, battling 40-foot waves to break the previous record set by two men. Jessica Oliver and Charlotte Harris completed the epic row in 37 days, 11 hours, and 43 minutes, breaking the record in the 2024 World’s Toughest Row Pacific Challenge. The 33-year-olds set out from Monterey Bay, California for the 2,800 mile journey and when they arrived in Hawaii they had beaten the existing women’s record by an astonishing 9 days. The achievement comes after the pair, known as Wild Waves, set a world record in 2021 as the fastest female pair to row the Atlantic Ocean.
Novel Nasal Spray
One dose of a new treatment, delivered by nasal spray, clears away build-ups of the toxic tau protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease from inside brain cells, improving memory, according to new research. It paves the way for new treatments for the debilitating disease. The discovery has great potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by a pathological buildup of tau protein. The researchers' goal is to translate these promising results into viable treatment options.
Passport Power
Good news for Singaporeans. They now have the world’s most powerful passport once again, as nationals are now able to visit a record 195 travel destinations visa-free.
Salmon Return
In the county of Derbyshire, in the central heart of England, the removal of a dam is having the desired effect. It’s the first time in 100 years that salmon have reached so far up the River Derwent, and it’s caused quite a stir among the locals. While the industrial activity in the Midlands first drove Atlantic salmon away, the river is now clean - the dam was obstructing the salmons' journey up stream. After years of feeding in the ocean, the incredible salmon can return to find the same stretch of river where they were born, and swim upstream in order to breed and lay eggs. It’s one of nature's most remarkable feats, but it’s one the citizens of Derbyshire are only recently getting to know again.
NASA Astonished
NASA’s old but still kickin’ Curiosity rover drove over a boulder on Mars, which crumbled to reveal yellow sulfur crystals. Rocks made of pure sulfur have never been seen before on the Red Planet. “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting,” said Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Hats Off to Jim
A 94-year-old man from Minnesota, USA, has been verified as the world’s oldest bus driver. Jim Oppegard (who was 93 when his record was confirmed but has since turned 94) has been driving buses for over half his life. He enjoyed a 20-year career as a city bus driver before retiring aged 65, but due to boredom he soon resumed working. He said he finds his work - driving children with special needs to school - rewarding, and is enjoying his newfound celebrity status around town. “Being a record holder has been lots of fun,” Oppegard said.
“Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.” Anne Sexton
On This Day
25 July 2007: Indian lawyer and politician Pratibha Patil was sworn in as president of India, becoming the first woman to hold the office.
Today's Articles
Charles Dawes: There's a lot of talk about Vice Presidents at the moment, but did you know there was a VP who wrote a No.1 Billboard hit?
Wind Catching Systems: Massive new floating wind turbine array with numerous benefits gets the thumbs up.
Coffee is a Healthy Drink: Says Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist celebrated for his work on gut health. "Coffee as medicine - tea as pleasure."
Text Abbreviations: Knowing the meaning of these terms will keep you from being constantly confused in the digital world. Not TLDR!
Mood Boosting Video
Italy's magnificent Dolomite mountains: Two years of filming artfully condensed into 4 magnificent minutes.