Celebrating the start of the weekend with a global collection of upbeat news stories.
San Sebastian Surprise
Johnny Depp, dressed as his Pirates of The Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow, made a surprise appearance at the Osakidetza Donostia University Hospital in Spain. Depp was in the country for the San Sebastian Film Festival and took time out of his busy schedule to visit the pediatric and oncology wards, where he brought joy to young patients and their families. The hospital staff and patients alike were thrilled to meet the famous pirate, and Depp didn’t disappoint. He stayed in character, sharing laughs and stories, helping the children forget about their current challenges, even if just for a little while.
Weekend Warriors
Good news for those struggling to exercise regularly: a weekend bout of brisk activity could be as effective as frequent running. That’s according to a study of nearly 90,000 people enrolled on the UK Biobank project. It found that those who cram their workouts into the weekend – known as weekend warriors – enjoy similar benefits to those who spread their exercise throughout the week. At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise – or 75 minutes of vigorous activity – is recommended each week. Participants who achieved that, whether during the whole week or just at the weekend, lowered their risk of developing more than 200 health conditions, including heart disease.
Seeing Autumn Colours
Special viewfinders have been installed in Virginia's 43 state parks so visitors with red-green colourblindness can see the changing leaves in autumn. The lenses amplify red and green hues, making the colours appear more vibrant. "This initiative underscores Virginia's commitment to enhancing outdoor experiences for all visitors and sets a new standard for state parks nationwide," said Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. About 13 million people in the United States, primarily men, are colourblind.
Smiling Dolphins
Dolphins are extremely playful, but little is known about how they - and other marine mammals - communicate during playtime. New research shows that bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) use the 'open mouth' facial expression - analogous to a smile - to communicate during social play. The dolphins almost always use the facial expression when they are in their playmate's field of view, and when playmates perceived a 'smile,' they responded in kind 33 percent of the time.
NYC's Living Breakwaters
After over a decade of work, a project to protect both a New York City coastline and marine life is now complete. In response to Hurricane-turned-Superstorm Sandy that made landfall in New Jersey in 2012, neighbouring New York got to work on a climate resiliency project to protect both its coastline and marine ecosystems. Now officially complete after a decade of work, the Living Breakwaters will protect the Staten Island shoreline, homes, and businesses from future extreme weather events. Eight partially submerged structures will break up storm waves, decrease erosion, and serve as critical habitats for marine life. It’s also part of the state’s larger climate resiliency efforts.
When Time is Short...
Scientists have demonstrated how a nuclear blast could deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The experiment, conducted by physicists from Sandia National Laboratories, showed that radiation from a nuclear blast could vaporize part of an asteroid's surface, creating a gas that pushes it off course. This method could protect the Earth from large asteroids when time is short. Researchers are interested in exploring ways to shield the Earth from massive impacts, given the potentially "existential nature of the threat," The Guardian said.
“In order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges. And instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them.” Ruth Westheimer
On This Day
5 October 1969: The British television series Monty Python's Flying Circus debuted on the BBC and proved to be a watershed for TV comedy around the world.
Today's Articles
Two, Not One: The huge asteroid that hit Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago was not alone, scientists confirm.
First Ever? A clay tablet dating back to 1750 BC is highly likely to be the oldest written complaint in human history.
Mood Boosting Video
'Church in The Sky': The world’s least accessible place of worship.
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