Thursday's bundle of uplifting new snippets to brighten the day.
Extraordinary photograph of a mouse relaxing in a tulip at a garden in Surrey, England, which we hope will make you smile.
The UK is on track to become a world leader in Covid testing after US diagnostic company Innova unveiled plans to begin manufacturing lateral flow tests in South Wales, according to the Financial Times. The tests are currently manufactured in China, but bringing manufacturing onto British soil is not only a boost for the economy and reputation of the life sciences industry in the UK, but will also give the country security of supply.
Sweden has come up with a creative way to let blood donors know that their donation matters. People who donate receive a ‘thank you’ text at first. And whenever their blood is used to help save someone, the blood service notifies donors via another text message. This initiative has successfully raised awareness of blood donation shortages and has encouraged more people to donate.
President Joe Biden is poised to make telework a permanent policy and allow more federal employees than ever to work from home, reports The Washington Post.
A Cambridge University college has launched the UK's first full scholarship for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to rival similar opportunities granted by “top flight” Ivy League universities. Under the new scheme by St John’s College, students will have all their tuition fees, accommodation costs, and other day-to-day living expenses paid for by the university. The Free Places’ financial support package will cover 40 undergraduates at a time.
We like this quote from Jacinda Arderne, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and one of the most successful polititians on the planet: “One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive enough or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”
Across the US, roughly 62 percent of American adults have now received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and about half are fully vaccinated, CDC data shows.
An anonymous document collector recently purchased a letter hand written by Albert Einstein containing his famous E=mc2 equation for just over $1.2 million from a Boston-based auction house. It was expected to go for $400,000 but sold for three times more. It goes to show how precious Einstein is to the world. If you're a fan of Einstein, take a look at the most 'intelligent' photo ever taken. [OGN February]
A court in the Hague has ordered Royal Dutch Shell to cut its global carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared with 2019 levels, in a landmark case brought by Friends of the Earth and over 17,000 co-plaintiffs. The oil giant’s sustainability policy was found to be insufficiently “concrete” by the Dutch court in an unprecedented ruling that will have wide implications for the energy industry and other polluting multinationals.
Dive in Deeper
Want more energy in the morning? 7 tips for boosting your morning energy levels. [3 mins] Rise and shine...
NASA rubbishes astrology: If you've ever tried to persuade anyone that astrology is bullsh*t, the good news is that NASA now provides the naysayers with scientific proof. [2 mins] Signs of the zodiac...
Bitcoin miners adress climate concerns: Cryptocurrencies are all the rage, but their annual energy consumption is estimated to be higher than entire countries such as The Netherlands and Chile. [2 mins] Potential fix...
Iceland from the air
Glorious 5 minute film shot in 4K from a drone gives you a real flavour of this extraordinary volcanic island. Today's mood-boosting escapism!