Wrapping up the week with a smorgasbord of tasty bites of positive news.
Boomerang Bottle
In a series of remarkable events, a mother's message in a bottle has been found by her own daughter 26 years later. Canadian schoolgirl Scarlet Van Eyk was visiting the Great Lakes with her class from St John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School, Ontario, when a "mysterious looking bottle" was found, reported Fox News. When a teacher read the note in the bottle to her classroom, Scarlet was "stunned" to realise it was written by her mother, Makenzie Van Eyk. The message dates back to 1998, when Makenzie was the same age and at the same school.
Turner Twins
The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps. Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains. The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI - the World Air Sports Federation - to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude. The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.
Goose Poop
In an extraordinary leap into biomedical science, a group of Chicago middle school students contributed to the discovery of a compound that shows potential in slowing the growth of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells. This breakthrough was part of a 14-week applied science program designed to address inequities in STEM education by immersing underrepresented students in authentic scientific research. Led by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the initiative partnered with a local Boys and Girls Club, empowering middle schoolers to become active participants in cutting-edge antibiotic research. Among their notable finds was a strain of bacteria isolated from an unlikely source: goose droppings at Garfield Park Lagoon.
Extra Large Latte
Chef and social media influencer Nick DiGiovanni teamed up with Dunkin' to break the Guinness World Record for the largest iced latte. DiGiovanni, who already holds multiple Guinness World Records titles, filled an 11-foot-high Dunkin' cup with ice, milk and espresso to take on the record. Guinness World Records confirmed the resulting 276-gallon beverage was the world's largest iced latte. The massive latte was then portioned out into smaller cups and served to more than 300 employees at Dunkin's corporate office in Massachusetts.
Pakistan's Solar Surge
A solar surge has reached new heights in Pakistan, sparking what some experts are calling one of the fastest solar revolutions in the world. Thanks to cheap Chinese solar technology imports, Pakistan is expected to add more than a third of the country's entire generating capacity in 2024. The surge is "probably the most extreme" case "that has happened in any country in the world with the speed that has happened," according to energy analyst Dave Jones, who tracks the global energy transition at think tank Ember in the UK.
Key Questions
The world’s top court has begun hearing evidence in a significant case that may clarify the legal responsibilities of governments in relation to climate change. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague will hear testimony from nearly 100 countries including Vanuatu, the Pacific island nation that initiated the effort to get a legal opinion. The hearing will attempt to answer key questions as to what countries should do to fight climate change and, critically, what should they do to repair damages linked to rising temperatures. While the outcome is not legally binding, it could give extra weight to climate change lawsuits all over the world. The hearings will last until December 13 with the court’s opinion expected in 2025.
“If my boss knew how unproductive I am on Fridays, he wouldn’t want me here either.” James Johnson
On This Day
6 December 1933: In what was considered a landmark ruling, a U.S. federal judge held that James Joyce's Ulysses was not obscene, thus allowing for greater freedoms in literary works.
Today's Articles
New Global Force? Ola's new e-scooter is being offered at an ultra-low starting price of under $500.
XPrize Rainforest: Incredible drone wins $5 million Xprize for comprehensively surveying 100 hectares of rainforest in 24 hours.
Healthy Gut: Professor Tim Spector, the epidemiologist celebrated for his work on the microbiome, advises on best foods for a healthy gut.
Mood Boosting Video
Cadbury's Gorilla Ad: Extended version. Because 90 seconds of a drumming gorilla just isn't enough!