Today's smorgasbord of tasty news from around the world.
World's Rainbow Capital
Hawaii’s regular sunshine, short rain showers and clean air come together to create some of the planet’s best conditions for viewing rainbows. They’re such a frequent sight that a University of Hawaii professor calls the state the “rainbow capital of the world.” Right now it’s the winter rainy season in the islands, which means the odds of seeing a rainbow are even higher than usual. Rainbows emerge so often in Hawaii they’ve become popular symbols of island life. Pictures of them adorn buildings, the sides of public buses and appear on standard vehicle license plates. University of Hawaii sports teams are even named after rainbows.
Rice Breakthroughs
Two breakthroughs on rice could transform the world. Scientists have achieved two major advances in sustainable rice farming: an innovative cultivation method by Chilean researchers that cuts water use in half, and a new strain from a Chinese-Swedish team that reduces methane emissions by 70 percent. The potential for impact here is enormous - rice produces 12 percent of global methane emissions, and uses around a third of the world's freshwater resources.
After 138 Years...
The earliest known opera composed by a Black American has finally hit the stage in New Orleans. Edmond Dédé composed Morgiane 138 years ago, but his racial identity prevented the opera from receiving proper staging. The work was considered lost until its manuscript was discovered in the archives at Harvard University in 2020 -but the restoration of Dédé’s handwritten work took several years. The first New Orleans performance was held at the famed St. Louis Cathedral, which also hosted the musician’s baptism in 1828. The opera is the comedic story of a woman kidnapped and forced to marry a sultan, with her mother coming to her rescue.
High School Graduation
UNESCO reports that the two most populous regions in the world (Central-South Asia and Eastern/Southeastern Asia) have seen the proportion of children completing upper secondary school double since the beginning of this century. We have entered the first ever period in human history when more than half of humanity has at least a high school education.
Acting Tough
A Malaysian man is offering his services as a "villain for hire" - for men who want to act like heroes by fighting him off in front of their girlfriends. Shazali Sulaiman, 28, says he was inspired to start his business after being told that his unkempt hair and biker clothing made him look like a gang member. "Are you tired of your partner thinking you are weak? For a reasonable fee, I can help you prove them wrong," promises the social media advert for his services. Clients who hire him can decide the precise time and place for the confrontation, it adds. "It is all just an act, like WWE," Sulaiman said. "No one gets hurt, I am the only 'loser'."
Love Rats
Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. And for an endangered owl breeding program in Canada, it’s also a dish best served dead. For the price of a coffee, spurned and disgruntled lovers can revel in the satisfaction of having a dead rat named after an ex, before it is fed to a northern spotted owl. The British Columbia-based breeder ran its No regRATS campaign ahead of Valentine’s Day, promising a photo and video of one’s rat, named after a former lover - or arch-enemy - and the owl it has been fed to in exchange for at least a C$5 donation.
“You never know what doors are going to open up and why they are going to open up. You’ve got to be ready to walk through them.” Lester Holt
On This Day
14 February 2005: Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim registered YouTube, a website for sharing videos. They sold it to Google in November 2006 for $1.65 billion.
Today's Articles
Guinness World Records: One man's bizarre collection of record breaking achievements. Indeed, more than anyone else.
Mood Boosting Video
Unusual Walking Style: Pair of American Woodcock 'Bouncing'.