Ensuring the week gets off to a bright start with today's global round up of positive news.
Mind-Boggling Porphyrion
Astronomers have spotted an absolutely colossal cosmic chimney that stretches as far as 140 Milky Ways lined up side by side. These jumbo jets are being blasted from a supermassive black hole. This massive megastructure has been nicknamed Porphyrion, fittingly after a giant in Greek mythology. At the center is a remote galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its heart, which is spewing incredibly powerful jets from both ends, with a total power output of trillions of Suns. These jets stretch for a combined 23 million light-years, or 140 times longer than our home galaxy. That makes it the largest known structure created by a single astrophysical object, the study team says.
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Audubon's interactive map of bird migration patterns.
Promising Antibiotic
Finnish scientists have discovered promising antibiotic candidates from microbes found beneath the Arctic Ocean seafloor. The compounds, derived from actinobacteria, show potential in reducing bacterial virulence without fostering resistance, a growing concern in antibiotic development. One strain, T091-5, not only inhibited the growth of E. coli but also decreased its severity. The University of Helsinki team has "high hopes for the future of the research," Live Science said. It's "absolutely" possible many more of these compounds are waiting to be discovered, said study co-author Paivi Tammela.
Student Climate Action
An international cohort of high school and college students around the world are about to embark on a monthlong climate action journey through the Project Green Challenge (PGC). Over the past 13 years, PGC has mobilized over 335,550 students on more than 14,840 campuses in all 50 U.S. states and 169 countries. Students motivated to take action on climate, environmental justice, and public health participate virtually in daily challenges on topics like water, waste, food, energy, and biodiversity. Participants have a chance to attend an eco-summit in San Francisco and win $5,000. Students can sign up now at ProjectGreenChallenge.com
Extra Benefits of Travel
Your next vacation could save your life. Travel can offer significant health benefits, according to a study by Australia's Edith Cowan University which found that exposure to new environments, physical activity and social interactions help improve the body's self-repair and immune system. By reducing stress and boosting resilience, travel can counteract illness and aging, the study found, making out-of-town getaways not only enjoyable but also great for long-term health.
Impressive Feat
A 6-year-old British girl named Seren and her father, Glyn, climbed to the top of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa - in Morocco's Atlas Mountains - to raise money for the hospital that treated her as a baby. Seren was born prematurely with breathing issues, and the staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital saved her life, Glyn said. It took two days to summit Mount Toubkal, and Seren and Glyn said they are already planning their next fundraising trek to the top of Mont Blanc. Speaking of mountains...
Kuwohi
The highest peak at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is officially reverting to its Cherokee name more than 150 years after a surveyor named it for a Confederate general. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted in favor of a request from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to officially change the name Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi. The Cherokee name for the mountain translates to 'mulberry place.'
"One lives not just for oneself but for one’s community." Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On This Day
23 September 1969: The American film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had its world premiere, and it became a western classic, especially noted for the pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the titular outlaws.
Today's Articles
Affordable Art: Signed Salvador Dalí prints found in London garage to be auctioned for about $500 each.
New Cattle Feed: In good news for the planet, clay has been found to reduce methane in cow burps by a third.
AI Pillow: This remarkable 'active' pillow is designed to detect snoring and actually do something about it.
Mood Boosting Video
Funny Animation: A simple shopping trip goes horribly wrong.