Collection of short news stories to ensure that July gets off to a bright start.
Audubon Awards
This stunning shot of two squabbling Blackburnian warblers in Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania has been crowned the Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Audubon Photography Awards. This year's prize-winning images and videos are packed with avian action, and if you would like to to see more from this prestigious photography competition, click here.
Child Marriage Ban
In a landmark decision, Sierra Leone’s parliament just passed a historic bill criminalizing child marriage, a major victory for campaigners in a region that has the highest prevalence of the practice in the world. The new bill includes a hefty fine or jail terms of up to 15 years for perpetrators.
Picasso Online
You don’t have to travel all the way to Paris to see Pablo Picasso’s work. Thousands of the Spanish artist’s pieces are now accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, thanks to a new online archive created by the Picasso Museum, located in the French capital. The museum has digitized thousands of Picasso’s artworks, essays, poems, interviews and other memorabilia, including items that have never been seen by the public before.
Not Oh Deer
Last week, in Trøgstad, Norway, local hunters used thermal imaging drones to save 20 roe deer fawns from ending their lives in harvest machines on a field as small as 15 hectares (37 acres). Well done!
Epilepsy Device
A 12 year old boy with severe epilepsy has become the first patient in the world to trial a new device fitted in their skull to control seizures. The neurostimulator, which sends electrical signals deep into his brain, has reduced Oran Knowlson’s daytime seizures by 80 percent. His mother, Justine, told the BBC he was happier and had a “much better quality of life”.
Roman Military Sandals
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman sandal near an ancient military fort in Bavaria, Germany, reports Live Science. X-rays revealed that the shoe was a caliga, a heavy-duty, hobnailed sandal that was part of the uniform issued to Roman legionary soldiers and auxiliaries. The shoe would have been worn while the person was marching, with the nails providing traction. Experts say the sandals were protective against blisters and conditions such as trench foot.
Want to Peek Inside?
From today, for the first time ever, the public can gain access to the King and Queen of England's Scottish residence: Balmoral Castle. When the Balmoral estate announced in April that it would be hosting private tours for the first time since the castle was completed in 1855, the 3,400 tickets for 2024 (at £100 each) sold out in just two hours. Visitors (in groups of 10) will be treated to a “bespoke” 50-minute tour by trained guides and enjoy an unprecedented peek behind the tartan and tasselled curtains.
Royal B&B: Whether you’re a royalist, a history buff, or just looking for a taste of aristocratic life, here’s a handful of royal residences that any commoner can stay in, even if just for a few nights.
Powerful Percentage
In a remarkable success story, under-five mortality in Southern Asia has declined by 72 percent between 1990 and 2022, according to a new report from UNICEF, WHO, and the UN.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” Rachel Carson
On This Day
1 July 1979: Sony began selling its Walkman, a portable cassette player; an international sensation, the device changed the way people listened to music.
Today's Articles
Potable Water: New low-cost device for harvesting drinking water from thin air is twice as effective as other systems.
Mood Boosting Video
Cleverly Synced: Old movie stars dance to Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.