An eclectic bundle of upbeat news stories from around the globe.
Comedy Awards
The finalists for the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are as relatable as they are delightful. “These images capture not only the humour and charm of wildlife, but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and from all different walks of life,” Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe Senior General Manager Marketing, said in a statement.
The overall winner and category winners will be announced on 10 December. If you would like to see the rest of the finalists for this year's competition, please click here.
Fossil Fuel Ads Ban
The Hague becomes world’s first city to pass law banning fossil fuel-related ads. New legislation in the Dutch city spells the end of publicly and privately funded advertising for petrol and diesel, aviation and cruise ships in city streets, including on billboards and bus shelters. It takes effect from the start of next year. It is the first time a city has banned high-carbon advertising through local legislation. The decision follows a call by the U.N. chief, António Guterres, earlier this year for governments and media to enact such bans, as they have done with tobacco.
Lizard Superpower
A humble little lizard has developed a clever escape route from predators – it blows a bubble over its nostrils and scuba dives to safety for 20 minutes or more. Anolis aquaticus, or the water anole, is a common lizard species native to Central America. This small, semi-aquatic creature was long known to spend a lot of time in and around water, but just a few years ago scientists discovered their Aquaman superpowers. They can stay underwater for long periods of time, helping them both hunt their favorite insect prey and avoid their own predators.
Going Wild
In a unanimous vote, the U.S. Senate passed the WILD Reauthorization Act, which will fund wildlife conservation programs domestically and abroad.
Rollin' Rock
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has encountered something unlike anything else discovered on the Red Planet: a zebra-striped rock that sticks out like a sore thumb in the midst of the planet's dusty, notoriously red landscape. "The science team thinks that this rock has a texture unlike any seen in Jezero Crater before, and perhaps all of Mars," reads a statement from the space agency. "Our knowledge of its chemical composition is limited, but early interpretations are that igneous and/or metamorphic processes could have created its stripes." Researchers are now calling the rock "Freya Castle" - a nod to a craggy peak in the Grand Canyon - and are surmising that it came from somewhere at a higher elevation, according to NASA. Basically, this loose stone rolled there and gathered no moss.
End of UK Coal
Today, Britain awoke as a nation that no longer had any coal-fired power stations - for the first time since 1882.
China Pugs In
August saw plugin vehicles hit a record 54% market share in China. Full electrics (BEVs) alone accounted for 31% of the country’s auto sales. This pulled the 2024 share to 46%, and with the market with plenty of room for growth, the year should end at around 50%. At this pace, the Chinese market is projected to be fully electrified around 2030.
“Your job doesn’t define you - your bravery and kindness and gratitude do.” Lauren Graham
On This Day
1 October 1890: By an act of the U.S. Congress, Yosemite National Park was created.
Today's Articles
Mood Boosting Video
Flying Alongside Birds: Filmed by Christian Moullec on board his microlight.
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