What better way to start the weekend than with some upbeat news?
George Orwell Coin
The UK's Royal Mint is releasing a new coin honouring George Orwell on the 75th anniversary of his death. The £2 (roughly $2.45) piece pays homage to Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell’s famous dystopian novel exploring themes like totalitarianism, propaganda, surveillance and freedom. The coin’s reverse features a large all-seeing eye with the words “Big Brother is watching you” circling the iris. Orwell’s name is inscribed underneath. On its edge is another quote from the novel, “There was truth and there was untruth.” For those interested in collecting the new £2 piece (which features King Charles III on the obverse), it is now available for purchase on the Royal Mint’s website.
Amazing Progress
Kenya’s malaria death rate has dropped a whopping 93 percent in eight years according to a
new WHO report. It significantly surpasses the WHO's 63 percent reduction target. The drop is credited to expanded use of insecticide-treated bed nets and the introduction of the RTS,S malaria vaccine.
Gargantuan Supernova
Supernovas in the early universe were different. Especially when the star that exploded was a stellar monster 20 times the mass of the sun. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have discovered one of the most distant and, thus, earliest star-killing supernovas ever seen. This blast, which rocked the cosmos around 2 billion years after the Big Bang, marked the death of just such a monster star, reports Space.com. This supernova, detected as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey program, could help scientists add more detail to the cosmic picture of stellar life and death they are currently building. Meanwhile, back on Earth...
Conservation Funds
Congress has passed (with bipartisan support) the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act, which would provide up to $100 million each year to support local and Indigenous communities in managing protected lands worldwide. Also passed was the WILD Act, which supports wildlife conservation within the United States as well as for global priority species.
Cadillac F1
General Motors plans to go racing in Formula 1 in 2026 with its Cadillac luxury brand. What GM sees in F1 is, largely, exposure, as Formula 1 has become more popular than ever globally and in the U.S. especially, says Robb Report. Given GM’s limited history in F1 suggested that exposure might be all they are seeking, since even teams with decades of experience in Formula 1 have a hard time being more than also-rans, much less appearing on podiums or contending for championships. But last week GM signalled that it didn’t intend to merely show up. It said that it would build its own F1 cars and power units by 2030, intending to become a “full works” team and not rely on others for major components, like it will do with Ferrari for engines at least initially.
Inauguration Package
The Watergate Hotel is offering a lavish 3 night inauguration package, to include: accommodation in the Presidential Suite (well, of course), roundtrip helicopter transportation, private daily executive chauffeur in an armored Maybach, and a private tasting of the Royal Selection Menu of Whiskeys with The Watergate Hotel's Whiskey Consul. All for a whopping $73,500 + tax. Perfect for those with deep pockets and a penchant for conspiracies and inaugurations. How could anyone resist?
"Work often becomes a substitute for living. But I think the most successful artists, and the happiest people, find a fullness in both areas." Faye Dunaway
On This Day
18 January 1911: The first aircraft landing on a ship's flight deck was performed by American pilot Eugene Ely on the battleship Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay.
Today's Articles
Ginger's Health Benefits: Modern research tells us about the key health benefits that come from consuming ginger.
Geothermal Power: Geothermal energy is becoming competitive and could become the cheapest source of clean power on Earth.
Mood Boosting Video
Follow Me! A kitten takes some ducklings out roaming.