Wednesday's collection of positive news stories from around the world.
Lost Chopin Walz
A new piece of music believed to be by the Polish composer Frederic Chopin has been discovered nearly 200 years after it was written. The unknown waltz was unearthed in the vault of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. The rare manuscript - dated between 1830 and 1835 - was discovered by curator Robinson McClellan while he was cataloguing new collections. Superstar pianist Lang Lang has recorded the waltz for the New York Times, which broke the story. Chopin, who wrote mostly piano solos, died aged 39 in France in 1849. Want to hear it? Click here.
The Rest is History
The hosts of hit podcast series The Rest is History are making almost £1m each a year as millions of listeners flock to their show. Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook have shot to stardom since launching the podcast during the pandemic in 2020. The series now has 11m downloads per month and 1.2m monthly YouTube views, as well as 45,000 paying subscribers. The Rest is History has gained a loyal following by offering entertaining and accessible takes on major historical events, such as the Roman conquest of Britain and the French Revolution, as well as more off-beat topics such as “History’s Greatest Beards”. The pair explicitly avoid culture wars and the modern tendency of politicising history, instead opting for an irreverent approach towards their subject matter.
US Batteries
In the past four years, the U.S. power grid has added battery capacity equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors. Helping maintain renewable energy when the weather interferes with solar and wind generation, the batteries are already starting to help prevent power blackouts. The EIA predicts this capacity could double again by 2025 if further planned expansions occur.
Top Prize
The Exterior Architecture Photography Awards celebrates the very best in images of man-made structures and this picture won this year's prize. It was taken by Albrecht Voss of the 2024-built accommodation designed by architect Snorre Stinessen, and "is the result of meticulous planning and an extraordinary stroke of luck," said Voss. "I was flown in by helicopter at the request of the property owner to capture these images. I stood on a glacier, waiting until 3am for the moon to set, ensuring we could photograph the night sky at its best. As we took shot after shot, we noticed a faint glow emerging in the sky. To our amazement, it was the first appearance of the Northern Lights over Switzerland in 25 years!"
Bongo Baby
A critically endangered eastern mountain bongo calf lies in a bed of straw at England's Woburn Safari Park, the first born there in more than a decade. The antelope species - found in forested areas of Kenya - has been hunted almost to extinction in the wild, with fewer than 100 remaining. The Bedfordshire park said the birth of the male calf was a "major success" for global conservation efforts. "We are hoping in the future our new calf will travel to another wildlife collection and start a breeding group of his own."
Ready to Foil?
If you like the idea of rising above the waves on foiling e-boards but would rather be seated, Finland's Foil.One has launched the Pegasus – a sporty electric hydrofoiling boat for one that was inspired by vintage F1 racing cars. Despite hydrofoil technology being more than a hundred years old, there's still something sci-fi futuristic about a boat rising out of the water and "flying" above the waves. With a new, erm, wave of electric transportation making a dent in carbon emissions, we're now seeing more of these kinds of watercraft being made.
Shrieks of Delight
Timothée Chalamet has stunned fans after making a surprise appearance at a lookalike contest for the actor. The star crashed the event in New York City attracting a chorus of screaming fans. Chalamet was seen posing for pictures with his curly-haired doppelgangers during a brief appearance at Washington Square Park. Variety reported that Chalamet sneaked his way through the crowd hiding behind a mask and baseball hat, before creeping up to two lookalikes who had been posing for photos, sparking shrieks across the park.
“Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” Maurice Chevalier
On This Day
30 October 1938: Orson Welles's radio dramatization of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds was broadcast, causing great alarm - though reports of a nationwide panic were unfounded - as some listeners feared a genuine invasion from Mars.
Today's Articles
What's a Dime Worth? This one, which was struck by the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1975, just sold for over half a million dollars.
Hilarious Notices: Bizarre signs to give you a good chuckle while exposing the humorous shortcomings of the human race.
Health Benefits: With pumpkin season upon us, let's examine the numerous health benefits of this delicious multi-purpose vegetable.
Mood Boosting Video
What if animals were round? Very silly, but surprisingly funny 2 minute video.