What better way to start the month than with some upbeat news?
Queen Cashing Out
Or, should that be cashing in? Sony Music is reportedly in talks to buy the music catalogue of the rock band Queen, including hits like Bohemian Rhapsody and Another One Bites The Dust. According to Bloomberg, the deal "could potentially total $1 billion." If the group achieve the $1 billion price tag, it will be the biggest deal of its kind, surpassing the $500 million that Sony paid to acquire Bruce Springsteen’s catalogue in late 2021. Earlier this year, Sony also acquired a 50 percent interest in Michael Jackson’s music from the late singer’s estate - at a cost of at least $600 million. Queen are more popular than either of those artists, with 52 million monthly listeners on Spotify - compared to 41 million for Jackson and 20 million for Springsteen.
Naked Gardening
Miami, Philadelphia and New York are the top three US cities for the unusual hobby of gardening in the nude, according to a new study. In preparation for World Naked Gardening Day earlier this month, gardening company LawnStarter assessed major American cities on four criteria - local interest, safety, weather forecast and "nude gardener friendliness" - to determine its rankings, concluding that some places are simply "more accepting" of naked gardeners, while the cities of Anchorage in Alaska and Duluth in Minnesota are just too cold for the activity.
Remarkable Discovery
A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine is radically changing ideas about early cancer studies. Researchers examining a 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull have found that ancient doctors may have used surgical intervention to treat brain cancer. "What we found is the first evidence of a surgical intervention directly related to cancer," Edgard Camarós, paleopathologist at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and co-author of the research paper, told Live Science. "This is where modern medicine starts."
You Couldn't Make It Up
A man accused of driving without a licence dialled into his remote court hearing in Michigan from behind the wheel of a car. Corey Harris, 44, appeared before the dumbfounded courtroom from his moving vehicle despite being charged with driving on a suspended licence. Cedric Simpson, the judge hearing the case in Washtenaw County, looked confused as the defendant joined the virtual Zoom hearing, asking him: “Mr Harris, are you driving?”
The defendant replied: “I’m pulling into my doctor’s office actually,” before casually turning the steering wheel and saying he would be ready in “one second”. You won't be surprised to learn that Mr Harris was instructed to turn himself into the Washtenaw County Jail by that evening.
Need a Runaround?
America has a weight problem. No, not that weight problem. It’s the size of the cars. The best-selling vehicles in the US are all of the biggest, heaviest, and most oversized models available. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A new crop of tiny electric cars is changing the game and offering new options. The latest to enter the fray is Eli Electric - announcing that it is opening pre-orders for its Eli ZERO, an electric vehicle so small that you can fit four of them in the same parking spot used by a large SUV. In fact, the little EV is roughly the size of just two motorcycles parked side by side. And, at $11,900, it might well help break the market for micro cars.
4DX Cinemas
Whilst theatres are still struggling to achieve pre-pandemic numbers, many cinemas are betting that making audiences (literally) shake in their seats can bring them back in droves. For example, Cineworld has recently opened the largest 4DX theatre in the world, located in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. The auditorium features a 60-foot-wide screen, four fog machines, rainstorm fans placed directly above audiences, and eight shaker amplifiers responsible for the seat movement. Currently, there are 791 4DX auditoriums around the world, spanning more than 70 countries.
Pulling Some Strings
A guitar used by John Lennon has sold for $2.9 million, setting a “new world record” for the highest-selling guitar at auction in Beatles history. The 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar, used in the recording of The Beatles’ 1965 Help! album and film, was found in an attic having not been seen or played for more than 50 years. The guitar was acquired through a telephone bid at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York last week, as part of a two-day music icons sale by Julien’s Auctions.
“Shine your light and make a positive impact on the world; there is nothing so honorable as helping improve the lives of others.” Roy T Bennett
On This Day
1 June 2002: The Czech Republic became the first country to enact a law to address light pollution; all outdoor fixtures were required to have a shield that prevented light from extending above the horizontal.
Today's Articles
Planet Parade: What a year it’s already been for celestial sightings. Now we're in for another cosmic treat.
Health Benefits of Ginger: For centuries, people have proclaimed its healing properties. What do modern scientists think?
Mood Boosting Video
Man travels world discovering other peoples favourite dance moves. What's Yours?