Some bite-sized chunks of upbeat news to brighten the day.
Piece of History
The only photo of Neil Armstrong on the moon in existence will soon be available to buy as it is heading to auction next month at Bonhams, a British auctioneer founded in 1793. The sale, For All Mankind: The Artistic Legacy of Early Space Exploration, will also include 449 other NASA photographs - some previously unseen - from the collection of Victor Martin-Malburet, a space historian who discovered the images among archives and collections of former NASA engineers over 25 years. The historic photograph of Armstrong was taken by fellow astronaut, Buzz Aldrin - the second person to walk on the moon - on the Apollo 11 space mission, showing Armstrong standing next to the Lunar Module Eagle. The image is expected to fetch around US$25,000 and was only discovered 17 years after the 1969 journey to the moon.
Titanium Heart
In February, an Australian man with heart failure became the first person to walk out of a hospital with an artificial heart implant. And this month, the same man made history again after surviving for more than 100 days with the titanium implant until a heart donor was available. “We’ve worked towards this moment for years and we’re enormously proud to have been the first team in Australia to carry out this procedure,” Paul Jansz, who led the artificial heart transplant back in November, told The Guardian. The BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart uses magnets to imitate a healthy heart’s natural blood flow. Although it’s primarily designed to keep patients alive only until a donor heart becomes available, the goal is to eventually be able to use the device as a long-term option as well.
Lennon Minted
John Lennon is being honoured in a specially minted British coin collection to mark the year the Beatles great and peace advocate would have turned 85, says the Royal Mint. Lennon’s name appears to the left of the portrait, while the word “Imagine” features on the right side of the design in a reference to his single and album, released in 1971, the year after the Fab Four went their own ways. The coin is now on sale.
UK Emissions
In a major win for climate action, a new analysis from Carbon Brief has found that the country’s planet-warming emissions fell by 3.6 percent in 2024, the lowest since 1872, and on a par with 1926 when there was a general strike. Last year's decrease was largely driven by a drop in coal use, led by the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station and one of its last blast furnaces. Other contributors included a drop in demand for oil and gas and a nearly 40 percent rise in electric vehicles on the road. UK emissions are now 54 percent below 1990 levels, as the country aims to reduce economy-wide emissions by at least 81 percent by 2035, relative to 1990 levels, and reach net zero by 2050.
Unknown Human Species
Researchers in Spain have discovered mysterious fossilized facial fragments that belonged to an unknown early human species. The bones are the oldest human fossils discovered in Western Europe, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature. The team uncovered the remains - an upper jawbone and a partial cheek bone - while excavating a cave in northern Spain. The cave is located in a natural corridor between mountain ranges, and the early humans who lived there likely had access to everything they needed to survive, including water and animals to hunt. The remains are 1.1 million to 1.4 million years old, and they add to the understanding of when and how early humans settled Western Europe. Meanwhile, in modern day Spain...
Autonomous eBus
Commuters in Barcelona have recently been enjoying free rides on a new driverless minibus. Deployed by Renault, the trial aims to discover the future of urban mobility. Two autonomous electric minibuses are operating on a 2.2 km (1.36 mile) open road loop in the heart of Barcelona’s streets, in a collaboration between Renault and WeRide. “By developing autonomous shuttles in a dense and complex urban environment, the experimentation demonstrates the maturity of new technologies for automated public transport services,” said Renault in a statement.
“Never let anyone - any person or any force - dampen, dim, or diminish your light.” John Lewis
On This Day
18 March 1906: The first monoplane, constructed by the Romanian inventor Trajan Vuia, made a flight of 12 metres (40 feet).
Today's Articles
Kindness Repaid: Doctor in financial difficulty after cancer diagnosis rescued by grateful patients repaying him for his kindness.
Unusual Words: Fifteen interesting (and impressively handy) words that you may not have come across before.
Nature’s Xanax: This simple technique is a quick, easy way to calm your nerves and soothe your mind.
Mood Boosting Video
Having Fun: This dog just loves jumping into piles of leaves.