Buzz
If you're craving a list that fills you with positivity and warmth, you've found it. Here, we bring you a collection of stories focused solely on uplifting and motivational news, both on a personal level and a larger scale. For those who enjoy a dash of the unusual, the quirky list is here for your reading pleasure.
This week, we meet two determined retirees who remind us that age is only a number. Meanwhile, younger folks are doing remarkable things, like sending a janitor on his dream vacation or freeing an innocent man from prison. On a larger scale, Germany unveils its first hydrogen-powered trains, and marine archaeologists embark on a quest to locate the HMS Endeavour.
10. Germany Unveils Its First Hydrogen-Powered Trains
The world’s first hydrogen-powered trains were launched on Monday, operating on a 100-kilometer (62 mi) stretch in Northern Germany.
The two light blue Coradia iLint trains were crafted by the French company Alstom, the creators of the TGV. They will make stops at four stations, with a hydrogen refueling station set up in the town of Bremervoerde. Alstom's CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge confirmed that these zero-emission trains are ready for mass production, with plans to deliver an additional 14 to the Lower Saxony state by 2021.
When it comes to eco-friendly alternatives, few options are as efficient as hydrogen power. Hydrogen and oxygen enter the system, and only steam and water are released. Fuel cells generate electricity and store it in lithium-ion batteries that hold enough charge for a range of 1,000 kilometers (600 mi). Alstom has mentioned that several European countries have already shown interest in their trains, with France announcing plans to run its first hydrogen-powered train by 2022.
9. A Nonagenarian Takes To The Skies
A 94-year-old World War II veteran successfully completed his first skydive since jumping into Normandy 74 years ago.
At the age of 20, Harry Read served as a wireless operator and participated in D-Day alongside the Parachute Brigade. For his bravery, he was awarded the title of Chevalier with the Legion of Honor. Nearly 75 years later, he made his first jump out of an aircraft since then, inspired by a visit to the Normandy battlefields. He undertook the jump to help raise funds for the Salvation Army’s efforts to combat trafficking and modern slavery in the UK.
Reflecting on his two skydives, Harry noted the vast differences. During the original jump in Normandy, the mission was to reach the ground as quickly as possible, so the jump lasted only about 30 seconds. This time, the veteran ascended to over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) before parachuting down to land at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Harry was joined on his skydiving adventure by his two granddaughters and great-grandson. He plans to repeat the jump next year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
8. A Brawl At The Bookies
In a story about brave pensioners, here's the tale of an octogenarian who fought off three criminals attempting to rob his local betting shop.
Last Saturday, 83-year-old Denis O'Connor was spending his afternoon at Bar One Racing in Glanmire, County Cork, Ireland. Three masked men stormed the shop, with two of them armed with hammers and the third holding a shotgun. The gunman kept watch over the crowd while the other two men went behind the counter to confront shop manager Tim Murphy.
Despite having a shotgun pointed at him, Denis rushed to assist the shop manager, engaging one of the robbers in a physical struggle. The pensioner overpowered the thief, who fled the scene while Murphy tackled the other robber. The gunman also made his escape after seeing his partner running away. Fortunately for everyone involved, it appeared the gunman had brought the weapon for intimidation purposes and wasn’t willing to use it.
O’Connor said that at first, he thought the whole situation was some sort of joke. By the time he realized it was real, he was already charging toward one of Murphy’s attackers. The entire incident was caught on camera, and Denis is now being celebrated as a hero. While his wife wasn’t thrilled with his actions, she couldn’t help but feel proud.
7. Artists Strive To Change Attitudes Toward Mental Health
Forty young artists from all over Europe have come together to create a mural aimed at addressing mental health stigmas that have affected the Spanish town of Sant Boi.
Located just 20 kilometers (12 mi) from Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat is known for two things: its rich artistic history and its large mental health hospital. Local artist Dani Sanchez aims to change the town's reputation, which is unfortunately known as 'the town of the loonies.' To do this, he and 39 other artists have launched a project to transform the hospital’s worn-out, unattractive walls into vibrant murals that challenge the taboos surrounding mental health.
The artwork is based on the concept of carpets that appear to drape across the walls—half of them hang on the outside, and the other half are inside. This is designed to encourage people to explore the hospital gardens, which have been open to the public since 2010 in an effort to build stronger connections between patients and the local community.
6. We Named The Dog Monty
Monty the dog has been celebrated as a 'good boy' after discovering dozens of Bronze Age artifacts during a walk with his owner.
Monty and his owner, Mr. Frankota, were walking through a field outside the Czech village of Kostelecke Horky when the keen dog began pawing at the ground, revealing several metallic objects. After some digging, they unearthed a treasure trove of over 20 ancient items, including 13 sickles, three axes, two spear points, and several bracelets.
Local archaeologists examined the artifacts and determined they dated back to the Urnfield period, approximately 3,000 years ago. This era gets its name from the custom of cremating the dead and placing their ashes in urns.
Martina Bekova, an archaeologist at the Museum and Gallery of Orlicke Hory, explained that typically only fragments of Urnfield artifacts are found scattered about. Finding an intact collection is a rare discovery and is likely linked to some form of ritual or sacrifice.
5. Noah's Bus
Natural disasters often reveal the true character of people. While some may exploit the tragedy for their own benefit, others step up to help those in need. This entry highlights the latter, focusing on a modern-day Noah who used a school bus to rescue animals from an incoming flood.
As Hurricane Florence approached the US East Coast last week, Tony Alsup hopped into his yellow bus and drove from his home in Greenville, Tennessee, toward the Carolinas. His mission was to visit animal shelters in the storm’s path and rescue any creatures that might be left behind.
Tony shared his journey on social media to find foster homes and adopters for his traveling group of animals. As of now, he continues to scout areas affected by the hurricane and transport the rescued animals to a safe haven in Foley, Alabama.
4. Students Send Cleaner On Dream Vacation
A cleaner at the University of Bristol received the gift of a holiday in Jamaica after hundreds of students crowdfunded his trip.
In June, medical student Hadi Al-Zubaidi launched a crowdfunding campaign to send university cleaner Herman Gordon to Jamaica to reunite with his family after ten years. Hadi called Herman the 'jolliest man I have ever met,' a sentiment shared by many students. Approximately 230 people contributed, and the £1,500 target was met within a week. A video of Herman receiving the surprise gift went viral, with many moved by his warm and cheerful personality.
3. Have We Located The HMS Endeavour?
We are closer than ever to unraveling a significant maritime mystery, as marine archaeologists suggest they may have discovered the wreck of the HMS Endeavour, the Royal Navy ship that Captain James Cook famously sailed on during his explorations of Australia and New Zealand.
After its historic voyage, the ship had a rather uneventful service. It was renamed Lord Sandwich II and was later used to transport prisoners during the American War of Independence. In 1778, British forces scuttled the ship, along with 12 other vessels, to block the harbor ahead of the Battle of Rhode Island.
A collaboration between the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (Rimap) and the Australian National Maritime Museum may have pinpointed the location of the shipwreck in Newport Harbor. However, representatives have been cautious, stating that while they have found a “promising site,” they are still far from confirming that this is the final resting place of the Endeavour.
Currently, American divers are collecting timber samples from five of the wrecks to determine if any of them belong to Captain Cook’s ship. A key identifying feature of the Endeavour is that it was mainly constructed from English oak, unlike most of the other scuttled ships which were made from American or Indian timber.
A final confirmation is still some time off. Officials from the Australian National Museum are optimistic that the Endeavour will be located by 2020, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's historic voyage.
2. A New Path to Freedom
An inmate’s passion for drawing golf courses became the key factor in his exoneration from a murder conviction.
In 1991, Valentino Dixon, a resident of New York, was wrongfully sentenced to 39 years to life for murder. His fate behind bars changed when his remarkable skill as a golf course illustrator helped to uncover the truth, eventually clearing him of the crime.
Valentino first came across an image of the 12th hole at Augusta National, shared by the prison warden. He managed to recreate the scene with remarkable accuracy. Later, he got his hands on a Golf Digest magazine to further fuel his inspiration. While serving time, he drew over 100 golf courses, despite having never stepped foot on an actual course.
The editors of Golf Digest discovered the talented inmate and offered him a platform in their magazine to tell his story in 2012. Simultaneously, they reviewed his case and uncovered numerous flaws in the investigation, including unreliable witnesses and poor police work. The magazine shared his story, leading to support from Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative.
It took six years, but thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of student and professor volunteers, Dixon was finally freed after serving 27 years in prison. Another inmate, LaMarr Scott, eventually confessed to the crime.
1. Cyclist Breaks Two World Records
Denise Mueller-Korenek, a 45-year-old mother of three, set a new record for the fastest land speed on a bicycle. She achieved an astounding average speed of 296 kilometers per hour (184 mph), surpassing both the previous female and male records.
On September 16, Denise Mueller-Korenek made her remarkable ride at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Equipped with a custom-built bike, she was towed by a dragster until she hit 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph). Once the tow rope was detached, she relied solely on pedal power, although she stayed in the dragster's slipstream for added speed.
The ride lasted for 5.6 kilometers ( mi), with her record-breaking speed achieved over the final mile. Mueller-Korenek had previously set the women’s speed record at 236 kilometers per hour (147 mph) in 2016. However, this time, the former US biking champion aimed to break not only her own record but also the men’s record of 268 kilometers per hour (167 mph), held by Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg since 1995. She succeeded in surpassing both records.
