“Can a picture make you happy?” For the International Day of Happiness earlier this week, NPR pondered that query as it asked photojournalists around the globe to send in images that capture a sense of joy. Their submissions, ranging from a group of birdwatchers in Uganda to a churro purveyor in Mexico to a pair of dancers in Mississippi and more, prove that the answer to the aforementioned question is a resounding “yes.” Check out the photos.
200-Year-Old Polish Beech Wins European Tree of the Year Contest
Bożka Piotrowska vel Zielona Bombonierka
For the third year in a row, a Polish tree has taken the No. 1 spot in the European Tree of the Year contest. The 200-year-old common beech pictured above stands at the heart of the botanical garden at the University of Wroclaw in Wrocław, Poland. As such, it’s aptly named “The Heart of the Garden.” “This monumental tree grows in the center of an old park. Its majestic appearance impresses us with its unusually shaped and thick trunk, widely spreaded branches, and purple-colored leaves that shine beautifully in the sun,” the competition website reads, adding, “Upon a shadow of its great, widely spreaded crown, enthusiasts still meet — just like 100 or 200 years ago — united by their admiration of nature.” Of the 174,112 votes cast for the European Tree of the Year 2024, The Heart of the Garden earned 39,158, blowing away the competition: In second place, The Weeping Beech of Bayeux, France, earned 24,807 votes and the third place Thousand-Year-Old Olive Tree of Luras in Italy had 13,933. See photos of some of the other contenders.
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Tech
More Than Paper Cranes: How Origami Is Being Used to Build Bridges
Brenda Ahearn, Michigan Engineering
Engineers at the University of Michigan are proving that the concept of origami art can go beyond a hand-held paper crane — far beyond. Scientists published a study earlier this month demonstrating how complex, load-bearing structures like bridges can be built with foldable origami modules. Per a press release from the school, researchers have “struggled for years” to create a successful origami construction system. The key to this team’s success is uniformity, and more specifically, uniform thickness, said first author Yi Zhu. “When people work with origami concepts, they usually start with the idea of thin, paper-folded models — assuming your materials will be paper-thin,” he explained. “However, in order to build common structures like bridges and bus stops using origami, we need mathematical tools that can directly consider thickness during the initial origami design,” he explained, noting that “uniformity of the component’s thickness is what’s key and what’s missing from many current origami systems.” The Michigan system, called the Modular and Uniformly Thick Origami-Inspired Structure system, can create a 13-foot-long walking bridge, a 6.5-foot-tall bus stop, a 13-foot-tall column, and more. Watch a video of the building process.
Humanity
“There Is No Life Without Water”: How One Nonprofit Is Improving Access in Congo
Courtesy of Mercy Corps
Created by the United Nations, World Water Day has been observed annually on March 22 since 1993. This year’s theme, Water for Peace, speaks to the power of international cooperation in the effort to make water accessible for all. One nonprofit doing its part is Mercy Corps, a team of more than 6,000 humanitarians in over 40 countries on a mission “to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities.” The organization initiated a large-scale project in Congo, and, for the better part of a decade, has been working toward rebuilding a water network in and around two cities to bring clean drinking water to nearly 1 million people. In addition, Mercy Corps has created 301 water points around the village of Buhengere and provided water, sanitation, and hygiene programming to residents. “The combination of hygiene education and access to clean water improved the overall health of the community,” per the nonprofit, “with fewer children missing school because of illness or hospitalizations.” Added Noella (pictured), a young mother whose son hasn’t had any major illnesses due to unsafe drinking water since the access points were set up: “There is no life without water.”
Global Good
🇲🇿 Hundreds of unique species were discovered by scientists in a newly recognized ecoregion in southern Africa.
🇯🇵 Japan’s Princess Aiko recently graduated from university and will start working for the Red Cross next month.
Something We Love
Mango Resin and Wood Toothpaste Holder Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that can make the biggest difference in a home or room, and this resin and wood toothbrush holder from Mango Home does just that. The two-tone design from the brand’s spa collection will give your bathroom countertop a refined (but affordable) upgrade. And you can add the matching refillable soap dispenser, too.
Kaori Sakamoto’s face says it all here — the Japanese figure skater’s impressive short program at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal earned her fourth place in the competition. See her skate.
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