Welcome to the Good News Roundup for December 22, 2025
New Species of Frog Uncovered in Brazilian Mountains
Scientists in southern Brazil have identified a striking new species of miniature frog.
The tiny bright orange pumpkin toadlet, or Brachycephalus lulai, was discovered in the Serra do Quiriri mountain range after scientists tracked the mating call of the male.
Scientists named the new species after the country’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose nickname is Lula, in the hope he would be encouraged to expand conservation efforts in the region.
Read more here.
Australian warplane found eight decades after vanishing
The wreckage of a Royal Australian Air Force bomber has been identified deep in the Papua New Guinea rainforest, 82 years after it went missing with four crew onboard.
The Beaufort Bomber was one of nine Squadron 100 planes involved in an air attack on a Japanese base on December 14, 1943 – but it never returned to base and its whereabouts had been unknown.
A specialist Australian Defence Force team was tasked with identifying the wreck after a teenager on a bushwalk stumbled upon the aircraft.
Read more here.
Military families get Christmas cheer delivered to their doors
Nearly 20-thousand farm-fresh Christmas trees have been delivered to military families across the United States.
The Trees for Troops initiative, run by the Christmas Spirit Foundation, is designed to bring cheer to families who are often without their serving loved ones, while also being at bases away from extended family, on Christmas day.
The initiative has been running for 21 years, with deliveries also involving handwritten cards and decorations.
See more on the program here.
German Engineer Becomes First Wheelchair User to Visit Space
A German woman severely injured in a mountain bike accident has become the first wheelchair user to visit space.
Michaela Bethaus was left a paraplegic after her accident seven years ago, she was one of six passengers on board the Blue Origin rocket when it blasted off from West Texas at the weekend.
The 10-minute flight saw the 33-year-old experience more than three minutes of weightlessness, with Michaela reportedly describing the trip as “…the coolest experience.”
Read more here.
