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“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” – Matsuo Bashō

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Credit: Giammarco Boscaro

Quote of the Day: “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” – Matsuo Bashō

Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan and internationally recognized as the greatest master of haiku with many of his poems reproduced on monuments and traditional sites. He was also well known for his travel essays beginning with “Records of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton”.

Photo by: Giammarco Boscaro

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

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We’ve partnered with our friend Rob Brezsny, who for years has championed a positive approach to life through astrology. His weekly wisdom can enlighten your thinking and motivate your mood with ‘PROnoia’ instead of paranoia. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column that appears in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week beginning December 1, 2020
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
“Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked,” observed Sagittarian author Jane Austen. She wrote this confession in a letter to her niece, Fanny, whose boyfriend thought that the women characters in Jane’s novels were too naughty. In the coming weeks, I encourage you Sagittarians to regard pictures of perfection with a similar disdain. To accomplish all the brisk innovations you have a mandate to generate, you must cultivate a deep respect for the messiness of creativity; you must understand that your dynamic imagination needs room to experiment with possibilities that may at first appear disorderly. For inspiration, keep in mind this quote from Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Capricorn novelist Anne Brontë (1820–1849) said, “Smiles and tears are so alike with me, they are neither of them confined to any particular feelings: I often cry when I am happy, and smile when I am sad.” I suspect you could have experiences like hers in the coming weeks. I bet you’ll feel a welter of unique and unfamiliar emotions. Some of them may seem paradoxical or mysterious, although I think they’ll all be interesting and catalytic. I suggest you welcome them and allow them to teach you new secrets about your deep self and the mysterious nature of your life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Aquarian philosopher Simone Weil formulated resolutions so as to avoid undermining herself. First, she vowed she would only deal with difficulties that actually confronted her, not far-off or hypothetical problems. Second, she would allow herself to feel only those feelings that were needed to inspire her and make her take effective action. All other feelings were to be shed, including imaginary feelings—that is, those not rooted in any real, objective situation. Third, she vowed, she would “never react to evil in such a way as to augment it.” Dear Aquarius, I think all of these resolutions would be very useful for you to adopt in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
In June 2019, the young Piscean singer Justin Bieber addressed a tweet to 56-year-old actor Tom Cruise, challenging him to a mixed martial arts cage fight. “If you don’t take this fight,” said Bieber, “you will never live it down.” A few days later, Bieber retracted his dare, confessing that Cruise “would probably whoop my ass in a fight.” If Bieber had waited until December 2020 to make his proposal, he might have had more confidence to follow through—and he might also have been better able to whoop Cruise’s ass. You Pisceans are currently at the peak of your power and prowess.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
An anonymous blogger on Tumblr writes the following: “What I’d really like is for someone to objectively watch me for a week and then sit down with me for a few hours and explain to me what I am like and how I look to others and what my personality is in detail and how I need to improve. Where do I sign up for that?” I can assure you that the person who composed this message is not an Aries. More than any other sign of the zodiac, you Rams want to *be* yourself, to inhabit your experience purely and completely—not see yourself from the perspective of outside observers. Now is a good time to emphasize this specialty.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
“Humans like to be scared,” declares author Cathy Bell. “We love the wicked witch’s cackle, the wolf’s hot breath, and the old lady who eats children, because sometimes, when the scary is over, all we remember is the magic.” I suppose that what she says is a tiny bit true. But there are also many ways to access the magic that don’t require encounters with dread. And that’s exactly what I predict for you in the coming weeks, Taurus: marvelous experiences—including catharses, epiphanies, and breakthroughs—that are neither spurred by fear nor infused with it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
In 1994, the animated movie The Lion King told the story of the difficult journey made by a young lion as he struggled to claim his destiny as rightful king. A remake of the film appeared in 2019. During the intervening 25 years, the number of real lions living in nature declined dramatically. There are now just 20,000. Why am I telling you such bad news? I hope to inspire you to make 2021 a year when you will resist trends like this. Your assignment is to nurture and foster wildness in every way that’s meaningful for you—whether that means helping to preserve habitats of animals in danger of extinction or feeding and championing the wildness inside you and those you care about. Get started!

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Is there anyone whose forgiveness you would like to have? Is there anyone to whom you should make atonement? Now is a favorable phase to initiate such actions. In a related subject, would you benefit from forgiving a certain person whom you feel wronged you? Might there be healing for you in asking that person to make amends? The coming weeks will provide the best opportunity you have had in a long time to seek these changes.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Scientists know that the Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing down—but at the very slow rate of two milliseconds every 100 years. What that means is that 200 million years from now, one day will last 25 hours. Think of how much more we humans will be able to get done with an extra hour every day! I suspect you may get a preview of this effect in the coming weeks, Leo. You’ll be extra efficient. You’ll be focused and intense in a relaxing way. Not only that: You will also be extra appreciative of the monumental privilege of being alive. As a result, you will seem to have more of the precious luxury of time.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Adventurer Tim Peck says there are three kinds of fun. The first is pure pleasure, enjoyed in full as it’s happening. The second kind of fun feels challenging when it’s underway, but interesting and meaningful in retrospect. Examples are giving birth to a baby or taking an arduous hike uphill through deep snow. The third variety is no fun at all. It’s irksome while you’re doing it, and equally disagreeable as you think about it later. Now I’ll propose a fourth type of fun, which I suspect you’ll specialize in during the coming weeks. It’s rather boring or tedious or nondescript while it’s going on, but in retrospect you are very glad you did it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
“I made the wrong mistakes,” said Libran composer and jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. He had just completed an improvisatory performance he wasn’t satisfied with. On countless other occasions, however, he made the right mistakes. The unexpected notes and tempo shifts he tried often resulted in music that pleased him. I hope that in the coming weeks you make a clear demarcation between wrong mistakes and right mistakes, dear Libra. The latter could help bring about just the transformations you need.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
“Home is not where you were born,” writes Naguib Mahfouz. “Home is where all your attempts to escape cease.” I propose we make that one of your mottoes for the next 12 months, Scorpio. According to my astrological analysis, you will receive all the inspiration and support you need as you strive to be at peace with exactly who you are. You’ll feel an ever-diminishing urge to wish you were doing something else besides what you’re actually doing. You’ll be less and less tempted to believe your destiny lies elsewhere, with different companions and different adventures. To your growing satisfaction, you will refrain from trying to flee from the gifts that have been given you, and you will instead accept the gifts just as they are. And it all starts now.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com –CC license)

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‘World’s Loneliest Elephant’ Kavaan Finally Reaches New Home, Gets Hugs From Cher And New Pachyderm Pal

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Good News Network
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FOUR PAWS

It’s been a big week for Kavaan the ‘loneliest elephant’. After spending decades living in poor conditions in a Pakistan zoo, he’s reached the lush sanctuary where he’ll spend the rest of his days. And he’s already made a a new buddy.

FOUR PAWS

Earlier this year, GNN reported that Kavaan was ordered by Pakistan’s High Court to be freed from Islamabad’s Murghazar Zoo, which is in the process of being permanently shut down.

There were many groups and people fighting for the elephant’s release, including, most famously, Cher, who celebrated Kavaan’s win, tweeting, “THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.”

Since that May ruling, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has been working behind the scenes to find the lonely elephant an ideal home. They found the perfect site in Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.

MORE GOOD NEWS: African Elephant Poaching Has Fallen By More Than 50% Over the Course of the Last 6 Years

In a rescue led by the animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS, alongside IWMB and Cher’s Free The Wild organization, veterinarians and elephant experts have been busy preparing Kaavan for his departure to a new location.

FOUR PAWS

For weeks, the team has been helping Kavaan learn how to make a stress-free entry and exit into and out of an air-shipment crate. Given the male elephant weighs 4.35 tons, that’s been no easy task.

This weekend, though, Kavaan was finally ready for his departure. With a military escort, the pachyderm was taken to Islamabad International Airport and onto a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. After a stopover in India, he made the 10-hour flight to a new country, arriving at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in the capital of Siem Reap on Monday.

Since he’s been there?

RELATED: Denmark Buys Country’s Last Remaining Circus Elephants for $1.6 Million So They Can Retire

Kaavan has left his transport crate and enjoyed a warm welcome with a fruitcake and a banana tree leaves trail made just for him.

After eight years with no animal friends, he’s made his first integration with another elephant.

He’s met one of his biggest supporters.

FOUR PAWS

That’d be Cher, who tweeted that she sang to relax him.

In around a month, Kavaan will be introduced to three female elephants, and he’ll have 25,000 acres to roam in. That’s an area 50,000x bigger than the zoo enclosure he was confined to until the court ruling helped set him free. 

With Kaavan’s years of isolation finally at an end, FOUR PAWS says he’ll finally have the chance to live a species-appropriate and peaceful life.

SEND The Celebratory Elephant News To Pals on Social Media…

Missy Elliott Surprised a Stranger With A Dream Dress After Bride Makes Emotional Post on Twitter

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Atlantic Records

As much as being able to say “yes to the dress” looms large in many a bride’s twinkling eye, budget woes have forced compromise for more than their fair share of wedding dreams.

Such was the case for bride-to-be Ireanna Bradshaw, who between saving for the big day and moving into a new home with her intended, had a budget that was stretched to the wire.

Bradshaw found her dream dress at David’s Bridal, but fretted that even though she’d been scrimping and saving, at $1,300 it was simply beyond her means. Despondent, she tweeted a photo of the dress and some words of distress to her Twitter feed:

“Im getting Married in March &trying to move into our own place… “Excited but overwhelmed. I have been saving money; but its still a struggle. I found my dream dress and I want to get it so bad but between saving for the move- i dnt think it will be possible.”

Bradshaw also posted her cash app info hoping for a little help, never dreaming a famous fairy godmother might be waiting in the wings to grant her wish.

When music legend Missy Elliott got wind of Bradshaw’s yearning for the perfect gown, she decided to make some wedding magic of her own. The star stepped in and paid for the dress in full, tweeting:

We just love Cinderella bridal story with a happy ending, don’t you?

SHARE This Sweet Story With Pals on Social Media…

Image: Atlantic Records

Celebrity Chef David Chang Won $1 Million – And He’s Giving It All to Restaurant Workers

By
Judy Cole
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YouTube/Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Celebrity chef David Chang, founder of the wildly successful Momofuku restaurant brand, is a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world, but he’s also pretty savvy on a lot of other fronts as well.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Momofuku means lucky peach, and luck was certainly with Chang when he sank his teeth into the top prize on last week’s episode of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

Winning a million bucks may be about as exciting as life gets and Chang was certainly amazed to have beaten the odds—but even more thrilling was the prospect of just how all that money would be spent.

That’s because no matter what he earned on the show, Chang had already earmarked his winnings to go to a charity that’s near and dear to his heart: the Southern Smoke Foundation, an emergency relief fund for folks in the food and beverage industry.

According to their website, to date, the Southern Smoke Foundation has “distributed more than $5.7 million, both directly to people in need via the Emergency Relief Fund and to organizations that represent the needs of people in our industry.”

RELATED: Chef Andrés’ Charity is Injecting $50 Million into Restaurants By Paying Them to Feed the Hungry

While Southern Smoke was established in 2017, COVID-19’s devastating impact on restaurants, bars, and catering companies in 2020 has made the need for financial crisis intervention all the more urgent.

“I’m so honored that Dave chose Southern Smoke as his charity,” founder Chris Shepherd told CNN. “Now, more than ever, with indoor dining shut down in many parts of the country and temperatures dropping to prohibit outdoor dining, food and beverage industry employees are desperate.”

When Chang reached the $500,000 mark, Millionaire host Jimmy Kimmel cautioned him that no celebrity contestant had ever taken home “the big check.” Chang seriously considered walking away, but trusting his luck, he decided to go all in.

“Having a million dollars right now, in this moment, is a game-changer for many, many families,” he said during the show. “And yes, half a million is as well… and I want to say ‘No, just take the money!’—but I’m not.”

With the help of lifeline buddy, ESPN correspondent Mina Kimes—who coached him that Benjamin Harrison was likely the first U.S. President to have electricity in the White House—Chang gave his final answer.

Within seconds the set erupted in celebration.

MORE: Kevin Hart Steps in Where Jerry Lewis Left Off, Raising $10.5 Million During Muscular Dystrophy Telethon – WATCH

“Always wanted to hold a giant check on television,” Millionaire writer/director Alan Yang gushed, tweeting a photo of Chang, Kimmel, the check, and himself. “Thanks @MillionaireTV! Asian trivia dream team ftw.”

CHECK OUT: Tyler Perry Picks Up the Tab for All Groceries Purchased During Senior Shopping Hour at 73 Supermarkets

While the camera-friendly big check is likely just a stage prop, the money it represents will have a huge impact. Southern Smoke estimates Chang’s million-dollar “lucky peach” will benefit approximately 500 food and beverage workers in need.

(WATCH David make his big win in the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Video below.)

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Dutch Man Invents Coffin That Turns Bodies Into Mushrooms: ‘We are nutrients, not waste’

By
Andy Corbley
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Bob Hendrikx, Loop

In the Netherlands, an 82-year old woman was recently laid to rest in a coffin made entirely of fast-composting mushroom fibres that will considerably increase the health of the soil in the years that follow.

Bob Hendrikx, Loop

Dubbed the ‘Living Cocoon,’ the coffin gives an option for a more ecologically conscious generation who may want to leave a positive impact on the planet after they’ve gone.

Created by 26-year-old Bob Hendrikx, a bio-designer from the University of Delft, the Living Cocoon is made by growing mycelium around a coffin-shaped frame. Mycelium is the part of the mushroom we can’t see—the underground fibrous network that makes up most of the lifeform.

Hendrikx also referred to it as “nature’s recycler,” as mycelium has been shown by mushroom scientists, called mycologists, to be able to process things which other agents of decomposition can’t tackle.

“Mycelium is constantly looking for waste products–oil, plastic, metals, other pollutants–and converting them into nutrients for the environment,” Hendrikx said, according to the Guardian. “This coffin means we actually feed the earth with our bodies. We are nutrients, not waste.”

RELATED: Eating Mushrooms a Few Times a Week Could Dramatically Reduce Dementia Risk, Says 6-Year Study

In contrast to the years it can take a conventional coffin—with artificial cloth fibers, laminated wood, and metal components—to break down, local newspapers covering the funeral claimed the Living Cocoon “takes one week to grow and then, containing the body of the deceased, takes an estimated two to three years to decompose.”

Bob Hendrikx, Loop

Currently the coffin costs around $1,350, but Hendrikx hopes that as more and more people become interested, he can drive the cost down.

Hendrikx, a radical thinker, imagines a day where every coffin used on earth is made of mycelium, allowing our species that has grown to dominate every corner of the world to constantly give back to the soil we owe so much of our prosperity to.

Living Cocoon’s parent company, Loop, is actually conducting research on the impact of human bodies on soil quality, with the hope of “convincing policymakers to convert polluted areas into healthy forests–with our bodies as nutrients.”

Bob Hendrikx, Loop

In this way, rather than designating lush and picturesque areas for cemeteries, societies could create more lush and picturesque areas through use of the Living Cocoon.

MORE: Student Treks to Yellowstone and Finds Bacteria That Eats Pollution and ‘Breathes’ Electricity

Hendrikx also wants to harness the power of mycelium, which has even been shown to be able to make canoes, and to make sustainable furniture and other goods.

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‘It’s working!’ From Bobcats to Bears, Utah’s First Wildlife Bridge is a Hit–And There’s Video to Prove it

By
Andy Corbley
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A video posted on Facebook in mid-November shows the outstanding success of the i-80 wildlife overpass in Utah, where you can watch elk, moose, small mammals, black bears, coyotes, and even what appears to be a porcupine safely cross a dangerous stretch of road.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

For wildlife researchers, it demonstrates that the time it takes for animals to adapt to using wildlife overpasses may be years shorter than first anticipated.

“From what we can tell, the number of accidents there is down dramatically. At least initially, it appears the investment in safety is paying off,” Utah DoT spokesman John Gleason told the Salt Lake Tribune in 2019. “And we expected it to take several years before the animals got used to using it, so this is great.”

Completed in 2018 by Utah’s Dep. of Transportation and costing $5 million, the wildlife overpass was lobbied for by a group called Save People Save Animals, after a particular stretch of i-80 was unfortunately dubbed “Slaughter Row” due to the large number of traffic collisions with crossing wildlife.

The bridge incorporates miles of fencing in both directions on both sides of the road, funneling mammals to the bridge which is covered in soil, boulders, and logs to make it feel like a natural environment.

Not only are the animals using it instead of crossing the highway further down the corridor, but they are treating it like their natural habitat. A cougar was recorded scratching and stretching on one of the logs, which it wouldn’t do in a stressed state.

RELATED: Green Overpass Will Let Wildlife Cross 6 Lanes of Highway

Collisions with cars are a real danger to millions of animals, but even 15 years ago, there were already more than 700 terrestrial and aquatic wildlife crossing points in North America, with more and more being built every year, including the largest in the world to help California’s isolated mountain lion populations, which is to be completed in 2021.

(WATCH the video showing the wildlife crossings so far.)

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“Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.” – Irving Berlin

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.” – Irving Berlin

Berlin was an American composer and lyricist called one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His hits included White Christmas, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Easter Parade, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Cheek to Cheek, Happy Holiday, Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better), and There’s No Business Like Show Business. (1888–1989)

Photo by: Abdelrahman Mohamed

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Americans Reveal How They’re Staying Positive in 2020 With 66% Agreeing Their Communities Are Closer Than Ever

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Good News Network
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Eight in 10 Americans in a new poll said they were desperate to hear some positive news in the remainder of 2020—and believed the constant stream of bad news has taken a toll.

The survey asked 2,000 Americans nationwide about how they’ve coped with the stress of this year.

The ‘good news’ is that 7 in 10 respondents have made it a priority to do something positive every day as the quarantine continues.

The top goal, shared by 43% of respondents, is just to make at least one person smile every day. 34% are trying to make someone laugh daily, and to make it a priority to share positive news with their loved ones.

And when respondents need some cheering up themselves, their recipe is turning on their favorite movie (46%) and eating their favorite snack (43%).

Forty-three percent of respondents also go for a walk, four in 10 respondents call a friend, and 38% snuggle up with their pet.

A quarter of respondents also shared that they sing in the shower for a pick-me-up and 19% even have a solo dance party to get in better spirits.

Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed mentioned they’re donating to local charities to foster positivity and 28% are finding a safe way to volunteer.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Vitamin Angels for Giving Tuesday, the survey included six in 10 respondents who said the difficulties of 2020 and COVID-19 have led them to give back to their community even more—and 66% were in agreement that their communities are closer than ever.

Despite the stress of COVID-19, 78% of respondents also said the pandemic has made it more important than ever to give back to their local communities.

In fact, 42% of those polled have increased their donations to charities during COVID-19, saying they have donated to an average of four charities throughout the year, with the average totaling $36.47 a month.

CHECK OUT: Performing Acts of Kindness Can Boost Both Physical Health and Happiness Levels, Study Finds

Half of those polled are also donating to charities that are currently addressing COVID-19, with 87% of whom saying they’re more likely to support causes that are specifically helping women and children impacted by the pandemic.

Over half of respondents (57%) also plan to increase their planned holiday donations because of the impact of COVID-19.

“Communities in the U.S. and around the world were already vulnerable before COVID-19 and now is the time when they need us most,” said Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels Founder & President.

MORE: 8 in 10 Americans Say Positive Memories Have Been a ‘Lifeline’ During the Pandemic

“Right now, we have an opportunity to come together and take what has been one of the hardest years in our lives, and turn it into one of our best, positive actions; to help the most vulnerable in our communities.”

And as respondents look to the new year, three-quarters are hoping to start off fresh and share positivity as much as they can, with another eight in 10 hoping others will do the same.

The top goals to share positivity in 2021 included having a more positive outlook in life (52%) and trying not to focus on the negative things as much (50%).

Forty-eight percent of respondents are also aiming to take better care of their mental health, and a third of respondents want to donate more to charity and to amp up their volunteering commitments.

RELATED: If You Feel Like Things Are Falling Apart, They Are Probably Actually Coming Together

“This holiday season is a great opportunity to connect with loved ones and share some much-needed positivity,” said Schiffer. “Another way to share positivity is giving back to at-risk members of our communities.”

TOP THINGS AMERICAN DO TO CHEER THEMSELVES UP IN 2020
Watching their favorite movie – 46%
Eating their favorite snack – 43%
Going for a walk – 43%
Calling a friend – 40%
Cuddling their pet – 38%
Taking a nap – 37%
Hugging a loved one – 37%
Baking cookies – 31%
Singing in the shower – 25%
Having a solo dance party – 19%

TOP POSITIVITY GOALS DURING COVID-19
Try to make someone smile once a day – 43%
Donate money to local charities – 38%
Share positive news with their loved ones – 34%
Try to make someone laugh once a day – 34%
Volunteer in a safe, social distancing compliant fashion – 28%

GOALS FOR 2021
Have a more positive outlook in life – 52%
Try not to focus on the negative things in life as much – 50%
Take better care of their mental health – 48%
Donate more money to charity – 34%
Volunteer in their community more – 32%

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Canadian Man Drives Stranded American Family 1,000 Miles to Alaska

By
Judy Cole
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Gary Bath

Though most modern-day women generally don’t like to think of themselves as damsels in distress, when fate lands them in peril, sometimes the only thing to do is call for a knight in shining armor to come to the rescue. For one American woman, that knight turned out to be a Canadian ranger.

Gary Bath

Lynn Marchessault was behind the wheel of a pickup towing a large trailer as she and her two children headed to Alaska to join her husband at the military base where he currently serves.

Although Marchessault is former military and used to tough situations, even after upgrading to studded snow tires, the Southerner wasn’t prepared for the snowy conditions that gradually worsened the further north they traveled.

Rather than risk harm to her children or herself, Marchessault decided to pull off the road and bivouac at a highway lodge that had been set up to house temporary workers. Her husband, stranded due to COVID-19 protocols, was unable to come to their assistance, so Marchessault sent an online plea for help.

The message was spotted by the watchful eyes of Gary Bath, who lives with his wife, Selena, in Fort St. John, British Columbia. Though the trek was close to 1,700 kilometers (roughly 1,056 miles), he was determined to see this woman he’d never met and her kids to their destination.

MORE: Selfless Cop Picks Up Smelly Hitchhikers, Drives Them 40 Miles – And Stops For BBQ

“I didn’t care how far it was, I just knew they needed help and they had a few short days to hit the border before they were going to get in trouble,” Bath told CBC News.

In addition to the stressful driving conditions, as a ranger, Bath knew Americans are only allowed a certain grace period to reach Alaska from the lower 48 states.

Bath and his wife, their car loaded with provisions, met up with Marchessault and her family at the inn. Entrusting them to Bath’s care, Selena drove home, leaving Bath behind to perform his knight in shining armor chauffeuring duties.

With Bath as pilot, the rest of the trip was uneventful. Everyone in the car observed COVID-19 precautions and the group reached their destination at the Alaskan border near Beaver Creek in the Yukon in good spirits.

His charges safely delivered, Bath now faced the daunting undertaking of making the return trip, but he needn’t have worried. News of his good deed had quickly spread.

RELATED: Guy Hitchhikes for the First Time Only to Get a Ride From Chris Hemsworth in a Helicopter

Thanks to word of mouth among his fellow rangers, combined with generous public contributions for his airfare to complete the final leg of his journey, Bath made it home in good time.

Bath says as happy as he was to help out, he was also touched by the generosity of others who pitched in along the way.

Marchessault was full of praise for the man who’d saved the day—and for his wife as well. “We are forever grateful to Gary and I’m thankful to his wife for bringing him up and loaning him out,” she said.

It seems that Marchessault and Selena Bath really hit it off, and are hoping to renew the friendship when the family heads back south.

MORE: Police Officer Helps to Shave Homeless Man’s Face in the Rain After Seeing Him Struggle Without a Mirror

And if that’s not a heartwarming ending for a story that started on a snowy winter day, we don’t know what is.

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Additive That Makes Plastic Harmless Has Potential to Be Biodegrading Game-Changer

By
Andy Corbley
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By Erik Mclean

Branding itself as the only plastic that ‘truly’ biodegrades, a new materials company is manufacturing plastics that break down into harmless component elements in less than a year.

A special ingredient is added to the manufacturing stage of plastic to create completely normal forms of plastic that can be used to make both rigid or flexible products, allowing no great overhaul of production lines or schedules.

Seriously big companies are not waiting for extensive testing to begin adding Polymateria’s special biodegrading plastic to their operations, even though the UK firm has done tests that confirm their claims that after around 226 days, a harmless wax, edible by microbes, is the only thing that will remain of something like an ice-cream wrapper if left on the side of the road.

Polymateria Ltd was developed at Imperial College London and is chaired by former Marks & Spencer CEO Mark Bolland. The firm aims to tackle the plastic problem head on, with a plan to launch their products as soon as possible in Asia, and to target the two most common types of polluting plastic polymers, polyurethane and polypropylene.

Though designed to be recycled normally, a light breeze, a forgetful hand, or an irresponsible decision which normally can leave plastic loitering on the roadside or by dumping sites for years won’t affect Polymateria plastic: It will eventually turn to a waxy sludge that’s harmless to plants, animals, and river systems.

RELATED: Millions of Plastic Bottles Will Be Offset as Remote Town Gets Renewable Drinking Water Created From Sunlight

One of the major advantages is that the plastic is turned into normal organic elements like carbon dioxide and oxygen, not merely more easily breaking down into microplastic granules that, while making it easier to recycle, causes oftentimes worse and harder to detect pollution effects in an ecosystem.

The sportswear brand Puma will be the first to incorporate Polymateria’s plastic, adding it to a whopping 160 million plastic bags according to The Sunday Times. Other brands haven’t been revealed but reports say that Polymateria is on shelves in the UK, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, and Kenya.

Niall Dunne, the company CEO, told National Geographic that they “are testing in India, and due to launch soon, and we are talking to manufacturers in China and the USA.”

Frederic de Mevius, dynasty part-owner of the Anheuser-Busch InBev global brewing conglomerate, is a director and investor in Polymateria, and told Sunday Times reporters that “Within two to five years we will be supplying 20 to 50 of the largest brands that are responsible for plastic pollution.”

The British Standards Institution has confirmed many of the company’s claims through working with Polymateria to develop a rigorous testing standard using a “weatherometer” to measure biotransformation of the materials in precise conditions of UV light, moisture, and more.

Any Polymateria products would come with a “recycle by” date, after which they would gradually return to nature.

MORE: These Sunglasses Are Made From the First Ever Batch of Plastic Waste Recovered by the Ocean Cleanup Project

With the Pacific Garbage Patch recently recognized as a country, with its own citizenship, monarchy, currency, and passports, truly biodegradable plastic that won’t trouble the environment even if it isn’t recycled would, at anypoint, be a timely intervention.

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They Canceled Their Big Wedding But Took a $5k Catering Deposit And Served Thanksgiving Meals To The Needy

By
Judy Cole
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Billy Lewis and Emily Bugg, Sophie Cazottes Photography https://www.sophiecazottes.com/; turkey meals, Big Delicious Planet

Wedding events last a few hours. Marriages are meant to last a lifetime. In the wake of COVID-19, although disappointed by the necessity of having their big days significantly scaled back, some special couples have been able to embrace the bigger picture with open hearts.

Billy Lewis and Emily Bugg, Sophie Cazottes Photography; dinners, Big Delicious Planet

Such was the case for Chicago residents Emily Bugg and Billy Lewis. Originally, the pair had planned fairly lavish nuptials, but as the pandemic wore on, rather than wait to wed, they eventually decided to trade-in their upscale plans for a small ceremony at City Hall.

Love may have won the day, but it did leave the newlyweds with a conundrum. What to do about their non-refundable deposits and wedding-related purchases?

Some things—like the dress and the D.J.—were write-offs. However, Bugg and Lewis decided that having their health and being together more than made up for those things.

And all was not a loss: The reception venue agreed to let them put their deposit on hold to be used for a future charity event, and the wedding photographer shifted gears to record the couple’s small but heartfelt City Hall ceremony for posterity.

That left the $5,000 catering deposit—but rather than roll the money into an event to be named, Bugg and Lewis decided instead to spread their joy to others less fortunate.

RELATED: Bride and Groom Didn’t Just Donate Wedding Food To Homeless, They Dished it Up On Their Big Day

Bugg, an outreach worker at Thresholds, a nonprofit geared toward helping sufferers of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric illnesses, knew exactly where she wanted the money to go.

With an enthusiastic thumbs’ up from caterer Heidi Moorman Coudal, owner of Big Delicious Planet, and the blessing of Thresholds CEO Mark Ishaug, the designated fare from the original 150-person guest list was transformed into 200 boxed Thanksgiving dinners for Windy City residents dealing on a day-to-day basis with severe mental health challenges.

Emily Bugg, Elizabeth Boschma

Charitable donations have taken a big hit as a result of the financial impact of the Coronavirus, so Ishaug was especially grateful for the couple’s inspiring gift to the Threshold community. He was also greatly heartened by “the copycat effect” the generous gesture seems to have spawned.

“Other people start asking themselves, ‘What can I do for others at Thanksgiving?’ There’s been so much anger and fear this past year … and then we have something like this from Emily and Billy, which is just about humanity and kindness,” he told the Washington Post.

In addition to tying the knot, Bugg and Lewis recently adopted a rescue dog they named June, adding a little more love to the family. While she might be wistful at not having had the chance to wear her wedding dress, Bugg believes even though theirs wasn’t the traditional start to a marriage, it was beautiful nonetheless.

MORE: Caring Hospital Staff Help COVID-Stricken Groom Say ‘I do!’ in Heartwarming Bedside Wedding Ceremony—WATCH

It’s clear Lewis shares the sentiment and couldn’t be prouder of his bride. “I’m lucky to have a wife who is clever and thoughtful enough to change a not-so-good situation into something positive for a lot of people,” he said.

And we think Chicago is lucky to count both of them among its citizens.

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“Hope is one of the principal springs that keep mankind in motion.” – Andrew Fuller

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Hope is one of the principal springs that keep mankind in motion.” – Andrew Fuller

Photo by: Jason Olliff

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

A ‘Beaver Full Moon’ With Lunar Eclipse Happened This Morning—And Folks Took Some Stunning Photos

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Good News Network
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If you were up in the early hours of this morning, you may have noticed the full moon turning a shade or so darker and redder.

Thomas Lipke

What you were seeing is called a penumbral lunar eclipse. Caused by the moon dipping behind the Earth’s fuzzy penumbra, or outer shadow, this subtle shading effect peaked at 4:32 am ET November 30, when—according to NASA—83% of the moon was in the shadow of our planet.

NASA has also given a list of the names November’s full moon is known by: The Algonquin tribes have long called this the Cold Moon after the long, frozen nights. Others know it as the Frost Moon, while an Old European Name is Oak Moon: perhaps because of ancient Druid traditions that involve harvesting mistletoe from oak trees for the upcoming winter solstice.

In America, the November full moon is perhaps still best known as the Beaver Moon—with Native Americans associating it with a time when the beavers are scrabbling to finish building their dens from mud and sticks and rocks in preparation for winter.

While this was the last penumbral eclipse of the year, don’t worry if you missed the occurrence due to sleep or clouds.

For those who didn’t get to witness the phenomenon in person, from San Francisco to Michigan to the Sydney Opera House, here are some stunning pictures of this year’s last partial lunar eclipse.

RELATED: With Every Planet Visible This Week and Leonid Meteor Shower Shooting Fireballs, It’s Time to Get Out the Telescope

P.S. The next full moon will be the Cold Christmas Moon on December 29, 2020.

The full moon captured with the San Francisco skyline view at Alameda

A peaceful scene from Mackinac Island in Michigan

Surreal views from Joshua Tree

The Columbia River Gorge became a moonrise kingdom

Cool blue views were taken by this photographer in Northumberland, England

This photographer in Russia caught an image straight from a folk tale

Clouds added interest and atmosphere to these photos taken in Preston, England

A calming moment was captured on Rhode Island

The moon united photographers everywhere last night. Here’s a view from Sydney.


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Sufferers Living With Severe Arthritis Could be Given Lasting Pain Relief Thanks to a New Technique

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Good News Network
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A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints.

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, researchers said the procedure could help reduce reliance on addictive opiates.

People with moderate to severe pain related to osteoarthritis face limited treatment options. Common approaches like injections of anesthetic and corticosteroids into the affected joints grow less effective as the arthritis progresses and worsens.

“Usually, over time patients become less responsive to these injections,” said Felix M. Gonzalez, M.D., from the Radiology Department at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. “The first anesthetic-corticosteroid injection may provide six months of pain relief, the second may last three months, and the third may last only a month. Gradually, the degree of pain relief becomes nonsignificant.”

Without pain relief, patients face the possibility of joint replacement surgery. Many patients are ineligible for surgery because of health reasons, whereas many others choose not to go through such a major operation.

CHECK OUT: First Ever Study Shows Chair Yoga is Effective Arthritic Treatment

For those patients, the only other viable option may be opiate painkillers, which carry the risk of addiction.

Dr. Gonzalez and colleagues have been studying the application of a novel interventional radiology treatment known as cooled radiofrequency ablation (c-RFA) to achieve pain relief in the setting of advanced degenerative arthritis. The procedure involves the placement of needles where the main sensory nerves exist around the shoulder and hip joints. The nerves are then treated with a low-grade current known as radiofrequency that “stuns” them, slowing the transmission of pain to the brain.

For the new study, 23 people with osteoarthritis underwent treatment, including 12 with shoulder pain and 11 with hip pain that had become unresponsive to anti-inflammatory pain control and intra-articular lidocaine-steroid injections.

Treatment was performed two to three weeks after the patients received diagnostic anesthetic nerve blocks. The patients then completed surveys to measure their function, range of motion and degree of pain before and at three months after the ablation procedures.

There were no procedure-related complications, and both the hip and shoulder pain groups reported statistically significant decrease in the degree of pain with corresponding increase in dynamic function after the treatment.

“In our study, the results were very impressive and promising,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “The patients with shoulder pain had a decrease in pain of 85%, and an increase in function of approximately 74%. In patients with hip pain, there was a 70% reduction in pain, and a gain in function of approximately 66%.”

RELATED: Molecule Combo Actually Reverses Arthritis in Human Cartilage and Rats, Says ‘Exciting’ New Study

The procedure offers a new alternative for patients who are facing the prospect of surgery. In addition, it can decrease the risk of opiate addiction.

“This procedure is a last resort for patients who are unable to be physically active and may develop a narcotic addiction,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “Until recently, there was no other alternative for the treatment of patients at the end of the arthritis pathway who do not qualify for surgery or are unwilling to undergo a surgical procedure.”

At last year’s RSNA annual meeting, Dr. Gonzalez presented similarly encouraging results from a study of a similar procedure for the treatment of knee arthritis. Together, the knee, shoulder and hip articulations account for approximately 95% of all arthritis cases.

The procedure could have numerous applications outside of treating arthritic pain, Dr. Gonzalez explained. Potential uses include treating pain related to diseases like cancer and sickle cell anemia-related pain syndrome, for example.

MORE: Hydrolyzed Collagen Supplements Are Good for Health: Benefitting Hair, Skin, Joints, and Muscles

“We’re just scratching the surface here,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “We would like to explore efficacy of the treatment on patients in other settings like trauma, amputations, and especially in cancer patients with metastatic disease.”

Source: Radiological Society of North America

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Huge Indigenous Solar Farm Opens in Remote Northern Community: ‘We work with the sun for the children of the future’

By
Andy Corbley
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3NE/Facebook

Canada’s largest indigenous-owned solar farm has just been opened in the Northern Alberta community of Fort Chipewyan.

3NE/Facebook

Supplying 2.2 megawatts of solar electricity for three First Nations tribes, it will decrease the reliance of the community on the diesel-fired plant that has supplied them for decades.

Jointly owned by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation, and the Fort Chipewyan Metis Association, Three Nations Energy was established to bring about low-cost, low-carbon energy to help mitigate climate-related threats and decrease reliance and unreliable diesel tanker deliveries.

“We worked together and we made it happen,” Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said Tuesday at a COVID-limited celebration of the completion of the project’s second and final phase.

“We work with the sun, we work with the wind, we work with mother nature and we work the water for the children of the future—to give them a better life, a cleaner life.”

RELATED: Breakthrough 3D Solar Panel Design Increases Light Absorption By 125% – A Potential Game-Changer

A community of just 1,000 people, until now, Fort Chipewyan got their necessary three million liters of diesel a year from fuel trucks braving ice roads that melt away in summertime, or by river barge.

The 5,760 solar panels will contribute about 25% of the community’s power demand, but being in the subarctic, daylight hours in wintertime are few, meaning that solar energy is a little less reliable than in most other places.

The renewable energy it generates will be equivalent to about 800,000 liters of diesel, or 2,300 tonnes of CO2, sparing 25 tankers the 220-kilometer (124-mile) trek up from Fort McMurray in the south on dangerous ice roads.

“This is a very proud moment for all of us as a community. We’ve worked together very hard for these past couple of years,” said Blue Eyes Simpson, vice-president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Association.

The state and federal government helped contribute to the $7.6 million project, which is also the world’s most remote solar farm.

MORE: Solar is Now the Cheapest Electricity in History and Just Met 100% of Demand in South Australia For First Time

“Indigenous people must have an equity stake in resource projects if there’s going to be a healthy future for our vital resources industry,” said in a pre-recorded congratulations from Rick Wilson, Alberta’s minister of Indigenous Relations.

(WATCH the video below to learn more about the new solar farm.)

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Gone For a Century, Plant Finally Shows Itself When Conservation Work on ‘Ghost Pond’ Stirs Up Hidden Seed

By
Andy Corbley
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Rob Peacock

A rare plant ‘rose from the dead,’ and was found recently in a Norfolk ‘ghost pond’, becoming the first one spotted in a century.

Rob Peacock

Happened upon by a rambling geography professor, its existence could potentially lead to the rediscovery of other hidden plants lost in England’s recent history, and gives hope to conservation botanists.

The plant, known as grass-poly and sporting pinkish-white petals, was found growing on an old farmland pond in the English countryside in Norfolk. When Professor Carl Sayer found it, he took a picture and sent it to his friend—a local botanist called Dr. Jo Parmenter, who confirmed its rarity.

“I never ever expected to see it in Norfolk; it was quite extraordinary,” said Dr. Jo, according to the BBC. “I saw a photo and straight away I thought, I know what you are.”

Found only in ponds on muddy ground in isolated parts of the UK, this was the first sighting of the plant in the county of Norfolk in more than 100 years, and the scientists concluded that the seeds must have lain dormant for over a century before restoration work on the pond created the soil conditions that allowed the seed to finally germinate.

RELATED: World’s Largest Seagrass Restoration Project is a Virginia Success, Planting 600 Acres That Grow to Become 9,000

Effectively “coming back from the dead,” nearby willows were uprooted to help restore the pond before the sunlight was able to penetrate deep enough to reach the seed.

Conservation botany

When people think of an endangered species, they often picture flagship animals like the tiger, panda, or rhino. However, plants can also be endangered, and the grass-poly certainly ranks among those.

Professor Sayer, part of the University College London’s Pond Restoration Research Group, imagines that if Norfolk’s thousands of wild ponds can be restored, more “missing, presumed dead” species may emerge once again.

“There’s no oxygen, it’s very dark, and it’s perfect for preserving seeds,” says Sayer, referring to the muddy banks of the average pond.

While often appearing as nothing more than mudhole, ponds can act as hubs in a local ecosystem. In Norfolk, many of the ponds are known as “ghost ponds,” harboring little environmental value in their current, degraded state.

CHECK OUT: With 14,000 Critical Acres Added to Montana Wildlife Reserve, It May Become the Largest in the Lower 48

Yet in both the United States and in England, river and pond restoration is becoming a more actively undertaken form of conservation, due to the keystone aspect of ponds and rivers for local wildlife.

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Breakthrough App Guides Blind Runner on Solo 5k Run Through Central Park

By
Judy Cole
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Google/YouTube

Vision isn’t always measured by the things we see, but rather by the things we imagine, the things we strive to accomplish, and the things we make happen. Runner Thomas Panek lost his sight to a genetic disorder in his twenties but he’s never given up on the race.

“The safest thing for a blind man is to sit still. I ain’t sitting still,” he told Reuters.

Three decades down the road, Panek is breaking into a new stride. Using a cutting-edge app he was instrumental in developing, he recently became the first blind runner to complete a 5K race without the aid of a guide dog or human running partner.

Google/YouTube

Panek is no stranger to firsts. As president and CEO of New York-based nonprofit Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in 2015, he launched the “Running Guides” program that trains guide dogs for blind runners.

“I’ve been a runner for my whole life, except I stopped for a time too afraid to run without assistance. I picked up running again using human guides,” Panek said in an interview with Time. “People volunteered to connect with me with a tether to show the way to go but I would have to leave my guide dog at home—and yet, dogs love to run and I love to run so I really wanted to see with my training from Guiding Eyes for the Blind if it was possible to train a guide dog to run.”

CHECK OUT: Athlete With Downs Syndrome Makes History as First to Finish an Iron Man Race–And Gifts the Medal to His Mom

In March of 2019, Panek—the first blind entrant to do so—ran the 13.1 mile New York City Half Marathon, crossing the finish line with a time 2:20:52 with the help of a three-dog relay team.

He started the race accompanied by a black Labrador named Westley. Westley was relieved by a yellow Lab named Waffle. Panek completed the last leg of the race with his personal guide dog, Gus.

As much as he enjoyed the companionship of his guide dog, Panek wondered if there might not be a way to race on his own. He reached out to Google for help.

The answer came in the form of a camera-assisted artificial intelligence cell phone app. Using painted track markers, the app calculates a runner’s location and orientation and responds with audio cues to guide them in the right direction.

At an event co-sponsored by Google and the New York Road Runners Club, Panek tried out the Project Guideline app for the first time. “To be able to be here, it’s real emotional,” he said. “It’s a real feeling of not only freedom and independence, but also, you know, you get that sense that you’re just like anybody else.”

MORE: Meet the 18-Year-old Blind Piano Player Who is So Talented, Scientists Are Studying His Brain

Except Panek isn’t like anybody else. He believes humans are “born to run” and he’s gifted with the kind of vision that strives to make sure that no one who shares his dream gets left behind.

(WATCH the Google video of how the technology got made below.)

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“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Photo by: Michel Stockman

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Revolutionary CRISPR-based Genome Editing System Destroys Cancer Cells ‘Permanently’ in Lab

By
Good News Network
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Cancer cell during cell division (Credit-National Institutes of Health)

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have demonstrated that the CRISPR genome editing system is very effective in treating metastatic cancers, a significant step on the way to finding a cure for cancer.

In a paper published this week, the researchers demonstrated a novel lipid nanoparticle-based delivery system that specifically targets cancer cells—and co-author Prof. Dan Peer said it’s the first study in the world to prove that the CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to treat cancer effectively in a living animal.

“It must be emphasized that this is not chemotherapy. There are no side effects, and a cancer cell treated in this way will never become active again,” said Peer, the VP for R&D and Head of the Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research.

“The CRISPR genome editing technology, capable of identifying and altering any genetic segment, has revolutionized our ability to disrupt, repair or even replace genes in a personalized manner.”

Peer’s team that includes researchers from an Iowa company, Integrated DNA Technologies, and Harvard Medical School, chose two of the deadliest cancers: glioblastoma and metastatic ovarian cancer to examine the system’s feasibility. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type of brain cancer, with a life expectancy of 15 months after diagnosis and a five-year survival rate of only 3%.

The researchers demonstrated that a single treatment with CRISPR-LNPs doubled the average life expectancy of mice with glioblastoma tumors, improving their overall survival rate by about 30%.

Ovarian cancer is a major cause of death among women and the most lethal cancer of the female reproductive system. Despite progress in recent years, only a third of the patients survive this disease—but treatment with CRISPR-LNPs in mice with metastatic ovarian cancer boosted the overall survival rate of by a whopping 80%.

RELATED: First-of-its-Kind Blood Test Can Detect Over 50 Kinds of Cancer—Often Before Symptoms Even Show

“Despite its extensive use in research, clinical implementation is still in its infancy because an effective delivery system is needed to safely and accurately deliver the CRISPR to its target cells,” Peer told Tel Aviv University news. “The delivery system we developed targets the DNA responsible for the cancer cells’ survival. This is an innovative treatment for aggressive cancers that have no effective treatments today.”

Cancer cell during cell division (Credit-National Institutes of Health)

The system, called CRISPR-LNPs, carries a genetic messenger (messenger RNA), which encodes for the CRISPR enzyme Cas9 that acts as molecular scissors that cut the cells’ DNA. “The molecular scissors of Cas9 cut the cancer cell’s DNA, thereby neutralizing it and permanently preventing replication,” explained Peer.

RELATED: First Sickle Cell Patient Treated with CRISPR is Now Thriving One Year Later, And Able to Care For Her Kids

The groundbreaking study was funded by the Israel Cancer Research Fund, and published this week in Science Advances.

The researchers note that by demonstrating its potential in treating two aggressive cancers, the technology opens numerous new possibilities for treating other types of cancer, as well as rare genetic diseases and chronic viral diseases such as AIDS. They intend to proceed with experiments treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy, for instance.

RELATED: Scientists Use Gene-targeting Breakthrough Against COVID-19 Cells With CRISPR Tool Called ‘PAC-MAN’

“It will probably take some time before the new treatment can be used in humans, but we are optimistic. The whole scene of molecular drugs that utilize messenger RNA (genetic messengers) is thriving—in fact, most COVID-19 vaccines currently under development are based on this principle,” says Peer.

“When we first spoke of treatments with mRNA twelve years ago, people thought it was science fiction. . . We are already negotiating with international corporations and foundations, aiming to bring the benefits of genetic editing to human patients.”

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