Mini Wind Turbine Can Generate Energy Made From the Breeze You Make When Walking

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Oct 15, 2020

woman walking footprints on beach-sand-patience-nature-summer-peace-pubdomain-Brian Mann — Brian Mann

Most of the wind available on land is too gentle to push commercial wind turbine blades, but now scientists have designed a kind of “tiny wind turbine” that can scavenge wind energy from breezes as little as those created by a brisk walk.

The new device is not technically a turbine. It is a nanogenerator made of two plastic strips in a tube that flutter or clap together when there is airflow.

Like rubbing a balloon to your hair, the two plastics become electrically charged after being separated from contact, a phenomenon called the triboelectric effect. But instead of making your hair stand up like Einstein’s, the electricity generated by the two plastic strips is captured and stored.

“You can collect all the breeze in your everyday life,” says senior author Ya Yang of Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences. “We once placed our nanogenerator on a person’s arm, and a swinging arm’s airflow was enough to generate power.”

A breeze as gentle as 1.6 m/s (3.6 mph) was enough to power the triboelectric nanogenerator designed by Yang and his colleagues.

The nanogenerator performs at its best when wind velocity is between 4 to 8 m/s (8.9 to 17.9 mph), a speed that allows the two plastic strips to flutter in sync.

The device also has a high wind-to-energy conversion efficiency of 3.23%, a value that exceeds previously reported performances on wind energy scavenging. Currently, the research team’s device can power up 100 LED lights and temperature sensors.

“Our intention isn’t to replace existing wind power generation technology. Our goal is to solve the issues that the traditional wind turbines can’t solve,” says Yang. “Unlike wind turbines that use coils and magnets, where the costs are fixed, we can pick and choose low-cost materials for our device. Our device can also be safely applied to nature reserves or cities because it doesn’t have the rotating structures.”

CHECK OUT: Downtown Sydney is Now Powered By 100% Renewable Energy Thanks to Historic Deal

Yang says he has two visions for the project’s next steps: one small and one big. In the past, Yang and his colleagues have designed a nanogenerator as small as a coin, but he wants to make it even tinier and more compact with higher efficiency.

In the future, Yang and his colleagues would like to combine the device to small electronic devices such as phones, to provide sustainable electric power.

MORE: New Developments in Clean Energy and Carbon Capture Are Making Real Progress in Climate Crisis

But Yang is also looking to make the device bigger and more powerful. “I’m hoping to scale up the device to produce 1,000 watts, so it’s competitive with traditional wind turbines,” he says. “We can place these devices where traditional wind turbines can’t reach. We can put it in the mountains or on the top of buildings for sustainable energy.”

(WATCH the fascinating Guardian video of the nanogenerator in action below.)

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There’s a Secret to Building Rap-Paw With Your Cat–And Researchers Have Figured it Out

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Good News Network

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Oct 15, 2020

cat-owner-pet-affection-public domain-yerlin-matu — Yerlin Matu

A team of psychologists at the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth have purr-fected the art of building a bond with cats.

The new study ‘The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat-human communication’, published online in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, has shown for the first time that it is possible to build rapport with a feline by using an eye narrowing technique with them.

This eye narrowing action by humans generates something popularly known as a cat smile––the so called “slow blink”––and seems to make the human more attractive to the cat.

Eye narrowing movements in cats have some parallels with the genuine smile in humans (the Duchenne smile), as well as eye narrowing movements given in positive situations in some other species.

The team, led by Dr Tasmin Humphrey and Professor Karen McComb, animal behavior scientists at the University of Sussex, undertook two experiments.

The first revealed that cats are more likely to slow blink at their owners after their owners have slow blinked at them, compared to when they don’t interact at all.

The second experiment, this time with a researcher from the psychology team, rather than the owner, found that the cats were more likely to approach the experimenter’s outstretched hand after they’d slow blinked at the cat, compared to when they had adopted a neutral expression.

Taken together, the study shows that this slow blinking technique can provide a form of positive communication between cats and humans.

This adds context to existing studies on cat psychology that have found, firstly, that cats have been shown to attract and manipulate human attention effectively through ‘solicitation purring’; secondly, that cats can discriminate their name from other words, even when unfamiliar humans are calling, and also, that cats may be sensitive to human emotional cues, and will rub or butt their head against an owner who feels sad.

MORE: Most Americans With Cats Say They Couldn’t Have Gotten Through Lockdown Without Their Feline Friend

Professor Karen McComb, from the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, who supervised the work, said in a release, “As someone who has both studied animal behavior and is a cat owner, it’s great to be able to show that cats and humans can communicate in this way. It’s something that many cat owners had already suspected, so it’s exciting to have found evidence for it.

“This study is the first to experimentally investigate the role of slow blinking in cat-human communication. And it is something you can try yourself with your own cat at home, or with cats you meet in the street. It’s a great way of enhancing the bond you have with cats. Try narrowing your eyes at them as you would in a relaxed smile, followed by closing your eyes for a couple of seconds. You’ll find they respond in the same way themselves and you can start a sort of conversation.”

Dr Tasmin Humphrey, a PhD student in the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex during the work, who was the first author of the study said: “Understanding positive ways in which cats and humans interact can enhance public understanding of cats, improve feline welfare, and tell us more about the socio-cognitive abilities of this under-studied species.

“Our findings could potentially be used to assess the welfare of cats in a variety of settings, including veterinary practices and shelters.

“In terms of why cats behave in this way, it could be argued that cats developed the slow blink behaviours because humans perceived slow blinking as positive. Cats may have learned that humans reward them for responding to slow blinking. It is also possible that slow blinking in cats began as a way to interrupt an unbroken stare, which is potentially threatening in social interaction.

CHECK OUT: New Study of 900 House Cats Finally Answers Age-Old Question About What Felines Do When They Go Outside

Dr Leanne Proops at University of Portsmouth who co-supervised the work said: “It’s definitely not easy to study natural cat behaviour so these results provide a rare insight in to the world of cat-human communication.”

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Canadian Researchers Gave Homeless People $7,500 Each and the Results Are So Uplifting

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 15, 2020

Challenging the stereotypes of homeless people in Canada, a research project from a Vancouver-based charitable organization found that simply giving money to homeless people isn’t as bad an idea as some people might think.

The New Leaf project took 115 homeless people who were confirmed not to have serious mental or substance abuse problems, and put $7,500 in the pockets of 50 of them to see if they could turn their life around.

The results were heartening. One entire year later, most recipients still had $1,000 in savings and 67% were could still feed themselves every day.

The average age was 42, with 1 in 3 participants reporting they had a child. They had been on average homeless for six months, with 1 in 4 employed somewhere.

The study took monthly and quarterly self-reported surveys on conditions and expenditures.

Many people might argue that the money would be spent irresponsibly, for example on drugs or alcohol, but the results of the study were a refreshing perspective on the mindset of those living on the fringes of Canadian society.

Tight pocket books

After a year of spending on what they judged to be important, average spending on alcohol or drugs went down by 39%, perhaps because the individuals recognized they had a real shot of turning their fortunes around.

An impact report done by the Foundation for Charitable Giving found that recipients moved into housing two months faster than those who didn’t receive the $7,500 allowance.

Two months might not seem like that much, but spend it on the street and it certainly will. Additionally, the two-month difference also allowed emergency services previously utilized to be freed up for others.

The spending habits of the recipients in the study were, as you might imagine, more frugal than the control group of non-cash participants.

However, the spending was spread out over a year, with 52% of it going to food and rent, 15% going to medication and transportation, and an average of $700 on one-time cash purchases like a bike or computer.

MORE: Kroger Gave a Job to Homeless Woman Who Slept in Their Parking Lot: ‘I Wish We Had 120 Like Her!’

The final topic of analysis is that in a roundabout way, handing $7,500 to homeless people actually saved the provice of British Columbia an average of $600 per person, compared to spending for a year of their emergency services.

“By spending fewer nights in shelters, the cash group saved the shelter system approximately $8,100 per person for a total of roughly $405,000 over one year,” reads the impact report. “Factoring in the cost of the cash transfer, that’s a savings of $600 per person for society.”

“Cash transfers provide choice, control and purchasing power at a critical time in people’s lives,” reads a policy suggestion based on New Leaf Project’s data. “This is not merely a gesture of help. It is a signal that society believes in them.”

“By preventing people from becoming entrenched as homeless, NLP transforms lives while saving community resources that could be better spent elsewhere.”

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

One of the New Leaf Project recipients mentioned that the money gave them the hope and foundation they needed to have the courage to try and turn their life around, and another, speaking with CBC news, explained he was able to take a course in computers that put him on his dream career path of being a community counselor for those with substance addictions.

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“We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.” – E.B. White

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Oct 15, 2020

Quote of the Day: “We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.” – E.B. White

Photo: by Antevasin Nguyen

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?

New Fix-It Clinic is Using Zoom and Global Community to Help You Repair Items For Free

By

Judy Cole

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Oct 14, 2020

How many YouTube tutorials does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One—if that many.

But when you need to fix something that’s beyond your level of DIY expertise, with nearly a bazillion videos offering differing and sometimes conflicting repair advice, it can be hard to know where to turn—or, at least it was until the advent of Fixit Clinic.

With its jaunty motto of “Education, entertainment, empowerment, elucidation, and, ultimately, enlightenment through guided disassembly of your broken stuff,” Fixit Clinic was conceived as a series of in-person events.

Participants brought in various non-working items to get expert guidance. The goal was not only to put the broken stuff to rights but also to help owners understand what made their things tick in the first place.

“Fixit Clinic conveys basic disassembly, troubleshooting, and repair skills using peoples’ own broken things as the vehicle. By sharing these skills while transferring them to others we teach critical thinking through the lens of our relationship to consumption and sustainability. We strive to demystify science and technology so that we can ultimately make better policy choices as a society,” their website explains.

With COVID-19 curtailing most forms of non-essential contact, rather than shut down, Fixit Clinic smoothly shifted gears. The in-person meet-ups have given way to a virtual format that has actually expanded the pool of repair seekers and repair makers exponentially.

The process is fairly simple. After signing up, participants submit their broken items to a “global assembly of community repairers” for troubleshooting tips and suggestions.

Next, the needful things, their owners, and the appropriate Fixit guru or gurus team up in “Zoom breakout rooms to implement the suggestions and, hopefully, fix the items.”

The Fixit Clinic also boasts a Global Fixers Discord Server for synchronous/asynchronous around-the-clock around-the-world repair.

Of course, some things are simply beyond repair. While Fixit Clinic makes no guarantees a broken item brought to them can be made good as new, if nothing else, participants will learn the how and why of what went wrong—all at no cost.

MORE: Millennials Are Getting Handier Around the Home Since Lockdown Measures Began

“I did a session with them for my hand-held blender last weekend and they were amazing. It’s all free, of course,” Anya Hart Dyke told The Guardian from her home in Scotland.

While they started out with smaller gadgets, Fixit Clinic can now tackle repairs on larger things including dishwashers, TVs, furniture, and more. To participate in an upcoming Intergalactic Fixit Clinic or set up repair via Discord, just head here.

So the moral of this story is: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but if it is broke, Fixit Clinic is a great way to go.

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City Keeps Mysterious Plaques on Park Benches Because People Are Loving the Hilarity

By

Judy Cole

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Oct 14, 2020

funny-plaques-released-city-of-calgary — City of Calgary

When most people think about guerrilla art, the first thing that likely springs to mind is graffiti.

From daredevils tagging trains to plucky grandmas joining in to paint the bandwagon, street artists around the world are making their mark.

North of the American/Canadian border, an anonymous perpetrator of the genre has been making his or her own quieter contributions in the form of a series of cheeky plaques affixed to the benches in Calgary’s Bowmont Park.

As reported by Global News, the insouciant signage—which includes such irreverent observations as “Benjy, the first hamster to fly solo around the world, took off from this spot in April 1937,” “Nothing of note happened here—or at least that is what they want you to believe” and “Humans first invented fire right here in 1903”—initially fell afoul of the city’s policy on commemorative plaques and graffiti and were removed.

It turned out, however, that the public actually loved the quirky missives and demanded their return.

Someone installed these plaques on a bunch of benches in Calgary, but they got taken down by the city today but I think they're priceless. pic.twitter.com/h0YoInDpxe
— Hafeez Noorani 🇨🇦 (@FEEZYDoesIT) October 9, 2020

“As the city, we have to err on the side of caution, but in this case, it was a bit too cautious,” the powers that tweet for the city admitted. “Listening to what’s important to Calgarians is part of our job. If we can make changes for a better outcome, that’s what we’ll do.”

MORE: People Use Chalk to Write Plant Names on Sidewalks to Help People Connect With Nature – ‘More Than Weeds’

With the signs back in place, everyone seems satisfied, although the city would prefer that in future, the artist would give them a head’s up prior to making any additions to his or her current body of work.

Now the fun’s even spreading to other cities, with Alberta’s other major hub, Edmonton, even getting in on the action.

A Calgarian prankster replaced a bunch of park bench plaques in the city with weird facts about #Calgary. 😂

So I thought we'd join the fun and make some# EDMONTON park bench plaques too 😝#yeg #yyc pic.twitter.com/5wilCBZgMr
— Lauren Hunter (@HunterAtHome) October 7, 2020

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New Research Shows Why Crows Are So Intelligent and Even Self-Aware—Just Like Us

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 14, 2020

Crows, rooks, and ravens, a family of birds known as corvids, are pretty dang smart. In some ways, some crows are as smart as first graders.

In 2014, a famous ornithological accomplishment saw New Caledonian crows, who as outlined in Jennifer Ackerman’s brilliant work The Genius of Birds, are possibly the smartest of their race, and capable of passing newly acquired knowledge down to immediate offspring, completing the Aesop’s Fable challenge.

This famous test of intelligence and problem solving—which no animal had ever solved before, saw the crows drop stones into a water-filled tube in order to raise a floating platform of food high enough so that they could reach it.

More recently though, carrion crows have demonstrated that they can subjectively experience, process, and report on tasks or phenomena they have completed or seen.

This type of behavior is associated with the cerebral cortex, a region of the brain which not all animals possess, including birds, and suggests, according to the scientists, not only empirical evidence of consciousness in birds, but that consciousness as we would understand it can arise from different configurations of the brain organ as a whole; potentially changing the understanding of animal intelligence and neurology.

Savvy birds

Though the theory of what designs enable consciousness has moved on substantially from Descartes’ famous “cogito ergo sum” during the 1600s, the Latin phrase which translates to “I think therefore I am,” can be used to describe the recently reported performance of crows during a visual detection test.

Two crows, Ozzy and Glen, at the University of Tübingen in Germany were trained to peck at a red or blue target after they saw a light flash. Andreas Nieder, the scientist administering the test, then did something very difficult for even young children to grasp: he began changing the rules.

When at first the objective was to peck the red panel when a flash was detected, Nieder changed it to blue, which the crows picked up on and followed before Nieder changed it back to red. Furthermore, he would change the rule after the flash had already occurred or hadn’t occurred, giving the birds a few seconds to review what they knew about the task and make the correct corresponding choice.

This meant that they not only attached a phenomenon to a physical motion, but were able to review that in their head, and apply the same (could you say logic, or inference?) to the task again to continue pecking the correct panel.

CHECK OUT: Here’s How Thousands of Birds Are Being Saved From Flying into Toronto Buildings

“These results suggest that the neural foundations that allow sensory consciousness arose either before the emergence of mammals or independently in at least the avian lineage and do not necessarily require a cerebral cortex,” wrote Nieder et al. in their corresponding paper published in Science.

Bird-brained–a compliment

During the task hundreds of neurons were lighting up on monitors which tracked the activity of cells in the brain when the crows were acting on the flash, but when a light didn’t go off, the neurons remained silent, i.e. “no, I didn’t see it.”

The brilliant work of Glen, Ozzy, and Nieder was reported on by STATnews, who talked with Nieder about the study.

“I think it demonstrates convincingly that crows and probably other advanced birds have sensory awareness, in the sense that they have specific subjective experiences that they can communicate,” he said. “Besides crows, this kind of neurobiological evidence for sensory consciousness only exists in humans and macaque monkeys.”

Indeed crow brains can contain 1.5 billion neurons—as many as some monkeys.

MORE: This Hacker Built a Vending Machine for Crows as an Ingenious Response to a Cocktail Party Argument

With the possibility of crows, and perhaps other animals outside the mammalian order having complex if differently formed brains, it could change the way humans view our earthly neighbors and perhaps replicate the respect we have for monkeys and apes in other creatures.

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Young Inventor Turns Her Disability into ‘Superpower’ After Building Prosthetic Arm That Shoots Glitter

By

McKinley Corbley

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Oct 14, 2020

Jordan Reeves is just an ordinary 14-year-old girl who has inspired millions of people with her extraordinary “superpower.”

The young inventor from Columbia, Missouri was born with a left arm that stopped developing beyond the elbow. Although some people would look at her under-developed limb as just a disability, Jordan used her condition to launch her superhero alter ego.

When she was 10 years old, Jordan attended a STEM workshop that encouraged kids with disabilities to think creatively about their condition—so with a 3D-printer at her disposal, she designed her own prosthetic arm that could shoot glitter from the tip.

WATCH: After Dad Revolutionizes the Modern Playground for His Daughter, Other Cities Adopt His Brilliant Design

Jordan’s invention was so dazzlingly successful, she went on to talk about her horn-shaped “Project Unicorn” prosthetic design on the TEDx stage, Shark Tank, and even The Rachel Ray Show. With each appearance, she hoped that Project Unicorn would encourage other kids to view disabilities as gifts rather than hindrances.

As Project Unicorn gained more traction, Jordan and her mother turned their labor of love into the Born Just Right nonprofit so they could continue advocating for inclusivity.

Jordan presenting at Maker Faire Bay Area in May 2016.

In addition to publishing a book about her experiences in 2019, Jordan and her prosthetic were featured on Episode One of Marvel’s Superhero Project—and earlier this week, she was featured on a new LEGO documentary miniseries that interviews young change-makers from across North America.

All of the kids featured on the Rebuild the World video series were asked to showcase their unique brand of brick-building creativity by contributing their own LEGO creation to a massive 13-foot globe.

LOOK: LEGO Factory is Now Producing Thousands of Protective Plastic Face Masks for Medical Workers

More than 430 children from 30 different countries contributed to the installation, which is made up of a whopping 350,000 bricks. Not only that, the documentary series was produced by kids.

“It’s an invitation,” reads the LEGO website’s project description. “Where adults see challenges, kids see opportunities. Imagine what we could do if we all saw the world through a child’s eyes!”

(WATCH the interview below)

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Real Estate Agent Uses Hilariously Posed 12-Foot Skeletons to Fill Her Properties for Halloween (LOOK)

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Good News Network

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Oct 14, 2020

Real Estate Skeletons Feature-SWNS — SWNS

A real estate agent in Washington D.C. has gone turbo this Halloween by decorating the homes she has been showing with 12-foot skeletons.

54-year-old Donna Kerr felt that people could use an extra laugh this spooky holiday season as the world continues to battle the COVID-19 outbreaks.

“I think it’s like a bit of breath of fresh air—a bright spot in the constant heavy news of the day,” said Kerr, who bought the skeletons at Home Depot for $300 apiece.

LOOK: One-Legged Man Ties His Disability into the Best Halloween Costumes Ever – Here’s His 2019 Genius

“I just wanted to bring a smile to everyone who saw them—the more smiles the better.”

An avid lover of the spooky season, Donna has adorned her own front yard with armies of smaller skeletons in the past.

This October, she used her personal style of spooky décor to festoon her real estate properties with the 12-foot models instead.

This hilarious photo series captures some of Kerr’s decorations in action as the skeletal partygoers are depicted posing by the stove, lounging on the couches, and even washing in the shower.

“They take about two hours to pose,” said Kerr. “It’s really a fun way to get more exposure for clients and for the community to come out and see the skeletons as well.”

The enormous bags of bones work particularly well in homes with unusually high ceilings.

“These skeletons don’t fit in any normal house with eight-foot ceilings,” mused Kerr.

A real estate agent of 23 years, Kerr says she and her team at the Donna Kerr Group always try to make real estate more enjoyable for their clients and their community.

The company has done Halloween decorations in the past, but they have never pulled off anything to this scale—but Kerr says they’ve been receiving lots of positive feedback about the setup.

“It’s been amazing. People have really loved it,” she said.

All of the skeletons will be on tour for the remainder of October at properties Kerr and her team are showing.

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“Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances. For new beginnings.” – Maya Angelou

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Oct 14, 2020

Quote of the Day: “Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances. For new beginnings.” – Maya Angelou

Photo: by Mohamed Nohassi

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?

56% of Americans Say They’re Happier in Autumn Than Any Other Season: Here’s The Top 20 Reasons

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Good News Network

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Oct 13, 2020

From baking pies to carving pumpkins, 56% of respondents in a new survey said they’re happier in Autumn, compared to any other season.

Whether it’s walking in the crisp air, surrounded by orange and red maple trees, or enjoying special food and drinks, the 2,000 Americans polled were nostalgic about and eager for the season.

The top three best aspects of Fall, according to the respondents were watching the leaves change color (51%), feeling the chill in the air (45%) and drinking hot chocolate (44%). People also love getting ready for the holidays (40%), Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Another big portion of affection for the season can be found in the kitchen. 40 percent always look forward to making homemade soup.

Baking, cooking, and the tasty spices all figured prominently on the list—grabbing 9 of the top 20 answers for ‘best things about Fall’.

CHECK OUT: Want to Know Where The Best Fall Colors Are in Your Area? Check Out This Interactive U.S. Map

Due to the pandemic, 68% of respondents are planning more quiet, indoor activities this year than in previous years. And, 31 percent report they’ve been unable to participate in all the things they normally do—with some unavailable.

Instead, they’re spending time around the house, with 28% of respondents planning to eat more holiday foods this year compared to previous years.

THE TOP 20 FALL FAVORITES

Watching the leaves change color 51%
The chill in the air 45%
Drinking hot cocoa 44%
Getting ready for the holidays 40%
Making homemade soup 40%
Beginning to cook holiday foods 35%
Watching Halloween movies 35%
Wearing big sweaters 35%
Listening to the sound of rain on my roof 34%
Lighting seasonal candles 33%
Baking pies 31%
Having cinnamon apple food/drinks 31%
Making pumpkin pie 31%
Having pumpkin spice food/drinks 30%
Drinking hot apple cider 29%
Carving pumpkins 29%
Wearing chunky socks and boots 29%
Stepping on crunchy leaves 28%
Wearing plaid/flannels 28%
Baking pumpkin bread 28%

MORE: 8 Under-Appreciated Autumn Veggies and Fruits You Should Be Eating

OnePoll conducted the survey which was commissioned by Stuffed Puffs, the chocolate-filled marshmallow brand.

Michael Tierney the founder at Stuffed Puffs, said, “Many respondents are adapting to this year’s unusual circumstances — it’s a great opportunity to introduce new traditions, whether that’s watching a scary movie every Friday or a virtual bake-off on the weekends.”

SHARE The Cozy Fall Vibes With Your Friends Who Love Autumn…

Idaho Potato Worker Becomes Internet Sensation and Sends Fleetwood Mac Sales Soaring With ‘Dreamy’ Video

By

Judy Cole

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Oct 13, 2020

When you’re on your way to work and your ride breaks down, you’ve got a couple of options. You can call a tow truck, call an Uber, or, if you’re like Nathan Apodaca, you can grab your bottle of Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice and your phone, hop on your longboard—and make a viral video that nearly breaks the Internet.

As the old adage goes, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” Rather than miss his shift at the potato processing plant when his 2005 Dodge Durango—with 330,000-plus miles on the odometer— quit on him last month, the 37-year-old father of two took matters into his own hands.

“Sometimes my car just shuts off if I turn or hit the gas a certain way and then it won’t start unless I get a jump,” he told Time. [The morning I filmed the video], it went out and I was like, I’m not going to sit here and wait to flag somebody down. So I grabbed my board—I always have it with me in the car just in case—and my juice and I started heading to work.”

The road might have been downhill for his commute to work, but everything else that’s happened since Apodaca filmed his now-famous skateboard ride to fame lip-syncing, “It’s only right that you should play the way you feel it” from Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ been a total high.

Not only has the video surpassed 35 million views since he posted it to TikTok on September 25, it’s also won Apodaca some pretty impressive admirers and spawned a ton of spin-off tributes.

@420doggface208
Morning vibe ##420souljahz ##ec ##feelinggood ##h2o ##cloud9 ##happyhippie ##worldpeace ##king ##peaceup ##merch ##tacos ##waterislife ##high ##morning ##710 ##cloud9
♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) - Fleetwood Mac

Everyone from Cheech and Chong to Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon to Montana’s Lieutenant Governor, Mike Cooney and this adorable little girl have gotten into the act.

montana dreams pic.twitter.com/JSpvY3aYsp
— Mike Cooney (@CooneyforMT) October 6, 2020

But no one was more impressed than Fleetwood Mac’s own Mick Fleetwood—and with good reason.

CHECK OUT: Little Girl’s Dancing Goes Viral as She Steals the Show From Her Choir

Since Apodaca’s video went viral, the band’s “Dreams” scored its best streaming week ever, with more than 8.47 million views in the United States alone, according to Billboard.

“It was spontaneous. It was heartfelt. It was fun, and God knows we need some of that right now,” Fleetwood said in an interview with NPR. “To some extent, it was a lovely accident. It could have been any song, but it was ours. For us bunch in Fleetwood Mac, the inspiring thing was that it was just so off the wall. Did we expect it? No. Are we happy and delighted? Absolutely.”

In addition to making his own tribute video, Fleetwood recently reached out to Apodaca to thank him via a video chat facilitated by the BBC. “It’s such a great story and so needed in days that are really challenging. I’ve heard you speaking and it makes people smile. I’m so happy to be part of it.” Fleetwood said.

@mickfleetwood
@420doggface208 had it right. Dreams and Cranberry just hits different. ##Dreams ##CranberryDreams ##FleetwoodMac
♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) - Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood wasn’t alone in his appreciation. Ocean Spray CEO Tom Hayes arranged for Apodaca to receive a brand-new truck—cranberry red—its bed packed with Apodaca’s favorite juice, of course.

Fan donations to Apodaca’a TikTok channel have been streaming in as well. Apodaca, who currently lives with his eldest daughter in an RV, plans to put the money toward a downpayment for a house.

While Apodaca’s on a leave of absence from his job, he’s taking his new-found fame one day at a time. “I’m chill with it,” he told the New York Times. “I’m liking it. It’s awesome that I get to relax and do some videos on my own time now and enjoy it for a minute.”

MORE: Gospel Singer’s Hilarious Song About Quarantine Snacking Goes Viral: ‘The Fridge Again!’

As those familiar with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ know, the song lyrics also include the lines: “Now, here I go again, I see the crystal vision. I keep my visions to myself.” Whatever the future holds for Nathan Apodaca, we’re guessing for him, that won’t be an option.

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Companies With Co-Workers Who Don’t Get Along Should Encourage Gratitude Journaling, Says Study

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Good News Network

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Oct 13, 2020

journal-desk-writing-public domain-thought-catalog — QuoteCatalog.com

Researchers suggest employees should take a cue from Jimmy Fallon’s Thank You Notes segment on “The Tonight Show” to improve workplace behavior.

A recent University of Central Florida study suggests employees who keep a gratitude journal exhibit less rude behavior and mistreatment of others in the workplace.

“Gratitude interventions are exercises designed to increase your focus on the positive things in your life. One intervention involves writing down a list of things you are thankful for each day,” says management Professor Shannon Taylor, who teamed up with fellow management Professor Maureen Ambrose and doctoral student Lauren Locklear for the study, published in the leading peer-reviewed journal Applied Psychology.

“That simple action can change your outlook, your approach to work, and the way your co-workers see you.”

Workplace mistreatment can cost organizations millions of dollars each year—because gossip, exclusion or ostracism results in productivity loss, employee turnover, and even can lead to litigation.

“While organizations spend quite a bit of time and money to improve employee behavior, there are not a lot of known tools available to actually make the needed changes,” Locklear said.

“We found the gratitude journal is a simple, inexpensive intervention that can have a significant impact on changing employee behavior for the better.”

MORE: Survey Finds Working From Home Has So Many Benefits, 48% of Workers Would Take Pay Cut to Continue

For two weeks, study participants spent a few minutes a day jotting down the things, people and events they were grateful for—and as a result, their coworkers reported that they engaged in fewer rude, gossiping, and ostracizing behaviors.

“Gratitude exercises are becoming increasingly popular products to improve employee attitudes and well-being, and our study shows managers can also use them to foster more respectful behavior in their teams,” Taylor says.

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After Dad Revolutionizes the Modern Playground for His Daughter, Other Cities Adopt His Brilliant Design

By

McKinley Corbley

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Oct 13, 2020

When this devoted Oregon dad set out to revolutionize his local playground in Portland, he had only planned on making it more disability-friendly for his daughter Harper, who has been using a wheelchair for her entire life.

Eleven years later, his ideas are making playgrounds more fun and accessible for everyone—regardless of their disability.

G Cody QJ Goldberg was inspired to redesign the modern playground after he took Harper to a playground for the first time in 2009. To his dismay, he found that the wood chips surrounding the play equipment made it inaccessible for his 4-year-old daughter’s wheelchair.

Upon hearing the Goldberg’s frustrations, the city’s parks and recreation department said that they didn’t have the money for any new projects—but they would support the playground’s reconstruction if it was privately funded.

LOOK: After Noticing Lack of Good Sticks At Park, Dad Turns Old Tree Branches into ‘Stick Library’ for Neighborhood Dogs

The Goldbergs then launched Harper’s Playground, a nonprofit devoted to opening more handicap-accessible US playgrounds—and after three years of tireless fundraising, they opened their first park to the public in November 2010.

The playground features everything from musical instruments and handicap-accessible play equipment to green social spaces and paved ramps—which are used by skateboarders and wheelchair users alike.

Goldberg told Freethink that Harper’s Playground in Portland is designed with three levels of enrichment for children.

MORE: First US National Park to Offer Heavy-Duty Wheelchairs for Disabled Visitors to Enjoy the Scenery

“The space has to be physically inviting, so if you use wheels you can get absolutely everywhere,” says Goldberg. “Then we say it should be socially inviting, with circular seating areas, communal gathering spaces and the use of nature. And then the third level is what we call emotionally inviting, and that’s by using art, good design lines, music, and things that put us in an even better emotional state.”

Since launching their park in Portland, the nonprofit has inspired the construction of several other similarly-designed playgrounds across the US.

(WATCH the Freethink video below) – Photo by Freethink

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Relive the Moment The World Came Together 10 Years Ago in Historic Rescue of Trapped Chilean Miners After 69 Days

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Good News Network

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Oct 13, 2020

This is the GNN story that ran 10 years ago today, when the world was glued to their televisions to witness a historic rescue of epic proportions. Nations of the world worked together to engineer a solutions that would save dozens of miners entombed for over two months. In 2020, when nations are faced with many more historic challenges, this is a keen reminder of what determination and spirit can accomplish….

[October 13, 2010] One by one, rescuers in Chile are freeing 33 miners who have been trapped underground since early August. Never before had anyone been rescued from such a depth—more than a third of a mile (622-meters) underground.

So far, 16 miners have been raised to freedom in the unprecedented and complex rescue operation in northern Chile.

The men are emerging from the rescue capsule to the cheers of the rescuers, officials and family members. Some quietly knelt in prayer before being taken away on gurneys for immediate medical examinations. They were trapped underground for 69 days—more than anyone on record.

The escape shaft is so deep that it takes about an hour for each rescue.

The miners are being brought to the surface in a metal rescue chamber called “Phoenix”, designed by NASA. The men are wearing dark glasses to protect their eyes from bright light after more than two months in the dark mine.

The first person rescued, 31-year-old Florencio Avalos, embraced his son and wife before being greeted by President Pinera. One miner brought up rocks to the surface, handing them out to a group of rescuers as he shook their hands.

WATCH: Police Officer Pulls Man From Wheelchair Stuck On Tracks Within Seconds Of Speeding Train

Chile’s health minister, Jaime Manalich, said the workers already rescued are in good health.

More than 1,000 journalists have convened at the site in the Chilean desert, and the event is being broadcast live by Chilean television and on stations around the world.

The miners were trapped in hot, humid conditions since an August 5 cave-in that sealed them deep in the recesses of the San Jose copper and gold mine.

U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday offered his thoughts and prayers to the miners. He said Americans pray the miners will emerge safely. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley sent a message by Twitter congratulating Chile for the successful rescue of the first miner, calling it a “remarkable display of hope and skill.”

CHECK OUT: McDonald’s Employees Save Woman From Domestic Abuser After She Secretly Sought Their Help

President Pinera said the mine, which has had a history of accidents, will be closed until the safety of those working there can be guaranteed.

Companies from the around the world have helped in the rescue, like UPS which shipped the container to the desert where the mine is located. A Texas company provided the health monitors worn by the miners as they rose to the surface through the shaft. Another company donated sunglasses.

WATCH video below, of the first miner rescued, from CNN…

(With source material from VOA.com)

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“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” – Randy Pausch

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Oct 13, 2020

Quote of the Day: “Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” – Randy Pausch

Photo: by Scott Webb

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?

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

By

Andy Corbley

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Oct 12, 2020

beautiful_old_aging_woman_senior-CC-Flickr-pedrosimoes7 — Pedrosimoes7

Reprinted with permission from World At Large, a news website of nature, politics, science, health, and travel.

Comprising 30% of the body’s total protein mass, collagens are characterized by sturdy, flexible chains of around 1,400 amino acids that play a key role in bone, skin, and muscle health.

Aging decreases our body’s capacity for synthesizing new proteins, and as a result collagen levels can fall by as much as 75% by the time a human being reaches 80 years of age.

Experts in several biological fields such as longevity or dermatology have suggested that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen (HC) can delay some of the hallmark traits we associate with aging such as hair loss, wrinkling of the skin, joint and muscle pain, and skeletal brittleness.

Here’s a look at the literature on how hydrolyzed collagen supplements can be good for not just bones, joints, and skin, but also for attenuating the effects of certain diseases like osteoarthritis, diabetes, and inflammation.

Hydrolyzed collagen for bones

As one of the sturdiest protein structures owing to its triple-helical shape, HC can benefit bone health in a number of ways, both as an attenuator of bone diseases like osteoarthritis, and as a fortification for bone cells.

“The benefits of hydrolyzed collagen for osteoporosis prevention go beyond the effect of a simple protein supplementation,” write the authors of an in vitro study which found that bovine-derived HC stimulated the growth of bone cells like osteoclasts and osteoblasts, while increasing mineralized bone-matrix formation–findings which corresponded with an in vivo analysis of post-menopausal woman with osteoarthritis.

Rhonda Patrick Ph.D. highlights on her blog that the importance for collagen in bone health can be summarized by the fact that certain genetic mutations in collagen-producing genes can lead to misshapen and more easily fractured bone structures.

Bone mineral densities were increased in post-menopausal woman with reduced bone density, notably around the neck and spine, after a period of supplementing with a hefty 5 grams of HC accompanied by 500 to 800 milligrams of calcium and 400 – 800 IUs of vitamin D.

Contradictory research done on a similar group of women with osteopenia, a condition characterized by bone-density loss, found no gains in bone metabolism. However some of the woman were deficient in calcium, and others were overweight, both conditions that are proven to negatively affect bone health.

CHECK OUT: Bone Broth Strengthens Immunity, Body, and Joints, And You Don’t Need To Spend A Bunch To Make It

While this muddies the waters in the discussion on bone health when supplementing with HC, it may have revealed that simply accompanying it with a calcium supplement is enough to see the similar benefits experienced by the individuals in the other studies.

Hydrolyzed collagen for skin health

The ultimate reason to describe HC as an anti-aging supplement would be its effects on skin.

Type I and III collagen are most common in skin and have been shown in multiple studies to increase hydration levels, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet, and numerous other decreases in facial elasticity.

“Knowledge of the role of collagen in the aging process over 30 years ago helped to establish the use of bovine collagen as a filling agent to temporarily replace collagen lost with age in soft tissue” write the authors of a broad review on dermal aging, noting another study that found collagen production decreases on average by about 1% per year.

Skin dryness, crow’s feet, wrinkles, and overall skin elasticity improved by 7% after 4-8 weeks of supplementing with between 2.5 and 5 grams of HC, with a notably more significant result coming from the oldest women in the randomized controlled trial (RCT).

READ: Dreading a Dark Winter Lockdown? Think Like a Norwegian

It should be noted that collagen is the highest correlating factor with skin thickness, or a lack thereof, and if anti-aging is to be considered function over form, then skin less easily penetrated by UV rays, bacteria, and dust is perhaps more desirable for some individuals than younger looking skin.

Another RCT of women from 40-60 years of age who took 1 gram of HC along with vitamin C for 12 weeks showed that the HC-supplemented group had a 7.23-fold greater improvement in skin hydration at six weeks.

Hydrolyzed collagen for joint health

couple runs on beach with toddler keeping up on a bike — Geri Weis-Corbley

Joints are another group of tissues that experience improved health outcomes with HC.

MORE: The Best Exercise for Seniors is High-Intensity Interval Training, Study Says

Collagen II contributes 60% of dry weight to joint cartilage, and diseases like arthritis and osteoarthritis often begin, and can be accelerated by, the wear down and loss of joint cartilage.

In an RCT involving 80 men and women with osteoarthritis, scientists found when 600 milligram of HC was taken along with 200 milligrams of chondroitin, another supplement commonly taken for joint health, and 100 of hyaluronic acid, the participants’ self-reported pain related to their osteoarthritis decreased by 35% after 70 days.

They also reported decreases in stiffness, and functional limitations with their affected joints.

Other studies looking at the effects of HC and undenatured HC supplements with rheumatoid arthritis found statistically significant effects even with very small doses.

Arthritis of all kinds, as well as dermal aging, bone density loss, and joint deterioration, all share their #1 correlative factors, which would be age. HC, being capable of attenuating these conditions, could therefore be considered an anti-aging compound.

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New Study Reveals a Dog’s Heart Rate Increases When Their Owner Simply Says ‘I Love You’

By

Judy Cole

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Oct 12, 2020

Is there a more joyful, innocent, exuberant feeling in the world than puppy love? It’s an emotion that has no strings or reservations, and since a dog’s love is most often unconditional, it’s aptly named as well.

When a dog licks your face, jumps into your lap, or barks like a banshee when you come through the front door, it simply means they’re crazy about you.

But did you know that your dog’s heartbeat actually soars when you tell them, “I love you?”

Well, according to a recent study conducted by the folks at Canine Cottages, that well may be the case.

After equipping a quartet of test pups with heart rate monitors, the dogs were guided through a series of scenarios over the course of seven days to see how they’d react to a variety of stimuli.

The tracking data revealed the four dogs averaged a resting heart rate of 67 beats per minute.

MORE: Pigs May Rival Dogs As Man’s Best Friends, Says Adorable New Study

When owners said, “I love you” to their pets, the doggos’ heart rates shot to 98 beats per minute—a 46.2% increase.

While your dog perks up to the tune of a 10.4% heart-rate jump just for setting eyes on you, some activities actually had a calming effect on the pooches.

Quality couch time cuddling resulted in a 22.7% decrease in canine heart rates.

While it’s certainly not the most scientifically exhaustive study ever conducted and the conclusions drawn are possibly a bit shaggy, who are we to argue about the bond between “hoomans” and their hounds? Love is, after all, a four-legged word, isn’t it?

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One Way To Help Endangered Chimpanzees? Uganda is Planting 3 Million Trees

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Good News Network

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Oct 12, 2020

chimpanzee-public domain-julie-ricard — Julie Ricard

Over the next few years, three million local trees–from fig to mahogany–will be planted in Uganda, benefitting people, the planet, and our closest wildlife relatives, chimpanzees.

Earlier this year, the reforestation non-profit One Tree Planted and the Jane Goodall Institute announced they’re working together on a “Wildlife Habitat & Corridor Restoration Project” in Uganda.

As part of the effort, from 2020-2023 millions of native trees will be planted in western Uganda, supporting long-term and large-scale restoration of the Albertine Rift.

The Albertine Rift landscape is a diverse, globally recognized ecosystem which is crucial to many species and is a prominent habitat for endangered chimpanzees.

It also houses over 50% of birds, 39% of mammals, 19% of amphibians, and 14% of reptiles and plants of mainland Africa.

The aim is restore and manage these vital wildlife communities, ultimately providing significant ecological, socio-economic, and cultural benefits to the people of the area, too.

According to a release, Uganda’s forests have face a multitude of threats, including large and small-scale agriculture, logging, and fire.

“We need to protect the existing forests,” Dr. Jane Goodall. “We need to try and restore the forest and the land around the forest that has not been degraded for too long, where the seeds and roots in the ground can sprout up and once again reclaim that land and make it an amazing forest ecosystem.”

That’s why, over the next few years, a total of three million seedlings will be planted (with an at least 60% estimate survival rate), 700 households will be trained and supported to apply sustainable agroforestry practices on their land, and each village in the project area will have at least one trained individual on forest monitoring.

CHECK OUT: The Search Engine That Plants Trees With Every Search Has Just Planted its 100-Millionth Tree

Both non-profits recognize that critical in achieving lasting conservation outcomes is the need to balance conservation objectives and socio-economic needs.

Accordingly, this project will continue to support over 3,500 households in sustainable livelihoods through smoke-free and more efficient wood-burning stoves, improved agricultural practices, establishing community-managed enterprises and microcredit programs, and sustainable production techniques that increase incomes while protecting forests.

MORE: Tiny Forests Are Springing Up All Around Europe, Inspired By Japan, to Help Restore Biodiversity

Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) groups will also be established in order to monitor forests and will protect watersheds to improve groundwater recharge that feed wells and streams for wildlife and people alike.

If you’d like to donate the project, just head to the One Tree Planted page here.

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Canada is Banning Single-Use Plastic Bags, Straws, and Cutlery Next Year

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Good News Network

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Oct 12, 2020

plastic bag floating-pubdomain-Brian Yurasits — Brian Yurasits

Plastic is polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming wildlife, and generating microplastics in the water we use and drink. That’s why the Canadian government is promising to ban single-use plastics in 2021.

Every year, Canadians throw away 3 million tonnes of plastic waste, only 9% of which is recycled, meaning the vast majority of plastics end up in landfills and about 29,000 tonnes finds its way into our natural environment.

CHECK OUT: Company in Canada Collects 80% of City’s Recyclable Plastics and Turns It All into Lumber

On October 7, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the next steps in the government’s plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. The plan, he says, will protect wildlife and waters, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs.

A key part of the announcement is a ban on harmful single-use plastic items where there is evidence that they are found in the environment, are often not recycled, and have readily available alternatives.

MORE: Canadian Government Buys Hotels to House Homeless People—And Also Rehire Workers

Based on those criteria, the six items the government proposes to ban are plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics.

This list of items was published last week in the discussion paper Proposed Integrated Management Approach to Plastic Products to Prevent Waste and Pollution.

This plan also proposes improvements to recover and recycle plastic, so it stays in the economy and out of the environment.

The Canadian government is also proposing to establish recycled content requirements in products and packaging.

This, they say, will drive investment in recycling infrastructure and spur innovation in technology and product design to extend the life of plastic materials.

Together, all federal, provincial, and territorial governments have agreed to the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste that lays out a vision for a circular economy for plastics, as well as a two-phase action plan that is being jointly implemented. That sounds like good news for the environment, and all our futures.

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