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Hair Stylists Infected With COVID-19 Were Wearing Masks Along With Their 140 Clients—Tests Prove No One Got Sick

By
Michael Goonan
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File photo by Corey Coyle, CC

It seemed like the stuff of a quarantine nightmare. Two Missouri hair stylists started feeling ill just one day after returning to work at their salon. They ended up testing positive for COVID-19—but not until they had already given haircuts to 140 clients.

Public health officials in Springfield braced for the worst as all those who’d had appointments with the two Great Clips stylists went to get tested. When the results came back, they were shocked—and relieved—to find that not one of the salon customers had tested positive.

How did things turn out so well? One reason might be that all employees and patrons at the hair salon were required to wear masks. It now seems like the policy saved everybody from contracting the virus.

“The result appears to be one of the clearest real-world examples of the ability of masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus,” reported The Washington Post.

RELATED: Startup Global-PPE Delivers Essential Protective Gear to Native American Reservations

The incubation period if customers contracted the virus ended on June 8th, so health officials are now sure that those who came into contact with the hair stylists did not contract COVID-19. Now, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is sponsoring a study of “the outbreak that never happened” in hopes of providing some insight into prevention measures that can save lives, and expand our understanding of how this novel spreads.

“This is exciting news about the value of masking to prevent COVID-19,” said Director of Health Clay Goddard. “We are studying more closely the details of these exposures, including what types of face coverings were worn and what other precautions were taken to lead to this encouraging result.”

In addition to requiring clients and employees to wear masks, public health officials also say that social distancing policies such as spreading out patron’s chairs in the waiting room and staggering appointments were also helpful in preventing infections.

File photo by Corey Coyle, CC

LOOK: Teen Invents Wristband That Could Curb Infection by Warning Users Against Touching Their Face

While no method of preventing transmission of the virus is 100% effective, this incident is just the latest in a string of scientific studies illustrating the dramatic impact of wearing masks. Perhaps most notably, researchers from the University of California–San Diego, Caltech, and Texas A&M found that the spread of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China was found to be much less severe than in New York and Italy because its citizens were already prone to wearing masks against air pollution.

The World Health Organization also recently funded a study which drew the same conclusion based on the data from more than 170 other studies.

Dr. Hoyen hopes this good news will encourage Americans to do their part, saying “if everybody wears masks, we’re all much more protected.”

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First-of-Its-Kind Study Finds Shining a Red Light Through the Eyelid for 3 Minutes Per Day Can Boost Failing Eyesight

By
Good News Network
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File photo by thamuna, CC

Shining a deep red light for three minutes a day into your eye, even through the eyelid, can significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new University College London-led study, the first of its kind in humans.

Scientists believe the discovery, published this week in the Journals of Gerontology, could help the millions of people globally with naturally declining vision by signaling the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies.

In the UK, there are currently around 12 million people over the age of 65—and all will have some degree of visual decline because of retinal aging.

“As you age, your visual system declines significantly, particularly once over 40,” said the study’s lead author Professor Glen Jeffery from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

RELATED: Irreversible No Longer—Blind Mice See Again Thanks To New Method of Synthesizing Lost Cells

“Your retinal sensitivity and your color vision are both gradually undermined,” he continued. “To try to stem or reverse this decline, we sought to reboot the retina’s aging cells with short bursts of longwave light.”

The pace of aging in an eye’s retina is partially set when the cells’ mitochondria, whose role is to produce energy (known as ATP) and boost cell function, start to decline.

Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina’s photoreceptor cells, which have high energy demands. As a result, the retina ages faster than other organs with a 70% ATP reduction over life, causing a significant decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform their normal role.

MORE: ‘Breakthrough’ Device Restores Visual Perception to the Blind So They Can See Light and Motion

Researchers built on their previous findings in mice, bumblebees, and fruit flies, which all found significant improvements in the function of the retina’s photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to deep red (long wavelength) light.

“Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing their performance: longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production, rather like re-charging a battery.” said Professor Jeffery.

Photo by the University of College London

The retina’s photoreceptor population is formed out of cones that mediate color vision, and rods, which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision in low/dim light.

At the start of the study, 24 people (12 male, 12 female) between the ages of 28 and 72 with no ocular disease were tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones. Rod sensitivity was measured in dark adapted eyes (with pupils dilated) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark, and cone function was tested by subjects identifying colored letters that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred—a process called color contrast.

WATCH: Blind Man Develops Smart Cane That Uses Google Maps and Sensors to Identify One’s Surroundings

All participants were then given a small LED torch to take home and were asked to look into its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes a day for two weeks (participants were free to close their eyes and place them over the devices since the red light is not filtered by the eye lid.) They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity.

The researchers found that although the 670nm light had no impact in younger individuals, significant improvements were obtained in those around 40 years old and over.

Cone color contrast sensitivity (the ability to detect colors) improved by up to 20%, particularly in the blue part of the color spectrum that is more vulnerable in aging. Rod sensitivity (the ability to see in low light) also improved significantly, though less than color contrast.

LOOK: Man Carries Blind Dog for 800 Miles So She Can Build Confidence Walking the Rest of the Epic Hike on Her Own

“Our devices cost about £12 to make, so the technology is highly accessible to members of the public,” he added, though Amazon has some already for sale in the 660mn range.

File photo by thamuna, CC

“Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells,” said Professor Jeffery. “The technology is simple and very safe, using a deep red light of a specific wavelength that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina to supply energy for cellular function.

This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Edited and reprinted article from University of College London

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“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” – Tom Bodett

By
Good News Network
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Courtesy of Katarina Branovacki

Quote of the Day: “They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” – Tom Bodett

Photo: Mallorca, Spain after lockdown – by Katarina Branovacki, submitted

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?

 

Google Maps Now Features COVID-19 Travel Alerts With Social Distancing Mandates And Crowd Levels

By
Andy Corbley
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Henry Perks

With scientists and public health advisors warning of things like “second waves” of COVID-19, resulting from the progressive loosening of restrictions in countries around the world, Google’s latest Maps update includes information on public health mandates in your area.

It can be difficult to be sure you’re following enforced social-distancing or other measures like mask-wearing, especially if you are planning to travel to other countries as it gradually becomes an option again.

Maps is including public-transit information in a lot of countries where travelers might find themselves, including, but soon expanding beyond: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the U.S.

The new alerts feature mandates on social-distancing and mask-wearing, but also include things like average passenger counts and the greatest hours of crowdedness on trains and buses. Powered by millions of contributions from past transit passengers, the new predictions can help people see how crowded a particular bus line or train tends to be at any given time of day.

LOOK: Stunning ‘Bubble Hotel’ Under Icelandic Stars is Truly Perfect ‘Socially Distancing’ Destination

Google said in a press release that this function should be ideal for essential workers looking to get to and from work in a safer and informed way.

Once Google receives authoritative data from local, state and federal governments or from their websites, their update will also include driving alerts showing COVID-19 road checkpoints, and information on requirements and eligibility when driving to hospitals or coronavirus test centers.

RELATED: Dogs Trained to Sniff Out COVID-19 Score Near-Perfect in Diagnosis of Human Sweat Samples

There aren’t many things more unsettling than trying to find laws and regulations on foreign government websites while you’re traveling, making these new tools perfect for the vanguard of post-COVID-19 world explorers taking to the sea and sky as borders gradually reopen.

Need more positive stories and updates coming out of the COVID-19 challenge? For more uplifting coverage, click here.

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Stunning ‘Bubble Hotel’ Under the Icelandic Stars is Truly the Perfect ‘Socially Distancing’ Destination

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Good News Network
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A secluded retreat in South Iceland caters to guests who want to be surrounded by nature—and you will be literally immersed in it, staying in your own private bubble nestled in the forest.

You can sleep under the vast sea of twinkling stars and be entirely enclosed in the glass bubble—and if you are lucky, you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime view of the aurora borealis over your head.

Robert Robertsson, the owner and managing director of the Buubble project based in Reykjavík summed it up saying, “Some childhood dreams stay with us for our whole lives.”

“Sleeping under the stars or watching the aurora borealis dance is one of those lifelong dreams.”

The entrepreneur created the Bubble concept to fulfill those dreams. And, now with COVID-19 cases down to one or two per day in Iceland, it might be the perfect pandemic getaway.

“Forget the city, forget work, and enjoy watching the aurora borealis dance for you. We can‘t guarantee you will see the lights, but if they show up you will have a magical night.”

Licensed as a travel agency, Buubble.com has two location in South Iceland.

RELATED: This Breathtaking Café Made Entirely Out of Cardboard Shows Just How Eco-Friendly Architecture Can Be

Up to 2 guests can stay in the bubbles, with children under the age of 6 can staying in the bed with the parents.

SWNS

The regular cost is $830, but Robertsson is offering a COVID-19 discount which would bring the amount down to $618, and allow you to book anytime using the open ticket in the next five years.

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Watch Insanely Talented Girl Performing Mind-Blowing Basketball Stunts at Just 12 Years Old

By
Good News Network
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This amazing footage shows an insanely talented girl performing mind blowing basketball stunts—and she is only 12 years old.

Karolina Ramirez began showing flair and talent for the sport of basketball at age six.

The incredible child prodigy films herself performing crazy trick shots in her hometown of Stuart, Florida.

The footage shows her on a pogo stick passing two basketballs through a hoop multiple times before seamlessly transitioning into a dribbling routine.

“It become apparent that Karolina was a talented player at 6 years old after playing and practicing basketball since she was 4,” said her father Orlando Ramirez.

“She performs the trick shots by practicing for hours and challenging herself.”

WATCH: Heart-Melting Moment As Toddler Hugs a Stranger After Recognizing They Both Have Limb Differences

Karolina also enjoys playing competitive basketball against other kids.

“It helps her get closer to achieving her goals. Basketball is simply a platform that will open many paths in her life,” says her proud dad.

(WATCH the video below from SWNS…)

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World’s Rarest Wading Bird is Making a Comeback as Its Population Rises By 30%

By
Good News Network
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©Liz-Brown /New-Zealand Department of Conservation - released

A decades-long fight to recover the world’s rarest wading bird is turning a corner with the success of New Zealand’s massive effort to prevent extinction of their most unique and amazing species.

©Liz-Brown /New-Zealand Department of Conservation – released

A nearly 40-year program to protect the kakī, or black stilt is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī now living in the wild. Thanks to the ongoing work of the New Zealand Department of Conservation’s Kakī Recovery Program, the population of adult kakī has increased by 30 percent to 169, the largest increase in nearly 40 years.

The kakī is the ‘Man vs Wild’ of the wading bird world. After all of its friends have left New Zealand’s Southern Alps for the winter, the kakī shelters in place, toughing out temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees (-20 C).

It’s the only non-migratory wading bird that breeds in this high country region.

Global Wildlife Conservation funded the majority of newly expanded housing that has allowed the DOC to double the number of birds that they’ve been able to hatch and house as part of this successful breeding and reintroduction program.

This includes a new brooder room for hand-rearing chicks and a new aviary for juvenile kakī, which could mean up to 60 extra birds released into the wild each year. (See the video below…)

2 chicks, Global Wildlife Conservation -released

“New Zealand’s commitment to turn the tide on the decline and extinction of native species shows their leadership in biodiversity conservation,” said Wes Sechrest, GWC chief scientist and CEO.

Kakī are found only in New Zealand, where the Māori regard the bird as a taonga species, or a living treasure. The adult birds have distinct black plumage and long pink-red legs. In addition to predation, they face habitat destruction and disturbance in the South Island’s Mackenzie Basin. The kakī are a key indicator species for the future recovery of the native fauna and flora of the unique basin ecosystem.

Kakī were once widespread across a unique system of braided rivers in New Zealand. But the introduction of non-native predators, including stoats, ferrets, feral cats and rats, decimated the population, leaving a mere 23 adults and four breeding pairs in the wild by 1981.

The Te Manahuna Aoraki Project, which GWC also supports, is helping ensure that the birds that are part of the conservation breeding program have a safer environment to be released into. This large-scale conservation project aims to restore the iconic landscapes and threatened species of the upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park.

“Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s successful captive breeding program and amazing support from partner organizations, there are 40 more adult birds living and breeding in the wild than this time last year,” said Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage.

DOC currently has 116 juveniles and 11 older kakī in their care. This season, DOC collected eggs from three breeding pairs in their facilities and 26 wild breeding pairs. They then artificially incubated the kakī and raised the young chicks, who were held over winter and released into the wild at nine months of age.

NZ Department of Conservation

“With these impressive efforts, we hope to see the kakī join the ranks of species that have been successfully brought back from the brink of extinction, including the black-footed ferret, the California condor, and golden-lion tamarins,” Sechrest said. “We are proud to support the conservation not only of kakī, but of their incredible home in the upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park.”

See where they are hatching in the video below…

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“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

Photo: Jamie Street, public domain, cropped

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?

 

20 Wolf Cubs Born in Zoos Successfully Integrated into Wild Packs to Be Raised As Their Own and Diversify the Gene Pool

By
Andy Corbley
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Credit: Interagency Field Team

Recovery efforts for one of North America’s most charismatic and persecuted species, the Mexican wolf, received a huge boost this spring as 20 wolf pups born in captivity were successfully integrated within wild packs across the southwest United States.

Credit: Interagency Field Team

Captive breeding programs in zoos and wolf centers in Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, California, Arizona, provided the 20 pups from seven different litters, which were in turn placed among seven wild packs in Arizona and New Mexico. The innovative program is managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with extensive support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

Cross-fostering is a proven method of reintroduction that involves taking pups about 14-days old and placing them in wild wolf dens containing pups of similar age. Studies have shown cross-fostered wolves has the same survival rate as wild-born pups throughout their first year of life, the highest rate of survival of any wolf-reintroduction methods.

“Managing genetics is one of the biggest challenges facing Mexican wolf conservation, even as constant progress is being made on numeric recovery,” said Jim deVos, an Assistant Director at the Arizona Department. “Cross-fostering young pups works in increasing genetic diversity.”

The species canis lupus baileyi had been hunted to extinction in the U.S. by the mid-20th century for its killing of livestock. However, after successful conservation efforts to reintegrate the wolf, 109 animals had been reintroduced by 2015, according to a FWS survey.

RELATED: Mexican Wolf Roams Desert Once Again Thanks to Former Wolf Hunter

The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) started cross-fostering wolves in 2014, and began with just 2 wolf pups. Since then, 30 pups born in captivity have been taken to the wild to be fostered in dens—and, at least 10 cross-fostered wolves have survived and been recruited into wild wolf packs.

FWS, 2019

The IFT doesn’t collar and track every single cross-fostered wolf, so it’s likely that more have survived and have just gone unnoticed.

The 2019 census counted 163 wild Mexican wolves (76 in Arizona and 87 in New Mexico), up from 131 animals counted one year earlier.

POPULAR: Therapy Wolves Become Guides for Troubled Teens (WATCH)

Wild wolf packs are also bouncing back from extinction in Europe, and thanks to the efforts of American conservationists, it will be sooner, rather than later, that citizens of the southwest return from their camping and hiking trips with tales of howls in the hills, and visions of tawny brown and rusty red figures vanishing into the bushes.

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After Getting Laid Off, ‘Lasagna Lady’ Responds to Coronavirus by Cooking 1,200 Pans for Strangers in Need

By
Michael Goonan
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It’s an all-too-familiar story during the coronavirus pandemic. A woman arrives at her retail job only to hear that she is out of work. Many would respond with a sense of self-pity, but her reaction has been an inspiration to thousands.

Like many of us, Michelle Brenner, who worked at a menswear store, first turned to comfort food—using her grandmother’s special recipe, she made a huge pan of lasagna.

Then, she offered to go grocery shopping for some friends and was dismayed that they had added frozen lasagnas to their lists. Her culinary mind screamed, “This just won’t do at all!”

It was then that she realized she could put some smiles on some faces in Gig Harbor, Washington.

The Italian-American posted on Facebook, letting her friends and neighbors know that she could whip up some homemade goodness for them—all they had to do was ask, and come by to pick it up. She received her $1,200 government stimulus check, and used all of it to buy ingredients for her cooking.

A retired neighbor and unemployed friend were the first to take her up on the generous offer. Before long, many strangers who’d heard about her kindness started stopping by. Three months have passed now, and Michelle is still assembling the layers of love—8 hours a day, seven days a week.

She has made over 1,200 pans of lasagna—no questions asked—for anybody who wants one. She even began dropping them off for essential workers at the local police and fire departments, the hospital (and even the prison).

Facebook

“The world as we know it is falling apart, but my two little hands are capable of making a difference,” the 45-year-old angel told the Washington Post. “I can’t change the world, but I can make lasagna.”

RELATED: Uber Driver Rewarded with New Car By Jada Pinkett Smith After She Delivers Thousands of Meals to Hospital Workers

At first, Ms. Brenner was assembling the lasagna at home and leaving it for pick up in her front yard. All people had to do was take it home and pop it in the over. When word spread about her generosity, strangers stepped up to support the unique philanthropy.

The Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club offered the use of their huge clubhouse kitchen.

“We saw what a great thing she was doing, and we have this nice commercial kitchen that wasn’t being used because of COVID,” Le Rodenberg, the club’s president, told the Post. “I can tell you that she takes extra care with every one of those lasagnas.”

LOOK: New Website “Pandemic of Love” Connects 132,000 People in Need of Aid With Those Who Can Help

In order to scale up her operation, she set up a fundraiser on Facebook to support her work. Before long, it had raised more than $22,000, mostly from strangers on Facebook from all corners of the world. She says this will enable her to continue cooking for several months.

Michelle expects she’ll be able to get back to work at some point during the summer. But even when that happens, she will continue making her delicious pasta dishes from grandma’s recipe, and she says she could easily continue for the rest of her life.

“One lasagna at a time, we’re going to get through this,” she told KING 5 news.

WATCH the KING 5 report from May 4…

Need more positive stories and updates coming out of the COVID-19 challenge? For more uplifting coverage, click here.

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Hero Park Ranger Carries Dehydrated Dog To Safety Down a Treacherous Mountain Trail

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Good News Network
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Not all heroes wear capes—some wear hiking boots and work in America’s National Parks.

The temperature was rising to 90 degrees on Tuesday in the mountainous hills of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area, when Lexie Daniel and her friends witnessed a heroic act of kindness to save a dog’s life.

Lexie and her fellow hikers encountered a man whose dog was severely overheated. Even though they donated their water, the group was afraid that it wouldn’t be enough to sustain the pup, after seeing how much the dog was already struggling.

“The owner brought along a huge jug, but no amount of water seemed to be helping,” Lexie told GNN.

Too tired to carry the dog himself, Lexie said ”the loving owner called the park rangers ASAP,” and reported their location on Mount Tammany.

Supervisory Park Ranger Kris Salapek soon found them on the trail.

Kris then lifted the huge dog onto his shoulders and began carrying him down the mountain.

Submitted by Lexie Daniel

“It was a LONG distance—a couple miles down an incredibly rocky path,” says Lexie.

When they reached the stream, Kris “laid him in the water as he knelt beside him and poured water on him.”

Photo submitted by Tori Matyola

“The ranger then picked him back up over his shoulders and walked all the way back down to the street.”

“He must’ve been on his shoulders for about an hour, it was a long way down!” Lexie said via text message.

Mount Tammany in New Jersey, Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC license

Lexie’s cousin Tori Matyola said, “The owner hiked down ahead of the ranger so that once he got down the mountain he had the car ready to take him straight to the vet.”

“The dog was looking a little better by the time he got to the car and picking up his head.”

Lexie Daniel, submitted

When she got home, Lexie, a pediatric nurse from Hackettstown, New Jersey, posted the good deed on Facebook and it went viral with 35,000 people sharing the post and showing admiration for the ranger.

“This is a HERO,” Lexie wrote. “We are so lucky to have rangers like this (who) put even animals before themselves. This ranger deserves insane recognition and a standing ovation for his bravery, selflessness, and strength.”

RELATED: Dogs Trained to Sniff Out COVID-19 Score Near-Perfect in Diagnosis of Human Sweat Samples

Lexie updated her post by saying the ranger had been in touch with the owner of the pup who said the patient is doing fine, making a full recovery.

“Thanks to this ranger and other officers like him, we can feel a little safer for our loved ones (even our pups)”

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“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity… The good they do is inconceivable.” – Joseph Addison

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity… The good they do is inconceivable.” – Joseph Addison

Photo: Masaaki Komori, public domain

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?

 

After 100 Days of COVID, XPRIZE Launches $5M Competition to Get Americans Back to Work

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Good News Network
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XPRIZE has always held global competitions to find the best solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges, and now they want to solve the problem of rising unemployment due to the pandemic.

On Monday, the nonprofit organization announced XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling to reinvent job training methods to reemploy the hardest hit communities.

Sponsored by the nonprofit philanthropy group, New Profit, the contest aims to find optimal ways to give workers new skills and secure employment amid drastic changes due to technological advances as well as COVID-19.

XPRIZE is inviting teams to develop new innovative ways that can be applied to multiple occupations. Teams must prove reskilling can be done two-times faster than current solutions and must be affordable, accessible, and collaborative.

The focus will be on over 80 specific occupations that are growing fast, require only a high school diploma or post-secondary certificate, and pay above a living wage. The goal is to set a new standard for how current and future generations of workers are trained for the jobs of tomorrow.

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

“On the 100th Day of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we launched one of our most important competitions to date,” said XPRIZE CEO Anousheh Ansari. “XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling is designed to address the reality of a changing workforce where technology is displacing workers at an unprecedented pace, which has only been heightened by COVID-19.”

It’s not about automation, robotics, or artificial intelligence. It’s about people.

With a $5 million top prize, they are calling on all tech experts, educators, training providers, staffing agencies, employers and academic institutions to form teams that will use novel methods to rapidly train 500 people at no cost in 60 days, and place them in jobs…ensuring job retention of at least 90 days, while demonstrating “exponential adoption by deploying the training solutions for 5,000 individuals in three industries.”

Rapid Reskilling is committed to ensuring diversity because most of the people unemployed in the U.S. right now are people of color, and their goal is to have at least 40 percent of the teams made up of people from those communities.

POPULAR: Bank of America Pledges $1 Billion to Fight Racial Inequality; Apple, Facebook, Verizon Give $10M Each

XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling is part of New Profit’s broader Future of Work Grand Challenge, a collaborative, cross-sector effort that will help prepare 12 million Americans from disinvested communities for workforce success by 2025, with help from the MIT program ‘Reimagining Pathways to Employment in the US’ from MIT Solve.

XPRIZE is no stranger to solving major problems on a global scale. They launched the Carbon XPRIZE, which is developing breakthrough technologies to convert CO2 emissions into everyday, usable products.

“We’ve been at the forefront of innovation for 25 years,” said Dr. Emily Musil Church, Executive Director of Equity at XPRIZE. “The future of work isn’t just robotics, or artificial intelligence, or automation; it is ultimately about people. XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling will create a future in which all workers can rapidly attain new and more relevant skills to open up new opportunities equal to the pace of technological developments.”

If you’re interested in forming a team and joining the competition, visit rapidreskilling.xprize.org for more information.

RELATED: Totally Green Machine That Uses Biowaste to Generate Clean Water Wins $1.75 Million XPrize

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World’s Biggest Liquid Air Battery – ‘The Climate Emission Killer’ – is Now Under Construction in England

By
Andy Corbley
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Photo by Highview Power

One of the biggest challenges with widespread implementation of renewable energy is storage—but now in England, a trailblazing company is developing the world’s first liquid-air battery storage facility for renewable energy.

And the zero-emission concept costs half as much to produce as lithium-ion batteries.

Capable of powering 200,000 homes for a whole day and storing renewable energy for weeks on end, the facility is slated for operation in 2022.

Good News Network has recently reported on other schemes of renewable energy storage, including Swedish energy company Azelio’s recycled aluminum batteries for storing thermal energy in an block of molten aluminum.

CHECK OUT: Used Electric Car Batteries Could Be Recycled into New Life as Energy Storage for Solar Farms, Says New Study

Similar to Azelio’s technology, this new CRYObattery initiative developed by Highview Power involves the transition of matter—molecules changing from solid to liquid to gas—to store energy.

When grid demand is low, leftover green energy is used to compress air into a liquid form for storage. When grid demand rises, pressure on the liquid air releases, turning it back into a gas. This gas is then used as a fuel for a green-energy wind turbine that can generate clean electricity to be sent back into the grid.

The most admirable qualities of the technology are its scalability, generating anywhere from 80MW per hour to 200MW per hour; its zero emission output; and the cost, which is 50% lower than manufacturing lithium-ion batteries.

Photo by Highview Power

The government of Manchester, England has supported the project with a £10 million grant in hopes of supporting the country’s decarbonization goals and encouraging a green recovery from the COVID-19 lockdowns that have hurt the English economy.

LOOK: Not Only Does New Solar Chimney Design Cut Energy Costs By 50%, It Can Also Save Lives During a Fire

“Air is everywhere in the world. The main competitor is really not other storage technologies but fossil fuels,” says Highview CEO Javier Cavada told The Guardian.

MORE: First Hybrid Floating Ocean Platform Can Generate Power From Waves, Wind, And Solar

“This revolutionary new facility will form a key part of our push towards net zero, bringing greater flexibility to Britain’s electricity grid and creating green-collar jobs in Greater Manchester.

Highview is projected to launch similar locations for similar battery systems in the UK, Europe, and US, but the Manchester project will be the first facility to come online, scheduled to be completed in 2022.

“The first one is definitely the most important and this is why we really value the UK government’s bold move to use UK technology to solve UK problems and afterwards export the tech globally,” said Cavada.

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Garbage Men Break Down in Tears When Residents Surprise Them With ‘Thank You’ Party Attended By Mayor

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Good News Network
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Saul and Keon have never missed a day of work picking up trash in Miami Beach—and they’re especially glad they were covering their route this week as a beautiful surprise awaited them.

When their huge truck rolled down the street into the North Bay Road community they found scores of residents who’d gotten up early to line the street with signs and balloons, all to simply say ‘we love you’.

Jennifer Elegant wanted to show her family’s appreciation so she organized the socially-distancing surprise ‘thank you’ celebration to honor the essential workers whom she called “extraordinary”.

Even the Miami Beach mayor, Dan Gelber, showed up to salute them— because Saul Scruggs and Keon Richardson do so much more than pick up trash.

“They bring an incredible, positive energy to the entire neighborhood,” Jennifer told GNN. “Simply put, they spread joy.”

What is particularly special about these two men is the positive energy that they bring with them. They always have smiles on their faces and never miss an opportunity to say hello and brighten someone’s day. They also go out of their way to help others and expect nothing in return.

RELATED: Little Girl Has Best Birthday Ever Thanks To Kind Garbage Man

One day, Saul spent 45 minutes helping a neighbor dig through her trash to help her look for her lost wedding ring. He also waited over an hour with another neighbor who was having heart issues and needed an ambulance.

Jennifer has had “meaningful discussions” with these amazing sanitation workers about their inspiring levels of happiness and often share their wisdom with her Miami Dade College psychology students.

“They continue to maintain their upbeat demeanor even during this stressful COVID-19 pandemic, sacrificing their own safety in order to keep our city clean and beautiful,” she said.

Keon with his family – video by Brian Ely on YouTube

“Every day we are surrounded by heroes who bring us inspiration and joy but too often we are unable to recognize these special individuals for the impact they make on others. I wanted Saul and Keon to know that we are thankful from the bottom of our hearts.”

WATCH: Adorable 2-Year-Old Triplets Are Best Friends With Their Garbage Men-Video

And the thanks showed up yesterday in gift bags, cards, and presents—like a mini-trash truck from a little boy—presented to these ‘essential workers’ from the many people who appreciate them.

WATCH the local news coverage from WPLG News… (Featured photo shows Jennifer, Saul, and his wife)

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“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller (born 140 years ago)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller (born 140 years ago)

Photo: BLM rally by risingthermals, CC license, cropped

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?

 

COVID-19 Lockdown is Bringing Fathers Closer to Their Kids With Improved Relationships for 40% Surveyed

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Good News Network
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A pair of new studies reveals a silver lining amid the COVID gloom: Many fathers feel closer to their kids during the pandemic, and want to create a new normal going forward.

The studies, released last week as part of Canadian Men’s Health Week, were conducted in May on behalf of the nonprofit Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF). The first survey asked 1,019 Canadian fathers about the impact of the COVID lockdown on their roles as fathers.

“Even though families have faced stressors and challenges with COVID-19, we recognize that fathers have been granted a golden opportunity to take time to slow down and connect with their children,” said Canadian Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“Many parents work full time and commute, and when that is taken away, they have more opportunities for togetherness, like a game of catch or going for a hike. Men’s health is impacted by their living situations, and getting a little more physical activity with their kids is a little thing that makes a big difference. We can learn from this pandemic in more ways than we think.”

During lockdown, 40% of the respondents felt COVID-19 has had a positive impact on their role as a father, 52% are more aware of their importance as a father, and 60% felt closer to their children. Half of those surveyed have already decided to be more engaged as a father in the future.

RELATED: Man Who Grew Up Without a Dad Supports Youth With ‘Dad, How Do I?’ YouTube Channel

According to the study, almost two thirds of fathers have been providing companionship to their children more often during lockdown, and almost half plan to continue doing so as restrictions are lifted. Likewise, 56% have been providing guidance to their children more often, with 46% planning to continue doing that as well.

“I’ve been off work since March and it’s been stressful, but the upside is I’ve been able to spend a lot more time with my daughters,” said Dal Watson of Burnaby, B.C. “I’m a professional chef and I’ve been spending time in the kitchen at home teaching my kids how to cook. We’re also sitting down as a family and eating together, which was something that couldn’t happen very often when I was working. I’m grateful for the extra time I have with my family.”pandemic in more ways than we think.”

RELATED: Dad Drives 1,100 Miles Just to Surprise Daughter With 30-Minute Socially Distant Birthday Lunch

Steven Sim, CC license

Nick Black, Managing Partner at Intensions Consulting, said fathers’ increased engagement can take many forms. One tangible way the study sees dads engaging is that 64% are eating more meals with their children.

“Sharing meals can provide an important opportunity for family connection,” says Black. “There is considerable evidence that eating meals together can have a positive impact on kids mental health, nutritional choices, school performance, and can even reduce the incidence of drug and alcohol use.”

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As a follow up to the online survey, The Men’s Initiative (TMI) at UBC conducted virtual focus groups with 45 fathers from across Canada. Many fathers described a hectic family dynamic prior to COVID with busy lives focused on long work days with commuting, eating on the run, and catering to children’s schedules. With the sports, extracurricular, and social activities, the family members experienced lives that were lived in parallel with each other.

As the pandemic evolves, fathers have expressed concern that they will experience a tension between shifting back to the “old normal,” and a desire to create a new normal going forward.

“We know the active and positive presence of fathers in their children’s lives has a positive effect on those children’s mental and physical wellbeing and reduces the frequency of their negative behaviors,” noted Dr. David Kuhl, a UBC Professor of Medicine and a co-founder of TMI.

“If the COVID-19 lockdown accelerates the movement of dads to be more engaged with their children, that could be a lasting benefit from a tragic public health crisis,”said Dr. Larry Goldenberg, the Founding Chair of CMHF. “It is clear, however, that men realize it will be a challenge to continue spending quality time with their families once the daily stresses of commuting and working long hours are reintroduced to their lives.”

CMHF has some easy ‘Dad Tips’ to help fathers find a better work-life balance at DontChangeMuch.ca.

Need more positive stories and updates coming out of the COVID-19 challenge? For more uplifting coverage, click here.

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Hawaii Group Sets Record For Largest Haul of Plastic Removed From The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

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Good News Network
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Ocean Voyages Institute says it made history this week, returning to the port of Honolulu Tuesday, after successfully removing 103 tons of fishing nets and consumer plastics from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

It more than doubled its own record-setting results from a 25-day stint last year during this 48-day expedition. And, Mary Crowley, the group’s founder and executive director, says they are headed back to sea in two days to collect more debris.

“I am so proud of our hard working crew,” says Crowley. “We exceeded our goal of capturing more than 100 tons of toxic consumer plastics and derelict ‘ghost’ nets—and in these challenging times, we are continuing to help restore the health of our ocean, which influences our own health and the health of the planet.”

Known as the ‘Ghost Net Buster,’ Mary Crowley is renowned for developing effective methods to remove significant amounts of plastics out of the ocean, including 48 tons (96,000 lbs.) of plastics during two ocean clean-up voyages in 2019, including one that scooped up nets that had trapped garbage around the Hawaiian islands.

All photos by Ocean Voyages Institute

“Even though beach cleanups are the most efficient way to collect trash, ocean cleanup—intercepting it before it comes to the shore—is very important,” Dr. Nikolai Maximenko of FloatEco told GNN during a Zoom press briefing. “Nothing can replace the effort in the ocean.”

RELATED: ‘Landmark’ Study Lays Road Map for Exactly How We Can Restore Oceans to Former Glory in Just One Generation

Aboard their cargo ship, the team has been using GPS satellite trackers since 2018, designed with the help of engineer Andy Sybrandy, of Pacific Gyre, Inc. Crowley’s theory proved successful that one tracker can lead to many nets. The ocean frequently ‘sorts’ the floating debris so that a tagged fishing net can lead to other nets and a density of debris within a 15-mile radius.

Ocean Voyages Institute

“We are utilizing proven nautical equipment to effectively clean-up the oceans while innovating with new technologies,” says Crowley in a media release. “Ocean Voyages Institute has been a leader in researching and accomplishing ocean clean-up for over a decade, granted with less fanfare and attention than others, but with passion and commitment and making meaningful impacts.”

RELATED: Dutch Guy Famous for Cleaning Up Pacific Garbage Patch is Now Clearing the World’s Rivers Too

Ocean Voyages Institute unloaded the record-breaking haul of ocean plastic debris this week while docked alongside Pier 29, thanks to the support of Honolulu-based Matson, in preparation for upcycling and proper disposal. The team is committed to 0% ending up in any landfill and is sending the sorted debris to recycling companies to be turned into insulation, energy, etc.

Ocean Voyages Institute

“In keeping with our commitment to environmental stewardship, Matson has been searching for a way to get involved in cleaning up the Pacific,” said Matt Cox, chairman and CEO. “We’ve been impressed with the groundbreaking efforts of Ocean Voyages Institute and the progress they’ve made with such a small organization, and we hope our support will help them continue this important work.”

RELATED: Guys Who Sell Ocean Plastic Bracelets Are Closing in on 8 Million Pounds of Waste Pulled From the Sea

The sailing cargo vessel, S/V KWAI, left the Hawaiian port of Hilo on May 4, after a three week self-imposed quarantine period to ensure the health of crew members, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crew on departure – Ocean Voyages Institute

The GPS satellite tracking beacons are being placed on fishing nets by volunteer yachts and ships.

Ocean Voyages Institute is launching a second voyage that will depart in two days to continue clean-up of the area, but its length (between 25-30 days) will be determined by donations and fundraising. You can donate by check, paypal, or other method on their website.

“Our goal is to have another 3-4 boats working next year—all bringing in large cargos of debris,” Crowley (who spends most of the year in Sausalito, California) told GNN by phone. “We have vessels wanting to help clean up, so right now we can begin to make a big change, because our solutions are scalable.”

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Over the long term, they are aiming to expand to other parts of the world desperately needing clean-up help, so that abandoned fishing nets will never again entangle or harm a whale, dolphin, turtle or reef.

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Soap Bubbles Delivered By a Tiny Drone Can Pollinate Crops If Bees Aren’t Available, Says Study

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Good News Network
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Campanula flower with soap bubble by Eijiro Miyako

Even though bees had a ‘very good year,’ with the second smallest winter hive loss in 14 years, according to an annual survey released in March, agriculture experts continue to look for alternative pollination techniques. And, just in time for National Pollinator Week, we’ve got news on a pollinator of a different sort.

Bees and other pollinators like butterflies are essential to farmers who grow flowering crops like fruit orchards and almonds, but with bee populations suffering over the last decade, due to a variety of factors, one innovative researcher in Japan may have found the perfect solution—and the idea came to him while in the park blowing soap bubbles with his son.

Eijiro Miyako, an associate professor at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has successfully used soapy bubbles to pollinate a pear orchard by delivering pollen grains to targeted flowers in the most delicate way, utilizing a drone.

The whimsical technique would be much cheaper and more effective than other types of manual pollination, when used in concert with robotic or drone delivery methods.

The study, published in Nomi, Japan on June 17 in the journal iScience, presents a low-tech complement to robotic pollination technology designed to supplement the work of vanishing bees.

“It sounds somewhat like fantasy, but the functional soap bubble allows effective pollination and assures that the quality of fruits is the same as with conventional hand pollination,” wrote Miyako, the senior author.

Campanula flower with soap bubble by Eijiro Miyako

“Soap bubbles have innovative potentiality and unique properties, such as effective and convenient delivery of pollen grains to targeted flowers and high flexibility to avoid damaging them.”

RELATED: Historic Deal to Protect Millions of Monarch Butterfly Habitat Acres is Unprecedented

Miyako and colleagues had previously published a study in the journal Chem, in which they used a tiny toy drone to pollinate blossoming flowers. But, even though the drone was only two centimeters long, the researchers struggled to prevent it from destroying the flowers as it bumped into them.

While searching for a more flower-friendly artificial pollination technique, Miyako spent a day at the park blowing bubbles with his son. When one of the bubbles collided against his son’s face — a predictably injury-free accident — Miyako found his inspiration.

After confirming through optical microscopy that soap bubbles could, in fact, carry pollen grains, Miyako and Xi Yang, his coauthor on the study, tested the effects of five commercially available surfactants on pollen activity and bubble formation. The neutralized surfactant lauramidopropyl betain (A-20AB) won out over its competitors, facilitating better pollen germination and growth of the tube that develops from each pollen grain after it is deposited on a flower.

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Based on a laboratory analysis of the most effective soap concentrations, the researchers tested the performance of pear pollen grains in a 0.4% A-20AB soap bubble solution with an optimized pH and added calcium and other ions to support germination. After three hours of pollination, the pollen activity mediated through the soap bubbles, remaining steady, while other methods such as pollination through powder or solution became less effective.

Miyako and Yang then loaded the solution into a bubble gun and released pollen-loaded bubbles into a pear orchard, finding that the technique distributed pollen grains (about 2,000 per bubble) to the flowers they targeted, producing fruit that demonstrated the pollination’s success.

Finally, the researchers loaded an autonomous, GPS-controlled drone, which they used to direct soap bubbles at fake lilies (since flowers were no longer in bloom) from a height of two meters, hitting their targets at a 90% success rate when the machine moved at a velocity of two meters per second.

RELATED: You Can Now Use These Pocket-Sized ‘Bee Savior’ Cards to Rescue Hungry Honeybees on the Sidewalk

Although this approach to pollination appears promising, more techniques are still needed to improve its precision. Plus, with soap bubbles, weather is key — raindrops can wash away pollen-bearing bubbles from flowers, while strong winds might blow them astray.

Next, Miyako and colleagues plan to tackle the issue of waste generated by the artificial pollinator prototype, since most bubbles still fail to land on their target flowers.

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No One Came to Student’s Graduation—So His Teacher Took Him Out to Dinner and Bought Him a Car

By
Michael Goonan
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Dom Moore - Facebook

What started as a lonely graduation day for a teen in Alabama has turned into a priceless opportunity to bond with his teacher. Now, that teacher is working to get that student a car that will get him started in his adult life.

On Thursday, Bessemer City High School held its annual graduation ceremony. Dominque Moore was one of the teachers involved in coordinating the event. After the ceremony had ended, Dom was cleaning up after the festivities.

Nearly everybody had left to celebrate with friends and family, but one young man was still sitting there by himself.

“I know his moods and I knew he wasn’t himself,” Dom told AL.com. “I asked him, ‘Where are your people?’ and he was like, ‘Nobody’s here.”

Not knowing what to say at first, the teacher told him “I expect big things from you and it’s going to be OK.”

Dom assumed that someone would show up eventually to give the graduate a ride home. But nobody did. When Dom offered to drive him, neither of the two had any idea that this was to be more than just a ride home.

RELATED: Teacher Moved to Tears By Students Pooling Money to Replace His Stolen Shoes (WATCH)

The teacher decided to take him out to eat—at any restaurant of his choice. They ended up at the Cheesecake Factory, and enjoyed a hearty meal and dessert to celebrate the graduate’s achievement.

At first, the two were fighting back tears. But before long, they were having a great time together. Dom never asked why the boy’s family did not attend the ceremony. What was important to him was that the young man felt appreciated for what he had accomplished.

Dom Moore – Facebook

Later that evening, Dom took to Facebook to share a photo and some thoughts on the event. He says that he doesn’t normally post about these situations, as they are all too common in his profession, but that something inside urged him to share this experience.

And, he shared his Cash App ID in the post ($mooredaeducator) for anyone who may want to be a “blessing” to this young man.

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Before long, generous people—many of them strangers—had sent more than $5,000 in donations. Dom took the teen to open a bank account with the money, and is also hoping to help him buy a car, and save up to attend college one day.

This baby needed a village and WE ARE HERE!” Ash Norris commented on Dom’s Facebook post.

Another commenter, Chip Dillard, volunteered to mentoring the young man, saying, ‘I’m retired and I’d gladly donate 20 hours per week.”

“I’m feeling amazing, that so many people would bless him in the way they have,” Dom told GNN, nine days after he started the fundraiser, which has undoubtedly raised more money since the first report. “He has received a great deal of funds which have been turned over to a financial advisor.”

Dom hopes that the story will remind all of us what is truly important and give hope to those who are struggling. “We take people and life for granted. Even though we have bad, in this moment it shows that mankind is good.”

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