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Stylish Prefab Home Can Be ‘Dropped’ into Flooded Areas or Anywhere Housing is Needed

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Good News Network
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Drop Pod tiny homes – Courtesy of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios
Drop Pod tiny homes – Courtesy of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios

Created for our changing climate and rising sea levels, architects in the island nation of Indonesia designed the Drop Pod, a modular structure that is “quick to distribute and easy to install.”

The futuristic prefabricated homes developed by Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios are designed to be both stylish and expandable, with the ability to be placed on a variety of terrain and deployed rapidly.

“Whether it’s an urban area in a wealthy country or a developing country battling climate change, the Drop Pod provides the solution,” says the company’s website.

“Nowadays, we see ourselves more and more confronted with issues of constant population growth and major changes in our climate.”

For decades, sea levels have risen about 8 millimeters per year, according to a video report shot in Indonesia by Al Jazeera. This has caused major flooding and tidal surges that have consumed thousands of homes.

Drop Pod saw the need for a house that is quick to distribute and easy to install. Their goal was to provide a tiny house that is both user and environmentally friendly.

Courtesy of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios
Courtesy of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios

“The design provides a quality space that can be built in one week,” claims the firm. And, the stone foundation, which elevates the home above potential floodwaters also allows the structure to be placed on sloped terrain with ease.

Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios

The shell of the structure stands on a footing of 1.2 meters high (about 4 feet), allowing for flood resistance and is easy to add-on additional wings for more space.

Despite its diminutive size, the home emits a light and airy feeling with its light wood finish and mirrored wall.

Built-in shelving helps solve storage issues, while steps lead to a bedroom loft overlooking the living space. The glass front can be fitted with large curtains to provide privacy.

The bathroom and bedroom follows the same principle, combining practical layouts with design detail such as rounded windows and integrated cabinetry.

INGENIOUS! Dutch Designers Create Tiny Home by Burrowing into the Bosom of a Recycled Wind Turbine

Courtesy of Inspiral Architecture and Design Studios

The first Drop Pod prototype has been installed in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, and, if nothing else, it shows us that “prefab doesn’t have to mean boring”.

CHECK THIS OUT: Gorgeous Tiny Home Village Offers Affordable Housing That Withstood Direct Hit From Hurricane Milton

We’ve reached out to Inspiral to inquire about the price, because it’s not listed online. See more photos of the home on their website…

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Mangy Shih Tzu Wandering Streets Gets New Home as 75 Seniors in a Care Home Unite to Adopt Him (LOOK)

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Nathan Frederick
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Chewy the Shih Tzu – Credit: The Philomena / Facebook
Chewy the Shih Tzu riding on a walker – Credit: The Philomena / Facebook

A few months ago, it seemed like he was the dog no one wanted—now he’s got a new leash on life, with lots of seniors doting over him.

The black and gray Shih Tzu was found wandering the streets of Austin, Texas. His fur was overgrown and matted. He had no tags—and no owner looking for him either. The 7-year-old pup had likely been homeless for months.

He was found by an employee of The Philomena, an assisted-living center in Kyle, Texas, run by Priscilla Duran. She’s a lover of dogs, so she took him to her vet where they discovered he had a microchip, a name, and an owner.

But when Ms. Duran contacted them about Chewy, they said they didn’t want the pooch anymore—and they even quickly blocked any phone number she called from, thwarting any more communication attempts.

It was clear Chewy needed a new home—and that’s where The Philomena would come to the rescue.

“I said, ‘What if he’s our dog?’” Duran told the Hays Free-Press. “Because at that point, it became very clear that he’s so good with people; he’s good with other dogs. He was already house-broken, well-mannered and didn’t bark at anything.”

Shih Tzu named Chewy with some of the seniors who adopted him – Credit: The Philomena in Kyle Texas / Facebook

“He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He’s just the chillest, coolest little guy.”

Now, the dog that no one seemed to want has become a beloved member of The Philomena family. He’s a regular visitor to the front office, greeting all those who enter and exit. And, on some days, he’s dressed up, looking like he’s going out on the town.

Chewy dressed to go on the town – Credit: The Philomena / Facebook

LOVE FOR DOGS: TikToker Reveals Restaurant’s Viral Compassion When He Ordered His Dog’s Last Meal–A Juicy Steak

Chewy regularly joins the residents for Scrabble nights, lazing in their laps and getting lots of scratches behind the ears. He enjoys frequent rides on the residents’ walkers and leaves a trail of happiness everywhere he goes.

“Our residents understand what it’s like to start fresh somewhere new,” Duran said in an interview with CBS Austin. “Just like they found a welcoming place here, Chewy has too. He’s more than a pet—he’s part of our community.”

Although he’s not an official therapy dog, four-legged bundle of joy provides those same services. For instance, the pooch works wonders with patients suffering from dementia, and some residents who struggle to communicate are suddenly sharing a few words to express how happy Chewy makes them feel.

“I’ve not seen him pass anybody who does not grin ear to ear by seeing this little dog,” says Duran. “Even in memory care, when words are not enough, you realize, with an animal and somebody with dementia, words aren’t needed.”

“Dogs are just proof that actions speak louder than words.”

CUTENESS OVERLOAD: Tiny Goat Triplet Shunned at Birth is Now Thriving After Two Sheepdogs Adopt Her and Teach Her to Be a Collie (LOOK)

The wayward dog who had no home has found a new one. And now, he’s making the place a little brighter for everyone who lives there.

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Photographer Captures Pictures of World’s Happiest Elephant Herd (LOOK)

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Andy Rouse captured antics of Kenyan family of elephants – SWNS
Andy Rouse captured antics of Kenyan family of elephants – SWNS

An award-winning wildlife photographer believes he may have found the world’s happiest elephant family—and his pics will make you feel all warm inside.

Andy Rouse documented the African herd in Kenya and described the playful young calves that were fascinated with branches.

In the setting sun, the British tour guide shot pics of the small elephants while they played tug-of-war and ran toward Andy’s vehicle pretending to charge it.

“I lead safari tours several times a year and love going to Samburu in Kenya because the elephants there are special,” he told SWNS news agency.

“They are very very relaxed and, because of this, the herds will let you get very close to them and will pass close to vehicles without any issues.

“I am completely relaxed with the incredible elephants of Samburu. On this occasion we found a large breeding herd with several youngsters less than 3 months old, who were very playful.

Andy Rouse / SWNS

“We positioned the vehicle well ahead of them so the matriarch had time to get used to us and felt comfortable.

“It’s so important when you work with elephants—as I have done for all of my 25-year career—that you understand them and work within their tolerances.

“The female and the herd settled around us grazing. The calves took it upon themselves to create havoc, chasing birds, doing mock charges to our vehicle and playing tug-of-war with branches.

“Their antics made us laugh out loud.”

Andy Rouse / SWNS

“Young elephants are lovable idiots and I so love working with them.

“The thirty minutes that we spent with this herd was all the more special as I had my 10-year-old daughter on her first safari.

ELEPHANT HEROES CAUGHT ON VIDEO:
• Quick-Thinking Zoo Elephant Rescued a Drowning Gazelle with its Trunk (WATCH)
• Zoo Camera Captures Elephants Protecting Their Young During San Diego Earthquake
• Clever Elephant Returns Visitor’s Shoe After it Fell into his Enclosure – Watch

Andy Rouse / SWNS

“To dictate to her about the wonder of elephants, the dangers saving them and the need to conserve them was a special thing indeed.”

PEOPLE NEED SOME GOOD VIBES NOW So Share This on Social Media…

“Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.” Jules Renard

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By Kateryna Hliznitsova for Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.” Jules Renard

Photo by: Kateryna Hliznitsova for Unsplash+

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?

By Kateryna Hliznitsova for Unsplash+

Good News in History September 14

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Good News Network
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The whole span of the Penang Bridge - Leonard Kong CC 2.0.

40 years ago today, the Penang Bridge officially opened connecting the Malay Peninsula with the island of Penang. Stretching 5.2 miles across the Penang Strait, it’s the second-longest bridge over water in Malaysia. Architects decided to use a cable-stayed suspension design similar to the Golden Gate Bridge rather than the steel-tied arch style of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. READ a short synopsis of the building challenges… (1985)

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Daredevil Kitesurfer Breaks Guinness World Record Flying 1,500 Feet in the Air Above Iconic Landmark (WATCH)

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Good News Network
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Jake Scrace was lifted from the English Channel into the sky by a para-motor before cutting loose when he reached the goal altitude and then gliding back down to sea beneath his kites – SWNS
Jake Scrace on his kite-surfing tow-up over Isle of Wight for Guinness World Record – SWNS

A British kite-surfer has set a new world record for flying over 1,500 feet in the air above an iconic landmark.

Jake Scrace was lifted 450 meters above the spectacular Isle of Wight coastline after being towed-up by a para-motor and then cut loose.

A stunning series of photos show him surfing high above the western tip of the island with its distinctive Needles landmark that features three white chalk stacks rising out of the sea.

The 40-year-old carpenter broke the record for the ‘highest kitesurf tow-up’ by reaching 1,587 feet which is almost double the previous record set at 908.7 feet.

“It was the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on,” said the man whose first major stunt was kitesurfing over the Worthing Pier in his hometown of Worthing, in West Sussex, England.

“Up there, it was about trusting the team, the conditions, and just going for it.”

Successful on the first try

“The sense of freedom was incredible and I’m buzzing that we got the record on the first attempt.

“I’m already thinking about what the next stunt could be and where we can go with it.”

Jake says the attempt was months in the making and was carried out with a 30-strong crew including safety divers and film specialists on July 23.

From a boat in the English Channel, Jake was lifted into the sky by a para-motor before cutting the machine loose when he reached his goal altitude and gliding back down to the water beneath his kite. (Watch the cool video below…)

The feat was verified using drones, bodycams, altimeter readings, as well as GPS-enabled smartphones recording altitude and flight path.

DID YOU SEE: British Adventurer Sets Sail to Become First Person to Circumnavigate the Globe by Land, Air, and Sea

– SWNS

The project was backed by global property and construction consultancy Gleeds who agreed to fund the goal of reaching 1,500 feet to mark their 150th anniversary.

It also came in the same year that Guinness World Records marks its 70th anniversary of documenting remarkable and odd statistics worldwide.

“We celebrate extraordinary feats that push the boundaries of human achievement,” said Pravin Patel, Guinness World Record’s official adjudicator.

“Gleeds’ record-breaking kitesurf tow-up is a stunning example of innovation, precision, and daring.”

Richard Steer, the company’s chairman, added, “For 150 years, Gleeds has believed in pushing boundaries and turning bold ideas into reality.

SEE ALL THE GUINNESS RECORDS Featured on GNN…

“This world record embodies that spirit perfectly as well as our value of professionalism with personality – a reminder that with vision, teamwork, and determination, even the sky is no limit.”

UPLIFT YOUR FRIENDS By Sharing the Adventure on Social Media…

Legacy and Love Take Priority for Aging Americans, Shows New Survey of What People Are Leaving Behind

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Good News Network
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Photo by Jana Sabeth
Photo by Jana Sabeth

More than half of Americans care about the mark they will leave on the world, and even more are concerned about the impression they leave on their loved ones (80%), according to a new survey.

The poll of 2,000 adults found that over half (54%) of respondents say they want to leave a positive legacy on this earth, and, as expected, their age may be a factor.

Regarding how getting older has shifted people’s mindsets, eight in 10 have noticed a difference in the way they think as they age (82%).

One respondent shared that they no longer “sweat the small stuff,” while another realized that “time is the real currency”. Another said they’re making a point to “fit more in life each day.”

As they’ve gotten older, 61% appreciate little things more and 53% take time to savor good moments. Half of the respondents appreciate the beauty in life more and 45% say they’re ensuring that they make every day count.

The survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Ethos found that the average American thinks about getting older about five times a week—although one in five revealed they think about it at least once a day (18%).

When they think about aging, the top goal for half of respondents is to remain close with friends and family, above all else.

RELATED POLL: People Globally Are Living Better Lives, More Hopeful About the Future: We Know Because They Said So

Other common desires are wanting to watch their family grow (42%), leaving things behind for their loved ones (36%) and leaving their family in a good financial place (35%).

By Valeri Pizhanski, CC license

Nearly 6 in ten people surveyed have received a sentimental item passed down from a family member. Answers ranged from a vintage family photo album, to their great grandfather’s watch that he carried in wartime, which is personally engraved. Another said they received a handmade quilt passed down from their mother which always reminds them of her warmth and care.

To carry on the tradition, 59% will leave something behind for their family. However, just half admit they’ve talked with their loved ones about what happens when they’re gone.

“Just 45% of adults revealed they’ve spoken about their ‘last wishes’ with a loved one,” said Nichole Myers from Ethos. “Whether or not you are a parent, it’s a good time to start thinking about your ties to the people around you and the legacy you want to leave for them.”

Worldwide Poll Confirms How to Be Happy: Being Kind–and Believing Others are Kind–Makes you Happier Than Being Wealthy: New Happiness Report Ranks 150 Countries

28% of those who avoided the family talk about the end of their life said it’s because they don’t want to think about it. 25% said it hasn’t come up naturally, and another quarter haven’t done it because they don’t think it’s time for that conversation yet.

On average, respondents think conversations about what happens after their passing should happen at about 53 years old, but half think it should happen sooner.

SURVEY EXAMPLES OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL LEAVE FOR THEIR FAMILIES:

Money
Inheritance
A car
Jewelry
Heirloom furniture
Sports card collection
House
Lasting memories
Strong values
Stocks
Pictures
Life insurance
Artwork

66-Year-Old Man Fulfills Lifelong Dream and Becomes Oldest Member of LSU Marching Band (Watch)

By
Nathan Frederick
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Kent Broussard makes the college band team – Courtesy of LSU Bands
Kent Broussard makes the college band team – Courtesy of LSU Bands

The dream never died, even after a wife and daughters and decades-long career as an accountant filled up every aspect of Kent Broussard’s life.

Somewhere deep in his mind, the dream still survived. Now 66, he still remembers when it first took root in 1968, as a nine-year-old attending his first Louisiana State University football game.

“The Golden Band from Tigerland” marched onto the field playing songs that rang out in the Louisiana air. The music and movement and pageantry of the college football band struck a permanent chord with Kent.

Someday, I want to be in that band.

He never forgot that feeling. So as Kent approached retirement as an accountant, the Baton Rouge resident considered his next move. The dream still lingered, so he made an announcement to his family to reveal his future plans.

I am going back to school at LSU. And I am trying out for the band.

The first step was re-learning the tuba. It had been about a half-century since he played the instrument regularly, so he had a lot of work to do. He dove head-first into practice and filled his neighborhood with the booming bass notes as he marched down his street. (See the video below from Steve Hartman and CBS News.)

Kent also started strength training, working out with a weighted vest and running about 25 miles a week to prep for the rigors of a marching band.

Next, the senior enrolled in LSU, chasing his dream onto the campus by taking 12 credit hours alongside students nearly five decades younger.

The marching band try-outs were in early August and he gave it his all. He just needed to wait until the results were announced to find out if he could chase his dream onto the legendary football field.

“There was a countdown in the Tuba room… 30 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds and right at 7pm  (the marching band list) came out,” Broussard told WAFB. “Thirty to forty people were jumping up and down saying I made it…” (Pictured above)

Kent had made the band, becoming the oldest member of the squad by 41 years.

Last Saturday, he took the field in his royal purple and gold uniform, holding the tuba in his hands. Songs and stadium cheers rang out in the Louisiana air—and some of them were from his wife and daughters in attendance.

More Seniors With New Dreams: ‘Shy’ Senior Lands Modeling Career at 70 After Stranger’s Instagram Post Goes Viral

Amidst all the music and movement and pageantry that had enchanted him as a child, perhaps there were a few fans who started dreaming dreams of their own.

“People they can use this as an example — your only failure is not trying.” Broussard said. “If you don’t try, you won’t get there.”

HELP OTHERS CHASE THEIR DREAMS By Sharing This on Social Media…

Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ by Rob Brezsny

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Good News Network
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Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of September 13, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
The Basenji is a dog breed that doesn’t bark. Instead, it produces an eerie, melodic yodel called a baroo. This oddity isn’t a flaw or drawback; it’s an interesting uniqueness. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to express your personal versions of the baroo—your idiosyncratic offerings and singular gifts. Playfully resist the pressure to be more conventional or “on brand.” Be faithful to what yearns to come out of you, which may be raw, radiant, and a little weird. Let your authenticity be exactly what it is: a beacon, not a liability.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Scientists discovered that some caterpillars, while dissolving inside their cocoons, retain memories of their caterpillar lives even after becoming butterflies. In my view, that’s equivalent to us humans remembering details of our previous incarnations: having an all-new body but being able to draw on what our past body learned. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be able to draw on this amazing capacity in the coming weeks. The person you used to be will have key revelations and inspirations for the future you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
According to Celtic mythology, Cerridwen is the goddess of inspiration. In her cauldron, she brews magical elixirs that bestow the powers of wisdom, creativity, and transformation. The humans most likely to earn her blessings are those who are patient and willing to be changed. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are now at the top of the eligibility list for gifts like these. And the next three weeks will be the most favorable time for you to ask for and receive such blessings. Here’s a clue that will help you get all you deserve: Believe in magic.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
In ancient Chinese philosophy, ziran means naturalness, spontaneity. It might refer to the way a mountain is purely a mountain, and a wave is a wave without trying to be a wave. I think you Sagittarians are due for an extended engagement with this wild ease and elegant freedom. After weeks of inner labor, your soul wants to breathe in ziran. Your assignment is to let yourself be as natural and unconstrained as you dare—not correct or careful or “optimized.” So I advise you to head in the direction of what’s simple and real and good. Emphasize smoothness over effort. Choose your rhythm, not theirs. You aren’t required to prove your healing. You just have to live it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
“Serendipity” is an English term that refers to beautiful accidents, fortunate interruptions, unexpected opportunities, and surprisingly wonderful discoveries (The French equivalent is sérendipité; Italian: serendipità; Japanese: serendipiti.) The word didn’t exist until 1754, when author Horace Walpole coined it. Lovely outbreaks of good luck and uncanny blessings had been happening from time immemorial, of course, even though there wasn’t this precise word for them. Here’s a key point: They are more likely to occur if you believe they’re possible and make yourself alert for their arrival. That’s good advice for you right now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
The placenta is the only organ that the human body creates from scratch and then discards. Let’s pause for a moment to register how remarkable this is: to grow a temporary life-support system and then jettison it once its purpose is fulfilled. Inspired by this miracle, I speculate that you may soon undertake a metaphorical version of it. A situation or experience that has nurtured you is reaching the end of its mission. Though it has served you well, the wise move might be to outgrow it and move on to a new phase of your evolution. At the very least, it’s time to embark on a search for new forms of nourishment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
In Balinese gamelan music, there’s a technique called kotekan. Two instrumentalists play distinct musical parts that together create a seamless, intricately melodic and rhythmic texture. Let’s make this your metaphor to live by in the coming weeks, Pisces. In my astrological opinion, you are not meant to work solo. Your greatest success and most fun will come by generating harmony through collaborative improvisation and shared timing. A small warning: Someone else’s input may at first feel like interference, but it’s actually the missing part of the song. Let yourself blend, bounce, echo, and respond. Genius will be born in the spaces between.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
I can’t speak the Quechua language, which is Indigenous to the Andes Mountains. But I have lifted one of their words to use for our purposes here: munay. It refers to an intensely practical and visionary love that includes far more than sweet feelings and affection. When we practice munay, we offer discerning respect and detailed appreciation to those we adore. We are generously eager to help our allies live their best lives. It takes discipline! And focus! And ingenuity! To be a rigorous and vigorous source of munay, we must cultivate it as a daily practice. In the coming weeks, Aries, I hope you will go a bit wild in your expression of this tender force of nature. Imagine yourself as a gentle whirlwind of love that spreads interesting beauty and bestows useful blessings. Be a relentless dispenser of catalytic gifts.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
The medieval Persian polymath Avicenna believed the soul entered the fetus not with the first heartbeat, but with the first dream. I offer this idea for your poetic consideration, dear Taurus. Let’s imagine that the next beautiful thing you create will not arise from your forceful intention. Rather, it will emerge because you give yourself permission to fantasize, to wander freely in wonder, and to meander with curiosity on the frontiers. Your assignment is not to hustle, but to incubate; not to push forward, but to dwell expectantly in the mystery.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
The bowerbird constructs elaborate ground-based shrines not as nests but as seduction lures. The enticer might gather blue bottle caps, yellow flowers, and shiny stones so as to create a scene that piques the attention of a potential mate. These objets d’art are not merely decorative. They are displays that demonstrate discernment, skill, and aesthetic intelligence. I authorize you to be like a bowerbird, Gemini. What collection of symbols, words, gestures, and curiosities will magnetize the people or opportunities you long to engage with? It’s not about flashiness; it’s about alignment. What you draw into your sphere will reflect the vibes you emanate.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
The pearl doesn’t begin as treasure. In its earliest form, it’s an irritation: a grain of sand that’s really a wound inside the oyster. Over time, the creature coats it with layers of nacre, turning discomfort into luminescence. Let’s use that as a metaphor for you, Cancerian. In my view, your task right now is not to escape or shed what’s bugging you, but to expedite the coating process. What is that gritty thing? A memory, injustice, or unmet yearning? It’s crucial you don’t reject it and don’t let it fester. I think it’s best to turn it, layer by layer, into a luminous asset, even a treasure. Prediction: The pearl you form will long outlast the wound.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Olive trees can thrive in rugged environments, including rocky and nutrient-poor soils. Their root systems are wide, deep, and resilient. They are well-adapted to full sun, high temperatures, and low water availability. In comparing you to an olive tree, Leo, I’m not implying you will always have to be as hardy as they are. But in the coming weeks, you will be wise to be equally plucky and persevering. Here’s another fact about the olive tree you can and should emulate: Its fruit is valuable and in demand.

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

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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“Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.” – Iris Murdoch

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Good News Network
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Curated Lifestyle for Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.” – Iris Murdoch

Photo by: Curated Lifestyle for Unsplash+

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?

Curated Lifestyle for Unsplash+

Good News in History September 13

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Good News Network
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Thomas Muller warming up during his last season for Bayern - credit, Werner100359 - CC 4.0. BY-SA

Happy 36th Birthday to German footballing star Thomas Müller, a World Cup and Champions League winner, 13-time German Bundesliga champion, and one of the best players of his generation. The all-weather attacking midfielder, described playfully in German once as a “space interpreter,” or Raumdeuter, will go down in history for his consistency across a career in which he set multiple all-time records for longevity and honors. A child couldn’t have a better role model, as the goofy-looking, lanky Bavarian boasted a sense of humor and lightness that defies the image of elite European footballers as rich snobs. READ more about the Bayern legend… (1989)

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Resourceful Singapore Finds Perfect Place for 86 MW Solar Farm–its Biggest Reservoir

By
Andy Corbley
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- credit, courtesy of Sembcorp
– credit, courtesy of Sembcorp

How do you decarbonize a city state? With so little space, so many demands on power, and so many citizens, generating any meaningful electricity from renewable energy is a major challenge for urban planners.

But over its history, the planners of Singapore have shown themselves to be nothing if not resourceful, and so maybe it’s no surprise they’re set to begin construction on an 86-megawatt solar farm.

The surprise though comes from where they’ve built it—on top of the country’s largest reservoir—forming a floating solar farm that will join two others already present on two other reservoirs.

The contractor, Singapore-based engineering firm Sembcorp Solar Singapore, won the bidding process with designs for an 86MW PV solar farm on Pandan Reservoir, issued by Singapore’s national water agency.

It will be the third such floating solar farm built by Sembcorp, with the other two located on Singapore’s two other reservoirs. One was built in 2021, and another was commissioned this year by Facebook parent company Meta to power the data center for its local subsidiary.

All tolled, the solar panels will generate 296 megawatts of clean energy.

“Floating solar projects at reservoirs like Pandan, Tengeh and Kranji are vital for Singapore’s land-scarce energy landscape,” said Ms. Jen Tan, CEO of Sembcorp Solar Singapore.

SOLAR PROJECTS, SOLAR PROGRESS:

Floating solar installations have a unique benefit to terrestrially-mounted panel arrays, which is that the water underneath helps keep their electronics cool even while their black surfaces bake in the tropical sun. When properly cooled, panels can produce around 2% more power.

Other installations such as rooftop panel arrays mean that Singapore actually generates over 1,000 megawatt-hours of solar energy, half of what the city-state plans to install by 2030. It will be fascinating to see where they put the next solar array, having run out of reservoirs.

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Officer Converts Old Train Car into ‘Hospital on Wheels’ to Bring Healthcare to Remote India

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Andy Corbley
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Ity Pandey and her railcoach hospital - credit, the Better India
Ity Pandey and her railcoach hospital – credit, the Better India

From a dusty plain in central India comes the story of a truly brilliant solution to a significant problem.

Brought to light in a report from the Better India, a railway manager has found a masterful way to bring much needed medical services to the vast network of railway employees and their families: by building a hospital in a train coach.

If you go to Wikipedia and look up the city of Bhusuwal, the first thing you see is an image of Bhusuwal Junction, the city’s train station. Indicative of what this story is about, the junction is one of the busiest railway depots not just in central India, but the entire country.

It houses the Bhusuwal Railway Division, whose manager is Ity Pandey, a 26-year veteran of one of the world’s most used and most complicated rail networks.

Much like an old Rustbelt factory town, Bhusuwal Junction is the best source of employment for locals, and the division contains thousands of workers who live for most of the year in the middle of nowhere in order to maintain the lines which bisect the subcontinent.

For these employees and their families, medical care was the matter of a long journey.

“I conceived the idea of a ‘hospital on wheels’ because we wanted to provide medical aid to our injured employees,” Pandey told the Better India.

“With more than 25,000 railway workers and their families spread across vast, remote areas, many did not have access to the essential healthcare or timely diagnoses needed to prevent worsening health issues. The remoteness of these areas, coupled with the shortage of medical professionals, aggravated the problem.”

BUILDING A BETTER INDIA: City in India Ranks the Cleanest 8 Years in a Row: ‘It Feels as Though You Aren’t in India’

Equipping an old first-class train carriage with an ECG station, blood collection and lab equipment, OBGYN facilities, and treatment rooms, the carriage, painted white and festooned with flowers, now crisscrosses the Bhusuwal Railway Division in Maharashtra state, providing medical care to the vast regiment of railway workers.

Every patient treated or examined on the carriage, called “Rudra,” is assigned a unique ID which creates a patient file at the Divisional Railway Hospital in Bhusuwal. If the patient needs a follow-up that can’t wait for the Rudra to come around again, they can visit the city and skip the diagnostics and paperwork.

MORE RAILWAY STORIES: AI Safety System Stops Train After Detecting Elephants Crossing the Tracks Ahead

“In just one day, Rudra delivered essential healthcare services to 259 beneficiaries, including 159 employees, 72 family members, and 25 retired workers,” Pandey said. Anemia and high-blood sugar were common ailments.

SHARE This Brilliant Way To Provide Medical Care To Hard-Working Indians…

This Little Marsupial Was Almost Extinct But Recovered Totally During Australian Mega Drought

By
Andy Corbley
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The ampurta, or crest-tailed mulgara - credit, Bobby Tamayo, Simpson Desert, Queensland CC 4.0.
The ampurta, or crest-tailed mulgara – credit, Bobby Tamayo, Simpson Desert, Queensland CC 4.0.

For an Australian marsupial facing extinction on a continent-wide scale, the news of an oncoming drought back in 2001 probably felt like the coming of the end times.

But in a surprising break from the narrative, the ampurta (Dasycercus hillieri) a rat-sized predatory marsupial that was listed as Endangered in 1999, thrived through the lean times when other animals could not.

We often read narratives that climate change will increase the rate of species extinctions because of intensifying weather patterns, but scientists studying the ampurta in Australia offer another narrative.

“Despite unprecedented and prolonged drought during the study period, ampurtas increased their known range by >48,000 km2, an area larger than Denmark, even extending into areas where their status was ‘presumed extinct,'” wrote the authors—a team of 5 from the Center for Ecosystem Science, at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

The study is a fascinating and encouraging reminder of that most beloved and quotable parable in biology: that life, uh, finds a way.

Australian wildlife face greater risks of extinction than life in most other geographical areas, and though conservation efforts have lodged undeniable victories in conserving the endemic populations of mammals, these rarely graduate into landscape-level successes.

This is primarily due to the burden and presence of three invasive species: rabbits, and the foxes and feral cats which hunt them. Booms in the rabbit population following rainfall cause booms in the population of these invasives which chowed down on the ampurtas and other endemic marsupials. But eventually, Mother Nature throwed a lifeline to the little ampurta.

Looking at the first 2 decades of the 21st century, Australian climate and biological history in the country’s arid and semi-arid landscapes showed a fascinating phenomenon.

The rainfall which caused a boom in the country’s rabbit population also brought on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, which significantly reduced the population at the same time that the country experienced an 8-year-long drought, known as the Millennium Drought (2001 – 2009).

Being listed as Extinct in the Wild in several Australian states, the drought allowed the ampurta, with its flexible, omnivorous diet and low water requirements, to greatly repopulate the areas it was extirpated from.

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE RESILIENCE: A Mass Blossoming Is Occurring in Wake of Floods to Feed Honeyeater Birds in Australia Where Just 300 Remain

Further monitoring included another drought from 2017 to 2019, followed by average rainfall, which again demonstrated that it is in fact the drought phase when the ampurta expand and thrive, to the point at which the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed the animal—which had been close to extinction in 1999, to one of “Least Concern” in 2019.

“[The] increase in global extent of occurrence for ampurta, achieved during severe drought, is one of the clearest recent examples of native mammalian re-expansion under climate extremes. This is a rare and hopeful conservation signal,” the authors write.

MORE AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS RECOVERING: School Kids Help Ensure Mountain Pygmy Possum Population Bounces Back in Australian Alps

Given Australia’s extreme breadth, landscape conservation efforts are hugely expensive and are therefore rarely undertaken and often unsuccessful. The bill for the recovery of the ampurta, however, was picked up by Mother Nature, and the authors of the study suggest that other species should be studied during drought periods to see if they too share the ampurta’s resilience.

If it were the case that multiple species thrived during periods of low rainfall, it would offer the best opportunities for assisted recovery efforts such as reintroductions in places where they’re absent, like New South Wales state, where the ampurta is still extinct.

SHARE This Flip Of The Climate Narrative With Your Friends… 

These Indian Cafes Let You Pay with Garbage: 1 Kilo of Plastic Gets You Rice, Two Curries and Dal

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Ambikapur Municipal Corporation
credit – Ambikapur Municipal Corporation

In the Indian city of Ambikapur, several Garbage Cafes will give a person an entire four-course meal if they bring 1 kilo of plastic waste with them.

Feeding on average 20 people a day, it’s a clever and distinctly Indian way of clearing two hurdles in one jump: that of hunger among the lower classes, and that of plastic litter in its cities.

Not that Ambikapur, in central India’s Chhattisgarh state, is particularly unkempt; it’s earned a reputation as the “city of no landfills.” But part of earning that reputation was coming up with great ideas like the Garbage Cafe.

Generating 226 metric tons of plastic waste per day, Ambikapur citizens and businesses recycle almost all of it already, but for the bits and pieces that slip through the cracks, locals like Rashmi Mondal can hunt them down, gather them up, and feed her whole family.

2.2 pounds of plastic trash like snack wrappers and water bottles will get you rice, two curries, dal, roti bread, and salad.

While Indian urban planners may not have the money to pay for sophisticated trash collection regimes and recycling machines, they can leverage a near-endless supply of cheap labor.

The Garbage Cafe’s exterior credit – Ambikapur Municipal Corporation

Small-time recyclers dot the city, and they used to pay the poor or homeless for plastic they collected. But at 10 rupees per kilo, it might require a whole day’s work to earn enough for the meal they can get at the Garbage Cafe.

“I can get food for my family in exchange for the plastic I collect. It makes all the difference in our lives,” Mondal told a BBC reporter visiting a Garbage Cafe.

The cafe is run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation (AMC), which is Indian parlance for what we in America would call a government sponsored enterprise: basically a corporate structure put together to carry out functions in place of a government bureau.

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Vinod Patel, the AMC employee who manages the Garbage Cafes, said that on average they feed 20 people a day, translating to 20 kg, or 44 pounds of plastic waste.

“If food is available in place of plastic, we’re not only helping to fill empty stomachs but also contributing to cleaning up the environment,” Patel told the BBC.

MORE GOOD INDIA NEWS: New Bamboo Plantations Are Healing Villages Choked by Toxic Ash from Coal Plants in India

The BBC story also reported in detail the extent of recycling operations in Ambikapur, which combine door-to-door waste collection with neighborhood recyclers employing 50,000 women, all of which has allowed the city to eliminate the need for a landfill or dumping ground in city limits.

The author of the report, Hazra Khatoon, also listed a number of other cities where Garbage Cafes can be found; and they’re not all in India, Cambodia has also replicated the idea.

SHARE This Great Idea With Your Friends Who Think India Is Only Dirty…

“A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” – Mark Twain

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Good News Network
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Photo by Leandro Crespi for Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.” – Mark Twain

Photo by: Leandro Crespi for Unsplash+

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?

Photo by Leandro Crespi for Unsplash+

Good News in History September 12

By
Good News Network
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Greek troops rushing forward at the Battle of Marathon, Georges Rochegrosse, 1859.

2,515 years ago today was one of two days in the ancient era of world history that, if events had gone a different way, Western Civilization as we know it may never have sprouted. Athenian citizen soldiers, demonstrating superb athleticism and courage, ran a little over a mile in their heavy armor to smash a Persian invading force led by King Darius II which landed on a beach at Marathon. READ more about the battle… (490 BCE)

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Kentucky Nurse Revives Drunk Raccoon Found in Dumpster By Using CPR

By
Andy Corbley
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(left) Misty Combs performs CPR on a raccoon (right) Crystal Bakaluk cradles the raccoon she saved from drowning - credits, retrieved from social media.
(left) Misty Combs performs CPR on a raccoon (right) Crystal Bakaluk cradles the raccoon she saved from drowning – credits, retrieved from social media.

Yes, you’ve read the headline correctly. When a nurse in Kentucky’s Letcher County scooped a dead-drunk raccoon out of a dumpster, she was desperate to save its life.

It had been a normal day on the job for Misty Combs, arriving at the Letcher County Health Department location in Whitesburg, just next door to the Kentucky Mist Moonshine distillery.

It’s difficult to imagine many other states where these two firms would share a parking lot, but it was there that last week Combs saw a raccoon darting back and forth, behaving strangely.

Combs told local news that curiosity led her to follow the raccoon to a nearby dumpster where the stink of alcohols was heavy in the air. The distillery had discarded some fermented peaches in the dumpster, and looking inside, two juvenile raccoons had gotten stuck.

“I was like, ‘We have to get them out!'”, she told LEX 18’s Megan Mannering. “It was the motherly instinct in me because I saw that momma and she was trying so hard to get her babies back and she didn’t know what to do.”

Combs got a shovel and extracted one of the two babies easily enough. But the second, lying in water which was probably flammable at that point, seemed unconscious.

It was dead drunk; drunk as a skunk, but fortunately for this tipsy trash panda, Combs’ provided another round—this time of CPR.

“It had drowned and it was full of water, you could feel the water, so immediately, I just started doing CPR on it,” Combs said. “The entire time, I was afraid it’d come-to and eat me up, and raccoons carry rabies so I was afraid of that.”

At first she began by patting its back, but shortly flipped it over and began administering chest compressions. Fortunately raccoon ribcages are quite malleable, and their hearts small, so Combs needed only one hand.

Incredibly, the plastered Procyon recovered, and was carted off with animal control to sober up at the local veterinarian. Combs went back to work, but had the honor of releasing the animal, whom she and her colleagues had named “Otis Campbell,” for the infamous Andy Griffith Show character, back into the forest behind the Health Center days later to reunite with its family and attend the next raccoon AA meeting.

CPR IN A BIG WAY: How to Save An Elephant With CPR? Jump Up and Down on its Chest to Revive Her (Watch)

Combs wasn’t the only blonde-haired blessing to save a raccoon lately. A Canadian restaurant server on the sea-side of Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt leapt into the waters of the Pacific to rescue a baby raccoon that had somehow fallen in.

“The little raccoon was flailing on its back, screaming, and in a few seconds, the screaming stopped, and it went under. So, I went in,” Crystal Bakaluk told CTV News.

RESCUING ANIMALS IN NEED: Wisconsin Bear with Snack Jug Stuck on Head Freed, Relocated and Released

“As I swam back, I gave him a few little pumps on the chest with my thumb, and he let out a tiny little cough, and then I handed him off,” she recalled.

That hand off was to the pub’s other staff, who doted more on the raccoon than their colleague, who went back to her tables, apologized, and continued taking orders in sopping hair and squelching shoes.

Mammals have to stick together.

WATCH the ridiculous scenes from Kentucky below… 

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Bee Stingers Inspire Superior and Comfortable Continuous Drug Delivery

By
Andy Corbley
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New wearable microneedle patches mimic bee stings to provide painless, long-lasting drug delivery - credit, Professor Wonku Kang from Chung-Ang University
New wearable microneedle patches mimic bee stings to provide painless, long-lasting drug delivery – credit, Professor Wonku Kang from Chung-Ang University

The animal kingdom has long been the source of inspiration for all manner for technologies, and now again in South Korea, where a new drug delivery method has been modeled after the bee sting.

Patients who suffer from chronic conditions often require continuous injections of drugs—often quite painful and inconvenient. To address this, researchers from South Korea have developed new wearable microneedles that behave the way a bee’s stinger does.

If you remember running to your mother after getting stung in the park, you may recall her pulling out the detached stinger, explaining that it keeps delivering venom even after separating from the bee’s thorax.

These electrospun web microneedles (EW-MNs) developed at Chung An University, deliver drugs continuously through the skin without causing discomfort. In animal models, the system enhanced drug absorption while ensuring comfort.

The micron-sized needle system isn’t a totally new technology, but existing products tend to lose their comfort over sustained use, limiting their adoption.

To fabricate the EW-MNs, the researchers used an electrospinning process (a technique that uses an electrical field to spin very fine polymer fibers) to create a web of nanoscale fibers on metal microneedles. This resulted in a fibrous layer around the microneedle tips which mimic the barbed structure of a bee’s stinger.

As a result, the microneedles anchor securely to the skin and ensure a steady attachment for continuous drug release. The EW-MNs were then attached to an adhesive tape and a backing layer to form a patch.

“Unlike traditional rigid microneedles, which can cause irritation during prolonged use, our EW-MNs are soft, breathable, and remain anchored to the skin just like a bee stinger,” explains Professor Wonku Kang at the university’s College of Pharmacy.

To test the efficacy of the patch, the team loaded the EW-MNs with rivastigmine (a drug commonly used to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease). In animal studies using guinea pigs, the microneedle patches significantly improved the absorption of rivastigmine—releasing over twice the drug and covering a five-fold larger area compared to conventional approaches. Importantly, all this was achieved while maintaining minimum discomfort, and even if any mild skin irritation occurred, it disappeared quickly on removing the patch.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Less Invasive Way to Collect Blood Is Inspired by Leeches and Needs No Medical Training

“With further development, these EW-MNs could revolutionize drug delivery, allowing patients to receive effective long-term treatments without the fear or discomfort of needles!” Professor Kang said excitedly.

The study was made available online in Advanced Healthcare Materials on July 31st.

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In the future, the team aims to extend the applications of EW-MNs beyond neurological diseases, offering medicated patches for a wide range of other chronic diseases. This approach particularly holds value for elderly patients, children, and cases where safety and patient-compliant treatments are urgently needed.

Overall, the study demonstrates a perfect example of how nature can drive innovations, bringing us one step closer towards safer, more comfortable, and patient-friendly drug delivery.

SHARE The Story Of Mother Nature Inspiring These Professors… 

Pizzeria Owner Sees People Eating From Dumpster, Offers Them Free Pies and a Slice of Dignity

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Heights Pizza Man via Facebook
credit – Heights Pizza Man via Facebook

A Minnesota pizzeria owner is making headlines for the kindness he’s shown to dumpster divers behind his restaurant.

“I can’t sit in a building full of food and watch somebody starve in my parking lot,” he told national news, determined to take action.

Pretty much as soon as Chris Kolstad took ownership of Pizza Man in Columbia Heights 6 years ago, he discovered that people were eating out of his dumpsters. It could have been animals, but then again, animals don’t enjoy their food with napkins and a bottle of water.

He had put out signs at first, asking them to stop, but not only didn’t they, but a short time ago it became far more frequent.

On July 29th, he took to Facebook for a public plea.

“Please do not eat out of our dumpster,” wrote Kolstad. “If you are that desperate for food, please come ask.”

“If you are too embarrassed to ask, find a way to call us and ask if there is a way to leave a small cheese pizza outside the back door or something. You don’t even have to see us,” he continued.

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“If you are the ones doing so, leave me a note and we will find a way to leave any extras or mistakes out back so you have something to eat without going through the trash.”

TODAY reports that after his post went viral, Kolstad shared a donation link which has raised over $4,000 to help cover the costs of the pies he’d leave out back.

COMPASSION TOWARDS THE HUNGRY: Drive-Thru Food Pantry Serves Thousands in a California Food Desert with Nutritious Groceries

Speaking with the outlet, Kolstad estimates he’s helped over 100 people with food who have asked for it rather than dug for it. Recently, one of the recipients left a touching note behind for Kolstad and his staff to read.

“This is why we do what we do,” he captioned the photo with.

WATCH the story below from CBS News…

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