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This is the First Ever Image of a Black Hole and Scientists Are Calling It a ‘Dream Come True’

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Good News Network
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Photo by NASA / CXC / Villanova University

 

Reprinted from Chandra X-Ray Observatory

There are a lot of clichés that get thrown around when talking about big scientific discoveries. Words like “breakthrough” or “game changing” are often used. They grab people’s attention, but it’s fairly rare that they apply.

Today’s announcement of the first image ever taken of a black hole (more precisely, of its shadow) truly rises up to that standard.

By definition, nothing not even light, can escape the gravitational grasp of a black hole. This, however, is only true if you get too close, and the boundary between what can and cannot get away is called the event horizon.

WATCH: Man Brings Telescope to the Street and Invites People to Look at the Moon –Their Reactions Will Bring You to Tears

This dark portrait of the event horizon was obtained of the supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87 for short) by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), an international collaboration whose support includes the National Science Foundation. This achievement is certainly a breakthrough, and we at NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory congratulate and applaud the hundreds of scientists, engineers, and others who worked on the Event Horizon Telescope to obtain this extraordinary result.

As is well documented in today’s announcement, it took a remarkable effort and coordination from scientists and organizations around the world to even have a chance to make this happen. The result being heralded stems from an observing campaign during April 2017, when this global network of radio dishes observed M87 together.

While Chandra can’t see the shadow itself, its field of view is much larger than the EHT’s, so Chandra can view the full length of the jet of high-energy particles launched by the intense gravitational and magnetic fields around the black hole. This jet extends more than 1,000 light years from the center of the galaxy.

LOOK: In Historic First, Scientists Have Landed Rovers On an Asteroid and They’re Transmitting Photos

As for the investigation of the black hole in M87, Chandra has been on the case for quite some time. M87 is an elliptical galaxy in the Virgo galaxy cluster, about 60 million light years away from Earth. For years, scientists have known that a supermassive black hole weighing several billion times the mass of the Sun sits at the center of M87.

Surrounding the elliptical galaxy is a reservoir of multimillion-degree gas, which glows brightly in X-ray light. Chandra’s studies of this hot gas have given astronomers insight into the behavior and properties of the giant black hole. For example, astronomers have used Chandra data to discover ripples in the hot gas, which provide evidence for repeated outbursts from the black hole roughly every 6 million years or so.

 

Scientists will be poring over the new EHT image and the papers that are being published in connection with this result for weeks, months, and even years to come. As they do, they will continue to pull in every resource they can — including famed black hole hunter, the Chandra X-ray Observatory — to learn as much as they can about these exotic and fascinating objects.

For more live-streamed updates on the groundbreaking discovery from the National Science Foundation, click here.

(WATCH the video below)

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“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin (A Dance with Dragons)

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Quote of the Day: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin (A Dance with Dragons)

Photo: by Shawn Harquail, CC license via Flickr, cropped

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

 

12 Middle School Boys Are Being Hailed for Talking Woman Out of Taking Her Own Life

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McKinley Corbley
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These middle school students are being hailed as heroes after they helped to talk a woman out of committing suicide last week.

The 12 young heroes, all of whom are members of the boys volleyball team from Kepler Neighborhood School in Fresno, California, had been jogging through the streets for their training when they saw the woman climb over the edge of a bridge.

Had she let go, she would have fallen 100 feet onto the train tracks below – but luckily, the boys took action.

RELATED: Beer Deliveryman Prevents Suicide on a Bridge By Offering a Cold One—While Channeling Denzel Washington

The team members ran to their coach Elliot Murray, yelling for him to call 911. When he saw the woman hanging from the bridge, he told the boys to run back and do everything in their power to keep her from jumping.

“I immediately told the kids, ‘Do everything you can, chant, say ‘Stop, your life is worth it’ – and they just kept on chanting,” Murray told WPVI.

Sure enough, the boys spent the next 10 minutes with the 47-year-old woman, yelling words of encouragement and urging her to climb up from the ledge.

LOOK: 13 Truckers Use Their Vehicles to Prevent Suicide Attempt From Ending a Life

Upon hearing their compassionate chants, the woman finally crossed back over to safety just before police officers arrived on the scene.

The woman was then assigned to a 72-hour mental health evaluation, and though her current circumstances and condition are unknown, Murray is positive that his team members were the reason why she felt compelled to step back from the ledge.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by WPVI

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Petco Becomes First and Only Major Pet Food Retailer to Ditch Artificial Ingredients

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Petco has just become the first and only major pet food retailer to remove artificial ingredients in dog and cat foods starting in May 2019.

In celebration of the achievement, Petco also launched Cleaning House, a marketing campaign that will call on pet parents to reconsider what they feed their pets by offering a gritty reminder: “If it doesn’t meet our new standards, you won’t soon find it on Petco shelves.”

“Last year, we put the entire pet industry on notice by introducing new standards for nutrition because we firmly believe it’s the right thing to do for pets,” said Tariq Hassan, Petco Chief Marketing Officer.

RELATED: Adidas Test to Sell Shoes Made of Ocean Plastic Was So Successful, They’re Going Even Further

“This campaign breathes life into that decision and the journey that lies ahead for Petco,” added Hassan. “It’s a departure from anything we’ve done before, and a direct reflection of our ongoing brand transformation to meet the evolving demands of pet parents.”

The campaign, which will run throughout the company’s fiscal year on Jan 31st, 2020, is designed to reinforce Petco’s industry-leading stance on pet nutrition, while educating pet parents on the new standards and empowering them to act accordingly.

For more information about Petco and its new nutrition standards, you can visit the company’s website.

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Through referencing available guidelines provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Petco defines artificial colors, flavors and preservatives as:

  • Color from artificial sources: any dye, pigment, or other substance that can impart color to a food that is not derived from a natural source.
  • Artificial flavor: any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products.
  • Artificial preservative: chemical substances added to or sprayed on the outside of food to retard spoilage, deterioration, discoloration, or contamination by bacteria and other disease organisms. Does not include preservatives that are derivatives of natural compounds.

(WATCH the promo video below)

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How the Healing Properties of Irish Soil Apparently Hold the Key to Fighting Superbug Health Threat

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Good News Network
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The soil of Northern Ireland has always been reputed to have healing properties – and while it may have previously just been the stuff of local folklore, scientists have found that there is actually some truth to the legends.

Upon analyzing the fabled Irish soil, a team of researchers discovered that it contains a previously unknown strain of bacteria that is effective against four of the top six superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics.

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs could result in over one million European deaths by 2050, according to recent research. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the problem as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today”.

Thankfully, the bacteria’s discovery could be a huge breakthrough in fighting antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

LOOK: Bedside Bioprinter May Soon Use Burn Patients’ Cells to Print Out New Skin Directly on Wounds

The search for replacement antibiotics to combat multi-resistance has prompted researchers to explore new sources, including folk medicines: a field of study known as ethnopharmacology.

The new strain of bacteria, which was named Streptomyces sp. myrophorea, was discovered by a team based out of Swansea University Medical School.

The soil they analyzed originated from an area of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, which is known as the Boho Highlands. It is an area of alkaline grassland which has long been fabled to have healing properties.

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Dr. Gerry Quinn, one of the research team members and a former resident of County Fermanagh, had been aware of the healing traditions of the area for many years.

Traditionally, a small amount of soil was wrapped up in cotton cloth and used to heal many ailments, including toothaches, throat and neck infections. Interestingly enough, this area was previously occupied by the Druids, around 1,500 years ago, and Neolithic people 4,000 years ago.

The main findings of the research were that the newly-identified strain of Streptomyces inhibited the growth of four of the top six multi-resistant pathogens identified by the WHO as being responsible for healthcare-associated infections: Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and Carbenepenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii.

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It also inhibited both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which differ in the structure of their cell wall; usually gram-negative bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics

It is not yet clear which component of the new strain prevents the growth of the pathogens, but the team is already investigating this.

“Our discovery is an important step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance,” said Professor Paul Dyson of Swansea University Medical School. “Our results show that folklore and traditional medicines are worth investigating in the search for new antibiotics. Scientists, historians and archaeologists can all have something to contribute to this task. It seems that part of the answer to this very modern problem might lie in the wisdom of the past.”

Dr. Quinn added: “We will now concentrate on the purification and identification of these antibiotics. We have also discovered additional antibacterial organisms from the same soil cure which may cover a broader spectrum of multi-resistant pathogens.”

The research was published in Frontiers in Microbiology in December.

(Source: Swansea University)

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Hospital Eases the Stress of Surgery for Young Patients By Letting Them Drive Mini-Cars into Operating Room

By
McKinley Corbley
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A hospital in California has come up with a clever way to soothe anxious young patients on their way to the operating room.

Rather than being wheeled into surgery on a gurney, youngsters at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto can now drive into surgery in little toy mini-cars.

The tiny surgical patients have the choice of driving either a black Mercedes or a pink Volkswagen Beetle – and if the children are incapable of driving the hot rods, they can also be piloted by an adult with a remote control.

Though the Mercedes was purchased by the hospital last year, the Volkswagen was recently donated by an employee and her family.

LOOK: From Terrifying to Terrific – Man Redesigns MRI Machine to Delight Children Instead of Scare Them

Thus far, the cars have been a huge hit amongst the patients, and staffers say that they have been hugely successful in relieving the children’s anxieties.

“When they find out they can go into the operating room riding in a cool little car, they light up and in most cases, their fears melt away,” hospital spokeswoman Krista Deans told KTVU. “And when parents see their children put at ease, it puts them at ease as well.”

 

The hospital started using the cars after one of their nurses started researching how she could help her pediatric patients cope with the stress of surgery. Upon investigating various techniques, she found that using the toy cars was surprisingly successful.

“It can be traumatizing for a young patient to be peeled away from their parents as they head into surgery,” added Deans. “[But] this truly helps everyone involved.”

(WATCH the cars in action below)

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Rather Than Calling the Cops on Hungry Young Thief, 7-11 Owner Sends Him Home With Even More Food

By
McKinley Corbley
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Rather than calling the cops on a teenage boy who was caught stealing snacks, this compassionate 7-Eleven owner sent him home with even more food.

Jitendra Singh had been managing his branch of the convenience store in Toledo, Ohio over the weekend when one of his employees alerted him to the young man’s suspicious activity.

Upon reviewing his security footage, Singh saw that the youngster had been secretly pocketing snacks as he wandered the aisles.

When the teen approached the counter, Singh asked him to reveal all of the merchandise hidden in his clothes – otherwise, he would call the police.

RELATED: School District Turns Unused Cafeteria Food into Take-Home Meals for Kids in Need

The teen responded by saying that he was only stealing food because he and his younger brother were hungry and had nothing to eat.

Singh then told the teen to go and collect more pizzas, chicken, sandwiches, fruits, and meals from the aisles so he could take them home – all free of charge.

Cedric Bishop, who is a regular customer at the store, said that he was stunned as he watched the event unfold. He later described the incident in a Facebook post, praising the owner for his kindness.

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“The cashier had the 911 operator on the phone and the owner told her to hang up,” recalled Bishop. “The owner [then told the teen] ‘This is not food. You want food, I’ll give you food.’”

In addition to Sing sending the teen home with several bags of free food, Bishop also felt inspired to give the youngster $10.

“I thought that was an amazing thing the owner did,” said Bishop. “Some young people just need to know that someone cares.”

MORE: Instead of Dumping Rejected Food Shipments into Landfills, Truckers Are Donating Them to Local Charities

Singh, on the other hand, was very nonchalant about his good deed. Since he has been a store owner for the last five years, he says that he always tries to use his position to help the community – and this was just another chance for him to give back to someone in need.

“It’s not going to make any difference to me if I give him some food because we make a lot of food, we sell a lot of food,” Singh told WTVG. “If he goes to jail then he’s definitely not going to do anything good in life.”

(WATCH the news coverage below) – File photo by chrisinphilly5448, CC

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“Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.” – Marian Anderson 

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.” – Marian Anderson (on the 80th anniversary of her Lincoln Memorial concert)

Photo: by Pascal Böhme, CC license via Flickr, cropped

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

Roseanne Cash Was Depressed and Struggling When She Received a Call From an Unlikely Person (MOTH Monday)

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Good News Network
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Today is MOTH Monday on Good News Network: In partnership with The Moth, a nonprofit dedicated to the art of storytelling, we bring you the most uplifting speakers from live stages across the world.

Roseanne Cash may be the eldest daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, but that does not mean that she has not experienced her fair share of hardships and difficulties.

In her earlier years, her music achieved commercial success and she became a trailblazer for female artists in the music industry.

Rather than continuing to make chart-topping hits, however, she decided to create an album that embodied her truest self. She then released Interiors, a “dark and troubling” record that received its fair share of bad reviews from critics.

Cash’s life then took some harsh turns, and as she lived paycheck-to-paycheck in the harsh urban landscape of New York City, she struggled to find hope.

Then, she received a very unexpected phone call that taught her the importance of being true to oneself.

Listen to her story below…

The Moth gives people an opportunity to tell a true story in front of a live audience, and sometimes their stories are chosen to air on the radio show, now celebrating its tenth year, and broadcasting on 485+ public radio stations—and on The Moth podcast, which is downloaded over 52 million times a year.

The Moth’s third book, Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible is now available for purchase through your favorite booksellers.

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You and a Friend Could Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Slumber Party With Mona Lisa at the Louvre

By
McKinley Corbley
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Art enthusiasts and world travelers are being given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night with a legendary host: the Mona Lisa.

You and a lucky friend now have the chance to participate in a one-night slumber party at the Musée du Louvre on April 30th.

The Parisian museum joined forces with AirBnb in order to launch the historic contest this week. The winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will be able to spend a special evening in the institute after the tourists are finally sent home.

As the sun is setting on the French city, the contest winner and their guest will be led on a specialized art-history tour of the museum – an experience that has also been offered to the likes of the Obamas, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé.

After that, the guests will share a Renaissance-inspired aperitif with the Mona Lisa painting followed by an extravagant feast alongside Venus of Milo in a pop-up dining room.

The guests will then end be treated to an acoustic concert in the lavish living quarters of Napoleon III.

As the evening comes to a close, the two guests will be able to cozy up for a good night’s sleep in a luxury tent underneath the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid.

“We are happy to offer this unique and special experience for two people to stay in the museum overnight, in a bespoke pyramid shaped bedroom,” said Anne-Laure Béatrix, Deputy Managing Director of the Musée du Louvre.

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“We know that many people would love the opportunity to wander alone at night through the Louvre and we want this to be a magical and unforgettable experience. With Airbnb’s partnership, we hope to encourage more people to discover how truly accessible and inspiring the wonders of art can be.”

“Paris is one of the most attractive cities in the world and the Louvre is one of the most loved and celebrated institutions in Paris,” added Emmanuel Marill, General Manager of Airbnb France. “We are thrilled to partner with them and to offer exciting and unique experiences that will celebrate our community and welcome Parisians and international travelers to rediscover the museum in a new and authentic way.”

If you would like to enter the contest, you simply have to apply on the AirBnb website before April 12th and answer the question: “Why would you be the Mona Lisa’s perfect guest?”

(WATCH the promo video below) – Photos courtesy of AirBnb

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This Spontaneous Speech By Student on the Spectrum Leaves Classroom Teacher in Tears

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Good News Network
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Last week, a beautiful thing occurred in the classroom of a 4th grade teacher at Chino Valley School District.

It is Autism Awareness Month and every classroom on the California campus had been asked to have each student decorate a paper puzzle piece and hang it on their classroom doors.

When Ms. Lisa Moe handed out the puzzle pieces, most of her students were familiar with the idea of autism—and they were aware of the reason for decorating the puzzle pieces. What her students did not know was that autism was present within their own classroom in their fellow classmate: Rumari.

With excitement, Rumari rose his hand and said “May I please say something?” Moe nodded and said “of course”, but never could she have imagined what was to follow.

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She explained in a Facebook post: “Rumari has faced challenges and barriers beyond what any of us will ever be able to fully understand. But today, he stood in front of the classroom with full confidence, enthusiasm, and courage and showed us that there is no challenge or barrier that can stop him.

“He brought to life the meaning of ‘Yes I Can’ as he explained to his fellow classmates that he was autistic. With full knowledge, he explained the differences that may come when being autistic and how the spectrum is vast. He courageously spoke about his own differences and quirks, while defining what it means to make everyone feel like a someone.”

RELATED: Personal Trainer With Autism Opened a New Gym That Caters Specifically to People With Special Needs

Both teacher and students were enraptured and hanging on every word he spoke. For a long time, Moe never thought to get out her phone to capture this moment – but finally, she realized the treasure that was unfolding, and without any of the students knowing, she hit record and captured the final moments of Rumari’s talk, along with the authentic and raw reactions of the other students as they raised their hands to ask questions.

Moe’s daily classroom mottos of “Be Kind” and “Yes I Can” merged in that moment and the tears could not be stopped, as his peers expressed their admiration and love for him.

Rumari’s mother was thrilled by the video and told Moe: “Watching Rumari so courageously speak about autism and how it relates to him and others is beyond what I can properly express. It brings me great joy to watch him be so unapologetically proud to be autistic… Thank you for creating such a comforting, loving and supportive environment that my baby felt safe to express himself. You’re doing great things and giving others the courage to do the same. ”

Moe told Good News Network, “One of the biggest lessons I have learned through this is that kids are still kids. They sometimes say things they shouldn’t or do something they know isn’t right.”

CHECK OUT: This Entire Town Became Autism-Friendly After Every Business Agreed to Apply Four Specific Measures

“When they entered my class at the beginning of the year, many lacked confidence and struggled with a negative mindset. But in the right positive environment where I stress the importance of kindness, empathy, compassion, and self-confidence every day through our class motto of ‘Yes I Can!’, to me, it solidified my position as an educator and the impact and influence of being the ‘positive teacher’. We can make our world a feel-good, happy place.”

“If I were unable to ever teach again or if there was ever a question to my path into this role as an educator, this moment solidified my purpose.”

(Note: Ms. Moe got permission from all parents whose child spoke on camera.)

STAND UP and Say Something—Share This For Autism Awareness Month!

Over 1 Million Gardeners Have United to Create Global Network of Greenery That Nourishes Bees and Butterflies

By
Dobi Finley
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Photo by USDA, CC

Over 1 million homeowners and gardeners from around the world have joined the fight to save dwindling pollinator populations – and you can join the team too.

The National Pollinator Garden Network has surpassed their goal of registered pollinator gardens with just over 1,040,000 gardens now registered with their Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.

Though most of the registered pollinator gardens are concentrated in the United States, the ambitious project has also recruited members in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The registered spaces, most of which are comprised of private yards and public gardens, all add up to a network of approximately 5 million acres of enhanced or new pollinator habitat.

Currently, the US metro areas with the highest number of registered gardens include Atlanta, Chicago, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Philadelphia-Camden, Washington, D.C, and New York City.

RELATED: Appalachian Coal Miners Who Lost Their Jobs Are Being Retrained as Beekeepers – for Free

The initiative was launched back in 2015 by the National Pollinator Garden Network with the goal of saving pollinators, which are responsible for about one in three bites of food that we eat every day.

According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), one of the project’s partnering organizations, protecting pollinators is crucial to our food supply.

“Together, through collaborative conservation we are restoring pollinator populations that provide the foundation of our ecosystems and our food supply,” said NWF CEO Collin O’Mara. “When we save wildlife, we save ourselves.”

MORE: The Grateful Dead Helps to Save Bees and Butterflies Through Jerry Garcia’s Legacy

In order to contribute to the network, gardeners are asked to plant large amounts of pollinator-friendly plants and wild grasses that are both native and non-invasive species. The space should also offer breaks from the wind, exposure to direct sunlight, a watering source, and a minimized amount of pesticides.

The result of this challenge is now a nationwide network of pollinator habitat within America’s cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

Since the campaign launched, many gardening centers have also contributed to the challenge by offering more pollinator-friendly plants, services, and education.

LOOK: Farmer is Sweet on Bee Hives As Perfect Fence to Keep Elephants Safely Away

“The passion for pollinators is clearly evident. Let’s pass it on and encourage the 35 million Americans who garden with flowers, to each put in one new pollinator friendly plant per season each year. Imagine the transformation!” says Mary Phillips, NWF coordinator.

If you have a yard or garden, or even just a small piece of outdoor property, you can contribute to the pollinator network by planting at least three different pollinator-friendly plants that bloom in spring, summer and fall. You can find more information and resources on the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge official website.

“Our collective efforts have accomplished great things for bees, butterflies, and other pollinator species that play a critical role in our natural world,” said Val Dolcini, president of the Pollinator Partnership, which is another organization involved in the project. “From enhancing our food supply to increasing the biodiversity of our environment, these hard-working pollinators need to be protected at all costs. By protecting their lives, we’re preserving ours.”

Bee Sure And Share The Buzz With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by USDA

Dad Turns Board Games into Bed Sheets So Sick Kids Lying in Hospitals Won’t Get Bored

By
McKinley Corbley
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Ever since he was a kid, Kevin Gatlin has been bored by the monotonous environments of hospital rooms – so as a means of making sure that his children were never forced to endure the same tedium, he came up with a simple solution to help with the hospital doldrums.

Gatlin is the mastermind behind Playtime Edventures, an interactive set of bed sheets that feature dozens of games and lessons for children confined to their hospital beds.

The entrepreneur from Charlotte, North Carolina first got the idea for the bed sheets after he went to go visit his friend’s hospitalized child several years ago.

Heartbroken by the idea of a child spending hours upon hours in a plain white room, he thought about how his wife had always played games on his son’s bed in order to help him fall asleep.

MORE: Hospital ‘Bouncer’ Nurses Are Saving Lives By Dramatically Cutting Down on Hospital Waiting Times

Gatlin then spent the next two years developing the sheets so that children could be entertained from the comfort of their own bed.

He also worked with several school teachers in order to make the games educational.

“We put together bedsheets and slumber bags that cover everything from geography, math, science, grammar, word find games… all on a three-piece set,” Gatlin told KWES.

LOOK: From Terrifying to Terrific – Man Redesigns MRI Machine to Delight Children Instead of Scare Them

To date, Gatlin knows that his sheets are being used in 10 different hospitals across the country – but since his customers are able to donate bedsheets to their own local hospitals, that number could be much higher.

Parents can also buy the interactive sheets for their own children at home, but Gatlin hopes that his invention will soon make its way into hospitals around the world.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by Playtime Edventures

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“Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth.” – Buddha (on the celebration day of his birth) 

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth.” – Gautama Buddha (on the celebration day of his birth)

Photo: by italo losero, CC license via Flickr

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

Determined to Save His Country’s Water Supply, 26-Year-old Has Revived 10 Lakes From a Polluted Mess

By
McKinley Corbley
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This 26-year-old engineer could not bear to see his country’s rivers and lakes plagued by drought and pollution – so he decided to do something about it.

Ramveer Tanwar had just been finishing up his final year of university in 2013 when he became concerned over the state of his home village in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The region had experienced 13 droughts in just 15 years, and the local communities were suffering as a result.

Even though many of the older villagers were oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, Tanwar felt compelled to take action and galvanized his younger peers to make a change.

“I had been talking to the kids in the village back then and even they felt that they had to do something about the dying water resources,” Tanwar told NDTV. “When they tried talking to their parents, the adults refused to believe that there could be any such thing as ‘lack of water.’”

Tanwar began traveling from house to house in order to teach the residents about the critical condition of local water supplies. He recruited his fellow students to gather villagers together for weekly classes so they could discuss how to resuscitate their lakes and rivers.

LOOK: This Simple Solution for Pollution Kept 815 Pounds of Trash Out of the Water–Your City Can Do it Too

As Tanwar’s teachings began to inspire more and more people, they collectively started hauling all of the trash out of their water supplies and planting tree saplings around the water’s perimeter in order to protect the shoreline – and the trees are apparently still flourishing today.

In order to prevent any more trash from ending up in the water, Tanwar and his crew installed double water filtration systems made of wood and grass. He also urged local fish farmers to bring in aquatic bottom feeders so they could eat up the smaller bits of particle waste and keep the water clean.

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

Since Tanwar began his “Jal Chaupal” clean-up efforts in India five years ago, he has helped to revive 10 lakes across the region, and his initiative has sparked conservation efforts in over 50 villages.

Inspired by his success, the government of Uttar Pradesh launched separate “Groundwater Army” conservation groups in each district of the state – and they hired Tanwar as the program’s coordinator.

Since the government doesn’t have much funding, Tanwar admits that he is often forced to pay out of pocket for various expenses and supplies for the program.

He is also works 6 days a week from dusk till nighttime—but he says that he doesn’t mind the long hours or meager salary; he is simply excited to continue his conservation efforts so he can protect India’s water.

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NASA is Paying German-Speaking Women Thousands of Dollars to Lie in Bed for 60 Days Straight

By
McKinley Corbley
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If you’re a woman who speaks German, then congratulations—you may qualify for a new study that is paying female participants thousands of dollars to lie in bed for two months straight.

The study was commissioned by NASA and the European Space Agency as a means of researching how to counteract the negative effects of microgravity on the bodies of astronauts.

Since the weightlessness of microgravity reduces physical stress on the human body, astronauts have been shown to experience degenerated bone and muscle mass following their time in space.

Scientists now hope to simulate these cosmic conditions of space through consistent bed rest. Astronauts are currently required to fight the negative effects of weightlessness by spending the bulk of their days on the space station exercising – but if the study proves to be successful, then researchers could develop a less exhausting method of fighting physical degeneration.

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The study will be taking place at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne between September and December 2019. Non-smoking women between the ages of 24 and 55 are being offered $19,000 (€16,500) to participate in the study by lying in bed nonstop for 60 days.

Meals will be prepared by a team of nutritionists in order to ensure that the health of the participants won’t be compromised. All activities, including showering, eating, and going to the bathroom, must be done from the comfort of a very slightly downward inclined bed.

A woman named Janja participated in a similar study that was conducted at the research center in 2017, and she said she had a surprisingly good time over the course of the experience, despite being mostly immobile.

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“What surprised me the most: after a few days my body got used to the bed rest, it was much easier than I had imagined,” said the former test subject. “I didn’t get bored by the many exciting experiments. On the contrary, time flew by.”

“Participation in the study was a very special and good experience for me. Who can say, ‘I participated in a study for NASA!’?” said Janja, adding that the anecdote has also proven itself to be “impressive for job interviews.”

If you would like to apply for the study, and you speak German well, you can visit the German Aerospace Center website for more information.

Don’t Let Your Friends Sleep On This Story: Share It To Social Media – Photo by German Aerospace Center

When Thieves Steal Landscaper’s Truck and Equipment, Police Officers Pool Their Money to Help

By
McKinley Corbley
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A compassionate team of police officers is being praised for giving a landscaper a helpful new start after he was robbed of his car and the tools needed for his livelihood.

Adrian Salgado was getting ready to start his work day in Santa Ana, California last week when two thieves hijacked his pickup truck and drove off with all of his equipment.

In addition to losing his vehicle, cell phone, leaf blower, hand tools, and mower—which police say was collectively worth about $3,000—Salgado also lost $1,000 in rent money which he had stashed away inside the truck.

Distraught, Salgado went back home and told his daughter Elizabeth what had happened. After she reported the theft to the Santa Ana Police Department, she managed to use an iPhone app to locate the stolen truck.

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The two thieves were arrested, but Salgado’s equipment was nowhere to be found. Since Salgado is also the sole financial provider for his family, the law enforcement officers were particularly sympathetic about the misfortune.

“We all came from working-class families,” Sgt. Michael Gonzalez told CNN, adding that Salgado reminded him and his colleagues of their own fathers. “It was like, ‘hey, that’s my dad.’”

Rather than leaving the landscaper to fend for himself, however, a rookie policewoman suggested that the officers all pitch in to replace Salgado’s equipment.

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The team managed to pool together $500 of their own money. They then reached out to the regional police association for additional donations, which resulted in a $500 match from the president.

When several cops were browsing the aisles of Home Depot with Salgado in order to replace the equipment, the store pitched in another $100 and offered military discounts to several of the officers.

Adding to the profound generosity, CNN says that a random shopper was also inspired to throw in $40 of their own money after hearing about the story from one of the officers.

In an interview with the Santa Ana Police Department, Salgado’s daughter expressed her overwhelming gratitude towards the officers. “Now I can see my dad with a smile because he can go back to work,” she said.

(WATCH the video below) – Photo by Santa Ana Police Department

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“The things you do out of truly loving it and wanting to enjoy your life are also the things that are sensible businesses.” – Francis Ford Coppola (80-years-old today)

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The things you do out of truly loving it and wanting to enjoy your life are also the things that are sensible businesses.” – Francis Ford Coppola (80-years-old today)

Photo: by Mark Faviell, CC license via Flickr

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

With Champagne Bottle and Top Hat This Daredevil Dove Into the ‘World’s First-Ever Bungee Jump’

By
Good News Network
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SWNS

(You can also Listen to this story from our Good News Guru Radio Show, here.)

A daredevil has revisited the British bridge where he claims he carried out the world’s first bungee jump—and he recalls that no one even test the rope first.

75-year-old David Kirke took a leap into the unknown on the morning of April 1st, 1979, using a new invention developed by his cohorts in the Dangerous Sports Club at Oxford University.

The group, who had been up all night partying, took their new device to the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England to try it out.

Kirke reportedly took the plunge while he was wearing a top hat and clutching a bottle of champagne.

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This week, 40 years later, he went back to the bridge and says they made the jump without testing the rope first—as that wouldn’t have been in the spirit of their adventure.

“We were called the Dangerous Sports Club, and testing it first wouldn’t have been particularly dangerous,” says Kirke.

“I was confident though. We had some very clever guys with us – Alan Weston went on to be head of development at NASA – and they told me it was going to be okay.

SWNS

“They were elastic ropes used to catch jet fighters landing on aircraft carriers, so I thought it would be okay. The mathematics of it were not something I really understood, but I did it.”

The Oxford boffins got the idea for their mission from the “land–diving” ceremony practiced by the inhabitants of Pentecost Island in the South Pacific.

The initiation rite requires young men to tie vines to their ankles and jump 60 to 80 feet from specially constructed wooden towers to prove their mettle.

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Baker said when his girlfriend found out about the plan to recreate the death-defying stunt, she pretty much dumped him. The two sisters of Alan Weston also called the police several times the day before the stunt in a bid to stop it from happening.

Police staked out the bridge early that morning, and Kirke said that the officers approached them.

“They came up and talked to us and decided it was an April Fool, that we couldn’t possibly be considering throwing ourselves off the bridge with a bit of rope,” Kirke said. “So they wandered off again, and that was our chance.”

So with the vigilant eye of the law temporarily looking elsewhere, Kirke took the leap.

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“The main thing going through my mind was ‘whoooppeeee’, really, in one word,” he said. “It’s a completely different feeling to anything else, traveling through the air at that speed.

“I didn’t fasten my top hat, so the wind blew it off,” he added.

Upon realizing that it was not an April Fool’s joke, the police returned, hauled up the men, and promptly arrested them.

“We were taken to the cells, but it was alright really,” said Kirke. “The police were very amiable. Although bemused is the word, rather than amused.

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“They brought us in for the half-drunken bottles of wine we’d left at the bridge, and we were fined or something,” he remembered.

In the 40 years since, Kirke has rocked and rolled from one adventure to another, taking bungee jumping around the world with the Dangerous Sports Club—and it eventually took off in New Zealand.

“I am pleased it took off, it was what we hoped for at the time,” he added.

The Suspension Bridge and the authorities now take an even more dim view of such antics in comparison to 1979, but Kirke did manage to repeat his stunt again on the 21st anniversary of his first jump—with his lawyer driving the getaway car.

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Renewable Energy Now Accounts for One-Third of Global Power Capacity, Says New Report

By
Good News Network
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This exciting new international report shows that renewable energy now accounts for one-third of all global power capacity.

The decade-long trend of strong growth in renewable energy capacity continued in 2018 with global additions of 171 gigawatts, according to new data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) earlier this week.

The annual increase of 7.9% was bolstered by new additions from solar and wind energy, which accounted for 84% of the growth.

IRENA’s annual Renewable Capacity Statistics 2019, the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accessible figures on renewable energy capacity, indicates growth in all regions of the world, although at varying speeds. While Asia accounted for 61% of total new renewable energy installations and grew installed renewables capacity by 11.4%, growth was fastest in Oceania with a 17.7% rise in 2018. Africa ranked in third place with 8.4% growth, and nearly two-thirds of all new power generation capacity added in 2018 was from renewables, led by emerging and developing economies.

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“Through its compelling business case, renewable energy has established itself as the technology of choice for new power generation capacity,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “The strong growth in 2018 continues the remarkable trend of the last five years, which reflects an ongoing shift towards renewable power as the driver of global energy transformation.”

“Renewable energy deployment needs to grow even faster, however, to ensure that we can achieve the global climate objectives and Sustainable Development Goals,” continued Mr. Amin. “Countries taking full advantage of their renewables potential will benefit from a host of socioeconomic benefits in addition to decarbonizing their economies.”

Growth in hydro continued to slow in 2018, with only China adding a significant amount of new capacity in 2018 (+8.5 GW).

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

Global wind energy capacity increased by 49 GW in 2018. China and the USA continued to account for the greatest share of wind energy expansion, with increases of 20 GW and 7 GW respectively. Other countries which expanded their wind energy capacity by more than 1 GW included Brazil, France, Germany, India, and the UK.

Solar energy capacity increased by a whopping 94 GW last year (+ 24 per cent) with Asia continuing to dominate global growth with a 64 GW increase (about 70% of the global expansion in 2018). Maintaining the trend from last year, China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea accounted for most of this. Other major increases were in the USA (+8.4 GW), Australia (+3.8 GW) and Germany (+3.6 GW). Other countries with significant expansions in 2018 included Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, Mexico, Turkey, and the Netherlands.

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Finally, geothermal energy increased by 539 MW in 2018, with most of the expansion taking place in Turkey (+219 MW) and Indonesia (+137 MW), followed by the USA, Mexico and New Zealand.

Globally, total renewable energy generation capacity reached 2,351 GW at the end of last year – around a third of total installed electricity capacity. Hydropower accounts for the largest share with an installed capacity of 1,172 GW – around half of the total. Wind and solar energy account for most of the remainder with capacities of 564 GW and 480 GW respectively. Other renewables included 121 GW of bioenergy, 13 GW of geothermal energy and 500 MW of marine energy (tide, wave and ocean energy).

The full report is available here and more highlights of key findings can be found here.

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