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Extraordinary Reuse of Vacant Church: Transforming into a Public Swimming Pool in the Netherlands

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Image: © MVRDV / Zecc Architecten
Image: © MVRDV / Zecc Architecten

Two architecture firms teamed up to win the competition to transform the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen into a public swimming pool.

Nicknamed “Holy Water”, the project gives the vacant church a new social function, while preserving the historic elements of this listed national monument.

The plans from MVRDV and Zecc Architecten incorporate an adjustable swimming pool floor that will bring flexibility to the space, allowing it to host a variety of activities in addition to swimming.

Originally built over 100 years ago in the south of the Netherlands, the church stopped hosting services in 2023, providing the municipality the opportunity to repurpose the building.

A new pool within this national monument offers a solution for the increasing number of visitors to Heerlen’s existing pools, while giving the vacant church in the city center a new lease of life.

The design that connects old and new, allows visitors to walk through the church’s aisles to reach the changing rooms or restaurant, both located at the rear of the church. Glass walls separate these passages from the climatized central pool space.

Side view © MVRDV and Zecc Architecten

To make room for the swimming pool, the existing floor will be carefully removed. The church’s pews will be reused by incorporating them into the separating glass walls surrounding the pool, providing seats for the swimmers on one side, while serving as bar tables for spectators on the other side.

The old pulpit is even given a new function—serving as the seat for a lifeguard.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Unused Train Stations Across US Are Being Revitalized into Hotels, Restaurants and Even Museums

The pool floor includes an adjustable bottom that can be raised and lowered, enabling different activities for swimmers of different ages and abilities. In its extreme position, the floor can be raised completely, hiding the pool beneath and reintroducing a completely flat floor so that the space can also be used for social and cultural activities.

The floor also makes it possible to fill the entire space with a thin layer of water, creating an impressive reflection of the church that gives visitors the feeling that they can walk on water.

“Walking on water” in Netherlands – © MVRDV / Zecc Architecten

“The vacancy rate of churches is increasing, so we need to come up with new, creative ideas for what we can do with these buildings”, says Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV.

“Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have? A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this. Imagine swimming the backstroke with a view of a church vault and stained-glass windows.”

A new mosaic floor will adorn both the pool surroundings and the adjustable pool floor. This will reference the existing colors, materials, and stained-glass windows of the church. The design for this floor will be made in collaboration with local artists as a reference to the many murals that Heerlen has to offer. The lighting above the pool is inspired by the original church lamps seen in historic photographs, with the four rows of lamps doubling as lane guides for the swimmers.

© MVRDV, Zecc Architecten

A particular challenge of the design was to be able to heat the pool space sufficiently and sustainably, while also protecting the historic materials from the humidity of the pool. To solve this, the glass walls surrounding the pool create a compartmentalizing effect to protect the stained glass and the works of art.

LOOK: Ohio Family Converts a 1903 Church Into Their Home – and it’s Pretty Amazing

Looking toward the front entrance – Image © MVRDV / Zecc Architecten

The roof of the church will be insulated from the outside, preventing excessive heat loss while maintaining the view of the original brickwork from the inside. The wooden roof will be retained and fitted with sound-absorbing panels for better acoustics. This approach ensures an energy-efficient and comfortable indoor climate, while preserving the historical elements of the church as much as possible.

SPECTACULAR: Man Transforms an Old Farmhouse into a Barbie Dreamhouse Fulfilling a Childhood Dream-LOOK

Swimmers will be invited to take their first plunge at the end of 2027.

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Cancer-Fighting Implant Developed to Treat Tumors by Safely Triggering Potent Immune Responses

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A new high-tech implant that safely triggers potent immune responses against hard-to-treat cancers has shown “promise” in fighting some of the deadliest forms of cancer—including metastatic melanoma, pancreatic and colorectal tumors.

The implantable cancer-fighting device, dubbed the “cytokine factory”, was developed by a team of researchers at Rice University’s Biotech Launch Pad in Houston, Texas.

Placed near the tumor microenvironment, the device can distribute cells engineered to release the protein interleukin-12 (IL-12) which successfully induces the recruitment of specialized immune cells called precursor exhausted T cells (Tpex cells).

The Tpex cell recruitment results in a large, durable population of tumor-targeting T cells, according to a study published in The Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

“We designed the IL-12 cytokine factory to enhance immunotherapy approaches while minimizing toxicity, a critical need in the treatment of particularly aggressive cancers,” said the study’s senior author Professor Omid Veiseh, faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad.

RELATED: Scientists Discover Simple Supplement That Causes Prostate Cancer Cells To Self-Destruct

The IL-12 cytokine factories, combined with checkpoint inhibitors, successfully eliminated local and distal tumors in preclinical models of metastatic melanoma and colorectal and pancreatic cancers—and also demonstrated safety in both mice and non-human primates, according to the findings.

The team said the study will serve as the foundation for an investigational new drug application with the U.S. FDA early next year. They also plan to launch an emerging biotech company based on the ground-breaking IL-12 cytokine factory technology.

“IL-12 is particularly impactful compared to other cytokines, as our research demonstrates that other cytokines primarily recruit homogeneous T cell populations and show reduced efficacy over time, while IL-12 generates a more robust anti-tumor response by recruiting a more durable, broader repertoire of tumor-targeting T cells.

Dr. Nathan Reticker-Flynn, of Stanford University, explained that using immunotherapy to target solid tumors has become common, but it’s often a “fraught approach” due to the challenge of toxicity.

“Our study demonstrates not only the efficacy of this technology in preclinical models but also its safety profile, which is a critical aspect as we move toward clinical trials.”

GREAT CANCER NEWS: Hope for Patients with Aggressive Breast Cancer: Vaccine Trial Results in 88% Survival Rate After 3 Years

He calls this an “important step forward in the quest to provide more effective treatments” for patients battling metastatic cancers.

“We are hopeful that this technology will significantly impact the lives of cancer patients by enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy approaches in the clinic,” said Prof. Veiseh.

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

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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 April 19, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
I am always surprised when there appears yet another authoritative article or book that implies there is one specific right approach to meditation. The truth is, however, that there are many ways. Here’s teacher Christopher Bamford: “Meditation is naturally individual, uniquely our own. There are no rules. Just as every potter will elaborate their own way of making pots, so everyone who meditates will shape their own meditation.” This is excellent counsel for you right now, Aries. The planetary alignments tell me you have extra power to define and develop your unique style of meditation. Key point: Have fun as you go deeper and deeper!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
From 1501 to 1504, the artist Michelangelo worked to create a 17-feet-tall marble sculpture of the Biblical king known as David. Today it stands in Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia and is one of the most famous statues in the world. But the block of marble from which it was carved had a troubled beginning. Two other artists worked on it but ultimately abandoned their efforts, regarding the raw material as flawed. Michelangelo saw potential where they didn’t. He coaxed a masterpiece from what they rejected. Be like him in the coming weeks, dear Taurus! Look for treasure in situations that others deem unremarkable. Find the beauty hidden from the rest of the world.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
The Judean date palm was considered extinct for over 800 years. Then scientists germinated a 2,000-year-old seed discovered in the ancient fortress of Masada. That was 20 years ago. Today, the tree, named Methuselah, is still thriving. Let’s regard this as your metaphor of power, Gemini. You, too, are now capable of reviving a long-dormant possibility. An old dream or relationship might show unexpected signs of life. Like that old seed, something you thought was lost could flourish if you give it your love and attention.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
In more than a few ancient cultures, dolphins were regarded as playful allies that would guide lost ships and assist sailors in stress. In ancient Greek myth, dolphins were sacred companions and agents of the sea god. In Maori culture, dolphins were thought to deliver important messages that were unavailable any other way. Many modern Westerners downplay stories like these. But according to my philosophy, spirit allies like dolphins are still very much available for those who are open to them. Are you, Cancerian? I’m pleased to tell you that magical helpers and divine intermediaries will offer you mysterious and useful counsel in the coming weeks—if you are receptive to the possibility.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Do you know about the Leo liberator Simón Bolívar (1783–1830)? This Venezuelan statesman and military officer accomplished a cornucopia of good works. Through his leadership, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Bolivia, and Ecuador gained independence from the Spanish Empire. He was one of history’s greatest crusaders for liberal democracy. I propose we make him one of your inspiring symbols for the next 12 months. May he inspire you, too, to be a courageous emancipator who helps create a better world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Virgo conductor Leonard Bernstein was a global superstar because of his stellar musicianship, activism, philanthropy, and teaching. He transformed classical music by dissolving barriers between “high” and “low” culture, bringing elegant symphonies to popular audiences while promoting respect for jazz and pop. He wanted all kinds of music to be accessible to all kinds of listeners. I think you are currently capable of Bernstein-like synergies, Virgo. You can bridge different worlds not only for your own benefit, but also others’. You have extra power to accomplish unlikely combinations and enriching mergers. Be a unifier!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
A rainbow is gorgeous, with its spectacular multi-hued arc sweeping across the sky. Here’s another element of its poetic appeal: It happens when sunlight and rain collaborate. In a sense, it’s a symbol of the sublimity that may emerge from a synergy of brightness and darkness. Let’s make the rainbow your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Libra. May it inspire you to find harmony by dealing with contrasts and paradoxes. May it encourage you to balance logic and emotion, work and rest, light and shadow, independence and partnership. I hope you will trust your ability to mediate and inspire cooperation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
You now have more power than usual to transform ordinary things into extraordinary things. Your imagination will work at peak levels as you meditate on how to repurpose existing resources in creative ways. What other people might regard as irrelevant or inconsequential could be useful tools in your hands. I invite you to give special attention to overlooked assets. They may have hidden potentials waiting for you to unlock them.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
If you google the term “the religion of work,” many critical references come up. They condemn the ways humans place an inordinate importance on the jobs they do, thereby sacrificing their health and soulfulness. The derogatory English term “workaholic” is a descriptor for those who are manically devoted to “the religion of work.” But now let’s shift gears. The artist Maruja Mallo (1902–1995) conjured a different version of “the religion of work.” Her paintings celebrated, even expressed reverence for, the agricultural laborers of rural Spain. She felt their positive attitudes toward their tasks enhanced their health and soulfulness. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I invite you to explore Mallo’s version of the religion of work.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Astrologer Aliza Kelly likes Capricorns for their “fearless ambition, limitless resilience, and ability to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenging adversity.” But she also praises their “secret wild side.” She writes, “Inside every earnest Capricorn is a mischievous troublemaker” that “loves to party.” I agree with her assessments and am happy to announce that the rowdier sides of your nature are due for full expression in the coming weeks. I don’t know if that will involve you “dancing on tables,” an activity Kelly ascribes to you. But I bet it will at least include interludes we can describe as “untamed.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Aquarian author James Joyce published Ulysses, a novel recognized as one of the masterworks of 20th-century world literature. Seventeen years later, he produced Finnegans Wake, an uproarious experimental novel that was universally reviled when it first emerged because of its wild wordplay, unusual plot, and frantic energy. In the ensuing years, though, it has also come to be regarded as a monument of brilliant creativity. It’s one of my favorite books, and I’m glad Joyce never wavered in his commitment to producing such an epic work of genius. Anyway, Aquarius, I’m guessing you have been toiling away at your own equivalent of Finnegans Wake. I beg you to maintain your faith! Keep going!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Years ago, in the early days of my infatuation with a new lover, she put a blindfold on me and ushered me around the city of Columbia, South Carolina. The goal was to enhance my non-visual senses. The experiment worked. I heard, smelled, and felt things I would never have noticed unless my dominating eyesight had been muffled. Ever since, my non-visual senses have operated with more alacrity. This fun project also improved the way I use my eyes. The coming days would be an excellent time for you to try a similar adventure, Pisces. If my idea isn’t exactly engaging to you, come up with your own. You will benefit profoundly from enhancing your perceptual apparatus.

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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Good News in History, April 19

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The Battle of Lexington by William Barnes Wollen

250 years ago today, a shot rang out in Lexington, Massachusetts, that’s often called the one “heard round the world.” It marked the start of a skirmish leading to the American Revolution. It gave needed time to the militia at nearby Concord to organize around the North Bridge where they turned back British troops under heavy rifle fire. British Officer John Pitcairn had ordered his redcoats forward toward Lexington to raid the colonists’ stash of cannon and gunpowder. Halting them was a rookie band of militiamen led by Captain John Parker, a veteran of the French and Indian War. READ what happened next… (1775)

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“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.” – Gustav Mahler

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Good News Network
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Aaron Burden

Quote of the Day: “With the coming of spring, I am calm again.” – Gustav Mahler

Photo by: Aaron Burden

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?

Aaron Burden

The World’s Tallest Bridge Will Open in China This Summer to Slash ‘Grand Canyon’ Crossing to Just 2 Minutes

By
Andy Corbley
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Duge Bridge, the current tallest bridge in the world just 120 miles from the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge - credit, Highest Bridges CC BY-SA 4.0
Duge Bridge, the current tallest bridge in the world just 120 miles from the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge – credit, Highest Bridges CC BY-SA 4.0

In a mountainous region of China, workers are less than 3 months away from opening a stunning new bridge that will become the world’s tallest.

Spanning the Huajiang Grand Canyon, the bridge bearing the same name will tower 2,051 feet above the level of the river below, some 947 feet higher than the famous Milau Viaduct in France, the highest bridge in Europe.

But the Huajiang Canyon Bridge isn’t about breaking records. The southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou is riddled with karst rock mountains, and includes about half of the world’s 100 highest bridges. Here, these concrete and steel spans are a necessity of getting around rather than a demonstration of infrastructural excellence.

With a total length of 9,776 feet, (2,980 meters) and a main span of 4,658 feet (1,420) meters, it’s longer than the Golden Gate Bridge by both measurements, and has a similar towering nature as well.

As a key component of the Liuzhi-Anlong expressway, the bridge will cut travel time across the canyon from about 70 minutes to just 2. This improved connectivity is expected to boost local tourism by attracting more visitors to nearby sites such as the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, said the local government website.

“Witnessing my work become something tangible—watching the bridge grow day by day and finally stand tall above the canyon—gives me a profound sense of achievement and pride,” said Li Zhao, chief engineer of the project.

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE: ‘Sponge’ Cities Combat Urban Flooding by Letting Nature Do the Work

Made up of 93 individual steel trusses lowered into place by a giant, sophisticated, automated and GPS-guided cable car mounted above the span during construction, the whole structure weighs about 22,000 tons.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Gorgeous Suspension Bridge Set for Completion in 2025 Will Make History Immediately – (LOOK)

One of the major challenges would be ensuring there was enough accuracy to lower the truss segments down into perfect alignment. Foreseeing this, the construction firm employed 3D scanning technology and ran virtual simulations in advance of truss placement to ensure they knew that what they were putting into place would fit.

MORE STUNNING PROJECTS: This Undersea Tunnel Marvel is Set to Break 5 Records and Shave Hours Off Travel Times in Europe

Sure enough, all of the placements were made without issue. Early renderings suggest that section of the bridge’s main span will host a 1,500-foot long enclosed pedestrian walkway complete with restaurant and bungee jump area, because why not?

Expected to open on June 30th, it will take the title of tallest bridge from, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Duge Bridge which crosses the same river just 120 miles from the Huajiang Canyon Bridge.

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Brothers Save Their Home from Massive Flood with Homemade Levee–Dad Who Taught Them ‘Would have liked that’ (WATCH)

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Andy Corbley
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Family photos by Tucker Humphrey
Family photos by Tucker Humphrey

Stunning footage from the recent flood in Tennessee show a man’s property suspended as if via a force field amid brown floodwaters.

The seemingly impossible sight was down to the Humphrey brothers’ homemade levees, a tactic they have used before to ride out floods, and which they learned from their late father.

The farming community in Bogota was ravaged by floods last week on the back of a massive storm. The Obion River was up 9 feet in about as many hours, and kept rising until it reached just 5 feet shy of the record on April 8th.

While many will have lost everything, the house and garden of Justin and Tucker Humphrey, both farmers, were recently subject of a viral video shot from helicopter. There the property was, like an island amid a brown sea.

Using an excavator to dig the levees, it’s something the pair have done before, and which Tucker called “just doing what we have to do.”

The brothers learned how to do it from their father, and on the back of all the social media hype, said that he would have been proud.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Farmer Combats Flooding by Returning Creeks to Nature: ‘Wildlife That Has Come is Phenomenal’

“He’d like seeing that,” Tucker told the Washington Post. “He’d know we were listening when we were kids.”

The comments section praised the men’s ingenuity and preparatory foresight, with one wishing God’s blessings on “a couple of Tennessee boys and their departed Dad for being smart enough, [and] stubborn enough.”

WATCH the striking video below… 

SHARE This Brilliant At-Home Ingenuity With Your Friends… 

Colossal Squid Filmed in Deep-Sea Natural Habitat for the First Time

By
Andy Corbley
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A colossal squid - credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute
A colossal squid – credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute

Breathtaking footage of a colossal squid has been collected by an undersea camera in the waters deep under Antarctica.

Both the world’s largest cephalopod and largest invertebrate, a sighting of the colossal squid is one of the most sought after prizes in marine biology. Capable of growing 25 feet long (7 meters) and weighing 1,200 pounds, (500 kg) it’s simply the stuff of dreams (or nightmares).

“We’re finally seeing confirmed footage of this animal that some of us have been studying and dreaming about for decades,” said deep-sea biologist Kat Bolstad, from Auckland University of Technology, who despite not being involved with the research team that captured the footage, did help identify the animal.

The short, yet deliciously high-definition footage was gathered by a submersible called SuBastian, operated by the nonprofit Schmidt Ocean Institute, on a research trip near South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

SuBastian was about 1,800 feet (600 meters) below sea level when the little one-foot-long (30 centimeter) squid drifted past its camera, highlighting the “beauty” of the animal, without the “monster hype” Bolstad told ABC News AU. 

Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni is one of two “glass squid” species in the Antarctic. When these animals are just born, their eyes are on stalks outside their hoods, and since the one in the footage lacked these visible stalks, it’s likely to be a juvenile, rather than a baby. It has a substantial amount of growing to do.

Little if anything is known about the colossal squid. It’s believed they’re ambush predators, like most hunters in the lightless depths. They have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom—12 to 16 inches in diameter, or about the size of a volleyball, which is believed to give them best-in-class abilities to see through the murk, identify bioluminescent creatures, and detect sperm whales, their natural predators, from a distance.

DEEP SEA WONDERS: Amid Great Chase, Tiger and Boar Call a Truce After Falling into Well and Waiting for Rescuers

While this footage is the first that can be confirmed as a colossal squid, the Antarctic tourist boat Ocean Endeavour witnessed a glass squid swim by their deep-sea camera in early 2023. It was either a colossal squid or Galiteuthis glacialis, another large deep-sea species.

Dr. Bolstad told ABC that seeing the live footage of an honest-to-goodness colossal squid allowed her and her colleagues to reveal some interesting things about the species.

MORE AMAZING ANIMAL FOOTAGE: ‘Superpod’ of More Than 2,000 Dolphins Frolic off California Coast – (WATCH)

“The spots on the mantle [the tube-like body] tells us that it almost certainly can switch back and forth between being completely transparent… to being quite opaque.”

It may be quite some time before an adult is filmed in the wild, since Schmidt won’t return to Antarctica until 2028. With their volleyball-sized eyes, the animals can see submersible craft long before such craft see them, so detection methods, scientists believe, need to become less disruptive.

WATCH the footage below… 

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Man Cultivates a Giant Mango Tree with Each Branch Growing a Different Variety of Fruit–and There Are 300

By
Andy Corbley
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Kalimullah Khan under his 125-year-old mango tree - credit, family photo released
Kalimullah Khan under his 125-year-old mango tree – credit, family photo released

From India comes the story of a remarkable man, and an even more remarkable tree.

Capable of producing more than 300 different varieties of mango, it is a world-renowned horticultural accomplishment that won its grower important civilian honors and international attention.

Kalimullah Khan – credit, family photo released

Kalimullah Khan from India’s town of Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been cultivating mango varieties since the 1950s. Now aged 84, his son manages most of the orchard, and the old man mostly gets to enjoy the fruits of his labors, family, and of course to take all the credit for its creation.

That creation is something that seems totally impossible: a tree from which each branch grows a different variety of mango. India has more mango varieties than any other nation, thanks to centuries of human horticultural experimentation, and many of these have been grafted onto a single individual in a way that allowed them to keep growing on borrowed rootstock.

“There’s so much to say about my tree. It has been nurtured with immense love, and it holds a lifetime of memories,” Khan tells The Better India. “People should visit my orchard to see the tree and understand the variety of mangoes, each with its distinct qualities.”

A school dropout, Khan began experimenting with grafting in 1957. Finding the healthiest and most deeply-rooted tree in the family orchard, Khan then began grafting branches of other mango varieties onto it.

Grafting is often used in fruit cultivation, and involves attaching the branch taken from one tree onto the base of the trunk, or rootstock, of another. Over time, the branch fuses with the rootstock and begins to grow as normal. Selecting a mature and large Alphonso mango tree, Khan began a grafting process that has continued for decades until it was making world records. In one year, 350 different mango varieties were produced on that one tree.

IF YOU LIKE FRUIT-GROWING: A Fruit So Sweet, Yet Grown Indoors: Will the Japanese Cultivar Become This Tesla of Strawberries?

Safe to say such a mango machine needs practically round-the-clock maintenance, and Khan’s son Nazimullah is now largely in charge of ensuring its free from pests, that excess rainwater isn’t allowed to pool around the field, that extra water is added during dry periods, and that mangos are harvested when ready.

Kalimullah Khan’s 125-year-old mango tree – credit, family photo released

Some of the varieties grown on the tree are hybrids created by the Khan family, named after famous figures like the Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary cricketer. There’s also a mango named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presented Khan with the Padma Sri, the 4th highest civilian honor of the country.

Growers from as far afield as Dubai and Iran have visited to study the methods of the ‘Mango Man of India.’

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: 10 Types of Apples Thought to Be Extinct From Pioneer Days Are Discovered in the Pacific Northwest

The tree itself is 125 years old, and Khan sees it as a living embodiment of his life’s work.

“People often call me a self-taught scientist, but in reality, it’s the trees who have been my teachers,” he adds. “I have spent my life with these trees, and when my time comes, I wish to be laid to rest beside them, as they have always been a part of me.”

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“Confusion, when properly supported, isn’t an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding.” – Aiden Chen 

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By Benjamin Davies

Quote of the Day: “Confusion, when properly supported, isn’t an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding.” – Aiden Chen 

Photo by: Benjamin Davies

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 Benjamin Davies

Good News in History, April 18

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Good News Network
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250 years ago, Paul Revere, who was 40 years old at the time, a respected craftsman and father of 16 children, rode with William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, galloping through the countryside of colonial Massachusetts to Lexington and Concord warning of the sudden movements of the British army. Contrary to myth, Revere did not shout, “the British are coming” (he himself was British). Instead, he spread the word by shouting, “The regulars are out.” READ more about this famous story… (1775)

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Hundreds of Volunteers Form a Human Chain to Get 9,000 Books to New Location for Indie Bookstore

By
Andy Corbley
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Human chain outside Serendipity Books - credit Burrill Strong
Human chain outside Serendipity Books – credit Burrill Strong

A beloved Michigan bookstore recently received a helping hand from the community when a human chain formed to pass its entire inventory from the store’s old location to the new one.

One wonders how many times a neighbor asked another whether they had “read this one?” or what drivers must have thought passing by the main drag in Chelsea where the store is located.

Human chain outside Serendipity Books – credit Burrill Strong

Serendipity Books and its owner Michelle Tuplin had a problem: it was moving day, and 9,100 books needed to be packed up and sorted in the new location. She faced the prospect of closing down for several days at least—never a good thing on the tight margins of a bookstore.

Taking to social media and putting out a call for volunteers among her many followers and customers, Tuplin received an overwhelming response, as 300 people showed up to lend a hand.

That’s when Tuplin came up with a novel idea: a human chain, or rather, two.

“It was just a joyful experience,” Donna Zak, one of the volunteers, told NBC News. “We were passing the books and noticing and commenting to each other, ‘Oh, have you read this one? I really enjoyed this one!’”

Fortunately for everyone involved, the new space was just 350 feet from the old one, and in just 2 hours, the entire collection had been moved and stocked—in alphabetical order no less.

“Grateful doesn’t even begin to express how we are feeling,” Serendipity Books posted on Instagram. “Thank you thank you thank you, we love you Chelsea!”

Michelle Tuplin, owner of Serendipity Books – credit Burrill Strong

“People really consider independent bookstores theirs,” Tuplin said Tuesday. “It’s really a part of the community, and they have ownership.”

MORE BOOKSTORIES: Teen Boy Translating Ancient Texts Turned a 4,000-Year-old Scribe From Egypt into Advice for Modern Age

The new store is more than twice the size of the old one, and will be celebrating its official opening on April 26th, America’s “Independent Bookstore Day.”

MORE BOOKSTORE STORIES: James Patterson Gives $300,000 in Holiday Bonuses to 600 Bookstore Employees

A follower in the Instagram comments section suggested that the story of Michelle Tuplin and her “Book Brigade” deserved press coverage; we agree, but add that it may deserve more—someone should write a book about it.

SHARE This Darling Of A Community Coming Together For Books And Neighbors…

Missing Toddler Who Walked 7 Miles Alone Through Wilderness Led to Safety by Rancher’s Dog

By
Andy Corbley
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Buford the dog - credit: Yavapai Co. Sheriff's Office
Buford the dog – credit: Yavapai Co. Sheriff’s Office

A 2-year-old reported missing in the Arizona high desert on Monday was found in part thanks to a local rancher’s dog: a big, fluffy Pyrenees named Buford.

Little Boden Allen wandered off his parents’ property in Seligman into mountain lion country at around 5:00 p.m. Monday evening. Yavapai County Search and Rescue conducted a 16-hour search long into Tuesday morning.

Ranger Scotty Dutton was surprised enough when he saw Buford wandering up a ranch track with little Boden in tow, but was even more surprised when the boy explained the ordeal he’d just gone through.

“I asked him, ‘did you walk all night long?’ and he said ‘no, I slept under a tree,'” Dutton told 12 News Arizona Dutton. “And I said, ‘well did my dog find you?’ And he goes, ‘yep’ and he said he followed the dog back to the house.”

He knew the child had been reported missing, and was “so grateful” to be able to find him, realizing only later that the boy had wandered for 7 miles before Buford found him.

Dutton added in between television interviews that tough desert terrain, multiple canyons and gorges, and dangerous wildlife lie between his house and Boden’s, an area about 100 miles south of the Grand Canyon.

Boden had wandered away while his mother was changing her other son’s diaper and his father was doing some work around the house.

OTHER SUPER DOGS: Missing Toddler Found Sleeping in Woods with Dog as A Pillow After Walking 3 Miles Barefoot

Search and Rescue utilized more than one helicopter in the hunt for Boden. At one point, the pilot noticed that there were two mountain lions following one of the search parties, highlighting the dangers the area could pose to a two-year-old.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Dog Sits Down in Middle of Road Unmoving–Until Officer Follows to Save Her Owner

“There were about 1,000 ways for that to go really, really bad, and one good way, and luckily it turned out to be the good way,” Dutton said.

For Buford, whose total involvement was unclear, it probably seemed like just another day on the farm, only this time it led to a steak dinner.

WATCH the story below from NBC… 

SHARE This Little Man’s Best Friend On Social Media To Celebrate His Good Work… 

No Alcohol, No Cover, No Judging: Inside Mexico City’s Free Dance Parties

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Neuva Red de Bailladores, retrieved from Facebook
credit – Neuva Red de Bailadores, retrieved from Facebook

In Mexico City, a social movement organizing free dance parties is changing the way people in the city move by breaking down barriers.

At their events there’s no cover charge to get in, there are no drink minimums, and nothing is done by either the attendees or the organizers to confer or reinforce status symbols of any kind.

Everyone is there for a single purpose: to dance, freely, and without pressure.

Called the Nueva Red de Bailadores (New Network of Dancers), a recent Sunday afternoon on a pavilion in the city’s famous Bosque de Chapultepec urban park saw over 300 people attending its most recent event, which the network organizes in some different interesting public place once a month.

Described by the organizers speaking with AP as a “a community of philosophy and action,” the New Network started 9 years ago and quickly grew in size and scope. Utilizing social media to promote events and keep attendees in touch, and working alongside civic forces like the police and museums to secure space and sound equipment to keep the costs at zero, they have connected many disparate groups over their love of music and dancing.

At any given event, the music can be eclectic, and may feature a traditional Colombian “cumbia” alongside jazz tunes and hip hop from around the world.

Retirees in their 70s, children and their mothers, and gaggles of 20-somethings of various styles and cliques all gather together and dance without fear of judgment or the interest in applying it.

“I think it’s wonderful because it’s a free event,” said a 73-year-old retired high school assistant principal, who comes to the events with her husband. “We get together with people from all parts of society and we have fun without any trouble.”

USING DANCE FOR GOOD: Massachusetts Cafe Offers Free Coffee if You Come in Dancing

Younger attendees told AP that dancing has always been an activity that existed hand in hand with alcohol (and all the implications that come with it), but the New Network allowed them to create new relationships with dancing and with themselves.

SHARE This Great New Way To Boogie In The Mexican Capital…

Teens Developed App That Identifies Mouth Cancer–Making Early Diagnosis Easy and Winning $50k for Their School

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
credit – Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

GNN has reported on multiple occasions how artificial intelligence is being leveraged to detect signs of cancer.

Now, a team of high schoolers is using AI to help their community combat one of the deadlier forms: oral cancer.

Using a photo taken on a smartphone, the Oral Scan app detects signs of oral cancer at an 82% success rate. If the AI thinks it’s found evidence of a tumor, it can diagnose the stage with an even better, 87% success rate.

Not bad for a bunch of teenagers, and even though 82% is below what most medical ethicists believe should be the threshold for outsourcing tumor identification to a machine, it’s far better than the rate of 0%, which is what many in the team’s home state of Arkansas will experience.

52,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and more than 12,000 died as a result, according to their research. Early detection of oral cancers can boost survival rates by 40%, but such cancers are detected early in only 30% of cases.

In dental deserts, these numbers are even worse. In Arkansas for example, 90% of the population didn’t visit a dentist last year, and according to one dental surgeon the team spoke with, whole counties in Arkansas don’t even have a dentist to visit.

“We learned that current diagnosis methods are expensive, intrusive, and often inaccurate, making early detection rare,” Veera Unnam, one of the team members, from Bentonville West High School.

Their response is Oral Scan, a free app in which each diagnosis will cost just 50 cents, and deliver a response in just 15 seconds.

The team designed the app to be usable in all countries on both Apple and Android IOS, and ensured it was easy and intuitive to use, showing their commitment not only to Arkansas, but the world at large.

AI FINDING CANCER:

Recently, Unnam and his two colleagues entered Oral Scan into the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, empowering public school students (grades 6-12) to drive positive change in their communities by applying STEM know-how to address real-world, pressing issues.

Each finalist school receives $50,000 in Samsung technology and supplies and will compete at the live Solve for Tomorrow Pitch Event in Washington, DC, on April 28th. Three National Winners will each earn $100,000 in prizes, and one will be named the Community Choice Winner.

Celebrating the 15th year of Solve For Tomorrow, Samsung has awarded more than $27 million in resources to nearly 4,000 public schools across the US to date, and the Oral Scan team will be hoping they’re among the recent winners. However, in advance of the announcement of the winner, Oral Scan is already getting national news headlines, and the team have been invited to speak at medical conferences to present their invention.

WATCH the students’ video pitch below…

SHARE These Enterprising Public Health Champions With Your Friends… 

“Love is the power to see similarity in the dissimilar.” – Theodor W. Adorno

By
Good News Network
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A newly-graduated Iraqi policeman receives a handshake and a certificate from Lt. Col. Daniel J. Racca, commandant of the Ar Ramadi Police Academy. A graduation ceremony was held here for 88 Iraqi policemen April 22. This was the first class instructed by Racca and his team of reserve Marines attached to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. (USMC photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald)

Quote of the Day: “Love is the power to see similarity in the dissimilar.” – Theodor W. Adorno

Photo by: Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald (CC license)

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

A newly-graduated Iraqi policeman receives a handshake and certificate from Lt. Col. Daniel J. Racca, commandant of the Ar Ramadi Police Academy and his team of reserve Marines attached to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.
(USMC photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald)

Good News in History, April 17

By
Good News Network
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The first generation Mustang - Kroelleboelle CC BY-SA 3.0.

61 years ago today, Americans got their first glimpse of Ford’s new sporty car. The Mustang first appeared in showrooms at the 1964 World Fair in New York City for a retail price of $2,368 (equivalent to $23,263 in 2023). Because it was introduced four months before the usual start of the 1965 production year, it is affectionately known as the “Ford 1964-1/2. READ a bit about the famous car’s earliest designs… (1964)

Continue

Britain’s Youngest Elvis Impersonator Invited to Perform at Graceland on the Anniversary of His Death – (WATCH)

By
Andy Corbley
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Cooper Worthington, Britain's Youngest Elvis Presley impersonator - SWNS
Cooper Worthington, Britain’s Youngest Elvis Presley impersonator – SWNS

Britain’s youngest Elvis impersonator has been invited to perform at Presley’s Graceland home in Memphis.

Talented Cooper Worthington has been a lifelong fan of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and if the honor of singing at the King’s house wasn’t enough, it happens that he will take the stage on the day marking the 48th anniversary of Presley’s death.

12-year-old Cooper was described by his mom, Kelly Worthington, as a “typical pre-teen” who just happens to have a love for performing. His interest in Elvis was sparked by Freddie Mercury’s love of the same, and it was only after Cooper heard Mercury talk about Elvis in an old interview that he decided to see what his idol was fussing about.

If Cooper’s journey continues, there may come a point where that story ends with the phrase “and the rest, they say, is history.”

“We thought we would reach out to America because Cooper is the UK’s youngest working performing Elvis tribute at the moment,” said his mother Kelly Worthington.

Sending over a collection of videos and social media content, Elvis Presley Enterprises replied with a contract offer that will see the young man head to Graceland for two performing slots.

Cooper ‘could not believe it’ when he was told.

“We are both so excited,” said Worthington. “Cooper wanted to go to Memphis for years and I have been saving up and working as hard as I can to take us both there. It is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.”

“So far in his little life he has had loads of amazing opportunities so we do feel really lucky.”

The plan is to impersonate young 1950’s Elvis because of Cooper’s age.

“We have got the Pink Cadillac outfit, the gold blazer, the GI Blues outfit, the Jailhouse Rock outfit—I’ll let him choose,” said Worthington.

While the family has received criticism for letting his star shine too brightly at such a young age, Worthington argues that they couldn’t have stopped him if they had wanted to.

“He entered a school talent competition and won the whole show,” she remembered. “A couple of weeks ago he was asked to perform as Elvis as part of our local festival week and keeps getting invited to perform.”

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“He wants to go on Britain’s Got Talent. We haven’t pushed him at all, we couldn’t have stopped him—he just loves it so much and is [sic] his passion. He knows all of Elvis’ songs now and has perfected the dance moves. He’s also grown hair his long enough to quiff it himself naturally.”

“He has even found an old American hair gel that Elvis used to use. He now just wants to be famous. His eyes light up when he is on stage.”

Cooper also spoke to Britain’s SWNS media outlet, and very much backed up what his mother described.

GREAT YOUNG TALENTS: Girl Joins Mensa at 13 After Scoring Higher Than Albert Einstein–Even with No Exam Prep

“I love Elvis’ singing the best,” he said. “My favorite song is Jailhouse Rock and my dream is to perform in Las Vegas and have my own show.”

“I got into performing by watching performers on telly and YouTube and live shows and wanted to do it myself. My dad wants me to be a rugby player like him, but I love performing like my mom.”

WATCH him do his stuff below (and maybe give him a like and a follow on YouTube)… 

SHARE This Shining Star Heading To Graceland With Your Friends… 

Zoo Camera Captures Elephants Protecting Their Young During San Diego Earthquake – (WATCH)

By
Andy Corbley
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San Diego Zoo elephants in an alert circle - credit, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo elephants in an alert circle – credit, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Security camera footage from the San Diego Zoo recently showed how its elephant herd formed a protective circle around its young after they were surprised by a recent earthquake.

Originating about 3 miles south of Julian, Southern California, the magnitude 5.2 tremblor, gave the region down to Tijuana a good shaking.

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a herd of three female elephants and their two calves were startled by the quake, and footage of them organizing to protect their young has made headlines.

Known to pachydermologists as an “alert circle,” the female adults quickly encircled their young back-to-back, tusks and trunks outward. It’s how the animals defend their young on the savanna, where predators’ only hope of poaching elephants depends on separating them from their youngsters.

Elephants have the ability to feel sound through their feet, so an earthquake is presumably more frightening for them than us. Many elephant strongholds such as Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa are prone to both intense and benign earthquakes.

“The herd, consisting of Ndlula, Umngani, Khosi, and youngsters Zuli and Mkhaya, went back to normal after about 4 minutes, though they did stay close to one another,” Emily Senninger, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Zoo, told GNN.

WATCH them make the ‘Alert Circle’ below…

SHARE This Perfect View Of A Fascinating Elephant Behavior… 

Philadelphia Police Officer Sets Aside Fear of Heights to Rescue Child from a Roof

By
Andy Corbley
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body cam footage released
body cam footage released

It takes bravery to be a police officer, but for someone with a fear of heights, it’s probably safe to assume most of the work will be done with feet on solid ground.

For one acrophobic Philadelphia officer however, preventing disaster meant going above and beyond the call of duty, literally.

Officer Eric Robbins was on patrol December 10th, among the two-storey houses on N. 64th Street, when he got a call from neighbors saying someone’s child was out and walking on the pitched-roof of a nearby house.

The child didn’t seem fazed about the 20-30 foot drop awaiting him. Robbins could feel it though, even from the ground floor, as he has a self-professed fear of heights.

“I just knew I had to get him off that roof,” Robbins told ABC 6. Gaining entry to the house, released body cam footage shows him charging up the stairs to the second floor, climbing out of the window and grabbing the child.

Arriving at the window, he realized his presence might spook the wayward boy into falling off the roof, so Robbins snuck into position to grab him, saying “I don’t even think he knew I was there.”

Though unwilling to talk to the police at the time, the family, who were completely shocked, thanked Officer Robbins for his dedication “to protecting and serving with such compassion.”

MORE POLICE RESCUES: Macgyver-Minded Officer Saves Toddler from Bottom of 10-ft Hole with Makeshift Catchpole –WATCH

For his part, Robbins realized his acrophobia would have to wait.

“Instantly overcoming my fear of heights and getting him off the roof… it hit home because it could have been my kid and I would want someone to do the same,” he said.

WATCH the body cam footage below… 

SHARE This Officer’s Personal Bravery When No One Was Around To Witness It…

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