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New Astronaut Camp for Girls Named After Star Trek Actress Nichelle Nichols, Honored as Role Model

By
Andy Corbley
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Girls at the US Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp / Nichelle Nichols as Lt Uhura on Star Trek
Girls at the US Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp / Nichelle Nichols as Lt Uhura on Star Trek

Alabama will be the site of a new training camp for the next generation of female astronauts—funded and named in honor of one of the profession’s great pioneers.

Okay, maybe not exactly, because the Nichelle Nichols Space Camp honors someone who pioneered an idea rather than a profession—an idea that color barriers didn’t exist in outer space.

Passing away in 2022, African American actress Nichelle Nichols was the first black woman to star in a primetime American TV show when she took the role of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on Star Trek. As a bridge officer, it wasn’t just that she had plenty of screen time in the show, but she was one of the highest ranking characters according to the show’s plotline.

As Whoopi Goldberg later put it “I just saw a Black woman on television; and she ain’t no maid!”

Indeed there was nothing typical nor token about Nichols’ character. Uhura was a polyglot, translator, and communications expert high up in the chain of command, and her portrayal resulted in a generation of African American women watching someone who looked like them explore space.

To that end, she became something of a space influencer—with few impacts likely to be greater than this new weekend-long experience for young women aged 14 to 18 at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Organized by the Nichelle Nichols Foundation, the Space Camp will be organized around two structures: the first being the internationally-recognized excellence of the Space and Rocket Center program which mirrors astronaut training done by NASA, and the second being an additional structure of activities to mirror the finest concepts contained within the Star Trek canon.

These include coursework on the concept of “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” the bedrock of philosophy from the show’s Vulcan aliens, and a series of mission scenarios similar to those undertaken aboard the Enterprise, specifically a first contact scenario, which was the responsibility of Uhura in the show.

The camp is a fitting legacy for the recently-deceased actress, who was the direct inspiration for Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut, along with so many others who had encountered Nichols during her STEM advocacy work with NASA.

All of that might not have happened if it weren’t for a chance conversation with none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Nichols, according to multiple sources, planned to leave Star Trek in 1967 after its first season, but changed her mind after talking to Dr. King, who explained it was his favorite show along with his three children, and that her character signified a future of greater racial harmony and cooperation.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Engineers Fly First-Ever Plane With No Moving Parts – and It Was Inspired By ‘Star Trek’

The casting was totally open, Dr. King pointed out—if she didn’t play Uhura, they didn’t need another black woman—they could replace her with anyone, even an alien.

Nichols took up the mantle of barrier-breaker onboard the Enterprise, thanks to creator-director Gene Roddenberry. In the 1968 episode “Plato’s Stepchildren,” Lt. Uhura and Captain Kirk kiss, which became one of the first scripted interracial kiss scenes in American cinematography. But there’s more.

MORE COOL STAR TREK STORIES: The Ashes of Star Trek Founder’s Wife Get Blasted Into Space on a Mission to Advance Science

The original intent was to film a scene that ended in a kiss, and one which ended without, and then allow the network to decide which one to air. Nichols and William Shatner agreed, it has since been learned, to flub every non-kiss take, and thereby force the network’s hand to include the kiss.

The Space Camp costs $2,000 to attend, but financial assistance and scholarships are available for eligible participants.

WATCH a promotional video of the camp below…

SHARE This Great Opportunity With Your Friends Whose Kids Love Space… 

An Ottawa Runner Posted Online Asking ‘Did you save my life?’ Then He Got an Answer

By
Andy Corbley
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Tawnya Shimizu, a nurse who saved a man's life on the roadside - credit, supplied to the media
Tawnya Shimizu, a nurse who saved a man’s life on the roadside – credit, Shimizu supplied to the media

From Ottawa comes the story of a runner who woke up in the hospital with a burning question: who saved his life?

Tommy Chan went for a five kilometer run on May 20th, but he doesn’t remember anything several days either side of that. All he knows is what the doctors told him: he suffered post-run cardiac arrest.

A bit of detective work revealed at least where he was when he collapsed: a running app called Strava told him he finished his 5K around Bronson and Carling at 7:50 p.m. A smartwatch that is attached to the app to track his heart rate has a telling lapse just after that time.

Paramedics, meanwhile, told him that they had responded to a call about a man suffering cardiac arrest near that location around one hour later. He had been resuscitated with a defibrillator, but not before bystander CPR was administered; deep bruising and a broken rib being two souvenirs of the kindness of strangers.

Rewinding to May 20th, and Tawnya Shimizu was on a walk with her daughter when she saw a commotion just next to her car. A man, it appeared, had collapsed.

“I could hear the 9-1-1 operator giving directions on CPR and counting out the timing,” she told CBC News Ottawa. “So my daughter was immediately like, ‘Mommy, you’re a nurse. You need to help!'”

Rushing over and entering “work mode” she introduced herself to the crowd and the operator, and began to administer CPR, a lifesaving procedure that stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

SPECTACULAR CPR STORIES:

First responders arrived, used the defibrillator, and rushed Chan to the hospital, leaving Shimizu in a heap of adrenaline that subsided while her curiosity rose in tandem. She was wondering what would happen to him.

Chan, weeks later, posted a account of the event online with the header “Did you save my life?” and the word made it back to Shimizu, who was able to get in touch with Chan, learn that he had in fact survived, and even plan to meet together in the coming days.

“The biggest thank you,” Chan told CBC when asked what he would say. “I don’t know what else to say. Like, I can’t believe you were at the right place at the right time. So I don’t know how I can never repay you.”

SHARE This Story Of CPR And Strangers From Canada’s Capital On Social Media…

Viral Video Sparks $20,000 in Donations for Ice Cream Vendor Who Walks Miles in the Florida Heat

By
Andy Corbley
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Don Tomas waving with thanks - credit, Beryenis Lopez
Don Tomas waving with thanks – credit, Beryenis Lopez

For anyone who suggests that social media has been a net-negative for society, tell them to spend 3 hours reading GoFundMe stories.

GNN has reported on literally dozens of these internet crowdfunding efforts that have changed people’s lives, and the latest one comes from the sizzling South Florida summer heat.

Don Tomas is a local ice cream seller who pushes a cart because he can’t afford a van. Recently, a resident in a community Tomas frequents saw him pushing his cart down a divided highway miles from anywhere, and decided to just hand over some money as a thank you gesture for that work ethic.

Captured on TikTok, this simple gesture of kindness went viral, garnering 20,000 shares, 6,700 comments, and close to a million likes.

“I always get ice cream from him, omgg I didn’t know he walks that far there’s no way,” said one commenter.

The video’s author, Beryenis Lopez, decided to set up a GoFundMe to channel that viral positivity towards their beloved local ice cream vender, and the results were more than sweet.

“Everyone locally knows and loves Don Tomas for his hard work and dedication, selling ice cream for many years,” Lopez wrote on the GoFundMe page.

@wavyybergy1 it made me so emotional see this man walk in the heat with his little ice cream trailer , help your local vendors their just trying to make it by 🥺🤲🏼❤️‍🩹#proudimmigrantdaughter #standtogether #fyp #helponeanother ♬ sonido original - 🎵LYRICS🎵

“He’s a beloved part of our community, and he deserves to have better conditions. I’ve created this GoFundMe in hopes we can raise enough money to give to him for transportation and maybe a new ice cream trailer.”

The fundraiser has amassed $30,000 of its $35,000 goal.

“Despite his age and everything going on around us, Mr. Don Tomas maintains a hard-working man!”

SWEETEN Social Media Up With This Story Of Kindness Towards Our Fellow Man…

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” – Henry Melvill 

By
Good News Network
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By Jacek Dylag

Quote of the Day: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” – Henry Melvill 

Photo by: Jacek Dylag

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 Jacek Dylag

Good News in History, July 1

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Good News Network
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Maurice Garin who won the first Tour de France

122 years ago today, the starting pistol rang out for the first Tour de France, the most prestigious cycling competition today. Set up and sponsored by the newspaper L’Auto, ancestor of the current daily, L’Équipe, it ran from the 1st to 19th of July in six stages over 2,428 km (1,509 miles) and was won by Maurice Garin. Of the three Grand Tours of European cycling, with the other being the Giro d’Italia, and the Vuelta a España, the Tour de France had by far the longest stages. READ how the first event went… (1903)

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New Groundbreaking Study Reveals How Vitamin C Reactivates Skin Regeneration Genes

By
Andy Corbley
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- credit Apostolos Vamvouras
– credit Apostolos Vamvouras

A coalition of Japanese researchers and institutes have established that a pathway exists through which humble vitamin C can actually regenerate skin cells.

As we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner and more fragile due to a decline in cell production. The researchers found that vitamin C works throughout our life to counteract this aging process.

Using a 3D human skin model, they showed that C boosts thickness in the epidermal skin layer by activating genes linked to cell growth through DNA demethylation. These findings suggest that vitamin C may help prevent age-related skin thinning and support healthier, stronger skin in aging individuals.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, and also the most susceptible to thinning during aging. As our first line of defense against pathogens, this loss of protective strength is problematic.

About 90% of the cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes, which originate from deeper layers of the epidermis and migrate upward, ultimately forming the skin’s protective barrier. To combat aging’s impact on skin, numerous studies have emphasized the benefits of vitamin C, a vitamin well known for its role in skin health and antioxidant properties.

Research led by Dr. Akihito Ishigami, Vice President of the Division of Biology and Medical Sciences at Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, has found that vitamin C helps thicken the skin by directly activating genes that control skin cell growth and development.

“C seems to influence the structure and function of epidermis, especially by controlling the growth of epidermal cells. In this study, we investigated whether it promotes cell proliferation and differentiation via epigenetic changes,” explains Dr. Ishigami, according to a release from his university.

To investigate how vitamin C affects skin regeneration, the team used human epidermal equivalents, which are laboratory-grown models that closely mimic real human skin. In this model, skin cells are exposed to air on the surface while being nourished from underneath by a liquid nutrient medium, replicating the way human skin receives nutrients from underlying blood vessels while remaining exposed to the external environment.

The liquid medium contained concentrations of C comparable to those typically transported from the bloodstream into the epidermis. On assessing its effect, they found that vitamin C influenced a thicker epidermal cell layer without significantly affecting the stratum corneum (the outer layer composed of dead cells) on day seven.

By day 14, the inner layer was even thicker, and the outer layer was found to be thinner, suggesting that vitamin C promotes the formation and division of keratinocytes. Treated samples showed increased cell proliferation, demonstrated by a higher number of Ki-67-positive cells—a protein marker present in the nucleus of actively dividing cells.

Importantly, the study revealed that C helps skin cells grow by reactivating genes associated with cell proliferation. It does so by promoting the removal of methyl groups from DNA, in a process known as DNA demethylation.

When DNA is methylated, methyl groups attach to cytosine bases, which can prevent the DNA from being transcribed or read, thereby suppressing gene activity. Conversely, by promoting DNA demethylation, vitamin C promotes gene expression and helps cells to grow, multiply, and differentiate.

DIETARY NEWS: Changing Your Diet Could Add Up to 13 Years to Your Life, Study Says

DNA methylation is one of the most consequential processes in human aging, and one of the ways that scientists can measure someone’s true biological age, independent of their chronological age.

Vitamin C is an interesting topic in the field of nutrition. Many doctors and registered dieticians will encourage people to try and get all their minerals and vitamins from food, but research has shown that today in America, an orange contains about one-eighth of the vitamin A of an orange grown in the 1950s. There are reasons to suspect similar declines to be measured in vitamin C.

Other research has shown that vitamin C is 30% less abundant in American produce now than it was 70 years ago. There are also nine types of vitamin C, and foods rich in one variety may not be rich in another.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS: Vitamin D Improves Immunity to Cancer And Reduces Tumor Growth in Mice, Study Finds

Vitamin C recommendations can range from 90 milligrams per day for a man, to 120 for a breastfeeding mother. However, these are the minimal requirements to stave off known diseases, and optimal health, such as the skin regeneration found in the study, may require substantially more.

Additionally, depending on how the food is prepared, vitamin C absorption may not be the measurable content of the food item itself. Among commonly consumed produce, bell and chili peppers contain the most amount of vitamin C per calorie. One analysis didn’t have oranges in the top 50 items, and lemons only just made it into the ranking.

SHARE This Interesting Dietary Digest With Your Friends… 

Italian ‘Ghost Town’ Rescued by Instagramable Street Art Which Attracts Thousands

By
Andy Corbley
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- credit Luciano Magaldi Sardella via SWNS
– credit Luciano Magaldi Sardella via SWNS

A southern Italian hamlet referred to as a ghost town is now attracting thousands of tourists by commissioning artists to paint more than 140 murals on the sites of shops and homes.

It seems fitting that the birthplace of so many of the world’s great artists should leverage painting as a means of recovery—why should Rome and Florence have all the beauty?

Stornara, in the Puglia region has suffered from a fate befalling many towns in Italy. A generation experiencing rising standards of living had fewer children, and those children, now grown up, are moving to the cities, leaving the small towns “crumbling” in their absence.

Local artist Lino Lombardi grew frustrated to see his hometown crumbling around him and became determined to make it a destination worth visiting.

In 2017 he created Stramurales, an annual street art festival that sees artists from around the world come to paint murals in the town. Six of the now 140 vibrant murals were created at the first festival in 2018, and now thousands of people visit every year.

Revenue through tourism has increased by 25% since 2020, and eight new businesses have opened, including two restaurants, three B&Bs, and an art-supplies shop. More importantly than a temporary tourist-season boom, the town’s population has stopped declining and begun to grow again as young families move back, locals say.

– credit Luciano Magaldi Sardella via SWNS

“Suddenly there were loads of people turning up with cameras and guidebooks,” remembered Antonio Maglione, who had been on the brink of closing a cafe he owns in the town. “I had to quickly learn to say ‘welcome’ in five different languages.”

“The murals saved my business, but more than that, they saved our community.”

That sense of provincial entrapment is powerful in Italy, and 45-year-old Rita Gensano spared no mercy for her home when speaking with Britain’s Southwest News Service about returning in 2017 to look after her parents, having previously lived in Turin for 20 years.

“When I first returned it felt like a sacrifice, it was like walking into a ghost town,” said Gensano, now a local tour guide. “I had left it full of life and laughter but when I returned it felt like it was dying.”

“But actually it has become something extraordinary which I have been fortunate to be a part of.”

ALSO CHECK OUT: London Design Museum Turns its Massive Warehouse Collection into Another Museum—with 250K Items

Other struggling towns have appealed for help from organizers following Stornara’s success.

“Our community has painted itself back to life, one wall at a time,” Lombardi, 57, told SWNS. “At first people thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t just watch the town fade away.”

– credit Luciano Magaldi Sardella via SWNS

“I started looking at the walls as blank canvasses which could be turned into something beautiful. We never planned to be a case study, but if our experience can help other communities that’s even more meaningful.”

The 140-plus paintings spread throughout the town’s streets and historic squares are inspired by Stornara’s agricultural past, migration, and the townsfolk, among other themes.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Young Craftsman Resurrects ‘Extinct’ Musical Instrument by Consulting Ancient Literature (LISTEN)

Residents get to vote on proposed themes for murals ahead of each festival, when the paintings are created.

This year’s edition, to take place in July, will feature continental artists as well.

SHARE This Incredible Story Of A Town Resurrected With Art… 

21st Century Has Seen Tree Cover Expand in 60% of American Counties Including Metro Areas

By
Andy Corbley
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Tree cover along Fort Lauderdale's New River - credit Tamanoeconomico CC 4.0. BY-SA
Tree cover along Fort Lauderdale’s New River – credit Tamanoeconomico CC 4.0. BY-SA

In a creative use of big data, a survey has found that of the 3,119 US counties, 1,836 experienced growth and expansion of tree cover, with a high concentration among prairie and Mid-West areas.

Additionally, among counties that had thinning forests, the mean tree loss was lower than the mean increase among counties that saw expanding forests; in other words, when measured by county, the US has seen net forest growth over the last 2 decades.

Tree cover in human civilization performs several functions. Woods, however small, have the effect of increasing biodiversity in the area, of retaining soil and preventing erosion and runoff into waterways, shading and reducing average air temperatures, offering the obvious recreation opportunities, and helping to calm people.

Lawn Starter published an analysis of tree cover data county by county which found that increases in tree cover weren’t limited to rural areas. For example, Lea County, New Mexico, is one of the 25 largest counties in the Lower 48 by land area, and it experienced a 1,600% increase in forest canopy—the highest registered in the analysis.

However 14 of the 25 most populated US counties also gained tree cover, including Kings County, New York, Broward County, Florida, and Wayne County, Michigan—home to Brooklyn, Fort Lauderdale, and Detroit, respectively.

US WOODS NEWS: 300-Year-Old Trees Along Detroit River Gain Recognition as an Old-Growth Forest

Both Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County also gained canopy—and significant amounts of it.

The counties containing prairie urban centers like Boise, Omaha, Lincoln, and Wichita all gained forest cover. Denver, Indianapolis, Seattle, Columbus, Philadelphia, and Nashville also gained some forest cover.

FROM THE REDWOODS: Ancient California Redwoods Defy Scientists’ Expectations and Sprout New Shoots From Blackened Trunks

The analysis was conducted between 2000 and 2020, and found a mean increase of 8.15% across all counties that gained forest cover. That’s a major positive for living in a changing climate, since reforestation gains throughout the 20th century have insulated the southeastern region of the United States from increases in average temperatures seen in other regions, GNN reported last year.

SHADE Your Friends’ Social Media Pages From The Bad News… 

Regaining Hands After 17 Years, Swiss Man Gets Life-Changing Double Transplant

By
Andy Corbley
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Krizanac training to hold a tennis - credit, Lisa Burth, courtesy
Krizanac training to hold a tennis – credit, Lisa Burth, courtesy

When 29-year-old Luka Kriszanac arrived back at University of Penn. Medicine and got to see his surgery team, it was all smiles and handshakes.

That’s more remarkable than it sounds, since the surgery he underwent was a “vascularized composite allotransplantation,” or in layman’s terms, a double hand transplant.

He is one of five people who have undergone this procedure at Penn Medicine—the center of the world’s most advanced knowledge base on the transplantation of the human hand.

An undiagnosed case of strep throat turned into a deadly sepsis infection when Kriszanac was just a 12-year-old boy in Switzerland, and not only were both his legs amputated, but also his hands.

“Regaining hands after 17 years, I don’t think there is a bigger dream than that,” he told CBS News, adding he wants that the family of the donor to know “they changed not just my life but my family’s life forever, and for that, we are deeply grateful.”

After learning about U. Penn’s hand transplant program, Kriszanac began working with a team to evaluate his suitability for a transplant in 2018. L. Scott Levin, Chair Emeritus of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and professor of plastic surgery and Benjamin Chang, associate chief of plastic surgery, would play the leading roles in the surgery team following the years’ long wait for a donor.

“You do 1,001 activities every day with your hands. Prosthetics cannot simulate or replace that. Our team is very proud of the many things we’ve done as ‘firsts,’” Levin, who has participated in several successful transplantations, told U. Penn press.

“The first child. The first transatlantic vascularized composite allotransplantation. The first in a patient with no lower extremities. The first woman to have hand transplants who later gave birth to a baby.”

Running into a delay from the government restrictions on hospital activities during the pandemic, the wait continued into the 2020s, until finally in 2024, the Gift of Life program connected Kriszanac, Levin, and Chang, with a suitable donor.

That’s harder than it sounds, since not only do the hands have to have a similar genetic and blood profile to the recipient to prevent rejection, they have to be of a similar muscle and bone density, of a similar skin color, and from a donor of a similar age.

Last autumn in the middle of the night, a 10-hour marathon surgery began with one team focusing on preparing Kriszanac, and another addressing the deceased donor who was also there in the operating theater.

MORE STAGGERING TRANSPLANTATIONS: 

Waking up around lunchtime, Kriszanac was astonished with the results, and today through rehabilitation work, is able to prop his head on his hands at a desk, use a finger to push up his glasses, type on a smartphone, hold a cup or a ball, pick up food and eat it, and even feel hot and cold temperatures.

Despite this, Kriszanac will be in contact with U. Penn likely for the rest of his life, such is the length of rehab and risk of complications. It means that the Swiss man has a unique relationship with these professionals across the Atlantic, even after moving back to Zurich with his family.

“When we take this on, we are their doctors and caregivers forever,” says Levin, reflecting on the relationships the hand transplant team builds with their patients. “If they have a problem with rejection or another medical problem, we’re the first to hear about it, and we spring into action. And everybody on every team has that level of commitment, from transplant to nutrition, to coordinators to nurses and therapists.”

Returning to Philadelphia for the first time in June, the air was one of gratitude and joy.

WATCH the story from CBS News… 

HAND This Story Off To Your Friends On Your Favorite Social Media Platform…

“Early summer days are a jubilee time for birds—everywhere love and songs and nests and eggs.” – E.B. White

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Early summer days are a jubilee time for birds—everywhere love and songs and nests and eggs.” – E.B. White

Photo by: Vincent van Zalinge

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?

Good News in History, June 30

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Good News Network
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On this day 70 years ago, The Johnny Carson Show debuted on CBS television. The prime-time variety show was a traditional potpourri of monologue, comedy, music, dance, and skits. The series was short-lived, but planted the seeds for sketches he would later perform on The Tonight Show, such as “The Mighty Carson Art Players”. WATCH a highlight reel from the Tonight Show… (1955)

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She Went On a Vacation to Iran: ‘It was Nothing Like I Expected’

By
Good News Network
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Emam mosque in Esfahan by Chiara Herlemann / SWNS
Emam mosque in Esfahan by Chiara Herlemann / SWNS

A woman who went to Iran as a tourist just weeks before the country descended into war says it was not the culture she expected.

Chiara Herlemann, who is originally from Germany, travelled across the Middle Eastern country for ten days at the end of May.

Before getting on the plane, Chiara says she was quite nervous about whether the trip would be unsafe after reading about Iran in online news reports. But, she was incredibly surprised when she arrived to find the country a welcoming and friendly destination.

“I was very nervous to go and a lot of my friends were warning me that it was really dangerous,” she told SWNS news agency. “Every time I saw something about Iran in the news it was just some blurry pictures that looked like North Korea.

“When I got there, I was so surprised.”

“Everything was so different from what I expected. The people were so friendly. The men were helping me with my bags and making sure I was okay.

The 28-year-old who now lives in London stayed in Kashan, Isfahan, located in the center of the country.

Chiara Herlemann visits Iran / SWNS

“People seem quite content there. They are getting on with normal life, picnicking, children were playing in ponds. There was no haggling or catcalling. It was just normal.”

Chiara works remotely for an investment company which means she can work while she travels the world.

Her favorite places to visit are those considered “unusual for tourism” so that she can “see what they are really like behind the headlines.”

About Iran, the frequent traveler says that there are a lot of misconceptions, especially surrounding their attitudes towards women and their support for the government.

“There are definitely misconceptions. Mostly about women’s rights and people being supportive of the government. They are not extremists. The population is separate from the government.

Iran popup book store – Photo by Chiara Herlemann / SWNS

Visiting for the first time, she was shocked to see that not many of the women covered their hair.

“I was surprised that most of the women are without head scarfs. That was always in the news that women aren’t allowed to show their hair, but it was very different from what I thought.

4 YEARS AGO: Iran Has Passed a Bill That Would Protect Women From Domestic Violence

“It is known as an Islamic country, but it doesn’t really feel like it, it was very westernized.

“As a woman you have an instinct when something isn’t right, and there wasn’t a single moment where I felt like that.”

Chiara says her favorite parts of the trip were the “kind people” and the food, with her favorite sight being the Blue Mosque.

Iran market scene – by Chiara Herlemann / SWNS

She also noticed how much the country had been impacted by international sanctions placed upon them. Upon arrival, Chiara says that she had to switch sim cards as hers wouldn’t work in Iran due to these sanctions.

CHECK OUT: Breathtaking Lake Salda Is the Only Place on Earth That’s Like a Mars Crater, Scientists Say

But, she said, everyone was still very kind towards her and that the measures have made the country “completely independent.”

The tourist was back home by the time the war between Israel and Iran kicked off on June 13.

The frequent social media user posted her experience to TikTok in a video with over 400,000 views captioned “POV: you landed in a country with a level 4 travel warning.”

Commenters on the post appear divided on the topic, but many wrote that they would also now like to visit the country because of how beautiful it looked.

MORE ABOUT IRAN:
• Iran becomes 9th Country to Ban Animal Acts in Circuses
• Tube of Red Lipstick 4,000 Years Old Unearthed in Iran Bears ‘Striking Resemblance’ to Modern Ingredients

Chiara says that she would love to come back one day, with hopes to visit the south where people can drink and women can wear bikinis… “Iran is so big. I wish I had more time there.”

OPEN PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS – Share This on Social Media…

Student Lifts University President and Spins him Around at Graduation Ceremony

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Good News Network
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Video grab of student twirling university president at graduation-SWNS
Video grab of student twirling university president at graduation-SWNS

A video captured the moment last month when a graduating student lifted the university president clear off the ground and spun him around during his formal graduation ceremony.

As he received his diploma in Guangdong, China, the student shook the president’s hand, then suddenly picked him up and twirled him around with a big grin on his face.

SWNS news agency

Immediately, the crowd roared with cheers of approval.

The stunned president burst into laughter, while rows of students clapped with joy at the unexpected celebration.

UNFORGETTABLE GEEK GRAD: Jedi Student Sneaks Lightsabers Into Graduation and Challenges Principal to Battle–WATCH

Watch the video below…

SHARE THE JOY With Friends and Family on Social Media…

Gorgeous Tiny Home Village Offers Affordable Housing That Withstood Direct Hit From Hurricane Milton

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Good News Network
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Escape Tampa Bay 2BD in tiny home community - SWNS
Escape Tampa Bay 2BD in tiny home community – SWNS

A tiny home village in Tampa Bay, Florida, now houses more than 60 people in beautiful buildings—with some as small as 8.5ft wide—and they’re all hurricane resistant.

Escape, a company that manufactures tiny homes in the US, built the development known as Escape Tampa Bay, in a park-like setting with four different neighborhoods.

The 45 homes hold up to two bedrooms, plus kitchen, bathroom, and laundry—and the costs are as little as $156,000 to buy, and $1,400 per month to rent.

Dan Dobrowolski, the company’s founder, built the homes in 2020 in a bid to address the deepening housing affordability crisis.

“Even though it’s a tiny house, you still have a large area where you can go outside and walk just like you’re in a normal neighborhood,” said the 66-year-old. “We intentionally designated the entire central part of the development as a large park, so it’s very green, very quiet, and you have space.”

Unlike mobile home parks or RV sites, Escape Tampa Bay is built with permanent infrastructure like underground utilities and fiber optic internet.

Escape Tampa Bay community of tiny homes – SWNS

There are also shared amenities on-site, including a pool and a workspace area, as well as secure-entry doors in the units.

What about hurricanes?

In October last year, the Escape Tampa Bay development took a direct hit from Hurricane Milton. The local county of Hillborough issued for the first time in history an extreme wind warning of over 115 miles per hour and they experienced a once-in-1,000-year rainfall event with 13-15 inches of rainfall in a few hours.

1BD tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay community – SWNS

There was reportedly zero total damage to the homes here—with no leaks or window damage at all, according to the company and this walk-around video.

The neighborhood offers long-term housing at lower costs than typical rentals in the region, with monthly rent averages around $1,400—below current market rates in the area, where rental prices have been climbing amid high demand and limited availability.

Homes in the community range from 200 to 600 square feet, with some of the earlier models reaching 800.

Dobrowolski, who purchased the land to develop the community, says he sees this type of housing as one possible answer to the wider affordability problem.

“People all talk about the affordability crisis in housing,” he said. “Especially if you’re a working person – cops, teachers, mechanics—they’re priced out.”

FIRE-PROOF HOMES: California Developer Builds First Neighborhood Where All the Homes Are Resistant to Wildfires

1BD tiny home in Escape Tampa Bay community – SWNS

“Beauty is important, and we’ve shown that affordable housing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing neighborhood quality or design.

Most residents own their homes, although the company offers some units as rentals with leases. Some homes have been resold, with recent prices as low as $89,197 plus a $595 monthly lot fee. Some owners also rent their units privately.

LOOK AT THIS GREAT IDEA: Thousands of Circular Homes Are Surviving Hurricanes Across the US Thanks to North Carolina Company

Escape Tampa Bay community Tiny home – SWNS

“And the demand is off the Richter scale,” he added.

“What we’ve created here isn’t just housing—it’s a real community where people can afford to live and thrive in today’s economy.”

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Exhausted Puffin Rescued After it was Found Stranded 100 Miles From Seaside Home

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Good News Network
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Credit: The Vet With Pets via FB
Credit: The Vet With Pets via FB

A stranded puffin has been rescued after being found more than a hundred miles away from its natural coastal habitat.

The seabird was blown off course before landing in a garden in landlocked Hereford, England, where it was found by a concerned homeowner who took it to a veterinary office.

It is believed the lost puffin was trying to make its way back to the cliffs of Skomer or its nearby Island in Pembrokeshire, Wales—110 miles (177km) away.

Vets for Pets Hereford reported on Facebook Wednesday that the exhausted bird was weak and underweight, but they managed to nurture it back to health by feeding it a specialized formula designed for fish-eating birds.

“We were surprised, to say the least,” said Dr. Elliot Goodwin, the head surgeon. “Puffins never venture this far inland unless they’re disoriented or have been blown off course.

“It’s likely she was returning to her nesting site in West Wales and lost her way. Although she is not injured she is very tired from her inland holiday.”

The staff nicknamed the bird ‘Lovely Oona’—inspired by Puffin Rock & Friends animation—and she’ll be transported back to West Wales and released into the wild once she regains her full strength.

On that note, yesterday she started on solid food, after the office put out the call for a specific small sardine-like fish the staff couldn’t find.

“A lovely man called, and is bringing us some frozen Sprats,” they wrote in a Facebook update. And when Oona immediately ate two of them, they updated again: “We are over the moon.”

“It was a full team effort, from diagnosis to feeding and nutrition, everyone brought their expertise to the table,” said Dr. Elliot. “Even though we’ve treated many exotics before—including, lynx, meerkats and goshawks—this was our first puffin.”

“As you can imagine, we get phone calls about all sorts of wildlife and sometimes people get a bit confused, so we didn’t quite believe it was going to be a puffin but, sure enough, she came in with a puffin.”

They warned that the colorfully-billed birds usually travel in small groups, so encouraged residents to be on the lookout for other puffins that might have lost their way.

Credit: Vets for Pets Hereford / FB

Puffins are a lot smaller than people realize, with healthy adults weighing less than a pound (14 ounces). Normally weighing 400 grams, Oona weighed just 218.

Dr. Sasha Norris, of Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue, said seabirds blown off course usually don’t make it—so Oona’s been very lucky.

MORE BIRD GOOD NEWS:
• Giant Mystical Eagle Thought to Be ‘Extinct in Mexico’ Reappears, Marking Landmark Moment for Conservationists
• Second-Ever Elusive Night Parrot Egg Discovered in Australia Where it Had Been ‘Extinct’ for 100 Years
• Endangered Thick-Billed Parrot That Once Roamed the US Is on the Way to Recovery

Living exclusively in coastal areas, and making their home on clifftops and islands, puffins are listed in the UK as a species of high conservation concern, but there are 580,000 breeding pairs here.

SHARE THE PUFFIN-LOVE With Bird-Lovers on Social Media…

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh

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Good News Network
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Getty Images for Unsplash+

Quote of the Day: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh

Photo by: Getty Images for Unsplash+

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

Getty Images for Unsplash+

Good News in History, June 29

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Good News Network
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30 years ago today, the NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis kicked off a new era in international space cooperation by achieving the first docking with the Russian space station Mir. Beyond the Mir docking, the mission of Atlantis flight STS-71 included a series of spacewalks to reconfigure the station for docking and launching the new Spektr module on Mir that contained US research hardware. READ more about the mission… (1995)

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Giant Corporations Protect 15,000 Square Miles of Forests in Partnership With WWF Stewardship Program

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Good News Network
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Adriano Gambarini /WWF- Brazil (permission)
Credit: ©Adriano Gambarini /WWF- Brazil (permission)

Four years ago, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched their Forests Forward program, partnering with big businesses to reduce deforestation and improve woodland management.

A new report shows that their 26 global partners are positively impacting 15,000-sq-mi of forest—roughly equivalent to the size of Switzerland (4 million hectares or 10 million acres).

Forests Forward companies like Nike, Costco, HP, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble, are demonstrating how corporate leadership can be a positive force for nature.

Since more than half of the world’s forests are managed (wholly or partly) for production, the private sector has a critical role in turning the tide on forest loss.

Seven million of the total acres are either Forest Stewardship Council-certified or moving toward certification.

The report reveals that the 26 companies from nine different sectors are going beyond responsible sourcing to support forest conservation projects around the world—nearly 3 million acres of some of the most vital and vulnerable landscapes and tropical rainforests (1.3m hectares).

“Now more than ever, companies understand that better forests mean better business,” said Linda Walker, a senior director at WWF-US.

“From building responsible supply chains to supporting nature-based solutions like forest restoration, Forests Forward partners have demonstrated that leadership is essential to sustaining thriving forests.”

The regenerating Rothiemurchus Forest in Cairngorms – Credit: Cairngorms Connect

AMAZING: Dinosaur Evergreens Thought Extinct for 2Mil Years Discovered by Park Ranger–the Grove is the ‘Find of the Century’

Companies can participate in responsible sourcing, improving forest management, or financing critical work to benefit nature and people.

“Together, our innovative approaches and positive impacts are proving that conserving forests is not only beneficial for the planet but also a wise and sustainable business strategy,” said Dr. Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International.

Among the 26 international corporations participating in Forests Forward, these are the US companies:

  • Costco Wholesale Corporation
  • HP Inc.
  • International Paper Company
  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation
  • Nike, Inc.
  • PepsiCo, Inc.
  • The Procter & Gamble Company
  • Sylvamo
  • Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (A full list of partners can be found here.)

“Through our partnership with WWF, we are focused on large-scale innovative solutions to prioritize the needs of local communities and ecosystems,” said the HP Director of Climate & Responsible Sourcing, Alex Michalko.

REVERSING THE DAMAGE: Couple Plants 2 Million Trees in 20 Years to Turn Destroyed Forest Back Into a Wildlife Haven

“For IKEA, it doesn’t end with our own supply chain,” said their Global Raw Material Manager. “We are proud to have supported WWF’s conservation efforts over 23 years in a total of 22 countries.”

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Minister Goes Viral Over Incredible Sand Sculptures Depicting Everyday Items

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Good News Network
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A Mark Lewis sand sculpture – Credit @LewisSandArt / SWNS
A Mark Lewis sand sculpture – Credit @LewisSandArt / SWNS

A part-time minister has gone viral for his lifelike beach sculptures that depict everyday items like a giant toothpaste tube and a pair of crocs.

Mark Lewis is passionate about sculpting sand into weird and wonderful forms—and says he loves to put a smile on people’s faces.

The Star Wars fan has sculpted Jabba The Hutt and R2D2 along with SpongeBob Squarepants for the kids.

“It’s all about bringing joy into the world and inciting a smile on someone’s face as they discover something unexpected on the beach,” said the 57-year-old Englishman.

“I also love making things tall. The higher the sculpture the more impressive it is—and we love it when people look at it, thinking how on earth did they do that!”

The clergyman from York began sand sculpting with his children back in 2010. Mark would take his two boys, Simeon and Ethan, down to Weymouth beach on the coast where a close friend lived.

“We graduated in our thinking from the standard digging a big hole or making bucket sand castles, and started thinking about making our creations look like something definitive.

A Mark Lewis sand sculpture – SWNS / @LewisSandArt

As his kids were really into Star Wars, they started with Darth Vader’s helmet and R2D2. Gradually, Mark developed ‘the sand sculpture bug‘.

“Me and the boys always liked trying to build something very unexpected that you wouldn’t find on the beach,” he told SWNS news agency. “The sculptures got more and more ambitious—and what was just a family hobby turned into a serious one.”

Mark Lewis loves bringing a smile to peoples faces with creations like Spongebob Squarepants – SWNS / @LewisSandArt

During the pandemic, Mark’s sister bought him a day-long sand sculpture training with a company called Sand In Your Eye, during which he learned professional techniques and which tools to use and when, which dramatically enhanced what he was able to do.

There aren’t many professional sand sculptors in England, but the fleeting nature of the medium means his creations are short-lived.

“I do not mind though. By its nature, sand is temporary. It is going to disappear and get washed away, so as long as I have photographs it’s OK.”

Mark’s recent interactive sand sculpture—a pair of crocs that people can step into—went viral on social media, when people were taking pictures standing in his work and sharing them on a Facebook group called ‘I love Weymouth and Portland’. After commenting in the group, Pastor Mark’s Social Media pages blew up (known by @LewisSandArt).

Mark Lewis inside his sand sculpture of a pair of crocs – SWNS

“Out of everything I’ve ever made on the beach, it’s pretty random and funny the crocs are what blew up.”

The longest time Mark has spent on a single sand sculpture on the beach is around nine hours—which was a massive Hogwarts castle built with the help of seven family members and friends.

Mark Lewis sand sculpture of Hogwarts – @LewisSandArt / SWNS

“You are limited by the daylight and the tide, or both—so you have to account for that,” he explained.

LOOK AT THESE WILD SCULPTURES: 
• Hobbyist Hedgetrimmer Transforms His Street into Green Sculpture Gallery in Memory of Beloved Wife
• Minnesota Hosts World Snow Sculpting Championship–And The Giant Ice Art is Pretty Spectacular

Mark also recalled a project in Cambridge assisting the lead sculptor at Sand In Your Eye, Jamie Wardley, building King’s College Chapel. He was tasked with building The Bridge of Sighs over the river Cam, and called the “incredibly intricate job” the hardest he had ever done. It took the pair three days to complete it.

“I had to build it in a shopping centre, and we had to carry all the sand and equipment into the building in buckets. It was tons of sand, and two massive vans filled with equipment.”

They worked for three thirteen hour days, and Mark called it “insane and very physical”.

“Architecture is quite difficult to do as there’s a lot of regularity to what you’re sculpting—so it’s a lot less forgiving if you make minor mistakes.”

WOW! AMAZING: Danish Artist Hides Enormous Trolls in Forests Around the World Using Recycled Wood

Mark loves to be on the beach, though, and explained that although every piece of art he makes is different, the foundation for building is the same every time: “You apply exactly the same principles whatever piece you are making.

“For example, you always work (from the) top down. If you don’t work like that, you’ll be destroying intricate detail you’ve created.”

“I remember trying to make a really tall candle, and it collapsed on me twice. It definitely happens.”

Although Mark loves creating his sculptures, he looks forward to interacting with people from all walks of life.

“People ask a lot of questions, and I like showing other kids and parents how to do it—and inspire others to have a go themselves. They can do more than they think!”

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Texas Mailman Adopts Beloved Dog from His Old Route After its Vietnam Veteran Owner Passes Away

By
Nathan Frederick
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Courtesy of City of Denton Animal Shelter FB Page

That old stereotype of mailman-running-from-dog has been turned upside-down by a Texas letter carrier and a pooch named Floyd.

Ian Burke first met the dog while delivering mail in Denton three years ago. Floyd, a German Shepherd and Border Collie mix, came charging up behind him and introduced himself as only an energetic puppy can.

During his regular postal route, Burke got to know Floyd and his owner, a Vietnam veteran who was confined to a wheelchair after serving his country. Floyd was equal parts service animal and friendly companion.

Over time, Floyd’s house became one of Burke’s favorite stops, with the mailman delivering pets and pats and gentle scratches for his four-legged friend that treasured the affection.

“He loves to hug me,” Burke told CBS News. “He treats everybody like a friend, like you’ve known him forever.”

Burke also learned that Floyd actually had a full name, Pretty Boy Floyd, after the infamous bank robber—although this ‘pretty boy’ only steals extra belly rubs.

A year and a half ago, Burke’s delivery route changed and he lost contact with Floyd and his owner. Then, earlier this month, bad news arrived.

Floyd’s owner had passed away and a dog matching Floyd’s description was now housed at the City of Denton animal shelter.

Burke was first in line at the shelter’s front door when the ‘hold’ on Floyd expired—and moments later, the beloved black dog now had a forever home with his former mailman.

“Based on the media that’s out there in the world and some old, old, old wives’ tales, mailmen and dogs don’t always get along,” Jenny McGee of the Denton Animal Shelter told CBS. “It was great to not only see that Floyd found a wonderful home, but also that that the old myth about mailmen and dogs isn’t always true.”

Burke said he’s honored to be Floyd’s new owner and he doesn’t take the responsibility lightly.

HERE’S A REMARKABLE CANINE:
• Jack Russell Pup Becomes Surrogate Mom to Six Abandoned Kittens, Feeding Them with Her Own Milk
• Italian Dogs Trained as Lifeguards Save 20 Lives Every Year – With New Teams Headed to Germany and US

The mailman is good to all the other animals on his route too, often bringing treats for the dogs he encounters and feeding the community’s cats when he can. He hopes that all the media attention that Floyd has received might encourage others to adopt a shelter pet.

After all, if a mailman and a gangster dog that charged him at first sight can find their happily-ever-after, there’s probably hope for everyone else too.

SHARE THIS MAILMAN’S BEST FRIEND With Dog-Lovers on Social Media…

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