Home Blog Page 1150

ESPN Producer Quits Job to Help Disabled Wrestlers Attend College

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 14, 2013

disabled pair with ESPN prodicer

One of the most memorable videos ever appearing on the Good News Network was a 2009 ESPN feature on a pair of athletes wrestling at a Cleveland inner city school. Leroy Sutton had years earlier lost both his legs in a train accident. His teammate, Dartanyon Crockett, carried Leroy on his back during every wrestling match and every practice.

The outstanding young men found a place in the heart of Lisa Fenn, the ESPN features producer who, after the story aired, received hundreds of emails from viewers who wanted to help send the wrestlers to college. Both said they’d like to go but that there was no money. Fenn set up a trust fund and a website, “Carry On”, to accept the donations.

ESPN decided to produce a video update, telling the story of how Lisa quit her job to take on the arduous task of applying to colleges and essentially being a mother to the boys who had lost their moms early on.

Today, Leroy is on track to earn his bachelor’s degree from an Arizona college having studied video game design. Dartanyon visited the U.S. paralympic training center and decided to switch to judo and pursue a medal in London.

“She is the largest support that I’ve ever had,” said Dartanyon in tears.

(WATCH the video or READ the story at ESPN) – Photo credit: ESPN

Students Invent Soap That Saves Lives

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 14, 2013

Africas Faso Soap inventors-BerkelyEDUPhoto

An award-winning innovation by two African students could help reduce the devastating impact of the life-threatening disease malaria — which is spread relentlessly by infected mosquitoes.

The young men, from Burkina Faso and Burundi, have used indigenous herbs to create a soap that repels mosquitoes, thus reducing the disease.

Their “Faso Soap” has earned the pair a $25,000 Grand Prize in the Global Social Venture Competition.

Revolutionary Instrument Delivers a Sharper Universe to Astronomers

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 13, 2013

telescope Gemini ObservatoryAURA-Manuel Paredes

Seven ultrasharp images of space released last week by the Gemini South Observatory in Chile reveal the remarkable potential of a new instrument that removes atmospheric distortions.

Astronomers recently got their hands on Gemini Observatory’s revolutionary new adaptive optics system, called GeMS, “and the data are truly spectacular!” says Robert Blum, Deputy Director of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory with funding by the U.S. National Science Foundation. “What we have seen so far signals an incredible capability that leaps ahead of anything in space or on the ground – and it will for some time.”

Programming the Immune System to Kill Any Cancer – Trials Start in 2014

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 13, 2013

IV bag, by djpmom-CC

Training our immune systems to fight cancer has been an appealing prospect among scientists for decades.

Stanford researchers are on track to begin human trials of a potentially potent new weapon against cancer that does exactly that.

A team working with Ronald Levy, MD, professor of oncology at the Stanford School of Medicine and pioneer in the field of cancer immunotherapy, published results in March that showed it’s possible to perpetuate an anti-cancer immune response in laboratory mice.

Taliban Can’t Silence Malala who Celebrates 16th Birthday with Defiant UN Address

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 13, 2013

Malala at UN

The Pakistani child education activist who was shot in the head nine months ago by Taliban militants celebrated her 16th birthday by delivering a speech at the United Nations.

Speaking to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the 500 youth and dignitaries gathered, Malala Yousafzai said that the gunmen could not silence her because knowledge and education is more powerful than their bullets.

“Terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died,” she said. “Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala.”

Couple Brought Together by Guide Dogs Falling in Love

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 12, 2013

guide dogs fall in love- Staffordshire Sentinel Video clilp

When two locals from England joined a guide dog training course they didn’t expect their new retrievers to lead them to their future spouses, but the two believed that fate might have intervened when their ‘inseparable’ guide dogs fell seemingly in love.

Apps That Help Kids Do Chores

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 12, 2013

iPad-boy-CC-aperturismo-Foter

Parents may find it difficult to get their kids to put down electronic devices so they can help with the dishes or take out the trash.

Good news! Now there’s an app for that.

A new generation of chore apps, designed primarily for the under-12 set, aims to turn kids into bed makers, laundry folders and toy picker-uppers by offering rewards ranging from funny collectible monsters to redeemable digital coins.

Continue

Amazing Young Designers: Oh, What You’ll Do With Recycled Plastic Bottles

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 11, 2013

lamps foldable IN EI-productPhoto

A Puerto Rican design student at London’s Royal College of Art has created a customized bicycle that grinds discarded plastic containers at one end and spits out a colorful plastic ribbon at the other end, useful for weaving into chairs, baskets or pop art. (See photo here)

Victor Monserrate has placed the plans for his simple machine online and says the recycler, designed with the developing world in mind, can be made out of old bicycle and toaster parts.

Another young designer, this time from New Zealand, was inspired to use scrap pieces of woolen carpet along with a biodegradable resin to create, among other things, an attractive hardshell suitcase that will naturally biodegrade in about 3 years if discarded.

The James Dyson Foundation is funding production for Dan Mclaughlin‘s ideas.

Finally, the BBC video below highlights an Italian designer’s modern foldable lamps, called “IN-EI”, which look like origami paper but are actually made from recycled bottles. The way they collapse into a flat shape no bigger than a magazine will help reduce shipping costs and CO2 emissions.

(WATCH the wonderful video featuring these three designers – made by Dougal Shaw for the BBC)

Thanks to Gail Johnston for sending the link!

A Window That Blocks Noise But Lets Breezes Pass Through

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 11, 2013

window lets air in keeps noise out

People living in crowded urban centers will be interested in a remarkable window invented by South Korean researchers. By exploiting some exotic acoustic techniques, the window lets the fresh air flow in while keeping unwanted noise out.

The simple design comes from Sang-Hoon Kima at the Mokpo National Maritime University in South Korea and Seong-Hyun Lee at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, have achieved.

How You Can Help Protect Endangered Frogs

By

-

Jul 10, 2013

orange-eyed green tree frog-by Rainforest Harley-Foter-CC

You may have heard that frogs are in trouble, with about a third of the world’s species currently threatened by a disease called chytrid fungus. But you might not know that you can easily help.

FrogWatch USA helps scientists collect data by using volunteers to count these amphibians. You can do it even if you live in a big city, and kids can participate too.

The problems began in the 1980’s and were so widespread that researchers realized they’d need a lot of data — and there weren’t enough scientists to go around. That’s why the FrogWatch program was started. “It was recognized that having lots of different people out there collecting data… would really make a difference,” says Rachel Gauza, FrogWatch USA national coordinator at the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

A Human Corral Leads Baby Turtles to the Ocean

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 10, 2013

turtle babies crawl-Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

400 volunteers on the Caribbean island of Bonair ensure that each year the endangered loggerhead sea turtles hatching on the beaches make it safely to the waves.

In one location two year ago the babies were all killed after they walked the wrong way. Airport lights, which resembled the moon’s reflection in the ocean, confused the hatchlings — bright light being the telltale symbol for home in their migratory animal GPS.

So this year, on July 1, volunteers surrounded the babies on three sides, blocking any light except the bright ocean view, which drew them safely home.

This photo comes from the group, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonair, via ABC News.

(READ more from ABC News)

RELATED:

Leatherback Sea Turtles Granted Protection Along U.S. West Coast

Staying Up All Night to Save Sea Turtles (Video)

FedEx On the Move Saving Gulf Sea Turtles

Who Has a Photo of the Best Moment of Their Life? These 30 People.

By

Good News Network

-

Jul 10, 2013

Jumping in Sicily-Giampaolo Macorig-Flickr-CC

Late Monday night, Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch tweeted, “How many of you have a photograph of the single best moment of your life? If so, what a gift.”

A flood of people tweeted back at him with photos of them at their happiest.

The Mashable editors compiled their 30 favorite responses and snapshots saying they had elicited a few tears of joy even in newsroom.

1...1,1491,1501,151...1,688 Page 1,150 of 1,688