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Armed with Backpacks of Seeds, Local Pooches Enlisted to Help Rewild Urban Nature Reserve

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Railway Land Wildlife Trust Lewes
credit – Railway Land Wildlife Trust Lewes

Inspired by an innovative Chilean forest restoration effort, the English town of Lewes is enlisting the help of dog walkers to rewild a local nature reserve.

Heavily degraded by foot traffic, the project co-ops dogs’ tendency to run about in the woods to spread wildflower seed from saddlebags strapped to a harness around the dog’s abdomen.

The idea mimics the function that wolves once played in that part of England, roaming over vast distances getting grass and flower seeds stuck in their coat, only to fall off and germinate somewhere else.

This helter-skelter seed-spreading is actually how many plants evolved to reproduce, and it’s key to maintaining a biodiverse and native ecosystem.

“We’re really interested in rewilding processes, but they often involve reintroducing big herbivores like bison or wild horses,” said manager Dylan Walker from the Railway Land Wildlife Trust who organized the project back in 2019.

“In a smaller urban nature reserve it’s really hard to do those things. So, to replicate the effect that those animals have on the ecosystem we aimed to utilize the vast number of dog walkers that are visiting the nature reserve daily.”

The saddlebags are filled with a variety of perennial plant seeds mixed together with sand. This allows the seed to be spread for longer across larger distances, while also providing a helpful tracking sign to inform the Trust’s employees where dogs are walking.

THE REWILDING MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND…

“I signed up because it sounded like such a good fit. I was asked to place a harness on my chocolate cocker spaniel called Bertie and he ran around spreading seeds like wolves used to do many years ago,” Cressida Murray, a dog walker who regularly uses the nature reserve, told The Guardian. 

Wolves were persecuted to extinction in England as early as the reign of Henry VII, who reigned during the latter third of the 15th century.

“A community-based project like this not only helps engage and teach people about the ecological impacts of wildlife but also allows us to make our wildlife and environments richer in the process,” said Walker.

SHARE This Adorable And Intelligent Way to Rewild Britain’s Forests… 

LA Zoo Breaks Record for Condors Hatched in a Season with 17 Ugly-Cute Chicks Poised to Bolster Species

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Jamie Pham / LA Zoo released
credit – Jamie Pham / LA Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo is capping off its 2024 California condor breeding season with a record-breaking 17 chicks hatched all of which will be candidates for release into the wild as part of the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP).

The 17th and final chick of the season hatched in June and is thriving. The previous record of 15 California condor chicks hatched at the LA Zoo was set in 1997.

Photographers were at pains to capture this famously ugly bird during the miracle of birth, and the photos were announced in the LA Times as “Ugly-cute baby photos.”

“Our condor team has raised the bar once again in the collaborative effort to save America’s largest flying bird from extinction,” said Rose Legato, Curator of Birds at the Los Angeles Zoo.

“What we are seeing now are the benefits of new breeding and rearing techniques developed and implemented by our team which put two or three condor chicks together with adult surrogate condors to be raised. The result is more condor chicks in the program and ultimately more condors in the wild.”

In 2017, the LA Zoo pioneered a new breeding technique where animal care staff placed two condor chicks with a surrogate condor to raise them. Until that time, no other zoo or CCRP partner had attempted this process. This year, the zoo’s condor team implemented a technique allowing three chicks to be raised at the same time by a female—another first for the program.

This triple brooding process maximizes the zoo’s ability to raise condors without human interaction which helps the birds easily adjust when released to the wild. It also enables breeding pairs to produce more than one viable egg in a season.

One of the condor chicks – credit, LA Zoo released.

For the record-breaking 2024 breeding season, LA Zoo animal care staff successfully reared three single chicks, eight chicks in double brood situations, and six chicks in triple broods with adult mentors.

The condor breeding program at the zoo started all the way back in 1967 when a single individual named Topa Topa came to the zoo as a malnourished fledgling rescued in the wild. In 1983 there were only 22 California condors remaining on the planet, so the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Fish and Game Commission agreed to create a captive breeding program for the species, which the LA Zoo entered as a founding partner.

As of December 2023, there are 561 California condors in the world, of which 344 are living in the wild. The number fluctuates daily due to many outside influences.

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The California condor is the largest land bird in North America with wings spanning almost 10 feet. Adult condors stand at around three feet tall and weigh 17 to 25 pounds. The species can soar to heights of 15,000 feet and may travel up to 150 miles a day. Condors find their food mostly by their keen eyesight.

Like vultures and other scavengers, condors are part of nature’s cleaning crew, feeding on the carcasses of large mammals including deer, cattle, and marine mammals such as whales and seals.

MORE ZOO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS: This Golden Retriever is Nursing 3 African Painted Dog Pups at Indiana Zoo After Mother Abandoned Them

The LA Times reports that the chicks will remain in the zoo’s care for the next year and a half. After, as has been done before with 250 chicks born at the zoo over the years, they will be evaluated for their potential to be released back into the wild.

SHARE These Precious Eggs Hatching Precious Chicks For American Wilderness…

A Recipe for Zero-Emissions Fuel: Soda Cans, Seawater, and Caffeine

By
Andy Corbley
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MIT engineers Aly Kombargi (left) and Niko Tsakiris (right) - PC Tony Pulsone.
MIT engineers Aly Kombargi (left) and Niko Tsakiris (right) – PC Tony Pulsone.

A team from MIT has discovered a fascinating chemical reaction that could allow ships or submarines to power themselves with zero-emissions hydrogen via a combination of aluminum pellets and the seawater through which they sail.

Several clever tweaks allowed for this process to generate a not-insubstantial amount of hydrogen gas—the kind being used as an alternative to fossil fuels in heavy machinery like construction equipment, trains, and planes.

The tweak was, if one can believe it, a dash of coffee grounds, making the whole process tantalizingly sustainable as the aluminum came from old soda cans.

Hydrogen is being tested in all kinds of applications, and is extremely exciting as a potential replacement for diesel because it has completely zero carbon emissions—the only output is hydrogen dioxide—also known as water.

However, hang-ups exist as to the safety of carrying large tanks of hydrogen gas aboard vehicles due to its volatile nature. Aly Kombargi, a Ph.D. student in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, and his colleagues on the project envisioned using seawater as the hydrogen source, and aluminum pellets as the on-board fuel, a little like how coal was shoveled into steamships once upon a time.

“This is very interesting for maritime applications like boats or underwater vehicles because you wouldn’t have to carry around seawater—it’s readily available,” says Kombargi, lead author on the paper published with the experiment’s results.

The reaction works like this: pure aluminum, when dropped into water, causes a straightforward reaction that generates hydrogen gas. To reduce costs, aluminum soda cans can be used, but only if pretreated with a rare and expensive alloy called gallium indium because the non-pure aluminum in soda cans develops a protective oxide barrier upon exposure to oxygen in the air that prevents the reaction from taking place.

MORE HYDROGEN TECH ADVANCEMENTS: World’s First Electric Aircraft Flight Powered by New Liquid Hydrogen–Flew for 3 Hours

To reduce costs, it would be ideal if the alloy could be recovered—which it can if protected by a barrier of ions. Fortunately, seawater is a highly ionic solution, which allowed Kombargi to scoop out the gallium indium post-reaction.

But the process is long, taking about 2 hours to fully finish. The team started tossing ingredients from their kitchen in to see what if anything might speed the process up. To their delight and surprise, coffee, specifically imidazole, an active ingredient in caffeine, reduced the time from 2 hours down to 5 minutes.

MORE ZERO EMISSIONS ENGINEERING: Pioneering Zero-Emissions Hydrogen Fuel-Cell-Powered Ship Successfully Tested in Japan

Using these ingredients, the team estimates that just 1 gram of pre-treated aluminum pellets would generate 1.3 liters of hydrogen in just 5 minutes.

MIT press reports that the researchers plan to test it first in marine and underwater vehicles. They’ve calculated that such a reactor, holding about 40 pounds of aluminum pellets, could power a small underwater glider for about 30 days by pumping in surrounding seawater and generating hydrogen to power a motor.

SHARE This Amazing Discovery In Sustainable Chemical Engineering… 

Indebted Indian Laborer Finds Life-Changing $100,000 Diamond

By
Andy Corbley
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Raju Gold holding the diamond - released to the media.
Raju Gold holding the diamond – released to the media.

In central India, a hardworking family man who found himself atop a mountain of debt also managed to find himself a 19.22-carat diamond worth almost $100,000.

“Our lives have changed forever” he joyously told CNN, having just opened his first-ever bank account in anticipation of the money forthcoming from the sale of the diamond at auction.

40-year-old Raju Gond and his younger brother Rakesh Gond from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh take home around $4 per day from digging for gold on government-leased land. When they don’t find much, they work in farmers’ fields driving tractors instead.

This uncertain work landed the older Gond in a sizable amount of debt putting food on the table for his family while renewing his prospecting lease. His luck turned down in a makeshift mineshaft, where he made a fortuitous find. With every grain of dirt removed, Gond felt an uneasy certainty grow in his throat—it must be a diamond—just look how it shines!

Raju and Rakesh jumped around and hugged in excitement before hurtling down the road across the 7 miles back home on their bike.

Next, the pair took their mother with them to the Panna Diamond Office to have the stone evaluated.

CNN spoke with the office and the Gond family about the discovery, and the way small-scale mining such as this works is that the government will allow individuals to pay around $9.50 for the rights to prospect for gemstones. Whatever is found is then evaluated and held in trust by a government office until the total value of all gemstones turned over arrives at a certain number—in the case of diamonds it’s $360,000 in estimated value.

At this point, an official auction is held. The gems are sold, the government department takes an 11.5% royalty, and the rest is given to the founder.

CHECK OUT THIS NUG: Despite Faulty Metal Detector, Treasure Hunter Unearths Largest Gold Nugget Ever Found in England

As it happened, the monsoon rains washed away a lot of work opportunities, so Raju and Rakesh decided to switch from gold panning to diamond prospecting. It’s not a daily bread sort of employment, and with a large family of inlaws and 7 children to support, Raju needed a big score.

“The first thing I’ll do is pay back debt of ($6,000). Then we will invest in all children getting educated, building homes, buy some land and maybe a tractor too,” he said.

FINDING DIAMONDS IN AMERICA: Man Finds Largest Colorless Diamond in Arkansas State Park’s Modern History

Morning light saw the two men already on their way to the mine to look for more diamonds.

CELEBRATE This Man’s Incredible Fortune With Your Friends On Social Media…

“Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.” – Anne Frank

By
Good News Network
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Štefan Štefančík

Quote of the Day: “Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.” – Anne Frank

Photo by: Štefan Štefančík

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?

Woman Donates Kidney to Her Sorority Sister Despite Not Seeing Her for 10 Years

By
Andy Corbley
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Jess Hause (left) and Megan Schultz (right_ reunite after 10 years without contact - SWNS
Jess Hause (left) and Megan Schultz (right_ reunite after 10 years without contact – SWNS

It was an emotional reunion when old sorority sisters Megan and Jess met at the former’s house in their late 30s.

That’s because, Megan is scheduled to donate a kidney to Jess, whom she hadn’t seen in over 10 years.

After receiving a diagnosis of chronic kidney failure in September 2023, Jess Hause was stunned at the number of people offering to test themselves for a potential donation.

Her former sorority sister, Megan Schultz eventually FaceTimed Hause a few weeks later to tell her she was a match.

“I thought she was calling to say ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not a match,'” admitted Hause. The Cincinnatian said she was shocked and speechless, with the “super special” gesture taking her breath away.

Doctors first noticed Jess’ kidney function was low when she was in hospital being treated for shingles. But after losing her job and her medical insurance in April 2023 she stopped seeing the doctor regularly.

“I noticed from my knees down I started getting numb and tingling,” she explained to the British news media outlet SWNS.

Jess went to the emergency room and, after tests, she was diagnosed with total kidney failure.

“It was absolutely terrifying. I didn’t even know what kidney failure was.”

She started on dialysis last year which she now has for three days a week for three-and-a-half hours.

“I started making reels [on Instagram] of my day-to-day life,” said Hause. “It just so happened my sorority sister Megan saw it. God puts people in our lives for a reason.”

Megan Schultz (left) and Jess Hause (right) in their sorority days

After getting tested, the hospital called Schultz and she “just started crying.”

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“It was immediate excitement,” she said.

Megan called Jess on June 13th, 2024, to tell her the news and the pair were then able to reunite over the weekend.

“It was wonderful. It’s one of those friendships where you haven’t seen each other for so long but it feels like no time at all,” said Hause.

MORE ORGAN DONATION STORIES: A Marathon was Blocking Delivery Route for Organ Donation So a Surgeon Ran Through the Race to Get it

Jess and Megan are set for surgery on November 12th, 2024.

Even with one kidney, human beings are capable of living long, athletic, capable lives with certain small adjustments.

SHARE This Story Of Sisters From Other Mothers And Decades On Social Media…

Honest Uber Eats Driver Working to Pay for Wedding Earns Hundreds After Leaving Viral Letter in Chipotle Bag

By
Andy Corbley
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TikTok: paulslobo711, erica_cristal
TikTok: paulslobo711, erica_cristal

When a driver for Uber Eats humbly asked for a little generosity in order to give his wife-to-be the wedding of her dreams, the world responded.

TikToker Paul Slobodzian has been driving Uber Eats as a side hustle for over a year to save for his wedding.

One evening, Erica Hernandez ordered dinner from Chipotle, and it was Slobodzian who picked it up and brought it over. Concealed inside the bag was a handwritten note.

“Thank you for your order! I’m delivering for <3 on the side to give my fiancée the wedding she deserves. Any additional tip through the app or Venmo is greatly appreciated,” the note read.

Hernandez was touched by his honesty and dedication, so she shared it on her own TikTok account, which while not being very big, was still the least she could do, she thought.

“I don’t have a lot of followers, but hopefully this reaches the right people,” Erica wrote in her TikTok video, which quickly went viral on the app.

With his Venmo ID on the note, his account was hit with a torrent of generous contributions, including a $500 gift from Chipotle itself.

“I, and Aly, my fiancée have been overwhelmed in the best way possible trying to figure out how to respond to people and show how much this means to us,” Paul said in a video on his TikTok account as messages came raining in asking for updates. “To start I just want to say thank you so so much.”

THINK SOCIAL MEDIA IS A NET NEGATIVE? 

He details that both he and Aly, who was also driving with Uber Eats, were able to put their side hustle down, focus on planning, rather than paying for the wedding, and most important of all, spend more quality time together rather than working 7 days a week.

The couple, who had first met as sophomores in college, paid forward the remarkable generosity by setting aside $1,000 for Erica, who was invited as a guest of honor to the wedding, and whose idea to put it on TikTok was the genesis for so much kindness.

The pair had made more than enough to cover the event through the Venmo donations.

SHARE This Incredible Surprise Reward For A Hard-Working Husband-To-Be…

Stunning Ancient Roman Mosaic Found Submerged in the Sea off Naples

By
Andy Corbley
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Fish pass above the recovered mosaic - Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei.
Fish pass above the recovered mosaic – Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei.

A stunning underwater mosaic dating to the late Roman Empire has been discovered under the sea in the Bay of Naples.

Deposited there via seismic activity, it was found near the resort town of Baiae, where it would have lined the floors of a patio in a seaside villa owned by the Roman patrician class.

Mad Emperor Nero and Julius Caeser both had villas in this area, but over the years, a seismic phenomenon called bradyseism caused the luxury house and the land around it to sink into the sea.

The marble mosaic is made up of many tiles that the archaeologists at the Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei have identified as coming from “other floors and other walls”.

“In addition to the excavation and the underwater restoration, we also are working on land,” the park authorities wrote in a Facebook post. “The recovered tiles…were placed in large tubs of fresh water to eliminate the marine salt. We’re studying them tile by tile, to see about putting together a whole section.”

A SIMILAR FIND NEAR NAPLES: 2,000-Year-Old Home Found Under a Seaside Playground May Be Pliny the Elder’s Villa

Local mayor Josi Gerardo Della Ragione called the find “stupendous” in a post on Facebook.

The floor would have been laid toward the end of the Roman Empire, “shortly before bradyseism brought these wonders to the bottom of the sea,” he said.

MORE ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY: This 2,300-year-old Mosaic Made of Shells and Coral Has Just Been Found Buried Under Rome

Campi Flegri is 125 miles of submerged land in the Bay of Naples stretching between the islands of Capri and Ischia, which forms the caldera of a volcano that last erupted in 1538. It’s a popular diving site, with many underwater ruins surrounded by sea life to explore.

SHARE This Underwater Wonder With Your Friends Who Love Roman History… 

Lightest-Ever Running Shoes Are Made by a Spray–to Win Marathons and Shake up Olympics

By
Andy Corbley
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On.com
On.com

When Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri takes to the track in Paris this summer to equal or better her previous silver medal, she will be sporting a pair of “spray-on” running shoes.

With the support needed to aid in the acceleration and speed of Obiri’s dashing, the shoes are the lightest running shoes ever, perhaps shaving those few milliseconds off a running time that would turn a silver into a gold.

Zurich-based firm, On, which invented the Cloudboom Strike LS running shoe, says its most important gauge of success or failure is whether the athletes wearing their shoes win.

Inventor Johannes Voelchert came up with the idea during Halloween, when he watched a child spray spider webs all over a bush with a hot glue gun-like toy.

Composed of a carbon fiber sole without a heel cap or toe spring, the Cloudboom’s upper is made of a thermoplastic that sets and binds in just 3 minutes.

The material, which it dubs LightSpray, has “the potential… to move us towards a more sustainable, circular future,” said Marc Maurer, On’s co-CEO, in a press release.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Sun-Powered Portable Factory Manufactures Zero-Emission Plastic Goods Anywhere There’s Trouble

Australian middle-distance runner Olli Hoare and Irish 1,500-meter runner Luke McCann have both previously used the Cloudboom Strike, and On hopes the pair will choose them again when they run in the Olympics this year.

The shoes aren’t for Olympians alone, however, and anyone with $300 in their pocket can get a pair sprayed to measure.

MORE WILD FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES: Hate Needles? Future Vaccines Could be Delivered by a Gentle Puff of Air

With spray-on dresses already being sported by supermodels on Milan runways, and spray-on sneakers sending runners flying down the track, it’s an interesting exercise to contemplate what other things the future will reduce into a spray format—spray-on furniture anyone?

SHARE This Ridiculous Idea That Might Prove A Golden One… 

“I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man.” – Dwight L. Moody

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man.” – Dwight L. Moody

Photo by: d26b73 (CC license on Flickr)

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?

Grandad Rehearsed His Funeral 10 Years Ago – Now His Final Wishes Come True After his Passing

By
Good News Network
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Malcolm Brocklehurst inside his airplane-shaped coffin filming Bizarre Burials – SWNS
Malcolm Brocklehurst inside his airplane-shaped coffin filming Bizarre Burials – SWNS

A British senior who pre-planned his funeral and rehearsed it on TV in 2013, had his final wishes come true after peacefully passing away in June.

Malcolm Brocklehurst, who is a renowned aircraft expert, commissioned an orange airplane-shaped coffin ten years ago from Crazy Coffins, an offshoot of a Nottingham-based traditional coffin and urn maker in England that helps people customize their funeral.

The grandfather-of-nine was filmed sitting in the coffin on Channel 5’s Bizarre Burials, which also featured a rehearsal of the ceremony that the former aerospace engineer coordinated to the last detail.

The plane was aptly called Tango One and numbered with MB 1934—his initials and year of his birth.

He also announced that he wanted the funeral procession to leave from the stadium pitch where his favorite football team, Blackpool FC, plays.

Malcom decided to pre-plan his funeral to save his wife, Mary, from having to organize the day herself. It turned out that she passed away before him.

But speaking about the rehearsal in 2013, he said it was all “light-hearted fun”.

“It felt like—and indeed was—a dress rehearsal for my command performance—with the great author in the sky.

“It was a day like no other.

“It felt weird being laid to rest in my airplane coffin, although I insisted that they not put the lid fully on—in spite of protestations from pals who said, ‘We’ve got him at last, nail it down fast’.”

On a Monday two weeks ago, there was a Blackpool Football Club flag flying high on the pole in his front yard, as the airplane coffin was lifted onto a flat top vehicle for its final flight.

Malcolm Brocklehurst’s airplane-shaped coffin – SWNS

WATCH WITH KLEENEX: Kindergarten Student Brings Audience to Tears Remembering Late Mom in Graduation Speech

The service was conducted by Humanist Lancashire celebrant Richard Spedding, 57, who says the day was “quirky” but an “absolute privilege to do”.

“I’ve done a few interesting funerals but I’ve never, ever done one with a coffin like that.

“A lot of hard work goes into the final product, but it was well worth it, and the family were extremely grateful for the job that I’ve done.”

He does a lot of pre-planned funerals where he actually meets the person, but by that point they are usually receiving end-of-life care.

And, he had never done a memorial service that featured an original song played live that the person had written.

FUNERAL FUN:Mom Throws a FUN-eral for Late Husband with Bouncy Castle and Goodie Bags–Making Positive Memories for Their Kids

SWNS

The cheeky song that Malcolm Brocklehurst wrote for his last party was called, Fry me, Toast me.

And Malcolm’s final request was for everyone to come give the propeller a spin on his coffin.

SHARE HIS LAST LAUGH With Your Favorite Friends And Family on Social Media…

A Third of American Sports Fans Believe Their Pre-Game Ritual Increases Chances Their Team Will Win

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Good News Network
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By Simon Law, CC-BY-SA-2.0 license
By Simon Law, CC-BY-SA-2.0 license

A recent poll of 2,000 American sports fans revealed just how emotionally invested they are—and how much of a return they get for those investments.

More than 22% of all respondents have a pre-game ritual they do each time their favorite team or player competes—but for self-described hard core fans, 32% participate in various pre-game traditions.

While over one-third admitted their required pre-game rituals simply make them feel like a part of the team, 31% staunchly feel their pre-game ritual increases their team or player’s chances of winning.

When asked about their habits before games, most cited traditions like flaunting team merch, having cookouts and tailgating. Others perform chants, dances, or saying a prayer.

A few noteworthy respondents take it a bit further and reported lighting candles for their team, obsessively washing their hands, and painting their bodies to ensure that their team wins.

The double opt-in survey was conducted by Talker Research on behalf of SquadLocker, whose CEO, Fletcher Jones, believes such activities create community among fans.

“Many people follow along with pro athletes and partake in traditions because it’s a bonding experience and brings people together. Sports are rooted in community.”

The survey split sports fans into different categories depending on their level of commitment to their team or player. It also revealed that not only is there an emotional commitment to their sports fandom, there’s a financial commitment, as well.

A third of respondents (32%) said they’re moderate fans who watch a few sports games here and there. Around half labeled themselves as big fans who watch most games (48%). But, 20% said they were all-in and self-identified as raging fans who watch every game they can—and who spend, on average, over $800 on their professional sports passions every year.

Even moderate sports fans reported spending over $300 annually.

“It is clear just how much sports mean to people, by the emotional high they feel after a win and the emotional low after a loss,” said Jones.

39% reported that if their team or player loses a match, they feel more sensitive than usual. A loss also effects 14% of those polled by reducing their overall life enjoyment for a while.

When it comes to watching in-person on the sidelines, fans estimated they usually show their support by attend on average five events per year–witnessing about three wins and two losses.

And it turns out—whether attending in person or turning on the TV—these events have a lasting impact on fans.

On average, fans recalled seeing five ‘one-of-a-kind’ miracle sports wins, with 74% citing a win by their favorite team during a live event as ‘one of their favorite memories’.

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“I think one of the most important results from this survey is how much passion sports fans have for their teams at every level,” said Kaycie Brown, an athlete at 575 Volleyball, a youth sports organization. “The support they give enhances their lives, as well as the lives of the athletes.”

“Fan support builds confidence and plants seeds for success.”

New AI Task Force Led By Michigan and Arizona Combats Deep Fakes and Election Misinformation in US

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Good News Network
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Capitol photo by Martin Jacobsen, CC license
Capitol photo by Martin Jacobsen, CC license

In January, during a Democratic primary, thousands of voters received a robocall that used artificial intelligence to impersonate President Biden discouraging them from voting.

The political consultant responsible is now facing millions in fines and jail time for the 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 counts of impersonating a candidate, a misdemeanor.

To combat this new threat of AI deep fakes and misinformation in US elections, a new Artificial Intelligence Task Force is bringing together state and local elected officials to focus on ways to combat malicious AI-generated activity that threaten the democratic process.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes doesn’t speak German, but he created a deepfake that makes it nearly impossible to tell that it isn’t actually Fontes speaking—all to demonstrate just how alarmingly lifelike and manipulative AI-generated content can be.

Fontes—along with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon—are leading the fight to prepare election workers and voters in their states to be vigilante and savvy against the AI threats.

They are part of a coalition of secretaries of state working with the task force, created by the NewDEAL Forum, to develop tools and best practices to combat AI disinformation this election season.

“In Michigan, we’ve enacted legislation to make it a crime for someone to knowingly distribute materially-deceptive deep fakes that are generated by AI when there is an intent behind it of harming the reputation of or the electoral prospects of a candidate,” Secretary of State Benson told Democracy Docket, a digital news platform founded by attorney Marc Elias dedicated to voting rights and elections in the courts.

The new law, passed in November, makes that crime a felony.

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“In addition to that, we require any political advertisements that are generated in whole or substantially with the use of AI to include a statement that that ad was generated by artificial intelligence. That disclaimer requirement helps equip citizens with the knowledge of how to be critical consumers.”

Both the important swing states of Arizona and Michigan have developed tabletop exercises to train election clerks to identify AI, and to practice linking them with law enforcement and first Responders, both for security and to rapidly respond to issues that may occur around voting, on or before election day—and also to be prepared to stop the negative impact of AI from spreading. (See their interviews in the video below…)

A NewDEAL Forum poll conducted in Arizona in April found that only 41% of respondents knew anything about AI and elections.

“Generative AI presents both tremendous opportunities and significant challenges,” said New York State Assemblymember Alex Bores, Co-Chair of the NewDEAL Forum AI Task Force, and one of the few state legislators with a computer science background. “Our goal is to craft policies to harness AI’s potential to improve public services while proactively preparing for the threats and unforeseen challenges it poses to our democratic institutions.”

In March, they published a report that outlines best practices for election officials—from secretaries of state to county election workers—to mitigate the negative impacts of AI in elections. The advice includes more short-term practices, like public information campaigns about the threats, and protocols for a rapid response when they do arise.

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The document also suggests legislation that state politicians can pass to help protect democracy from AI threats.

According to Democracy Docket, at least 40 states are introducing legislation to regulate the use of AI, but only 18 have laws that specifically address election-related AI—and thankfully, now Michigan is one of them.

WATCH a discussion with Fontes and Benson on Democracy Docket… (Subscribe to stay up to date with court cases around the US involving elections.)

PLEASE HELP TO SPREAD AWARENESS By Sharing the News on Social Media…

Third Grade Teacher Crocheted Mini Versions of Every Student in Her Class for End-of-Year Gift

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Good News Network
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Teacher makes crocheted version of each kids in her class – Sara Shabir via SWNS
Teacher makes crocheted version of each kids in her class – Sara Shabir via SWNS

An elementary school teacher crocheted a miniature version of all the pupils in her class to honor each individually with a personalized gift as the year ended.

Sara Shabir started the project in May and presented the tiny lookalikes to her third graders this month when classes ended at Tyndale Community School, in Oxford, England.

Each of the 30 keepsake dolls took her around eight hours to create—a total of 240 hours.

The 32-year-old took up the hobby during COVID-19 lockdowns—and when the end of term was approaching this year, she had so much love for the kids in her class, she wanted to give them something special to remember their time together.

“I feel a massive sense of accomplishment in completing this project—and the joy the children showed when they saw them was worth everything,” she said on Instagram.

A parent of one of the students, Joanna Borysiak, shared the photo on Twitter-X, which went viral, calling her daughter’s teacher ‘the absolute GOAT’.

“She single-handedly crocheted a mini-me of each kid in her class… Even the hairstyles and clothes are spot on. What a legend.”

Sara told GNN, “It was difficult to get the right skin tones and hair colors and styles!”

Sara Shabir via SWNS

“I pondered over each one carefully, and even created a spreadsheet so I would remember which colors I’d decided on for each—and I ticked them off as I completed them!

“It was all worth it.”

Sara completed her final doll and secretly brought them into class last week. First, though, she showed the photograph to them—and they had to guess which child was which doll.

When she actually unveiled the dolls, they were “shocked and amazed”.

“They started brushing their hair and playing with them which was lovely to see.

“They were very grateful.”

Undoubtedly, Sara is a teacher that students—and fellow-teachers— will fondly remember for a long time.

TEACHER LOVE: Hero Teacher Spent Every Day in Lockdown Preparing Food for His Pupils and Delivered 7,500 Packed Lunches

BE SURE AND SHOW THIS TO TEACHERS By Sharing on Social Media…

“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” – John Dryden

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Quote of the Day: “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” – John Dryden

Photo by: Arek Adeoye

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 Real Life Barbie Dreamhouse For Sale on Zillow Goes Viral For Happy Seller in New Jersey

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Kitchen of the Barbie dreamhouse for sale by Kate Gabrielle in Hamilton, New Jersey -SWNS
Kitchen of the Barbie dreamhouse for sale by Kate Gabrielle in Hamilton, New Jersey -SWNS

Check out this positively pink full-sized ‘Barbie Dreamhouse’ for sale in New Jersey…

The bungalow includes a cinema room, large walk-in wardrobe, a craft room, and a handbag wall—all in bright pinks and calming lavenders.

The three-bedroom property on Hughes Drive in Hamilton Township has a unique style that may only be perfect for a Barbie superfan—but it’s charm has gone viral on the Instagram account Zillow Gone Wild.

As soon as you walk through the pink front door you’re welcomed by daisy wallpaper which leads into a cinema with dark purple walls and rows of recliner seats.

The Zillow listing says the two-bathroom home in the desirable neighborhood of University Heights has “good energy and good vibes,” and the asking price is $500,000.

The owner of the home, Kate Gabrielle, says they already have potential buyers—some who wanted to keep the furniture and décor.

 

It’s a “killer dopamine inspiration,” one commenter said on social media. “I feel like it would be impossible to have a bad day living here.”

Kate Gabrielle’s Barbie dreamhouse in Hamilton, New Jersey – SWNS

The listing says, “Enter through a new screened-in front porch into this uniquely charming home that has new vinyl flooring throughout the main floor. New carpet in bedrooms and theatre and new custom tile in the bathrooms.”

SWNS

Whether you find it cheery or cheesy, we have to admire Kate’s passionate commitment to her own style.

SWNS

LOOK AT THIS GUY’S BARBIE HOME: Man Transforms an Old Farmhouse into a Barbie Dreamhouse Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

SHARE THE DREAMHOUSE With Barbie Fans on Social Media…

Severe Shaking in Parkinson’s Patient Calms Down in Just 6 Days With New Drug –Watch the Transformation

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Video screenshots of Damian Gath before and after taking Produodopa-SWNS
Video screenshots of Damian Gath before and after taking Produodopa-SWNS

A 52-year-old Parkinson’s sufferer is celebrating a ‘life-changing’ transformation after receiving a new drug treatment—and a video shows the incredible difference it made in just one week.

Damian Gath, who previously worked out at a gym four times a week, was diagnosed ten years ago with an incurable brain condition that causes involuntary shaking.

He was head of operations at a communications firm when the symptoms began.

“I lost the use of my fingers in my arm,” said the English father-of-four. “I couldn’t hold a pen and I was dropping cups of tea and bottles, so I went to the hospital in my lunch hour from work.”

Damian, who lives in Derbyshire, was told to see a neurologist who then broke the shocking news to him that he had Parkinson’s—a disease he previously knew nothing about.

“His exact words were, ‘It’s an irreversible, incurable degenerative brain disease.’ I was a bit shocked at the time.”

Damian said he had tried ‘every oral medication on the market’ as he desperately sought to counteract the effects of the degenerative condition. But each one produced a range of side effects that made his day-to-day life a misery.

“I had severe side effects from them all—hallucinations, paranoia, depression, anxiety. It was a really tough time.”

Then, in June, following the drug’s approval for use by England’s National Health System (NHS) he became one of the first patients in the country to receive Produodopa, a treatment administered under the skin using a miniature pump.

Damian Gath’s treatment kit with device that attaches under the skin – SWNS

The portable pump provides a far more gradual release of medication, resulting in greater symptom management. Damian called the treatment revolutionary.

And a dramatic video shared by SWNS reveals how, after previously struggling to control his spastic upper body movements, he could easily make a cup of coffee—just seven days later.

“It’s been extraordinary and life-changing,” he said. “I’m able to sit in front of the TV not in pain—and I can get a good full night’s sleep.

BAKING SODA CURE: Woman Who Nearly Died After Bacteria Ate Her Nose Says Baking Soda Saved Her Life

“In the past, I stopped taking my last tablet at 9pm, and when that wore off, you’re back to your raw Parkinson’s symptoms.”

“Because this medication is released slowly into the body, and I can boost it and decrease it to a certain extent, I’ve got control over how much is being given.”

Best of all, the new medication, which is not yet available in the US, has produced no side effects for Damian, so far.

“The most dramatic experience is the loss of pain and the ability to move a lot more normally.

“I live near the Peak District and we have some beautiful hikes and walks open to us. I’m hoping I can get back to doing that.”

ANOTHER AMAZING RECOVERY: Boy With Crippling ‘Suicide Disease’ Takes First Steps in a Year After Traveling to US for Pioneering Treatment

NHS health providers, like Sherwood Forest Hospital (SFH) where Damian was treated, are rolling out the new therapy to other patients soon.

“The successful implementation of Produodopa at SFH heralds a new era in the management of advanced Parkinson’s disease,” said SFH’s Dr. Nishantha Silva.

SHARE THE FABULOUS NEWS For Everyone With Parkinson’s On Social Media…

Engineering Student Heeds Call for a Chihuahua in Need – Designing Tiny Helmets for ‘Niblet’

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Photo by Angela Foster - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Photo by Angela Foster – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

When the call went out seeking assistance for a puppy requiring special care, a faculty member at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a recent graduate were “all in.”

A month ago, a tiny Chihuahua weighing just 2.5-pounds captured the hearts of animal shelter staff even before it became clear that the dog had a special medical condition that required special attention: Niblet had a soft spot on the top of his head—about one and a half centimeters in diameter—indicating that his skull had not fully fused.

The Humane Educational Society (HES) called mechanical engineering professor Trevor Elliott for help, with an unusual request.

Niblet’s condition, hydrocephalus (water on the brain) can make even the simplest household accidents—like something falling off a counter—potentially life-threatening,

“We started brainstorming how we could get the head protected,” recalled HES Director of Veterinary Services Sarah Callahan.

Dr. Samantha Blair brought up the contacts that she had at the university. She made a couple of phone calls, and later that day, the engineering department delivered a dose of hope for the 10-week-old puppy.

“When we realized that we were going to have to make a cap, I remembered the amazing 3D printing abilities that the graduate students had,” said Blair.

After learning about Niblet’s situation, Professor Elliott immediately felt compelled to lend a hand and arrived that very afternoon. “As soon as I saw his cute little face, I said, ‘We’ve got to help.’”

He enlisted the assistance of Connor Mackey, a May graduate who led the 2024 UTC Rocket Mocs team in winning the 3D Printing Award at the recent NASA Student Launch competition—“and he was all in.”

“As soon as I saw the email chain, I knew exactly how to do this. I knew I could actually help this dog,” said Mackey, who will begin pursuing a Masters in Engineering at UTC this fall.

Elliott solicited the help of Volkswagen’s Justin Stephens to scan Niblet’s head to get a 3D image. He and Mackey then took different approaches toward creating headgear for Niblet; Mackey’s resembles a football helmet, while Elliott’s is more of a skull cap.

3-D printed helmet for Niblet at the Humane Educational Society – By Angela Foster / University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

3D-PRINTER TRIUMPH: Woman Given New 3D-Printed Windpipe in World First

After multiple iterations, they met with Niblet at HES on July 15, to fit the puppy with protective headgear—and Niblet quickly took to the football helmet design.

“It’s just kind of crazy what you can do,” Mackey said. “It was honestly a very simple process of getting a scan and then modeling around that. It’s really cool that you can save a dog’s life using this kind of manufacturing process.”

Elliott added, “It was pretty cool to see him walking around with it and knowing that it looks like at least one of our solutions is going to help him on his journey.”

“Fitting a puppy with protective headgear is unchartered territory for us,” said Callahan, who is hopeful it will be the solution. “We really do think that he’s in the best possible place to have a good outcome and the longest life that he possibly can in a happy home.”

Caroline Smith, HES director of animal protection services, praised how quickly everyone rallied to support little Niblet.

“Sometimes in this line of work, you don’t always get happy endings, so it’s so nice to see everyone come together to help out an animal,” Smith said.

UC Foundation Associate Professor Trevor Elliott and UTC graduate Connor Mackey try out 3D-printed helmets at Chattanooga’s Humane Educational Society – Photo by Angela Foster

“This definitely took a lot of teamwork running with this idea—and we’re so thankful for UTC that they were willing to step in and help.”

WORLD FIRST: Robotic Hand with Bones, Ligaments and Tendons Created for First Time Using 3D Printing

Without the helmet, Niblet would have needed more than a cat’s nine lives to survive—but with it, he can live a good, long one.

SHARE THE PAWESOME Story With Animal Lovers on Social Media…

Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From 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 July 27, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Some bamboo species grow very quickly—as much as 36 inches per day. I suspect your capacity to burgeon and blossom will display a similar vigor in the coming weeks. You may be surprised at how dramatic your development is. I’m hoping, of course, that you will be acutely focused on channeling your fertility in positive ways. Don’t feed an urge to recklessly gamble, for instance. Don’t pursue connections with influences that are no damn good for you. Instead, decide right now what areas of your life you want to be the beneficiaries of your growth spurt. Choose the beauty and power you will encourage to ripen.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
For months, we heard and saw crows pecking on the roof of our rental house. Why? Were they grubbing for food? It was mildly annoying, but seemingly no big deal. Then one night, their small, regular acts of mayhem climaxed in an unexpected event. Rain began to fall around 8 pm. It was constant, though not heavy. At 9, the ceilings in five rooms began to leak. By 10:30, our house was flooded. We managed to rescue most of our precious items, but the house was damaged. We had to find a new place to live. I don’t expect anything nearly this drastic to befall you, dear Virgo. But I do encourage you to check to see if any small problem is gradually growing bigger. Now is a favorable time to intervene and forestall an unfavorable development.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Two Scottish veterinarians researched the health of rhesus monkeys that are compelled by human handlers to dance on the streets of Islamabad, Pakistan. When I first learned about this, my response was, “Wow! Don’t those doctors have anything better to do? That is the most obscure research I have ever heard of.” But later, I decided I admired the doctors because they were motivated primarily by compassion. They found the monkeys were under severe stress, and they publicized the fact as a public service. Their work will ultimately lead to better treatment of the monkeys. In accordance with astrological omens, Libra, I advise you to seek out comparable ways to express altruism in the coming weeks. By engaging in noble and idealistic acts, you will attract good fortune into your sphere both for yourself and others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Do you place any limits on how deep and expansive you allow your yearnings to be? Are you ever worried that maybe you desire too much and are at risk of asking for too much? If you answered yes to those questions, Scorpio, I will give you a temporary license to rebel against your wariness. In accordance with astrological rhythms, I authorize you to experiment with feeling the biggest, strongest, wildest longings you have ever felt. Please note that I am not advising you to immediately go out and actually express those longings to the hilt. For now, I’d like you to simply have the experience of entertaining their full intensity. This will be a healing experience.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
You will never guess the identity of the strongest animal on the planet. It’s not the gorilla, tiger, or elephant. It’s the dung beetle, which can lug loads that weigh 1,141 times as much as it does. The equivalent for you would be to pull six double-decker buses crammed with people. I’m happy to inform you that although you won’t be able to accomplish that feat in the coming weeks, your emotional and spiritual strength will be formidable. You may be surprised at how robust and mighty you are. What do you plan to do with all that power?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
By age 35, you have already shed over 50 pounds of skin. The flesh that covers you is in a constant state of renewal. In the coming weeks, I expect your rate of regeneration to be even higher than usual—not only in regard to your skin, but everything else in your life, as well. Here’s a proviso: Renewal and regeneration are always preceded by withering or dwindling. To enjoy the thrill of revitalization, you must allow the loss of what was once vital but is no longer.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Among people who go hiking a lot, “death march” is a term that refers to a long trudge through boring scenery in bad weather. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your life. I believe you have recently finished your own metaphorical version of a “death march.” Any minute now, you will begin a far more enjoyable series of experiences. Get ready for an entertaining meander through interesting terrains in fine weather. Be alert for unpredictable encounters with inspiration and education.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Alex Larenty gives massages to lions at the Lion Park near Johannesburg, South Africa. They especially love foot rubs. Even Jamu, king of the local beasts, rolls onto his back so Larenty can get a good angle while caressing and kneading his paws. I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because it’s a good metaphor for the unique power you will have in the coming days: a knack for dealing successfully with wild influences and elemental powers through the magic of kindness, affection, and service.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries singer-songwriter Lady Gaga has written many songs, both for herself and other artists. She has famously declared that some of her most successful songs took her just 10 minutes to compose. They include “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Born This Way.” According to my interpretation of the astrological omens, you could be rising to Lady Gaga levels of creativity in your own sphere during the coming weeks. And I won’t be surprised if your imaginative innovations flow with expeditious clarity, like Gaga at her most efficient.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
During the winter, some animals hibernate. They enter a state of dormancy, slowing their metabolism, breathing, and heart rate. Other animals enter a similar state during the summer, conserving energy when the weather is hot and dry. It’s called estivation. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, many of you Tauruses would benefit from a modified version of estivation in the next couple of weeks. You’re in prime time to recharge your energy through deep relaxation and rest.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
The English word “amphibian” is derived from the Greek term amphibios, which means “living a double life.” The original meaning of the English word was “combining two qualities; having two modes of life,” though eventually it came to be used primarily to describe animals that function well on both land and in water. You Geminis are of course the most amphibious of all the astrological tribes. You can feel at home in a variety of situations. This may sometimes stir up confusion, but I see it as one of your greatest potential strengths. In the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy it to the maximum. It should serve you well. Wield it to take advantage of the sweet perks of versatility.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
I dreamed that a young elephant appeared on the back deck of my house and stuck its trunk through the open sliding glass door. I got up from my chair and gently pushed the animal away, then closed the door. But after I woke up, I was sorry I had done that in my dream. What was I afraid of? The elephant posed no danger—and may have been a good omen. In some cultures, elephants in dreams and visions are symbols of good luck, vitality, long life, and the removal of obstacles. So here’s what I did. I dropped into a deep meditative state and reimagined the dream. This time, I welcomed the creature into my home. I gave her the name Beatrice. We wrestled playfully and had fun playing with a red rubber ball. Amazingly, later that day, a certain obstacle in my actual waking life magically disappeared. The moral of the story, my fellow Cancerian: Welcome the elephant.

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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“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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By Max Harlynking

Quote of the Day: “He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Photo by: Max Harlynking

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?

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