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Artistic Doctor Transforms Kids’ Broken Arms Into Animated Artwork Especially For Them–LOOK

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Shriners Children’s Hospital
Shriners Children’s Hospital

Kids who arrive at this Chicago hospital to get treated for hand injuries don’t expect to leave with a piece of art that’s designed just for them—but thanks to one artistic doctor, that’s exactly what happens.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Felicity Fishman at Shriners Children’s Chicago is the go-to doctor for children who want a grin on their face when they leave for home.

She’s drawn everything from dinosaurs and sharks to SpongeBob and Elsa for “Frozen” fans—all personalized with sterilized markers.

“The whole team at Shriners Children’s has embraced the simple happiness that the cast art allows the recovering child to enjoy,” Fishman told GNN.

“It is truly a team effort; my PA and my nurse in clinic begin the conversation about the potential cast art so the families have time to choose, and the child has something to look forward to—instead of being scared.”

RELATED: Build a Snowman to Match Kids’ Drawings at Children’s Hospital – And Bring Joy to Patients and Staff

Shriners Children’s Hospital

“The ability to pick something special and personalized for their cast allows the child to regain a sense of autonomy in an otherwise anxiety provoking situation.”

The pre-op nurses encourage the kids to pick something really unique. The OR staff (nurses, anesthesia, scrub techs) selects the marker colors and help plan the outline. Finally, Fishman brings the art to life.

Shriners Children’s

“There have been a few children that have loved their drawings so much that they were actually sad to have their cast removed,” says Fishman.

LOOK: Baker Creates Stunning Cakes That are Straight Out of a Cartoon

“One family told me that they saw their daughter (around 2 years-old) having a conversation with the Mickey Mouse on her cast.”

Shriners Children’s

The kids usually return about 3-4 weeks after their surgery to have the cast removed and the orthopedic techs try to preserve the art when the family requests to keep it.

“I consider this a huge compliment!”

Dr. Fishman’s expertise is what helps her patients heal, but it’s her artistic skill that puts a smile on their faces.

CHECK OUT: Perpetual Treasure Hunt Has Kids Finding Hidden Books, Reading, Then Re-Hiding Them for Others

Even though the art is applied following the real work of surgery, everyone on the team agrees those 10 minutes of creativity are still important to their overall success.

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Couple Makes Award-Winning Gin and Vodka After Starting Distillery in a Shed During Lockdown

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Terri and Richard Hudson with original still - SWNS
Terri and Richard Hudson with original still – SWNS

A couple is making award-winning gin and vodka after starting a distillery in a garden shed during the pandemic lockdown.

Terri Hudson and husband Richard began experimenting with alcohol flavorings over 12 years ago in their first copper still.

The couple has since converted an old poultry shed—also on their land in Taunton, Somerset, England.

They’ve already scooped up 15 awards since launching officially last year.

“It started as a hobby and we had a real passion for it,” said Richard, 38. “We’ve both worked in the merchant navy so knew a bit about different cultures and flavors and have  always enjoyed experimenting.

“Then during the first Covid lockdown, we bought an old farm to move to, and we also decided to start experimenting with distilling alcohol in the shed with a small copper still.

Once they tasted their treasure, the couple wanted to start selling small batches commercially so they applied for all the necessary licenses. They had a derelict poultry shed at the bottom of the land, so they applied to convert it into a distillery.

CHECK OUT: The Queen has Launched Her Own Gin Featuring Botanicals Grown on Her Country Estate

”We’ve still got the chickens next door, but the warehouse now has all our copper stills and we operate out of that.”

They officially launched Mainline Spirits last June, using a name inspired by the unique history of their plot of land. The couple found links to local railroad history soon after moving in, which showed that the location was on the Mainline railway between London and Penzance.

“The farm hadn’t been touched since the 1970s, but we found documentation about the farm that said it was built in 1717,” explained Richard. Records showed it was right in the path of the original steam locomotives.

”Back in the day it was a big farm with orchards, so we’re trying to replant them and pick ingredients from the land.”

Mainline Spirits

Describing their spirits as “using only the finest hand picked botanicals from the rolling landscapes,” the couple chose train-related names such as Signalman Vodka and Western Star Gin—named for the Great Western Railway.

POPULAR: She Reunites Families with Lost Heirlooms for Free–Returning Over 500 Items to Thrilled Relatives

Since officially launching less than a year ago, the couple have won 15 awards, including a gold medal in the Taste of the West after just 16 days.

They have also been recognized with accolades at The Gin Masters and Gin of the Year awards.

“Considering we only launched the brand last year, we have hit the ground running,” said the excited entrepreneur.

“To win so many awards in such a short space of time is humbling.

LOOK: Professional Puzzler in Jigsaw Championships Can Complete a 500-piece Puzzle in 50 Minutes

“When we are sat next to high end brands that are normally on shop shelves or TV with the same medal, you have to pinch yourself.”

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“Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life.” – Janine di Giovanni

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Quote of the Day: “Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life.” – Janine di Giovanni

Photo by: Annie Spratt

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

 

Twin Babies Hilariously Imitate Their Older Brother – Proving Twins Are 2x the Fun (WATCH)

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Rumble / agatabernard

Rumble.com user agatabernard posted a video that made our hearts melt from its cuteness.

The mother in Argentina captured the moment when her twins responded to their big brother’s effort to make the babies laugh.

Evidently he’s their role model, because the two babies immediately mirrored his silly antics.

The back-and-forth fun is guaranteed to delight everyone watching the clip.

You can follow Agata Bernard and her family’s cuteness overload on Instagram.

Watch the video below…

ALSO FUNNY: Pooch Determined to Be in Family Portrait Leaps into Shot for Best Photobomb Ever

(Note: GNN has no affiliation with any ads displayed)

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Some Coastal Salt Marshes Are Keeping Up With Sea Level Rise: ‘We Were Definitely Excited’

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Credit: James Loesch / CC license
Credit: James Loesch / CC license

Salt marshes on the East Coast have accumulated soil more quickly over the past century—and some appear to be keeping pace with rising waters.

The world’s salty, tidal marshes are hotspots of carbon storage and productivity, building up sediments and plant material so they can stay above sea level. Scientists wondering whether it’s possible for wetlands to keep up with rising sea levels have revealed research that shows how salt marshes along the U.S. coast have responded—by building up elevation more quickly over the last century.

Two main factors affect how quickly a salt marsh accumulates soil: how much sediment is deposited in the wetland during tidal floods, and how much organic matter from the marsh’s plants escapes decomposition. Humans can either choke sediment supply to marshes by building dams or increase the supply by causing erosion upstream, often through clearing land for agriculture. Cooler temperatures let more organic matter build up.

If sea level is rising slowly, sediment is plentiful, and vegetation is booming, a coastal wetland can keep pace with rising waters. But if sea level rises too quickly, that balance is lost.

“These feedback cycles allow a marsh to keep up and increase its rate of soil accretion up until a point where it just can’t,” said Nathaniel Weston, an ecosystems ecologist at Villanova University who led the study published in Earth’s Future. “After that, it falls off the other end and can no longer exist as a marsh.”

The new study is the first to assess the race on a large scale, comparing soil accretion rates using soil core from nine salt marshes from Maine to Georgia.

CHECK OUT: College Seniors Fix Erosion in New Orleans By Resuming Citywide Bottle Recycling to Crush Them For Sand

The dark, peaty columns record over 100 years of the marshes’ histories, and researchers dated the soil to calculate how quickly the wetlands grew over time and how that rate changed.

Soil accretion sped up in all nine marshes—and six of them built soil at roughly the same rate as sea level rise over the past century. Three marshes in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia could not keep up with local sea level rise due to low sediment supplies from damming and warmer temperatures.

“This is the first study to document what’s happening on this scale, across pretty much the entire East Coast,” said Weston. “We were definitely excited to see fairly consistent results across our sites, where the marshes were increasing their rate of soil accretion.”

Many coastal salt marshes around the world may be accelerating their growth, too, Weston said.

To slow the process of seawater inundation, communities could install “living shorelines” of vegetation to retain sediment, said Molly Keogh, a coastal geologist at the University of Oregon who was not involved in the study.

LOOK: New Shoreline Protection Looks Like Massive Lego Bricks and Doubles as Home for Marine Life

An expensive but temporary solution is to spray a slurry of mud and water over the marsh, which adds a few millimeters of sediment and can offset sea level rise a few years.

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Life-Saving Overdose Drug Narcan Approved by FDA for Over-the-Counter and Online Sale

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Narcan, a naloxone-based anti-overdose nasal spray, is one factor in the reduction - released by Adapt Pharma.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the lifesaving drug Narcan for over-the-counter use without a prescription for the first time.

The nasal spray containing 4 milligrams of naloxone hydrochloride can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard treatment in such emergencies.

The FDA action paves the way for the life-saving doses to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online.

The timeline for availability and price will be determined by the American manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions, but the FDA says the transition from prescription to OTC status, “may take months”.

Other formulations and dosages of naloxone will remain available by prescription only.

Drug overdose persists as a major public health issue in the United States, with more than 101,750 reported fatal overdoses occurring in the 12-month period ending in October 2022, primarily driven by synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl.

OVERDOSE HERO: Instead of Buying New Car, Retired Paramedic Spends $40K on Overdose Prevention Kits and Already Saved 94 Lives

“The FDA has used its regulatory authority to facilitate greater access to naloxone…to address the dire public health need,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Today’s approval of OTC naloxone nasal spray will increase the number of locations where it’s available and help reduce opioid overdose deaths throughout the country. We encourage the manufacturer to make accessibility to the product a priority by making it available as soon as possible and at an affordable price.”

Narcan nasal spray was first approved by the FDA in 2015 as a prescription drug—and more than 44 million doses have been distributed since its public launch in 2016. In accordance with a process to change the status of a drug from prescription to nonprescription, the manufacturer provided data demonstrating that the drug is safe and effective for use as directed.

The manufacturer also showed that consumers can understand how to use the drug safely and effectively without the supervision of a healthcare professional.

In February 2023, FDA committee members voted unanimously to recommend it be approved for marketing without a prescription.

RELATED: Every US Public Library, High School, and YMCA is Getting Opioid Overdose Reversal Kits for Free

The approval of OTC Narcan nasal spray will require a change in the labeling for the currently approved 4 mg generic naloxone nasal spray products that rely on Narcan as their reference listed drug product, according to the FDA press release. Manufacturers of these generic products (which can cost around $45 for two doses—compared to Narcan at $140) will be required to submit a supplement to their applications to effectively switch their products to OTC status. The approval may also affect the status of other brand-name naloxone nasal spray products of 4 mg or less, but determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis and the FDA may contact other firms as needed.

“Naloxone is a critical tool in addressing opioid overdoses and today’s approval underscores the extensive efforts the agency has undertaken to combat the overdose crisis,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA is working with our federal partners to help ensure continued access to all forms of naloxone during the transition of this product from prescription status to nonprescription/OTC status.

“Further, we will work with any sponsor seeking to market a nonprescription naloxone product, including through an Rx to OTC switch, and encourage manufacturers to contact the agency as early as possible to initiate discussions.”

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Your Inspiring Weekly Horoscope From Rob Brezsny: A ‘Free Will Astrology’

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Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of April 8, 2023
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries-born René Descartes (1596–1650) was instrumental in developing of modern science and philosophy. His famous motto, “I think, therefore I am” is an assertion that the analytical component of intelligence is primary and foremost. And yet, few history books mention the supernatural intervention that was pivotal in his evolution as a supreme rationalist. On the night of November 10, 1619, he had three mystical dreams that changed his life, revealing the contours of the quest to discern the “miraculous science” that would occupy him for the next 30 years. I suspect you are in store for a comparable experience or two, Aries. Brilliant ideas and marvelous solutions to your dilemmas will visit you as you bask in unusual and magical states of awareness.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
The dirty work is becoming milder and easier. It’s still a bit dirty, but is growing progressively less grungy and more rewarding. The command to “adjust, adjust, and adjust some more, you beast of burden” is giving way to “refine, refine, and refine some more, you beautiful animal.” At this pivotal moment, it’s crucial to remain consummately conscientious. If you stay in close touch with your shadowy side, it will never commandeer more than ten percent of your total personality. In other words, a bit of healthy distrust for your own motives will keep you trustworthy. (PS: Groaning and grousing, if done in righteous and constructive causes, will continue to be good therapy for now.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
“‘Tis the good reader that makes the good book,” wrote Gemini philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. “In every book, he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear.” In the coming weeks, a similar principle will apply to everything you encounter, Gemini—not just books. You will find rich meaning and entertainment wherever you go. From seemingly ordinary experiences, you’ll notice and pluck clues that will be wildly useful for you personally.  For inspiration, read this quote from author Sam Keen: “Enter each day with the expectation that the happenings of the day may contain a clandestine message addressed to you personally. Expect omens, epiphanies, casual blessings, and teachers who unknowingly speak to your condition.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Traditional astrologers don’t regard the planet Mars as being a natural ally of you Crabs. But I suspect you will enjoy an invigorating relationship with the red planet during the next six weeks. For best results, tap into its rigorous vigor in the following ways: 1. Gather new wisdom about how to fight tenderly and fiercely for what’s yours. 2. Refine and energize your ambitions so they become more ingenious and beautiful. 3. Find out more about how to provide your physical body with exactly what it needs to be strong and lively on an ongoing basis. 4. Mediate on how to activate a boost in your willpower.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
I won’t ask you to start heading back toward your comfort zone yet, Leo. I’d love to see you keep wandering out in the frontiers for a while longer. It’s healthy and wise to be extra fanciful, improvisatory, and imaginative. The more rigorous and daring your experiments, the better. Possible bonus: If you are willing to question at least some of your fixed opinions and dogmatic beliefs, you could very well outgrow the part of the Old You that has finished its mission.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
The Supreme Deity with the most power may not be Jehovah or Allah or Brahman or Jesus’s Dad. There’s a good chance it’s actually Mammon, the God of Money. The devoted worship that humans offer to Mammon far surpasses the loyalty offered to all the other gods combined. His values and commandments rule civilization. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because now is an excellent time for you to deliver extra intense prayers to Mammon. From what I can determine, this formidable Lord of Lords is far more likely to favor you than usual. (PS: I’m only half-kidding. I really do believe your financial luck will be at a peak in the coming weeks.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
It’s an excellent time to give up depleted, used-up obsessions so you have plenty of room and energy to embrace fresh, succulent passions. I hope you will take advantage of the cosmic help that’s available as you try this fun experiment. You will get in touch with previously untapped resources as you wind down your attachments to old pleasures that have dissipated. You will activate dormant reserves of energy as you phase out connections that take more than they give.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy,” said ancient Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius. I’m tempted to advise every Scorpio to get a tattoo of that motto. That way, you will forever keep in mind this excellent advice; As fun as it may initially feel to retaliate against those who have crossed you, it rarely generates redemptive grace or glorious rebirth, which are key Scorpio birthrights. I believe these thoughts should be prime meditations for you in the coming weeks.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Sometimes love can be boring. We may become overly accustomed to feeling affection and tenderness for a special person or animal. What blazed like a fiery fountain in the early stages of our attraction might have subsided into a routine sensation of mild fondness. But here’s the good news, Sagittarius: Even if you have been ensconced in bland sweetness, I suspect you will soon transition into a phase of enhanced zeal. Are you ready to be immersed in a luscious lusty bloom of heartful yearning and adventure?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
What shall we call this latest chapter of your life story? How about “Stealthy Triumph over Lonely Fear” or maybe “Creating Rapport with the Holy Darkness.” Other choices might be “As Far Down into the Wild Rich Depths That I Dare to Go” or “My Roots Are Stronger and Deeper Than I Ever Imagined.” Congratulations on this quiet but amazing work you’ve been attending to. Some other possible descriptors: “I Didn’t Have to Slay the Dragon Because I Figured Out How to Harness It” or “The Unexpected Wealth I Discovered Amidst the Confusing Chaos.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
It’s sway-swirl-swivel time for you, Aquarius—a phase when you will be wise to gyrate and rollick and zigzag. This is a bouncy, shimmering interlude that will hopefully clean and clear your mind as it provides you with an abundance of reasons to utter “whee!” and “yahoo!” and “hooray!” My advice: Don’t expect the straight-and-narrow version of anything. Be sure you get more than minimal doses of twirling and swooping and cavorting. Your brain needs to be teased and tickled, and your heart requires regular encounters with improvised fun.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
When I was growing up in suburban America, way back in the 20th century, many adults told me that I was wrong and bad to grow my hair really long. Really! It’s hard to believe now, but I endured ongoing assaults of criticism, ridicule, and threats because of how I shaped my physical appearance. Teachers, relatives, baseball coaches, neighbors, strangers in the grocery store—literally hundreds of people—warned me that sporting a big head of hair would cause the whole world to be prejudiced against me and sabotage my success. Decades later, I can safely say that all those critics were resoundingly wrong. My hair is still long, has always been so, and my ability to live the life I love has not been obstructed by it in the least. Telling you this story is my way of encouraging you to keep being who you really are, even in the face of people telling you that’s not who you really are. The astrological omens say it’s time for you to take a stand.

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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“For something to be beautiful, it doesn’t have to be pretty.” – Rei Kawakubo

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Quote of the Day: “For something to be beautiful, it doesn’t have to be pretty.” – Rei Kawakubo

Photo by: Aaron Burden

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

Rooms Filled with Plants Could Protect Us from Colds and Flu by Disinfecting Air, Study Finds

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Andy Corbley
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Credit - Lydia Mailloux
Credit – Lydia Mailloux

Plants are well-established partners that when brought indoors can help alleviate stress, and purify the air, and are well worth the constant watering.

However, a new study from Australia found their beneficial properties may not yet be fully established, since it could be that our leafy brethren have the power to remove viruses that cause cold and flu from the air.

At the moment the authors are calling it a proof of concept, and shouldn’t be taken as a confirmation of causation, but their findings are pretty compelling.

When absorbing sunlight, plants produce a biochemical that is a common sight among home first aid kits—hydrogen peroxide. This caustic chemical is used for disinfecting wounds and bleaching hair, but it was found to be spontaneously present in microscopic water droplets floating through the air in rooms with house plants.

Hydrogen peroxide was found concentrated in water vapor emerging out of the leaves of the house plants, which if bound with floating water vapor containing a flu virus, could very well sanitize it.

“This is a very good proof-of-concept study on whether plants can help disinfect air,” said Kristian Dubrawski, of the University of Victoria. “Our results have potentially major implications for the role of plant-mediated atmospheric cleansing, climate change, and urban and indoor air quality.”

African violet and Devil’s ivy – CC 3.0. SA Wildfeuer

African violets (Saintpaulia Ionantha) produced the most hydrogen peroxide of the samples they tested, followed by Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum).

MORE ON HOUSEPLANTS: Remove the Sickly Houseplants From Your Home or Office – They’re Making You Sad

The authors detail in their introduction that the mechanism for hydrogen peroxide leaving the plants through transpiration is not well understood. Most of the water which plants get is used in the photosynthesis process during which it exits through the leaves as water vapor.

They further detail that this doesn’t just carry relevance for those who like a bit of nature in their apartment, but for the discussion of climate as a whole, since almost all plants transpire, most plants on Earth contribute to hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the atmosphere.

MORE PLANT POWERS: A Hero Ingredient To Help Manage Obesity: The Hardy Roselle Plant

“In this study, we report the first findings of hydrogen peroxide production via transpired [exhaled] water vapor, and show that, surprisingly, all transpiring plants are likely contributing to local, and thus global, atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentrations,” they write.

“Hydrogen production by plants may have implications in indoor air quality (such as hospitals); high-density regions (such as megacities) and rural regions impacted by forest fires. Our work further implicates plants as a viable nature-based solution for air quality improvement and to defend against pathogenic outbreaks of infectious diseases.”

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Ocean Cleanup Hits Milestone of 220 Tons Removed From Pacific Garbage Patch (Watch)

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Andy Corbley
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Photo by The Ocean Cleanup
Photo by The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup, the Dutch organization currently tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), has just reached a milestone of 220 tons of plastic removed from the ocean (200k kilograms).

In recent years, the nonprofit completed the test run of their new system 002/B which can capture multiple tons of garbage in one sequence with its large booms measuring a mile and a half in length.

The GPGP is not so much an island as it is an area where major currents and winds have brought together trillions of pieces of plastic.

By using the data of the currents and the winds to estimate volumes of plastic and to guide the capture vessels, Boyan Slat, the CEO and Founder of Ocean Cleanup, believes he can clean the whole patch in just a decade.

Slat’s work in the GPGP will go down as one of the greatest accomplishments in the 21st century. In front of him was a true leviathan of a problem—a patch of plastic trash twice the size of Texas swirling in International Waters where even the loudest climate-hollering nation-state had no desire to even crack an idea about how to clean it.

MORE ABOUT THE OCEAN CLEANUP: Ocean Cleanup Nonprofit Gets $25Mil From Airbnb Co-Founder to Launch Massive Plastic Pollution Cleanup

Relying only on his team, and his vision of basic scientific deduction and elegant engineering solutions, Slat proved that even the biggest problem was nevertheless solvable.

His next challenge is to somehow find uses or locations for all those billions of pieces of plastic. At the moment, the recycling is done by hand, with each piece of plastic separated by polymer type.

He had commissioned a line of sunglasses to be made with ocean plastic, and they sold out rapidly. Now, Slat is trying to partner with companies interested in using some of the GPGP waste streams for material supplies after recycling.

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Friday Funny: Pooch Determined to Be in Family Portrait Leaps into Shot for Best Photobomb Ever

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Andy Corbley
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Kennedy News / Hannah Pateman via SWNS
Kennedy News / Hannah Pateman via SWNS

When a London family got together to celebrate a dad’s 70th birthday with a family portrait, a precious pooch was determined not to be left out.

Despite being outside a sliding glass door, she leaped into the air the moment the shutter opened, enshrining her antics for all time in one of the best photobombs you’ll ever see.

Attending her father’s birthday, Tamsin Cowman brought along her cockapoo Bo. She let her out into the garden to play while the family gathered in the living room to take photos of grandfather Michael Ng with his seven grandchildren.

It wasn’t until later that she saw the hilarious image of a determined Bo jumping enthusiastically into the frame through the window in the background.

Tamsin claims that the photobomb “wasn’t much of a surprise” as Bo “loves to be involved”  and probably wondered why the family was having a cuddle without her.

Now, Tamsin says the photo is “definitely a framer” and that she’s going to make more of an effort to bring Bo into family snaps from now on.

“My whole family just laughed and thought it wasn’t much of a surprise,” Tamsin said. “She’d gone outside into the garden and then realized everyone else was having a cuddle, and probably thought, ‘why aren’t I in that?'”

MORE FUNNY DOGS: Photographer Takes Hilarious Pictures of Dogs Catching Cheese to Raise Money for Charity – LOOK

After sharing the photo on social media on April 2nd it racked up more than 1,000 likes, shares, and comments, with one commenter calling it the ‘best photobomb ever,’ and another praising the ‘absolutely brilliant pose!’

“I just thought it was so funny, which is why I thought I’d share it on Facebook,” she said. “We’ll definitely have to bring Bo into family photos from now on and make sure she’s not forgotten.”

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One of Britain’s Oldest and Greatest Oak Trees Gets $7,000 Hug from Community

By
Andy Corbley
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The Capon Tree
The Capon Tree – Fallago Environment Fund, released

In the southern Scottish town of Jedburgh, an old neighbor recently received a helping hand from the community.

A 700-1,000-year-old sessile oak, known as the Capon Tree, was awarded a grant of £7,000, or around $8,500, for a caregiving regime after one of its supporting limbs collapsed.

Oaks that grow without any other trees nearby tend to grow in girth rather than height, and the Capon tree is an exceptional example of this strange duality. The Tree Council recognizes the Capon as one of Britain’s 50 greatest trees.

Stories go back to at least the 16th century, referring to the tree as a meeting place for brigands who would raid across the border into England, or for community members to gather for the resolution of disputes.

In 2021 when one of its massive supporting limbs collapsed, the Jedburgh Community Trust created the Capon Tree Preservation Project, an initiative that raised £15,000 to beautify the area, and reinforce the tree with supportive posts to ensure it can continue its life.

“While the Capon Tree is of national importance, its significance in the history and cultural lives of the people of Jedburgh is enormous,” said Jim Steele, chair of Jedburgh Community Trust, said. “We wanted to make sure that we were doing everything we could to prolong the tree’s life for future generations.”

MORE FOREST NEWS:  Ancient Trees Have Incredible Lifespans That Also Help Keep The Surrounding Forests Alive

Ancient trees are especially important to woodland ecosystems. They carry knowledge, both genetic knowledge and a demonstrable, tangible sort, of how to survive all manner of disasters and difficulties. Their offspring have much higher chances of living through frosts, floods, fires, disease, or droughts.

Capon Tree – CC 3.0. Ewen Rennie

Regarding “tangible” knowledge, some scientists like renowned forester Peter Wohlenben, have shown that old trees can teach other trees in a way we can see, but can’t really understand.

“The Capon Tree has been part of Borders life for centuries and still plays an important role in the region’s heritage,” said Fallago Environment Fund chairman Gareth Baird. “We’re extremely pleased that these windfarm-generated funds are being used to help maintain the health of this historic tree and enhance its surroundings so that it can continue to play its important role in the lives of people from Jedburgh and beyond.”

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“Accept the possibility that there is a limitless range of awareness for which we now have no words.” – Walter Evans-Wentz

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Quote of the Day: “Accept the possibility that there is a limitless range of awareness for which we now have no words.” – Walter Evans-Wentz

Photo by: Kunal Goswami

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

Utah and California Snowpacks Break All Previous Records–Will Completely Alleviate Droughts

By
Andy Corbley
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Utah snowpack - credit ABC4 Salt Lake
Utah snowpack – credit ABC4 Salt Lake

The desert state of Utah is experiencing “a year to remember” in terms of snowfall, with every single part of the state experiencing 130% more snowpack in the mountains than normal.

The snows have delivered a ski season for the record books, and an end to all drought conditions in the state for the rest of the year.

New records have been made for snowfall. Snow water equivalent was recorded at 28.8 inches averaged out across Utah back in 1953, and officials say that record will be broken this week. The second highest was a 1983 record of 26 inches.

“This has been a year to remember. This is just unbelievable. The snowpack this year has been off the charts, certainly since we put in the SNOTEL system in the early 1980s. We haven’t seen anything like this,” said Jordan Clayton, supervisor of the Utah Snow Survey.

Utah gets approximately 95% of its water from snowpack. Reservoir storage is dependent upon snowpack and runoff to get through the dry years.

April is typically the time when the snows have peaked. The far southwest of Utah, home to Zion National Park, has gotten 3.3 times as much snow as normal, while the east and far southeast has seen 2.8 times as much.

The south arm of the Great Salt Lake, which many conservation news outlets have been reporting is at risk of extinction, has already risen 3 feet.

NOAA Spring Outlook 2023.

“The first of the year, we had 56% of the state in the two worst categories of drought — ‘extreme’ and ‘exceptional’,” Laura Haskell, drought coordinator with the Division of Water Resources, told local news.

“We’re completely out of those two worst categories of drought and things just keep improving as the spring goes on and we continue to get more water.”

MORE GOOD CLIMATE NEWS: Loss of Climate-Crucial Mangrove Forests Has Slowed to Near-Negligible Amount Worldwide, Report Hails

Meanwhile, in March, California experienced the twelve Pacific rainstorm of the winter-spring interval, completely alleviating all but the farthest southern tip of the state from a three-year drought which was also labeled ‘extreme’ and ‘exceptional’

Their snowpack is also on track to break records; to be either the first or second-deepest on record going back to 1950.

It will be the first time since 2020 that the state will not be considered in a drought of some severity.

WATCH the story below from FOX13… 

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A Hero Ingredient To Help Manage Obesity: The Hardy Roselle Plant

By
Andy Corbley
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Roselle flowers – RMIT University
Roselle flowers – RMIT University

An unassuming plant and the antioxidants it contains, could be a legitimate health food weight loss supplement, after a landmark trial found it decreased fat absorption.

When human fat cells were treated with polyphenols contained in the flower, they inhabited the production of the chief enzyme that converts dietary fat into stored fat in our cells.

One of the co-authors, a food scientist and former farmer from Nepal, believes that it could replace many of the side-effect-inducing pharmaceutical substances taken to genesis fat loss in the Australian public.

There’s nothing wrong with A: trying to find a food-based alternative to synthetic medications, and B: trying to use health foods as a way to aid in weight loss.

Roselle flower (Hibiscus Sabdariffa), dried and brewed in teas, is a common sight in traditional Chinese medicine shops, which offer a long legacy of other proven plant medications such as reishi mushroom.

From cinnamon to fennel seed, there are all kinds of plant materials touted for having health benefits, but often the funding just isn’t there for dedicated scientific research to prove such claims either way.

Fortunately, Ph.D. candidate Manisha Singh was able to do just that.

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

She treated human stem cells with the polyphenolic compounds in roselle flowers, which stains it and everything it touches red, before turning them into fat cells called adipocytes. Most cells can become fat cells—all they have to do is receive a biological command to absorb fats, usually through the diet.

The fat cells treated with the polyphenols absorbed 95% fewer fats than the non-treated ones.

Fat droplets (before and after) – RMIT University

“The phenolic extracts from the roselle could help create a health food product that is effective in interfering with the formation of fat cells, but also bypass the bad side effects of some medications,” said Singh’s Ph.D. supervisor Professor Benu Adhikari at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Singh had previously found that roselle extracts contained some of the chemicals present in weight loss medication like Orlistat and Liraglutide. She discovered it inhibited the function of lipase, an enzyme used in the body to break large dietary fats down into smaller ones to be absorbed in the cells.

MORE HEALTH FOODS: Amaranth is a Health Trend 8,000 Years Old That ‘Could Feed the World’

By inhibiting the lipase enzyme, the fat cannot be absorbed and is passed through the colon as waste. But it was only observed stopping fats from entering the cells and had no effect on fat already inside the cells.

Roselle isn’t difficult to cultivate in bulk, and if it were powdered into a capsule form, it could be the ultimate partner to a healthy diet and exercise for weight loss.

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New Shoreline Protection Looks Like Massive Lego Bricks and Doubles as Home for Marine Life

By
Andy Corbley
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Reefy - released
Reefy – released

Those aren’t giant Lego bricks out there in the grey waters off the port of Rotterdam, they are part of a new seawall that doubles as a home for marine life.

A kind of artificial oyster reef to help safeguard populations of mussels, fish, crustaceans, and other animals, the bricks are claimed to be the first artificial solution that truly enhances biodiversity, is long-lasting enough to prevent offshore erosion of the seabed from waves, and strong enough to disrupt incoming storms.

In nature, as well as being the beautiful wonderlands that they are, coral reefs can absorb 97% of the energy of a storm surge, preventing both the seafloor from erosion and the terrestrial ecosystem above. Every year, on Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands, rainy season storms are prevented from damaging the islands’ forests and structure by their rich coral reefs.

Battered by the waves, the reefs nearest to the shore break apart and die before being slowly ground up into the soft white sand typical of tropical beaches. The corals regrow, and the cycle continues.

Artificial reefs are not as flexible or beneficial for the environment. They tend to be made as cheaply as possible, either with waste products like old cars, or solid concrete that doesn’t make room for nature.

Wavebreaks and seawalls are much the same. The cement blocks repel the force of a wave but don’t disperse it. Instead, the rebounding wave mixes with the force of the subsequent wave to become even stronger.

The Dutch startup Reefy‘s Lego-like blocks tackle two of these limitations by making holes in the blocks, allowing the wave to expend its energy going through the block rather than bouncing off of it. The holes also allow animals to pass through or make their home inside.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: A Fisherman’s Underwater Sculptures Have Stopped Illegal Trawling – Bringing Art and Biodiversity Back to Italian Bay

The outside of the low-carbon concrete is textured to encourage the growth of mussels and oysters, while a “Reefy Paint” of calcium carbonate is being developed as a kind of supplement for the bivalves.

The textured surface allos for oyster growth – Reefy released

“The idea of having these blocks is to provide the foundation for nature to take over—to have a living layer that can grow with sea level rise and self-heal in order to attract these key species, which are, in a way, the architects of the underwater world,” Reefy CEO Jaime Ascencio told Fast Company.

MORE ARTIFICIAL REEFS: WWII Ship Transformed into Giant Artificial Coral Reef – and it’s Magnificent

Just like Legos, the bricks can be interconnected into any kind of shape—the one spanning the mouth of the river at Rotterdam Port is made of 17 bricks, and is 80 feet long and 10 feet high. The company’s proprietary technology analyzes the force and angle of the waves to determine the optimal pattern for reducing wave energy.

There are other parts of the world getting serious about reef replacement for climate-proof coastal infrastructure.

Last year, GNN reported on an Israeli team of scientists that created a method for 3D printing artificial ceramic reefs based on the dimensions of photographs of real reefs.

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‘Much Less Stressful’: London City Airport Ends Rule on Carrying Liquids in Hand Luggage

By
Andy Corbley
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London City Airport - Ewan Munro, Flickr - CC 3.0.
London City Airport – Ewan Munro, Flickr – CC 3.0.

One of the London airports has removed the 100ml limit for liquids in hand luggage, as well as the requirements to take out electronics from carry-ons, and travelers are loving it.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t down to the fact that airports realized it was a bogus security concern, but rather because they got new tomography machines that produce a 3D image of the scanned baggage rather than a 2D one.

In the east London City Airport, staff at the security lines cheerily tell everyone to keep everything in their bags—no need to pull out their see-through baggie of micro-toiletries or their laptop computer.

Recently, a journalist shoved a large carry-on bag through the mouth of the airport baggage screener, and, conditioned by more than a decade of regulations on liquid size, expected her “vats” of mouthwash, sun lotion, and hand cream, to set off an alarm and delay two dozen people behind her in the security line.

For at least some airports, this is a situation that needs never be repeated.

“It was gorgeous, a morning present,” said one passenger—Lynne Schey, who was heading for Ibiza. “I asked for a plastic bag to put things in but they said I didn’t need one. Phenomenal.”

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Guess Who’s Curating New Exhibit at Baltimore Museum of Art? Their Staff of Security Guards

That journalist, reporting for the Guardian, explains how several airports in Europe are ditching the old liquid limit, but that others still have it enforced, as well as the one for separating electronics.

“We are getting 30% more passengers through [an hour],” Alison FitzGerald, London City Airport’s COO, told the newspaper. “It’s much less stressful from a passenger point of view. The information that’s provided to the security officer is much more enhanced so the threat detection has improved significantly.”

MORE TRAVEL NEWS: Boat-Plane Hybrid That Needs No Runway Could Transform Travel from LA to San Diego, Boston to NYC

The UK has currently set a deadline of 2024 for the installation of new machines and thus the removal of the old requirements, while Australia and the Netherlands are also on that path.

For now, transit passengers should always keep an eye on airport regs, lest their liquid baggage be cleared at one port of call, and idiotically, confiscated at another.

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“The Inuit people had 52 names for snow because it was important to them. There ought to be as many for love.” – Margaret Atwood

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The Inuit people had 52 names for snow because it was important to them. There ought to be as many for love.” – Margaret Atwood

Photo by: Rachel Walker

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

Rachel Walker

Stunning Tomb With Skylights in a Carved Chamber Uncovered From the Jin Dynasty – LOOK

By
Andy Corbley
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The Tomb's north wall - credit Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences via China News Network
The Tomb’s north wall – credit Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences via China News Network

In central China, a “stunning tomb” was uncovered dating back 800 years, and built entirely by bricks to resemble the inside of a home.

Dating probably to the year 1190 CE, three individuals were found inside the tomb which was also constructed with a skylight of all things,

The 11-square-foot chamber was discovered in Yuanqu County in Shanxi Province, north-central China. Reached via a stepped passageway, the north wall of the tomb was intricately built of brick and carved with a relief of the tomb’s owner sitting for dinner at a table with his wife.

The opposite south wall is carved to resemble the inside of a house, with typically-Chinese lattice windows, and the interior wooden architecture typical of the period. In fact, as the Charlotte Observer pointed out, the whole tomb appears to be made out of wood.

The east and west walls are carved with more latticed windows and doors, as well as sculptures of wrestlers and lions.

Near the tomb ceiling, the brickwork perfectly resembles Chinese roofing beams and tiles, all of which march upward into a skylight.

MORE ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS: Archaeologists Uncover ‘Complete Roman City’ From 1,800 Years Ago in Luxor–Including Pigeon Towers

The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, which excavated the room, made no mention of why the tomb’s contents were built so as to be open for public viewing. They did say that the tomb, while typical of the period, enriches the tomb data for traditions of the Jin Dynasty—a particularly strange episode in China’s long history.

Screengrab of the tomb’s west wall – (考古小队长) Weibo

The Later Jin Dynasty royal court was made up of the descendants of a Mongol-like nomadic culture who took control of China north of Nanjing by conquering the Liao Dynasty—themselves another group of Mongol-like nomadic horsemen.

The Jin were brought down by Ghengis Kahn and his descendants, who established the Yuan Dynasty, making it four centuries running that China was ruled by barbarians from the north.

The Tomb’s north wall – credit Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences via China News Network

The Chinese being some of the greatest tomb builders in the world, the Jin Dynasty tomb found here and others like it differ substantially from the later Ming Dynasty tombs which are so famous because they mirror the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

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‘Nest Man’ of India Has Built 250,000 Homes for Sparrows–And Trains Students to Build More (LOOK)

By
Andy Corbley
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Rakesh Khatri (right) - Better India
Rakesh Khatri (right) – Better India

In the second-largest greater metropolitan area on Earth, one man’s dedication and love of the common sparrow have the potential to transform a generation of young Indians.

Rakesh Khatri, known as the “Nest Man of India,” has always found sparrows a source of “great joy” and even growing up in the bustling streets of Delhi, wherever he saw the simple seed-eating birds, he was gladened.

In an effort to make sure the sparrows of Delhi have a home in the big city, Khatri builds nests out of coconut husks, cotton, jute, rattan, and other materials, and has already hosted nest-building workshops in 3,500 schools across India, totaling more than 100,000 pupils.

“On my way to my office in south Delhi, I would see a large number of birds that would give me great joy. One day I saw a couple of men cementing the holes in the pipes where birds had taken refuge. When I told them I would file a complaint with the National Green Tribunal, they stopped immediately,” Khatri told the Guardian referring to the statutory body that deals with environmental cases.

Before the 1980s industrial boom in Delhi, Khatri’s home near a bustling marketplace was filled with sparrows. The terrace of his family house had several nests there, and his family used to wake to their pleasant chirping every morning.

More and more, the small nooks and crannies in old buildings where the sparrows would nest were disappearing, and so Khatri sought to ensure they remained welcome in Delhi by starting the Ecoroots Foundation and teaching school children to build their nests for them.

MAKING ROOM FOR NATURE: Bee Bricks That Help Thousands of Solitary Bees Are Now a Requirement for New Buildings in Brighton

His efforts, The Better India reports, have resulted in nearly half-a-million nests being made entirely of recycled or biodegradable natural materials.

“There’s no greater blessing than building a home for a sparrow whose home has been snatched by [humanity],” says the Nest Man. “We need nature, but nature doesn’t need us. If we wish to live and keep ourselves happy, then we need to work together with nature, because she supports us the most.”

WATCH the story below from Better India… 

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