All News - Page 551 of 1734 - Good News Network
Home Blog Page 551

Americans Say COVID-19 Has Given Them a Newfound Appreciation of Nature

By
Good News Network
-
Brian Mann

Nearly six in 10 Americans have a new appreciation of nature during quarantine, according to a new survey.

The poll asked 2,000 Americans about how they’re keeping their moods up in light of social-distancing measures.

58% of respondents shared they didn’t appreciate nature as much as they should have before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and their Get on Board campaign, the survey showed three-quarters of respondents are starting to feel a boost in their moods thanks to spending more time outdoors—with 66% sharing they’re doing more outdoor activities close to home.

RELATED: The Science Behind Why We Need More of the ‘Secret Sauce’ of Kindness

Six in 10 shared they’ve been able to finally take the time to explore their local communities, with local parks, trails, and lakes topping the list of new-found areas.

A time to bond

Robert Pearce

Just over half of respondents have also gone fishing during their time in quarantine, and 27% have specifically done so to boost their mental health. That this activity can be done while adhering to social distancing guidelines is also a boon for many. A quarter of those who go out with a rod also said a perk of the activity is the bond they can share with their loved ones.

With a plethora of options for outdoor activities, nearly four in 10 respondents have actually become more physically active during their time in quarantine. In fact, 32% of respondents are participating in more outdoor activities than ever.

One of the joys of this newfound appreciation of nature? It brings many people right back to happy childhood memories of being out in the open air with family.

It looks like few want to stop with their nature-based activities anytime soon: 69% of respondents are planning to incorporate more outdoor activities into their lifestyle even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

MORE: Stressed? This Study Says You Simply Need a 20-Minute ‘Nature Pill’

“We can all use a little mood boost these days,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, RBFF’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “The outdoors has lots of activities to pick from, so there’s something for everyone.”

TOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT BRING AMERICANS’ BACK TO CHILDHOOD

  1. Fishing – 37%
  2. Camping – 34%
  3. Going to the beach – 31%
  4. Going to a lake – 31%
  5. Outdoor cycling – 28%
  6. Running – 24%
  7. Going to a river – 23%
  8. Boating – 23%
  9. Flying a kite – 23%
  10. Hiking – 22%
  11. Gardening – 21%
  12. Bird watching – 17%
  13. Outdoor rock climbing – 11%
  14. Kayaking – 10%

SHARE The Results With Others Who Love To Be Out In The Fresh Air…

Tel Aviv to Become First City With Electric Road That Charges Public Transportation

By
Good News Network
-
Guy Yec

The construction of an electric road will make Tel Aviv the first city worldwide to institute the large-scale rollout of a technology that can charge vehicles as they drive.

Guy Yechiely

Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, in partnership with ElectReon and Dan Bus Company, has launched a pilot to install wireless electric roads for charging public transportation in the city.

RELATED: Downtown Sydney is Now Powered By 100% Renewable Energy Thanks to Historic Deal

The project will be carried out between Tel Aviv University Railway Station and Klatzkin Terminal in Ramat Aviv—a two-kilometer route including 600 meters of electric road.​

According to a statement, the project will enable specially equipped electric buses, capable of being charged directly from under-road electric infrastructure, to travel on the route.

This means the buses won’t need expensive, heavy batteries. They won’t need to go to charging or gas stations. When traveling along the necessary infrastructure, they’ll actually have unlimited journey times.

Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality

Following the completion of tests and integration of the technology, a Dan Bus Company electric bus will commence regular journeys on the route, serving passengers traveling to Tel Aviv University.

MORE: Eco-Friendly Behavior In This Finnish Town Gets You Free Cake

From there, the city will evaluate the possibility of additional electric transportation: including distribution trucks and private and autonomous vehicles.

The execution of the pilot project forms part of a wider municipal policy that attaches great importance to electric vehicles and reducing air pollution in the city.

The electric roads will also aid municipal efforts to reduce noise pollution in order to improve quality of life for residents and visitors to the city.

Meital Lehavi, Deputy Mayor for Transportation at Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, said, “We have no doubt that, if the wide-scale experiment is successful, it will not only benefit the public, but also save resources, improve the operational efficiency of public transportation, and maybe even a new world-class method of electrification will emanate from Tel Aviv-Yafo.”

TAKE This News To The Road And Share It With Your Pals On Social Media…

Bee Populations Are Increasing in Many States–With Maine Seeing 70% Rise in 2 Years

By
Andy Corbley
-
Matthew T Rader

It’s not often you hear good news about the health and prosperity of bee colonies in the United States or globally for that matter, but recent data collections released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that some states are experiencing growths in colony numbers of 70% or more.

Matthew T Rader

Not only was there a 14% increase in the number of honey bee colonies from the period of January 2019 to January 2020, but the states experiencing the broadest increase in colony growth—Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Maine—added tens of thousands of colonies.

Maine, the number one state for thriving bees, grew colony numbers by 73% since 2018, while Michigan also saw a 50% increase over the same period.

Between January and June 2020, Texas saw its bee population grow by 38%; between 2018-2019, it added almost 100,000 colonies, roughly totaling another 33% overall increase.

Indeed, in the first half of 2020, the United States as a whole added roughly 420,000 more colonies to its bee populations than were lost.

RELATED: Minnesota Will Pay for Your Landscaping Costs If You Plant Bee-Friendly Greenery

The New York Bee Sanctuary offers gardening and landscape practices to maintain nearby bee populations, as pollen and nectar from flowers are an important source of food for bees who could be out foraging and in need of energy.

MORE: Want to Help Bees? Leave the Dandelions Alone This Spring

Good News Network also describes in this article how there are plants—dandelions for instance—that are often treated as weeds but which also offer bees important nectar and pollen supplies. Time to start thinking about next spring’s planting?

BUZZ The Good Bee News Over To Your Friends On Social Media…

New Biodegradable Carbon-Negative Straws and Forks Are Made From Greenhouse Gases–and They Dissolve in the Sea

By
Andy Corbley
-
Newlight

A California company is employing ocean microorganisms to convert methane into physical material in order to make a line of single-use straws and cutlery.

Newlight/Restore Foodware

Newlight hopes their revolutionary technology, which Popular Science called “the most important innovation of the year,” will go a long way in removing the burden of single-use plastic straws and other takeaway food components from the ocean.

The manner in which the material, that Newlight calls “Air Carbon,” is made, comes straight from the example of nature—taking in a greenhouse gas is something co-founder and CEO Mark Herrema notes happens every day in the form of photosynthesis in plants. Since 2003, the company has been wondering if it were possible to harness that action.

Underwater, however, microorganisms don’t merely dine on CO2, but more powerful greenhouse gases like methane as well.

Harvesting methane from an abandoned mine in California, engineers at Newlight add the gas to a tank containing 15,000 gallons of seawater and millions of microbes.

RELATED: These Scientists Are Fighting Ocean Plastic With Biodegradable Flip Flops Made From Algae

The microbes consumed the methane and turned it into a meltable energy source inside themselves, which Newlight promptly extracted and dried into a fine white powder that’s dishwasher-safe, carbon-negative, and ocean-degradable.

Form and Function

Newlight has been able to generate a line of hyper-sustainable products; the aforementioned flatware and straws, but also fashion products.

CHECK OUT: BeyondPlastic Awards For Innovative Packaging: Bags that Melt When Boiled and Sustainable Toothpaste Tube

Covalent makes a line of wallets and sunglasses out of the same Air Carbon material, neutralizing the greenhouse gases associated with the production of leather and synthetic materials with the special carbon-negative ocean-born material, eliminating greenhouse gasses in every stage of the value chain.

Meanwhile, Restore Foodware, dissolves in seawater like cellulose, which actually provides food to everything from microorganisms to fish.

Their line of cocktail and jumbo straws along with takeaway flatware won Technology Pioneer Award from the World Economic Forum.

The cutlery and fashion items are available for pre-order—with shipping estimated to begin by October 30 as production ramps up at a new facility in Southern California.

The people at Newlight feel that the unique way in which Air Carbon is made infuses a bit of the earth and humanity into our day-to-day lives, and can represent the circular economy in a meaningful way.

MORE: This Vending Machine Refills Cleaning Products—Reining in Plastic And Saving You Money

The methane born of human productivity goes to feed nature’s microbes that create a product which we can then use in our homes again; the cycle concludes after it returns to the ocean, whose waters it and ourselves also emerged from, to breakdown and feed the life which produces the material once again.

INFLUENCE Your Friends to See Eco-Friendly Items Anew – SHARE On Social Media…

“Stubbornness usually is considered a negative; but I think that trait has been a positive for me.” – Cal Ripken, Jr. (Iron Man of baseball)

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “Stubbornness usually is considered a negative; but I think that trait has been a positive for me.” – Cal Ripken, Jr. (‘Iron Man’ of baseball)

Photo: by SwapnIl Dwivedi

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?

 

5-Year-old Sends Baby Yoda Mascot to Keep California Firefighters Company

By
Judy Cole
-

In “The Mandalorian,” Baby Yoda (a.k.a “the Child”) has a habit of popping up in places where grown men fear to tread and facing danger head-on with a wisdom beyond his years.

Perhaps it was the outsized courage of the diminutive Disney hero that inspired one big-hearted little boy to tap the foot-tall green toddler from a galaxy far away for a perilous but crucial assignment.

When Carver and his grandmother, Sasha Tinning, were putting together supplies to send to first responders battling California’s latest outbreak of wildfires, the 5-year-old spotted a solitary plush toy Baby Yoda sitting on a shelf.

Whether he truly understood the exhausting emotional toll tirelessly fighting the devastating infernos was taking on fire crews, the 5-year-old’s course of action was immediately clear.

That’s because, like Baby Yoda, Carver is also wise beyond his years. “I have always wanted to help and uplift anyone that’s around me. And this really was a bright spot in a dark time I wanted to share with everyone,” he told KSAT.

RELATED: Australian Firefighters Use NYC Billboard to Thank Americans for Their Help With the Fires

Along with his grandmother’s help and a handwritten note that read:

“Thank you, firefighters. Here is a friend for you, in case you get lonely <3 Love, Carver”

Carver sent Baby Yoda on a mission of comfort and care to the front lines.

Sporting a jaunty stars-and-stripes headband, the alien mascot has since traveled to the sites of numerous West Coast hot spots, bringing solace to the brave women and men battling the blazes there.

Highlights of his exploits have even been chronicled on his own ‘Baby Yoda fights fires’ Facebook page.

While Star Wars fans may be most familiar with Yoda’s famous refrain, “a Jedi’s strength flows from the force,” the astute Jedi Master also believed, “truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.”

MORE: Watch the Adorable Moment a Little Girl in Star Wars Costume Gets to Meet Her Hero BB-8 Droid in Real Life

One thing we know for certain—the force is strong with Carver.

HELP Your Friends ‘Feel The Force’ And Share This Story With Them…

Planned Reality TV Show Wants to Launch the Winner to the International Space Station

By
Good News Network
-

If you’ve ever had dreams of going into space, you might just want to apply for the upcoming reality show “Space Hero.”

The grand prize? A seat on a 2023 mission to the International Space Station.

NASA

According to a statement from Space Hero Inc., the US-based production company developing the unscripted show, the premise is to “search the entire globe for an everyday citizen with a deep love for space exploration.”

RELATED: NASA’s Historic New International Agreements Set Stage for Peaceful and Cooperative Future of Space Exploration

“Budding astronauts will be put through rigorous testing and procedures, challenging their physical, mental and emotional strength,” explains Hypebeast.

The winning candidate will receive full training from Axiom Space Inc.—a full-service human spaceflight mission provider and manufacturer of the world’s first privately funded commercial space station—before lifting off to to spend 10 days alongside professional astronauts traveling at 17,000 miles an hour while orbiting the Earth 16 times a day.

The production company is currently in discussions with NASA for a potential partnership including potential STEM initiatives. And anyone from any background is invited to become the “first globally-elected space explorer to take part in a mission to the International Space Station.”

Chairman of Space Hero Inc. Marty Pompadur said: “Space Hero is about opening space up to everyone – not only to astronauts and billionaires.”

MORE: Need Some Inspiration to Follow Your Dreams? Meet the Man Who Spent 8 Years Building His Own Spacesuit

Creator and Founding Partner, Thomas Reemer, added, “We see the world changing in front of our eyes. In times like these we yearn to look up to people for the right reasons, so it’s time to look amongst ourselves to find the heroes that will inspire a bright future.”

SHARE Details Of This Far Out Show With Pals Who’d Love To Go To Space…

This Rat Sniffs For Landmines In Cambodia–And Has Just Won A Gold Medal For His Life-Saving Work

By
Good News Network
-
- credit, PDSA released

A landmine detection rat, whose work in Cambodia has transformed the lives of the country’s citizens, has been awarded the gold medal from a UK charity for his life-saving bravery and devotion to duty.

PDSA

Magawa is an African giant pouched rat, trained to detect landmines by the international non-profit APOPO.

He has discovered 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance to date, making him the charity’s most successful ‘hero rat’.

During his career he has helped clear over 141,000 square meters of land (the equivalent of twenty football pitches), making that land safe for local people again.

Magawa was formally presented with his miniature Gold Medal from veterinary charity The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) via a live link between Cambodia and Great Britain last week.

He is the first rat in the charity’s 77-year history of honoring animals to receive a PDSA Medal—joining a line-up of brave dogs, horses, pigeons, and a cat.

PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin, gave a statement as to why Magawa won the award: [His] work directly saves and changes the lives of men, women and children who are impacted by these landmines. Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death for local people.

HeroRAT Magawa was trained in Tanzania by APOPO to detect the chemical compound within explosives and alert human deminers to its presence.

RELATED: A Lost Pup Has Become the Official Mascot of Joy For Thousands in Rohingya Refugee Camp

So how are rats like Magawa trained to do such important work? The same way you might train a puppy: through clicker training. Christophe Cox, CEO of APOPO, explained: “During training [the rats] hear a ‘click’ and receive a tasty food reward for finding the correct target scent.”

Because Magawa completely ignores any scrap metal lying around, he is much faster at finding landmines than the conventional method of using a metal detector.

Magawa can search the area of a tennis court in thirty minutes—something that would take a human with a metal detector up to four days to achieve. That’s impressive indeed.

MORE: This Affectionate Dog is Bringing So Much Joy To Firefighters Battling California’s Blazes

Congratulations to Magawa, and his trainers, for the recognition they’re receiving for their vital work.

(WATCH Magawa’s amazing story in the PDSA video below.)

GIVE A Big Cheer To Magawa By Sharing This Story On Social Media… 

With EV Battery Prices Dropping 87% in a Decade, Tesla is Now Making a Car That Will Cost $25,000

By
Andy Corbley
-

Elon Musk, the enigmatic CEO of Tesla announced at the company’s annual shareholder meeting that they would begin manufacturing their own battery packs in order to drive the cost down sufficiently to be able to sell a Tesla car for no more than $25,000.

Tesla S road photo
Tesla S

Musk said the car would come to market in about three years following the ramp up in production of its new battery and cell, and that it would be “fully autonomous.”

The cost of lithium-ion batteries has already gone down a huge amount in recent years. According to BloombergNEF, the inflation-adjusted average price of battery packs for Tesla cars has dropped from $1,160/kWh in 2010 to $156/kWh in 2019. That means batteries are already around 87% cheaper than they were a decade ago.

Saying that, the Model 3, currently Tesla’s cheapest car, still starts at $38,000, limiting its appeal to those concerned about cutting emissions but without such levels of disposable income.

Speeding the transition from fossil fuels in cars won’t be possible until the lower price brackets of the automotive sector are reached, which in turn can’t be done until battery technology becomes that bit cheaper.

RELATED: Tesla’s Record-Breaking Mega Battery, Installed on a Bet, Saves Australia $40 Million in Its First Year

Well-loved by owners and driving enthusiasts, Tesla’s success with its range of electric cars recently catapulted it past several milestones, including producing the most sold electric car in history, and one of the world’s most valuable automotive stocks.

Musk’s Grand Plan

As an article in Wired describes Musk as one to “never over-promise or under-deliver,” the 2023 deadline for a $25,000 Tesla is possible, but it’s forcing him to reduce costs of battery production everywhere he can find them.

Market forces, such as supply and demand and laissez faire trade policy, can quickly drive down the cost of products. Classic examples of these forces in action can be found in our memories from when we were younger, when plasma TVs cost $4,000 and mobile phone calls ran up $2 per minute.

The same effects have driven the costs of producing electric car batteries down over recent years, as makers invest in research and development to satisfy consumer demands for common complaints like range and charging time.

To drive costs down even further, Musk is bringing battery production home from Japan and China, where Tesla’s battery packs and cells are currently made, by opening a lithium and cathode plant in North America.

MORE: Tesla Becomes World’s First EV Company to Assemble 1 Million Cars

This will drop travel expenses, lowering the cost of battery production to around a level where a $25,000 car becomes possible.

POWER Up The Positivity By Sharing The Good News On Social Media…

Drug Actually Repairs Nerve Damage, Giving Scientists Hope For Future MS Treatment

By
Andy Corbley
-
Geralt, CC license

In a recent phase 2 clinical trial, the cancer drug bexarotene was found to regenerate the myelin sheath—the target of the autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis, or MS.

A protective lipid layer around nerves in the brain and spinal cord, the myelin sheath is targeted by immune cells incorrectly in patients with MS, resulting in the disease’s symptoms of neurodegeneration and disability.

The trial showed that bexarotene was able to effectively “remyelinate” the damaged nerves, placing scientists on the path towards a possible treatment.

Professor Alasdair Coles from the University of Cambridge said of the research, funded by a £250,000 grant for the MS Society UK, “The lessons we’ve learned are incredibly exciting, as we now have further concrete evidence that remyelination in humans is possible.

“This discovery gives us confidence that we will stop MS, and will swiftly be taken forward into further studies trialling other potential new myelin repair treatments.”

RELATED: After Her Years of Research, a Cambridge Scientist Could Be on the Verge of Curing Multiple Sclerosis

The reason new myelin repair treatments would be necessary is because the drug, normally meant for cancer patients, created some serious side effects, like elevated blood lipids and thyroid disease and therefore cannot be used as a treatment.

Geralt, CC license

Co-investigator Professor Siddharthan Chandran from the University of Edinburgh felt this is a step forward, first because myelin repair is now confirmed as possible, and also because the properties of bexarotene could be examined to find future drug candidates that don’t have serious side effects.

“We now understand much more about myelin repair and are in a significantly better position to measure remyelination in clinical trials,” said Chandran. “While this work was taking place, further lab research identified new and more tolerable treatments that could repair myelin, and we look forward to these being tested in trials imminently.”

Around 100,000 people in the UK live with MS, and in the U.S. that number is closer to one million, so the MS Society is not relying on just the bexarotene trials, but is also launching a Phase 2 clinical trial based on 2019 research demonstrating that a combination of the diabetes drug Metformin and an antihystamine called Clemastine also led to regeneration of a myelin sheath damaged by MS.

“Metformin is one of the most exciting developments in myelin repair we have ever seen. Our findings last year shed light on why cells lose their ability to regenerate myelin, and how this process might be reversed,” said Professor Robin Franklin, also from Cambridge, who led the 2019 study. “We’re very proud to have done this work and thrilled to see our discovery taken forward so quickly.”

MORE: JK Rowling Funds MS Research With Whopping $18 Million Donation to Honor Her Mother

The new Metformin/Clemastine trial will be led by Franklin and Coles—a dynamic duo of MS researchers; their work will hopefully lead to the MS Society’s goal of developing a verified treatment of the disease by 2025.

PASS On The Hope and Share This Story With Your Friends… 

“The more one judges the less one loves.” – Nicolas Chamfort

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “The more one judges the less one loves.” – Nicolas Chamfort

Photo: by C.Valdez

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?

 

Stunning Aerial Video of Iceland’s Green Volcano Can Soothe Your Lockdown Stress

By
Good News Network
-

Iceland’s flagship airline Icelandair is welcoming visitors back to the island nation with a breathtaking aerial look at some of the country’s most awe-inspiring spots.

The videos, which include scenes of fjords, canyons, and a green volcano, are accompanied by audio narration that describes the geology and wonder.

With the Aurora Borealis spotting season running from October-April in Iceland, the airline is keen to provide inspiration for your next vacation—or just for those who are looking for some escapism from the comfort of their own homes.

RELATED: Stunning ‘Bubble Hotel’ Under the Icelandic Stars is Truly the Perfect ‘Socially Distancing’ Destination

Below, check out the haunting vision of a green volcano—our favorite among the videos.

“Casting a striking figure against a barren black sand desert, moss-covered Mælifell is a crowning jewel in the Icelandic highlands. Its iconic cone is covered in grimmia – a moss that grows specifically on cooled lava.”

The the mountain is at its emerald-colored best the morning after a rainy day, as it was on the day of filming.

SHARE The Awe-Inspiring Footage With Friends on Social Media…

Customer Raises Huge $12K Tip to Give His Favorite 89-Year-old Pizza Deliveryman –Watch The Tearful Surprise

By
Judy Cole
-

Carlos Valdez and his wife love pineapple on their pizza. It’s the couple’s standing order from Papa John’s in Roy, Utah—but along with their topping of choice, Carlos and his wife always requested that the pies be brought to them by their favorite deliveryman, Derlin Newey.

At 89 years old, Newey is a lot older than your average pizza delivery dude, yet the Valdezes fell in love with the senior citizen’s positive attitude and his cheerful catchphrase, “Hello, are you looking for some pizza?”

The Valezes were so taken by Newey’s charming manner, they started filming Newey’s dapper deliveries and posting them to their TikTok video feed. Soon enough, he became something of a senior sensation with their 53,000 followers.

But as much as people loved Newey’s charisma, a lot their feedback expressed concern that an elderly man was still spending so many hours on the job.

With that in mind, the Valzezes decided to reach out to their fans in hopes of raising a little money to help Newey out.

The response was off the hook.

WATCH: Couple Leaves a $2020 Tip That Shocks This Single Mom Waitress During a ‘2020 Tip Challenge’

“Collectively as a TikTok community, we all came together, and we were able to raise $12,000 for this amazing person,” Valdez told KLS.

This past Tuesday, Newey got a surprise delivery at his own home. Valdez showed up at his door with a t-shirt that read ‘Hello, are you looking for some pizza?’ in one hand—and a check for $12,069 in the other. (Watch the moment below…)

The former ski champion, who was working as many as 30 hours a week to supplement his Social Security, was overcome with emotion by the generosity of so many strangers. “How do I ever say thank you? I don’t know what to say,” Newey told Deseret News.

For his part, Valdez was thrilled to be able to give something back to a man who’d delivered so much joy to those around him just by being himself. “This couldn’t have gone any better,” Valdez said.

POPULAR: After Weeks of Struggling to Make Ends Meet, Hair Stylist Surprised With $2,500 Tip From Walk-in Customer

“He needed this. I’m just glad we could help him. We just need to treat people with kindness and respect the way he does. He stole our hearts.”

On the great, big pizza of life, it’s hard to top that.

WATCH his reaction in the KSL video below… (Screenshot courtesy of KSL / YouTube)

TOP Your Social Media Feed With Kindness – SHARE This!

World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Passenger Plane Lifts Off On Maiden Zero-Emissions Flight

By
Good News Network
-
ZeroAvia retrofitted Piper hydrogen plane takes off

The world just got one step closer to zero-emission aviation this week as ZeroAvia completed the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft.

Partly-funded through the UK Government, the flight in Cranfield, England used 4lbs 6 oz of hydrogen fuel and reached an altitude of 1000 feet.

With its Piper six-seat plane, ZeroAvia’s achievement is the first step to realizing the transformational possibilities of moving from fossil fuels to zero-emission hydrogen as the primary energy source for commercial aviation.

“Eventually, and without any new fundamental science required, hydrogen-powered aircraft will match the flight distances and payload of current fossil fuel aircrafts,” the company said in a statement.

RELATED: JetBlue Going Carbon-Neutral in 2020 On All Domestic Flights—The First Major US Airline to Do So

This major milestone on the road to commercial zero-emission flight is part of the HyFlyer project, a research program supported by the UK Government and follows the UK’s first ever commercial-scale battery-electric flight, conducted in the same aircraft in June.

ZeroAvia retrofitted Piper hydrogen plane takes off

ZeroAvia will now turn its attention to the next and final stage of its six-seat development program—a 250-mile zero emission flight before the end of the year. The demonstration of this range is roughly equivalent to busy major routes such as Los Angeles to San Francisco or London to Edinburgh.

MORE: World’s First Commercial Electric Airplane Successfully Completes Test Flight in Canada

“It’s hard to put into words what this means to our team, but also for everybody interested in zero-emission flight,” said CEO Val Miftakhov. “While some experimental aircraft have flown using hydrogen fuel cells as a power source, the size of this commercially available aircraft shows that paying passengers could be boarding a truly zero-emission flight very soon.”

Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi said, “Developing aircraft that create less pollution will help the UK make significant headway in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It shows that technologies to clean up air travel are now at our fingertips – with enormous potential to build back better and drive clean economic growth.”

CHECK Out: Watch Toddler’s Overjoyed Reaction Inside Airplane Doing Loops and Rolls

Based in London and California, the company plans to control hydrogen fuel production and supply for its powertrains, and other commercial customers, substantially reducing the fuel availability and pricing risks for the entire market, a “novel approach” that removes many limitations of the current zero emission programs.

HELP This Fantastic News Take Off – SHARE On Social Media…

Getting to Know Neighbors Will Get Easier As H&R Block and Nextdoor Fund 10 Projects to Reduce Isolation

By
Good News Network
-

H&R Block and Nextdoor announced this week that they have chosen 10 community projects to fund, specifically designed to build more resilient communities, reduce social isolation, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods.

In January 2020, the two companies launched a nationwide search calling on neighbors to submit projects that would revitalize or create local spaces to provide more opportunities for connection. Little did they realize how crucial this philanthropy would become.

Within months, COVID-19 had isolated communities, making this mission all the more compelling, especially for peoples’ mental health.

More than 2,000 project ideas were submitted by Americans in 50 states.

The 10 selected neighborhoods will soon see these visions become a reality. Located in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, the projects will all be built using materials and labor sourced from local businesses.

RELATED: Neighborhood Has Been Staying Connected During Social Distancing With Creative ‘I Spy’ Game

“Given how unprecedented times have been, it was exciting to read so many ideas from neighbors on how we could help improve the spaces around them in order to increase conversations and meaningful connections,” said Jeff Jones, president and CEO of H&R Block.

In Green Valley, AZ, they will be constructing a communal space at a community garden for residents to step out of the sun and form better neighbor-to-neighbor relations, an idea submitted by Kim Barney.

In Oakland, CA, a beloved community recreation center will be restored for neighbors to have a safe and beautiful place to connect, which was suggested by Maribel Lopez.

In Miami, FL, plant sanctuaries will be created at a local library for residents to learn about community gardening—submitted by Mary Benton.

In Acworth, GA, construction will begin on a gazebo, picnic tables, and a community garden for relaxing and growing healthy food for families in need, envisioned by resident by Gisele Butker.

SWEET: When Sick 3-Year-old is Quarantined, People Begin Showing Up at His Window to Entertain Him

In Kuna, ID, they will be upgrading youth baseball and softball fields, fulfilling a wish by Daniel Edralin.

In Topeka, KS, they will be transforming an empty alley into a pollinator garden to beautify an outdoor space for neighbors, to make Mike Spadafore’s vision a reality.

In Detroit, MI, Latisha Johnson wanted to help others, and will see a community closet built from recycled shipping containers to provide free clothing, household, and personal items to residents in need.

Likewise, in Buffalo, NY, a community garden will be constructed so neighbors can grow plants for contributing food to the local food pantry, while meeting neighbors, a request from Susan Bradbury.

In Cincinnati, OH, they will be building a muralled crosswalk to safely connect a community garden with a local elementary school, an idea from Gary Dangel.

And, in Philadelphia, PA, they will be upgrading courts and sports equipment at a local recreation center that emphasizes inclusive programs—a project submitted by Laura Lucas.

POPULAR: When Man Got Sick of Trash and Crime, He Bought Buddha Statue for the Street—and Transformed the Neighborhood

To view details on the selected projects and involvement from local organizations and small businesses, visit the nomination website.

SEND Kudos to These Neighbors and Companies – Share on Social Media…

“The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.” – Tony Schwartz

By
Good News Network
-

Quote of the Day: “The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.” – Tony Schwartz

Photo: by Rupert Britton

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?

 

Floater Wetsuit Helps People Overcome Their Fear of Water

By
Good News Network
-
Donna Mudge

A wetsuit called the Floater is getting people in the water after decades of living in fear.

Traditionally, there are flotation belts, but they can be difficult to use with a tricky center of gravity that can leave the wearer face down. Life jackets often ride up on the neck and can be uncomfortable and bulky.

Donna Mudge, a resident of Santa Barbara, needed something special to conquer her fear. Now in her mid-fifties, she never learned to swim. “Every time I was swimming, I feared that I would sink. And when I panicked, I would sink,” said Mudge.

Swimming lessons from a lifeguard friend did little to alleviate Mudge’s fear. After one bad incident in the deep end during her swimming lessons, Mudge said, “I gripped the edge of the pool so tight, my friend couldn’t get me to let go.”

Since then, the flotation wetsuit by Airtime Watertime has taken away her doubts about swimming in deep water.

“I felt I could get in the water without someone watching me,” said Mudge, who now has the confidence to go boogie boarding by herself for the first time ever.

Donna Mudge

Invented by surfer and entrepreneur Mark Okrusko, the Floater wetsuit keeps people buoyant with a patented flotation panel in the chest, which was first developed to give people confidence about being in the water.

“All wetsuits may look similar; however, the Airtime Watertime wetsuit stands, or floats, above the rest because of the added flotation in the front panel.” said Okrusko.

RELATED: This Cheap, Amphibious, 3D-Printed Prosthetic Means That Amputees Can Now Enjoy the Water Without Stress

Sandra Brodeur of Nashua, New Hampshire, has also overcome her fear of water. For as long as she can remember, Brodeur always feared not being able to touch the bottom, which made it difficult to learn to swim. “I tried everything—including private lessons, and could never get over the panic when I couldn’t touch the bottom of a pool or ocean floor,” said Brodeur.

Then her boyfriend, an avid sailor, wanted to take her to the British Virgin Islands for a sailing and snorkeling vacation. “He found the Floater wetsuit online and we ordered one. I felt so safe and confident at all times from the buoyancy of the suit that for the first time in my life I could relax in the water and enjoy it. At times, I was in 30-40 feet of water without fear! To me, that is a miracle.” said Brodeur.

“People write to us all the time about how they can now do activities in the water they never felt confident to do before, from children to young adults to seniors,” said Ruth Wishengrad, VP of the company.

The suit is also helping first-time snorkelers. Lisa Robinson, a resident of Los Angeles had never snorkeled before until she bought the Floater wetsuit. “I had my husband’s 50th birthday coming up and I wanted so desperately to snorkel with him on his birthday trip in Hawaii,” said Robinson.

Lisa Robinson

It didn’t take long for Robinson to gain confidence. “I practiced swimming in the suit for about 2 hours in the hotel pool. The next morning, I got on a boat all dressed in my Airtime Watertime floating suit with all the confidence of a seasoned swimmer. I jumped off the side of the boat into the Pacific Ocean and began to swim. It was the most beautiful life experience I have ever had.”

POPULAR: Father Uses Scuba Therapy to Restore His Paralyzed Son’s Motor Function—And Now It’s Doing the Same for Others

Moreover, due to the Floater’s buoyancy, Robinson feels she can enjoy all water activities without fear. “Because of the Airtime Watertime Floater, at 50 years old…I no longer have to sit on the edge of the pool and wish to be in the water. I can now enjoy the pool in my backyard and share the experience of snorkeling with my husband. Because of this suit, my life has been changed forever…I feel like water is no longer a limitation for me.”

“To swim or not to swim” that WAS the question.

The Airtime Watertime floater is sold at their website, and you can use a coupon code GNN2020 for a 10% discount on your order.

WATCH the company video…

SHARE With Someone Who Has Always Wanted to Swim…

How Going Back to School is Changing American Kids’ Eating Habits

By
Good News Network
-
Zoya Gervis / SWNS

It’s a year for change, and seven in 10 American parents say they are radically changing their approach to kid’s lunches and snacks this school year, according to a new survey.

Half of the parents say they’re using “back to school” as a way to get their kids back to healthy eating, as a way to backtrack all the comfort food they fed their little ones when the pandemic and virtual school began.

The study of 2,000 parents of school-aged children conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Sabra aimed to discover just how parents are approaching the new school year in these unique times and uncovered 79% say they are stocking up on food differently than they did in the spring.

With the hopes of getting their kids to live healthier this school year, 78% of parents will plan on bringing some semblance of normalcy to their kids’ school days by pre-planning their snacks and lunches whether they are in the classroom or in virtual school.

Many feel their kids will have better choices at home than they do at school (50%) The reality is, 72% say their kids tend to eat healthier at home.

RELATED: Bone Broth Strengthens Immunity, Body, and Joints, And You Don’t Need To Spend A Bunch To Make It

With new respect for school cafeteria workers, 64% complain they are dreading becoming the ‘lunch lady’ at home. Maybe because nearly three in four caregivers (73%) say they will be limiting their kids’ sugar intake.

Zoya Gervis / SWNS

Some of the snack items they will buy include granola bars (36%), trail mix (34%), hummus (33%), and veggie chips (33%).

“Many are seeking to reduce sugar intake and boost plant-based food consumption and stocking up on fruits, nuts and quick, kid-friendly foods like hummus,” said Jason Levin, Sabra CMO.

“We’ve teamed with plant-based TikTok sensation Tabitha Brown who took over our social platforms to share easy, kid-friendly recipes to help rescue those ‘lunch ladies’ at home,” continued Levine.

RELATED: Parents Reveal Their Top 10 Sneaky Techniques for Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables

Maintaining structure for kids is so important for parents because they find their kids are better behaved (53%), they are able to focus more on their schoolwork (69%) and they tend to sleep better (48%) when they have a set routine they consistently follow.

So, four in five plan on scheduling their kids’ days from beginning to end—including mealtime.

POPULAR: These are the 3 Most Promising Longevity Supplements From Scientific Research So Far

Tennessee High School Students Collect 10K Face Masks For Those in Need, Sharing Advice For Other Youth

By
Good News Network
-

A group of Tennessee High school students, led by Ben Beard, set out to make a difference during the COVID-19 crisis by collecting over 10 thousand masks for anyone who can’t afford to buy them.

By Ben Beard (right)

Beard and Ty Anderson, like so many of their classmates who were making college plans, had their lives turned upside down when COVID struck their city of Nashville.

“We were all working hard on our academics, looking for ways to volunteer in our communities and have well-rounded college resumes. Then everything came to a halt,” Ben told GNN.

But adversity actually spurred Ben to a new level. “I was actively searching for ways that I could give back to our community. Not just play the game of looking good for college. Sometimes it’s hard at our age to really make a difference. When the coronavirus hit, I knew this was a way I could mobilize fellow students to make a big impact.”

“When I heard about the mandatory mask mandates, although probably a necessary measure to keep everyone healthy and protect those at high risk in densely-populated areas, I knew that purchasing the masks was going to put a lot of stress on people who were already struggling.”

POPULAR: Positive COVID-19 Trends Emerge in August Across Much of the US, and Elsewhere

The friends then discovered the organization Mask Now TN that was distributing masks to underprivileged populations and essential workers. Their need for donations was huge.

Selected as Williamson County Entrepreneurship and Innovation students, the pair led the charge, motivating and equipping fellow high schoolers at Independence High School to gather donations through online fliers posted to social media pages. Then they set up collection boxes.

“Everyone we reached out to in Williamson County were just so generous,” Ty said. “We cannot thank them enough.”

RELATED: Hair Stylists Infected With COVID-19 Were Wearing Masks Along With Their 140 Clients—Tests Prove No One Got Sick

The effort took about a month and a half to organize with Mask Now TN, but once they began accepting donations it was only three weeks before they hit their goal of 10,000.

“Getting our eyes off of our own problems and finding a way to help others who have just had it so much harder than we have through this whole crisis has been so empowering for us as students,” said Ben’s younger brother, Andrew, who joined the team.

Anderson says the biggest obstacle was building trust with people, once they pivoted to monetary donations to buy masks wholesale. They created an official email and promised to send updates on the purchase and delivery of all the masks.

Although the fundraiser was a great adventure, at times the kids felt overwhelmed—but they learned a lot and have advice for other youth who want to make a difference.

“Though it may seem daunting at first, it is not really that hard to start a project like this as a teenager,” Beard says. “Once you get over the hump of starting out, if you have a good idea that will genuinely help your community, people will get behind you and everything else will fall into place.”

RELATED: Scuba Diving Group Swamped With Orders for Its Face Masks Made From Recycled Ocean Plastic

When asked if she had any advice for fellow teens, Siler Blackburn, who also joined the core fundraising team, summed it all up, “The world might be different right now. But we can still work to make it a better place.”

This is just one of many positive stories and updates that are coming out of the COVID-19 news coverage. For more uplifting news on the outbreaks, click here.

SHARE The Idea And Advice With Young People on Social Media…

The City of Berlin Now Runs a Department Store That Sells All Recycled Goods

By
Michael Goonan
-
SenUVK

In an effort to topple the “throw away culture,” and promote re-use and repair, the city of Berlin has taken the unique step of opening its own secondhand department store.

This isn’t your grandma’s thrift shop. It resells perfectly good items from retail outlets that would otherwise be thrown away.

SenUVK

A pun on the German words for “department store” and “conserving house”, B-Wa(h)renhaus sells a wide variety of products, including clothing, furniture, cell phones and other electronics.

Far from simply selling old junk “as is,” the electronic goods have been fixed by expert technicians and come with a one year warranty.

And, to reach beyond the normal demographic of secondhand shoppers, the store was erected right in the middle of the famous Karstadt department store.

POPULAR: This California Highway Has Just Become the First State Road Made From Recycled Plastic in the US

With the success of its initial six-month trial run on the third floor of that store, the city plans to open four more similar operations in other parts of Berlin. By 2030, it hopes to have at least one location in each of Berlin’s 12 boroughs.

These stores are just the latest addition to Berlin’s impressive sustainability resume. Since 2008, city policies and educational campaigns have reduced average annual household waste by about 25 pounds (11kg) per resident. It also recycles about 49% of its mineral construction waste—such as brick and concrete.

Kai Branss

Currently, the city estimates that 8% of discarded electronic goods and 6% of bulky items thrown away can actually be re-used. The goal is to expand the market for these items beyond the usual bargain hunters and eco-conscious consumers.

RELATED: Sweden Opens World’s First Mall for Repaired and Recycled Goods

“Three years ago, we started collecting all kinds of used goods that people have in their cellars or attics,” city spokesperson Dorothee Winden told Bloomberg CityLab. “Things that are well-preserved and functioning but aren’t being used anymore. The goal is to give these things a new life with somebody who can use them.”

The stores also include an education center inside the store to encourage more sustainable lifestyles—and also gave an award (pictured above) to a project that recycled school uniforms, so that parents don’t have to buy new ones every year.

The green enterprise has also connected the Berlin City Homeless Mission with online apparel retailers that provide clothing which has been returned to them and cannot be re-sold.

SHARE The Green Success To Inspire More Cities to do it!

1...550551552...1,734Page 551 of 1,734
© Copyright 1997–2026 GNN, LLC