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This App Shows You When Your California Power is Renewable to Create More Responsible Device Usage

By
Andy Corbley
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The world’s largest marketplace of exclusively refurbished electronic products, takes pride in its mission to reduce carbon consumption stemming from the production of new tablets and smartphones—and now, increasingly more, the amount of energy they use recharging every night.

BackMarket.com has now produced an Android widget called CO₂NSCIOUS, that allows users to track the Californian power grid operation so they can avoid emitting more CO2 than is necessary.

Why would it be important to track the operation statistics of power centers for the average 3 hour-per-week smartphone user? That’s because unlike the grids of decades past, 2020 finds the baseline power for California split between a variety of power sources, such as nuclear, solar, natural gas, etc.

But the grid isn’t using all sources at the same time, or in equal amounts, and at certain periods of the day or night the electricity coming out of your walls might be made up of substantially more renewables or inversely, fossil fuels, than during other hours.

RELATED: This Kindness App Pairs People With Problems to Neighbors Who Have the Specific Solution

CO₂NSCIOUS gives you a breakdown of which of those sources are providing what percentage of power at any given moment, allowing you to charge up your devices during green energy periods, and avoiding doing so at during periods of high fossil fuel input.

While this might seem like an unremarkable subject of focus, academic research complied in a report called The Cloud Begins with Coal, revealed the extent of our power usage. Although charging a single tablet or smartphone requires a negligible amount of electricity, if you use them to stream an HD show for one hour per week, the total amount of energy used in the network operations over one year is more than two refrigerators would use during that time.

Already growing at exponentially faster rates, modeling by Lotfi et al. from the Booth School of Engineering, Canada, estimates that the information communications tech field could be responsible for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a little less than the global agriculture sector, but with far fewer carbon-offsets.

MORE: Answering Trivia Questions With This App Can Pay Off Other People’s Student Loans

“The goal of this widget isn’t to say that this or that energy is better than another, because today, there is no perfectly ‘clean’ source of energy,” explains Vianney Vaute, co-founder of Back Market. “And we are aware that CO2 emissions are just one criteria among many others.”

Co2nscious Screenshot

“What is at stake for us is to create awareness around the environmental impact of the small gestures that make up our daily routines—even something as simple as charging a smartphone.”

CHECK OUT: Most People Don’t Get Enough Vitamin D, But This App Can Fix That

The widget will be live and available for a month in a proof of concept model, after which Back Market are placing the open source code online ad gratis, for free, so that anyone who wants to adopt the concept for their own city, state, or firm, can do so.

Available until April 15th, CO₂NSCIOUS uses Electricitymap.org data, and pairs it with models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change about how much CO2 is produced realistically from each source of power in various places, to produce a real-time chart of what sources are being used, and how much carbon they are creating, in an area, though the app only has data on California.

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How to Be Happier During COVID: Decades of Science Shows That Gratitude, Love, and Connection Can Save Your Life

By
Andy Corbley
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Brooke Cagle

With no vaccine or drug that reduces symptoms readily available to help the body combat COVID-19, social distancing and self-isolating is one of the most effective measures of prevention to ensure that hospitals don’t become overwhelmed with sick patients.

But the methods most readily available to help reduce the stress and anxiety resulting from seriously difficult times—an embracing hug, seeing friends, or visiting parents or grandparents—are exactly the things we’re told not to do.

There are other options, however—and over 50 years of documented research suggests that we can reduce symptoms of anxiety, and even physical pain responses, by doing them.

In a meta-analysis looking at a half-century of research, scientist found that both the act of smiling and seeing smiles can actually make people happier. Try it right now for yourself.

In another pilot study, scientists confirmed that altruistic acts—like charitable actions towards neighbors or strangers, altruistic giving, or donating blood—can actually reduce the physical sensations related to pain.

Written in Our Biology

The Washington Post reminds us that before we had tools or the intelligence to invent them, our earliest ancestors had teamwork and social groups. We have evolved over millions of years to be close to the people we love, to hold them, hear their voice, and perform tasks together.

When we are isolated from other humans, hormonal changes, typical of a crouching hunter on the plains of Africa in the dawn of humanity, take over in our brain; mainly to prepare us for danger. Norepinephrine, associated with the fight or flight response, but also inflammation, increases.

CHECK OUT: Doing Something Nice For Others Can Immediately Relieve Sensations of Physical and Mental Pain, Says New Study

Inflammation helps to heal wounds, but has also been shown to exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

But being alone and isolated doesn’t mean you’re at the mercy of your biology—it can also work in your favor. Scientists from the University of Arizona found in an examination of 102 people that simply thinking about romantic partners reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and general feelings of sadness—as much as if the person were actually in the room!

Being Close Without Being Close

The scope of the COVID-19 impact in the United States, particularly in New York City is being compared with that of World War II, or for younger folks, the September 11th attacks.

But the differences between these tribulations were noted by Tim Dillon, a former NYC tour bus guide turned famous stand-up comedian. On a recent episode of his podcast, The Tim Dillon Show, “You could be together, you could hug each other, kiss people on the cheek; … You could go out and eat pumpkin muffins and talk about how many bombs we were going to drop on the evil-doers.”

RELATED: Study of Surveillance Cameras Proves That Strangers Will Almost Always Intervene to Help

But the pandemic restricts these natural forms of mental fortification at the very moment we most need it. As Sarah Kaplan writing for The Post neatly surmises, “6 feet never felt so far.”

However in almost every case imaginable, positive social interaction, even in distant abstract forms like imagination, proves to have measurable impact on our health and well-being.

MORE: Optimistic People Shown to Sleep Better and Longer

If you see something in the mainstream media that gets you down, try just calling a friend and telling them how much they mean to you. Expressing gratitude, either for a person’s presence or a gift, as well as receiving expressions of gratitude, however awkward, was found in a study to be enough to trigger beneficial neurological changes that resulted in better mental health for both the senders and recipients of emails.

In a time when the social butterflies within all of us are stagnating, it’s never been more important to tell someone that you love and miss them.

RELATED: The Science of Kindness—Biology Proves How We Are All Connected

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6-Month Suspension on U.S. Federal Student Loan Payments Now in Effect During COVID Outbreaks

By
Andy Corbley
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The federal government is suspending student loan payments and waiving the interest on those loans for a total of 6 months in order to ease the burden of debtors during the COVID-19 outbreak. This unprecedented action was included in the 2.2 trillion dollar stimulus package President Trump signed recently.

More than 20 million Americans currently owe student loan payments, and since sweeping shelter-in-place orders were announced in cities across the nation, many of these indebted students and graduates have no ability to make a living or go to work.

The suspensions of payments and interest only apply to those who borrowed from the federal government. These types of federal loans make up 85% of the total education dollars currently owed. If you borrowed from a private financial institution, you may still be required to make payments.

RELATED: Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey Just Pledged $1 Billion—28% of His Net Worth—to COVID-19 Relief Efforts

The waivers on payments have actually been implemented retroactively, with the date of effect being March 13th. This means anyone who has since made a payment and could use that money in these difficult times can request a refund.

Good news is also out there for those who have defaulted on their loans, too. Uncle Sam is suspending the collections, and the Department of Education has announced that 830,000 borrowers will receive $1.8 billion back as a refund from previous garnishments.

“I’ve been in this industry through a lot of disasters, 9/11 and Katrina, and these waivers are like nothing I’ve seen before,” Betsy Mayotte, the founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, told CNN.

CHECK OUT: These Optimistic COVID Updates Give Us the Evidence We Need for Hope in April

Betsy and her Institute have created a resource to help borrowers understand the 6 month payment suspension laws, as they are somewhat complicated.

“If someone is struggling, they should absolutely call their lender,” Mayotte said.

There’s around $1.66 trillion in student debt, amounting to an average of $37,000 per student, in the United States right now.

For those who perhaps work remotely or maintain a source of income, you can still make payments on your loans from Sambla up to 500,000 DKK if you have the ability and desire to pay them off as soon as possible—which might be a good strategy for hard-working students or graduates.

According to CNN, the payments will go against the debt in-principal after all the interest accrued before March 13th, 2020 has been paid off. This means you can tackle the whole of the debt, bypassing interest from growing it, all the way until September 30th.

Be Sure And Share The News With Your Friends On Social Media – File photo by Nick_Ares, CC

“To love yourself right now, just as you are, is to give yourself heaven. Don’t wait until you die. If you love yourself, you live now.” – Alan Cohen

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “To love yourself right now, just as you are, is to give yourself heaven. Don’t wait until you die. If you love yourself, you live now.” – Alan Cohen

Photo: by Olia Nayda – public domain

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?

Friday Funnies: Look Inside This Mini Art Gallery That a Bored Couple in Quarantine Made for Their Pet Gerbils

By
Good News Network
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SWNS
SWNS

A couple stuck inside during the novel coronavirus lockdowns have used their free time to made an adorable art gallery for their pet gerbils.

Marianna Benetti and her boyfriend Filippo Lorenzin, both 30 years old, constructed the miniature exhibition last week to keep their pets entertained during quarantine.

The tiny space was furnished with carefully curated rodent-themed takes on classic works of art—including the “Mousa Lisa”.

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Benetti and Lorenzin also made mini benches, gallery assistant stools, large print guides, and a sign which read “DO NOT CHEW”.

Although both of their 9-month-old gerbils, Pandoro and Tiramisu, enjoyed browsing the gallery, they did nibble their way through one of the delicately constructed chairs.

Benetti and Lorenzin, originally from Italy, are on day 14 of self-isolation together in their house in London. Museums across the country remain closed due to the coronavirus outbreaks, although many galleries—including the V&A in London where Lorenzin works, are instead offering virtual tours for eager art enthusiasts.

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“The original project was for a doll house, but my boyfriend proposed the idea of designing an art gallery complete with all the details,” said Benetti.

The model took four hours to make, and in addition to the pair ensuring that all materials used were gerbil-friendly, they made a blueprint for the design to make sure the proportions were correct for their pets.

As well as the “Mona Lisa”, Benetti and Lorenzin also drew renditions of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”, Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” and Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” for their animals.

The creative couple posted a picture of their creation on Reddit and were surprised by the reaction.

SWNS

“Everyone was overwhelmingly positive. We didn’t expect such friendly feedback, and we look forward to adding more artworks to the gallery,” said Benetti. “It is great to see so many creative suggestions for other paintings from the community.”

If you want to follow more of there gerbil’s creative exploits, you can follow their Instagram page or YouTube channel.

(WATCH the video below)

Multiply The Laughter By Sharing The Pawesome Story With Your Friends On Social Media…

Photographer Has Been Taking Free Family ‘Porchtraits’ to Capture Sweet Silver Linings During Social Distancing

By
McKinley Corbley
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Rather than letting social distancing keep him from his passion for photography, Dave Puente has found a way to join local families in celebrating the silver linings of quarantine.

The photographer from Minneapolis, Minnesota has been taking free family portraits that document the joyful part of community members being at home with their loved ones—and he does it all while simultaneously respecting social distancing guidelines.

Over the course of the last two weeks, Puente has driven 1,365 miles to 146 homes in order to take photos of families on their porches for his heartwarming “Porchtrait” project.

 

Each family portrait is captioned with a heartwarming or amusing anecdote form the family—and with Puente taking the pictures from a distance, the series manages to capture a unique sneak peek into the lives of families waiting out the COVID-19 outbreaks.

“I wanted to give somebody something that they can hang on the wall and in a few years look back on it and in such a frantic and scary time see there was some silver lining to it,” Puente told WCCO News. “It’s therapeutic for me and it’s been that way… for so many people.”

Since Puente began publishing his Porchtraits to social media, he has been flooded with messages of support and appreciation for the project.

 

 

As a means of financing his labor of love and paying his bills, Puente also created a GoFundMe page for the Porchtraits project.

Since launching the campaign last week, he has received more than $900 in donations.

“The reality is, this effort has a expiration date, and with your help, I can continue to photograph family’s for free and serve this incredible community in this unique way during these uncertain times,” wrote Puente. “This has been the highlight of my professional career and with your help, we can keep it going.”

 

If you want to check out more of Puente’s Porchtraits series, you can either visit his website or his Instagram page.

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

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Himalayan Mountaintops Visible for the First Time in 30 Years as Air Pollution Continues to Plummet in India

By
McKinley Corbley
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As more and more global communities enforce stay-at-home orders and social restrictions, rates of air pollution have plummeted.

The most notable example of this phenomenon emerged on the horizon of Jalandhar in Punjab, India earlier this week.

For the last 30 years, the tops of the Himalayan mountains have been obscured by air pollution and smog. Now as the city streets are emptied of traffic and gas-guzzling vehicles, the mountaintops were clearly visible to the millions of local communities in quarantine.

Photographers living as far as 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from the mountain range have since posted awe-inspiring pictures of the snow-capped peaks to social media in celebration of the spectacular sight.

 

 

This is not the first time that people have taken notice of cleaner air amidst the COVID-19 shutdowns; following similar reports in China and the US, air pollution is continuing to plummet in countries with social restrictions, such as the UK and India. In New Delhi alone—which has some of the worst air pollution in the world—airborne particulates plunged by 71% in just one week.

Particle pollution in major UK cities have also dropped by as much as one-third—and the rates are expected to fall even further as lockdowns continue.

MORE: After the UK Told James Dyson It Needed 10,000 Ventilators, He Invented One in Just 10 Days—And is Donating 5,000

“These are big changes—pollution levels are the equivalent at the moment of a holiday, say an Easter Sunday,” Professor James Lee from York University and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science told The Guardian about the data.
“And I think we will see an even starker drop off when the weather changes.”

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

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In Historic Televised Speech, Queen Elizabeth II Offers Message of Global Support: ‘We will succeed’

By
McKinley Corbley
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In a rare televised address to the citizens of the UK and the world, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II offered an encouraging message of support in the face of the novel coronavirus outbreaks.

Although the Queen usually only addresses the nation at Christmas time or for newly-elected Parliaments, Her Majesty recorded a speech earlier this week that called for global unity amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic.

In addition to using the video to thank National Health System (NHS) teams working tirelessly to contain the virus, the Queen also recalled recording a similar speech that was broadcasted worldwide during World War II at the height of the blitz.

RELATED: Irish Prime Minister Re-Registers as Medical Practitioner So He Can Join the COVID-19 Response Team

“It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made in 1940, helped by my sister,” said the monarch, who had only been 14 years old at the time of the historic broadcast. “We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their safety.

“Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones—but now, as then, we know deep down that it is the right thing to do.

“While we have faced challenges before, this one is different,” she continued. “This time, we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor: using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us.”

(WATCH the inspiring speech below)

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

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“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” – Bernice Johnson Reagon

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” – Bernice Johnson Reagon

Photo: by Satyam HCR – public domain

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?

Here’s a #TBT Video of a Toddler Hugging Strangers to Keep You Company During Social Distancing

By
Good News Network
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If you’re feeling lonely during these weeks of self-isolation, we can still look back fondly on simpler times and remember that social distancing is only temporary.

For instance, this video that was shared by Nick Sasfy on Facebook back in 2018 captures the moment that his young son Jude wanted to bid a very fond farewell to all of the strangers who were lounging on the grass at an outdoor event in Atlanta, Georgia.

RELATED: Man Creates Elaborate Cardboard Castle to Reconcile With His Cat—And It Worked

He and his wife Stephanie had just told Jude that it was time to go “bye-bye” when the toddler insisted on hugging every bystander goodbye.

Needless to say, the strangers were delighted.

Though it may have delayed the family’s departure for some time, who could say no to that adorable little face? Plus, the video footage of the toddler’s sweet endeavor ended up racking up over 40 million views on Facebook.

(WATCH the video below) – Photo by Nick Sasfy

Be Sure And Share This Cute Clip With Your Friends On Social Media

These New Solar-Pavement Driveways Made of Plastic Bottles Can Power the Average Household

By
McKinley Corbley
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Photo by Platio Solar

Solar panel driveways may soon be powering all our households with clean electricity thanks to this Budapest-based startup.

For the last five years, Platio Solar has been developing new ways of implementing solar technology into urban spaces—and one of their latest developments is a residential solar paneled driveway made out of recycled plastic bottles.

According to a video that was published by the company last week, the solar system is the first to generate power from the pavement of a residential household.

LOOK: Company Collects 80% of City’s Recyclable Plastics and Turns It All into Lumber

Each “Platio Solar Paver” is made from 400 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles—one of the most common forms of consumer plastic. Compressed into pavers, the material becomes more durable than concrete while still being non-slip and sustainable.

The system can either be used to generate electricity for a residential household or power an electric car. According to the company’s website, a 20-square-meter (215-square-foot) Platio driveway system has the capacity to cover the yearly energy consumption of an average household.

The company is now offering resell opportunities and installation quotes for their driveway systems available in brown, blue, red, and green designs.

(WATCH the demonstration video below)

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16-Year-Old Has Been Using His Flying Lessons to Deliver Medical Supplies to Rural Hospitals Fighting COVID

By
McKinley Corbley
-

16-year-old TJ Kim may not have his driver’s license yet, but he has been flying planes all over Virginia in order to deliver medical supplies to rural hospitals fighting the novel coronavirus.

The teen, who is a sophomore at Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, was inspired to embark on his delivery missions after his classes were canceled as a result of COVID-19.

Without school or lacrosse to occupy his time, he turned his focus on his flying lessons.

RELATED: Man Uses His Savings to Fill Up Gas Tanks For Dozens of Nurses Heading to Nearby Hospital

According to The Associated Press, Kim and his family then launched their Operation SOS (Supplies Over Skies) project as a means of keeping busy during the shutdowns while simultaneously serving others in need by delivering supplies to rural hospitals.

When Kim first asked his flight instructor, Dave Powell, to use their flying lessons as delivery runs for Virginia hospitals, the pilot was awestruck.

LOOK: College Student Has Been Sewing Free Face Masks For Communicating With Hearing-Impaired Folks

“For TJ to be more concerned with the needs of others in his melancholy state just reiterated to me how amazing this young man is,” Powell told The AP.

Since the young man delivered his first batch of medical gowns, masks, sanitizer, and shoe covers to a 25-bed hospital in Luray on March 27th, he has continued to go on weekly flights to other critical access hospitals—and the healthcare workers have greatly appreciated the support.

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

(WATCH the interview below) – Feature photo by Thomas Kim

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Tyler Perry Picks Up the Tab for All Groceries Purchased During Senior Shopping Hour at 73 Supermarkets

By
McKinley Corbley
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Tyer Perry selfie on social media in 2018

It’s not uncommon for movie mogul Tyler Perry to make national headlines for his good deeds—and this week, he is being praised by social media users around the world after he was revealed to be an anonymous benefactor for senior shoppers.

As thousands of elderly citizens browsed the aisles of supermarkets in New Orleans and Atlanta, Georgia, they were stunned to hear that their groceries had been paid for by the “Atlanta Angel”.

The unidentified do-gooder had picked up the tab for every shopper participating in the senior shopping hour at 44 Kroger locations and 29 Winn-Dixies.

Although the donor’s identity had initially been kept a secret, supermarket management later confirmed that it was Tyler Perry.

RELATED: Secret Santa Pays Off $430,000 of Layaway Items at Walmart – Turns Out it Was Tyler Perry

“Senior and higher-risk Kroger shoppers in metro Atlanta did receive a nice surprise at the register this morning when they learned Tyler Perry had paid their grocery tab in full,” said Felix Turner, the Atlanta spokesman for Kroger.

“We would like to join our customers in thanking Mr. Perry for his kindness and generosity during this unprecedented pandemic,” Turner continued. “It was truly a pleasure to see our customers fill with joy and gratitude as the news spread throughout 44 stores across metro Atlanta.”

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

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Feature photo by Tyler Perry, 2018

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“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Ziglar

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Ziglar

Photo: by Clem Onojeghuo – public domain

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?

3 Ways to Deal With the Anxiety of a New Situation – Those FFTs of Life (‘Effing First Times)

By
Asher Israel
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The Lesson: If you have been stressing out amidst the chaos of quarantine, then you may need to listen to this podcast about FFTs (“’effing first times!”)—that is, how hard it is to be new at things, from small incidents to global pandemics. When we have no relevant experience or expertise, the vulnerability, uncertainty, and fear of these firsts can be overwhelming—but showing up and pushing ourselves past the awkward, learner stage is how we get braver.

Notable Excerpt: “This pandemic experience is a massive experiment in collective vulnerability. We can be our worst selves when we’re afraid, or our very best, bravest selves. In the context of fear and vulnerability, there is often very little in between because when we are uncertain and afraid our default is self-protection. We don’t have to be scary when we’re scared. Let’s choose awkward, brave, and kind. And let’s choose each other.”

The Speaker: Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. Brown has and continues to break down the complex topics concerning human nature such as shame, empathy, courage, and vulnerability. Her TED talk, “The Power of Vulnerability”, garnered over 45 million views as one of the top five most viewed TED talks worldwide.

Books: Brown is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers—The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and The Courage to Stand Alone, and Dare to Lead: Bold Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture, The Call to Courage, streamed on Netflix since it debuted on the streaming service on April 19th, 2019.

Podcast: “Unlocking Us” is Dr. Brown’s brand-new signature podcast. She uses it as a space to host such notable guests as Alicia Keys and David Kessler, who join her in “conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart.”

You can listen and subscribe to “Unlocking Us” on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or the podcast’s official website.

(LISTEN TO the inspiring talk below)

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Taking Hot Baths Every Day is Linked to Lower Risk of Stroke or Heart Disease

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Good News Network
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Representative file photo by Witches Falls Cottages, CC

Regular tub bathing is linked to a lower risk of death from heart disease and stroke—and the higher the “dose,” the better it seems to be for cardiovascular health, with a daily hot bath seemingly more protective than taking a bath once or twice a week.

According to the long-term study published online in the journal Heart last month, having a bath is associated with good sleep quality and better self-rated health, but it’s not clear what its long-term impact might be on cardiovascular disease risk, including heart attack, sudden cardiac death, and stroke.

The health benefits of taking hot baths are similar to those experienced by Finnish adults who regularly sauna bathe—although additional research has also found that sauna bathing can positively affect everything from neurocognitive diseases and mental health disorders to skin diseases, arthritis, headaches, flu, and even overall mortality.

To explore the benefits of hot baths further, the researchers drew on participants in The Japan Public Health Center based Study Cohort 1, a population based tracking study of more than 61,000 middle-aged adults (45 to 59 years).

RELATED: 30 Years of Research Shows Sauna Bathing is Game-Changer for Longevity and Heart Disease

At the start of the study in 1990, some 43,000 participants completed a detailed questionnaire on their bathing habits and potentially influential factors: lifestyle, to include exercise, diet, alcohol intake, weight (BMI); average sleep duration; and medical history and current medicines use.

Each participant was monitored until death or completion of the study at the end of December 2009, whichever came first, with the final analysis based on 30,076 people.

During the monitoring period, 2,097 cases of cardiovascular disease occurred: 275 heart attacks; 53 sudden cardiac deaths; and 1,769 strokes.

MORE: Give Yourself a Break—New Research Says Kicking Back in a Sauna Has Surprising Health Benefits

After taking account of potentially influential factors, analysis of the data showed that compared with a once or twice weekly bath or no bath at all, a daily hot bath was associated with a 28% lower overall risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 26% lower overall risk of stroke.

The frequency of tub bathing wasn’t associated with a heightened risk of sudden cardiac death, or with a particular type of stroke, called subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleed into the space surrounding the brain).

Further analysis of preferred water temperature indicated 26% lower and 35% lower risks of overall cardiovascular disease for warm and hot water, respectively. But no significant associations emerged for overall stroke risk and water temperature.

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

After excluding those participants who developed cardiovascular disease within 5 or 10 years of the start of the study, the associations found weren’t quite as strong, but nevertheless still remained statistically significant.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause, added to which changes in bathing frequency weren’t tracked during the monitoring period. The typical style of Japanese bathing also includes immersion to shoulder height, and this may be a critical factor.

But, say the researchers, previously published research has pointed to a link between heat exposure and cardiovascular disease prevention: this is because the effects of heat on the body are not dissimilar to those of exercise.

RELATED: Largest Study of Its Kind Identifies the Surprising Health Benefits of Fasting Every Other Day

“We found that frequent tub bathing was significantly associated with a lower risk of hypertension, suggesting that a beneficial effect of tub bathing on risk of [cardiovascular disease] may in part be due to a reduced risk of developing hypertension,” write the researchers.

They acknowledge that taking a hot bath is not without its risk, particularly if the temperature is too high, a point that is taken up by Dr. Andrew Felix Burden in a linked editorial.

Reprinted from BMJ

Representative file photo by Witches Falls Cottages, CC

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Watch Farmer Use His Tractor to Plow Massive Tribute to Healthcare Workers into His Field

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Good News Network
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A talented farmer has created his own heartwarming tribute to the British National Health System (NHS) by using his tractor to plough a giant rainbow into one of his fields.

33-year-old Jack Pantall used an aerial drone camera connected to his phone in order to map out the huge image of the NHS logo and the “Stay Safe” rainbow in appreciation for Britain’s healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 outbreaks.

The massive image measures in at 60 meters (196 feet) tall and 152 meters (500 feet) wide on his farm near Staunton-on-Wye in Herefordshire.

Pantall also managed to capture drone footage of himself creating the masterpiece, which took just 16 minutes to complete.

MORE: New Jersey Teens Take Matters into Their Own Hands to Help First Responders and Small Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

The dad-of-two said he wanted to show his support for all of the NHS heroes—particularly since his 31-year-old brother Harry is a paramedic and his sister-in-law works as a doctor.

“I had one field left I could use before my spring planting finished so I decided to do it as soon as a I could,” said Pantall. “My brother and I had been thinking about it and we saw some other people showing their appreciation in different ways. He said, ‘yeah why not let’s do it’.

Jack Pantall (L) with brother Harry (R) who’s a paramedic. SWNS.

“Someone else in Exeter had done #NHS into some corn so we were thinking of something more original. My brother suggested putting the Stay Safe rainbow over the top. We decided to give it a go and the worst-case scenario was that it wouldn’t come out right.

“Thankfully, however, it did. It turned out beautifully.

“My drone connects to my phone so I was watching my phone screen … to see how it was coming out while I was doing it,” Pantall recalled. “So the video you’re watching is how I was able to draw it.

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“I was driving around trying to get it done in a hurry because the drone battery only lasts about 20 minutes and I had to be relatively quick on it,” he added. “I managed to complete it in about 16 minutes, which was just in time, really.”

The rainbow has become a symbol of support for people wanting to show solidarity with health workers on the front lines of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

SWNS

“My gesture was just something we thought that we could do down at the field. It’s just us showing a small amount of appreciation,” says Pantall. “At the very least it brings a smile to people’s faces and makes them know we are thinking of them.”

In addition to broadcasting his message of support to NHS workers, Pantall has also set up a JustGiving page to support hospital staffers—and he hopes his stunt can help raise money and spirits.

“The NHS workers are the main ones we must thank because they’re right in amongst it,” said Pantall. “It was all just to say a massive thank you to them.

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“We’ve got various friends who live next to us who are all nurses, resuscitation nurses, so they are in the mix of it. It’s a small contribution and they were ecstatic over it.

“It really makes you feel good when they know there are people out there appreciating them. You never know someone is appreciating you until someone says.”

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

(WATCH the time-lapse video below)

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After 13 Years of Social Distancing, Giant Pandas Finally Mate During Peaceful COVID-19 Zoo Closures

By
McKinley Corbley
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Photo by Ocean Park

Conservationists are rejoicing over a newly-reported silver lining to the COVID-19 shutdowns—after 13 years of playing hard to get, these two giant pandas have finally mated.

Although Le Le and Ying Ying have been roommates at the Ocean Park Zoo in Hong Kong since 2007, the two pandas have never felt compelled to answer the call of the wild even though their resulting reproduction would help to preserve their vulnerable species.

In addition to female giant pandas having a “mating season” of just 24 to 72 hours of fertility per year, the bears reportedly have a notoriously non-existent libido.

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So when Le Le and Ying Ying finally got intimate earlier this week, zookeepers were thrilled.

“Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they unfortunately have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning,” said Ocean Park Director of Zoological Operations Michael Boos. “The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination.”

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Considering how Ocean Park has been closed to the public since January 26th as a means of curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, Le Le and Ying Ying may have just needed some privacy from the usual slew of visitors in order to kindle a romance.

Regardless of their motivation, zookeepers will be monitoring Ying Ying closely over the course of the next year to see if she was successfully impregnated with a cub.

Photo by Ocean Park

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Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey Just Pledged $1 Billion—28% of His Net Worth—to COVID-19 Relief Efforts

By
McKinley Corbley
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Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter and the Square payment platform, has announced that he is donating $1 billion to COVID-19 response and relief efforts.

The financial commitment, which represents a whopping 28% of Dorsey’s net worth, will reportedly be funded by the tech entrepreneur’s Square shares.

Dorsey wrote in a Twitter post that he now plans on selling his Square equity since he currently owns more shares in Square than Twitter, and he hopes to reduce the impact of the donation by selling them over an extended period of time.

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As the funds are distributed to various relief efforts through the Start Small Foundation, Dorsey plans to offer full transparency of his donations by tracking them through a public Google document.

“I’m moving $1B of my Square equity (~28% of my wealth) to [Start Small] LLC to fund global COVID-19 relief. After we disarm this pandemic, the focus will shift to girl’s health and education, and UBI,” wrote Dorsey.

“Why pull just from Square and not Twitter? Simply: I own a lot more Square. And I’ll need to pace the sales over some time. The impact this money will have should benefit both companies over the long-term because it’s helping the people we want to serve,” he continued.

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“Why now? The needs are increasingly urgent, and I want to see the impact in my lifetime. I hope this inspires others to do something similar. Life is too short, so let’s do everything we can today to help people now.”

In addition to Dorsey’s donation being one of the most impressive contributions towards novel coronavirus relief efforts to date, Deadline reports that it may be the largest private donation to a global cause since CNN founder Ted Turner committed $1 billion towards the creation of the United Nations Foundation in 1997.

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

Multiply The Good News By Sharing This Article With Your Friends On Social Media — Feature photo by JD Lasica, CC

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz

Photo: by J E W E L M I T CH E L L – public domain

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