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Kindhearted Repairman Fixes Military Wife’s Furnace Then Gives Amazing Bill

By
Terry Turner
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A woman with two small kids was shocked when the repairman handed her his bill for fixing her furnace — he charged her only a dollar.

Bridget Stevens came home with her two sons to a very cold house in Pennsylvania.

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Fidgeting with the furnace controls got no response and, after messaging her husband deployed with the military, realized she’d have to call a repairman.

It was late at night, but Paul Betlyn, the owner of Betlyn Heating and Cooling, not only took her call, but came out right away.

While working on the furnace, Betlyn found out Stevens’ husband was serving overseas, so when he handed her bill it was marked with a “deployment discount” — just one dollar for all his work.

CHECK OUT:  Struggling With Grief, Waitress Gets Great Tip and An Even Better Note

“When I tried to give him any money at all, he said that the one dollar was a joke, and to thank my husband for his service,” Stevens wrote on her Facebook page.

(READ more at the San Francisco Globe) — Photos: Bridget Stevens, Facebook

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Shaq Joins Kind Cop After Viral Basketball Video, to Surprise Kids in Rematch (WATCH)

By
Terry Turner
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After a noise complaint was filed against some youths playing a rousing game of basketball in the street last week, a cop became an overnight celebrity when his patrol car’s dashcam revealed that he joined the kids in their game instead of breaking it up. He had promised to return for a rematch Saturday, but this time he brought some amazing back-up — basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.

Gainesville, Florida officer Bobby White was the one who responded Thursday to the complaint of a “loud” bunch of kids playing basketball. His department applauded the officer’s decision saying, “Let kids be kids.”

His generous treatment of the youth won him a lot of fans — including “Shaq”, the four-time National Basketball Association champ who showed up at the police station Saturday to surprise the officer.

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Together they drove over to the same neighborhood for a stellar rematch.

WATCH:  Cop, Skip, and Jump–You Have to See This Officer’s Amazing Double Dutch Skills

“These kids will never forget the day Shaq rolled up to their house to play ball,” the Gainesville Police Department wrote on its Facebook page along with a video of the game.

(WATCH the video of the rematch from the Gainesville Police above, and WATCH the original video from the GPD below) — Photo: Gainesville PD, Facebook

 

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Greek Islanders to Get Nobel Peace Prize Nomination for Saving Refugees

By
Terry Turner
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Greek Fishing Village cc Rennett Stowe

Greek Islanders who have sacrificed their livelihoods and risked their lives to rescue refugees on the Aegean Sea have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Even though they live a world away, the people on the peaceful islands of Lesbos, Kos, Chíos, Samos, Rhodes and Leros have been on the front lines of the Syrian crisis–because most of the 900,000 refugees fleeing to Europe have landed first on one of those six islands.

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Greek fishermen frequently set aside their work to rush to the rescue of distressed refugees whose rickety boats take on water or sink outright. Other civilians who simply happen to be nearby, often join Greek Coast Guardsmen to get refugees safely to shore.

Beyond the rescues, islanders have taken in thousands of refugees, some opening their own homes to shelter them.

In a nomination letter to the Nobel committee, a group of academics from the US, UK, and Denmark praised the islanders for the “empathy and self-sacrifice” that has saved thousands of lives.

CHECK OUT:  Wealthy Couple Buys Search-and-Rescue Ship to Save Migrants at Sea

The Greek foreign minister has thrown his support behind the idea and an online petition has gathered more than 300,000 signatures backing the nomination.

“On remote Greek islands, grandmothers have sung terrified little babies to sleep, while teachers, pensioners and students have spent months offering food, shelter, clothing and comfort to refugees who have risked their lives to flee war and terror,” the petition reads.

(READ more at The Guardian) – Photo: Rennett Stowe, CC

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Heroic Diver Spends Hour Cutting Whale Loose From Fishing Line (WATCH)

By
McKinley Corbley
-

 

It’s not hard to sea why Cesar Espino is a hero after viewing a video of him diving into the ocean’s depths to cut fishing line free from a Byrde whale.

Filmed off the coast of the Canary Islands in Spain, Cesar only took breaks from the hour-long rescue in order to breath.

Once the 45-foot-long mammal’s fins and mouth were freed, Mr. Espino trailed after the creature, making sure it would be safe.

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WATCH the gorgeous video above – and SHARE the news...

Tiny House Built by Homeless Offered as Model for Ending Homelessness

By
Terry Turner
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Charleston Tiny House Construction screenshot WCBD

A tiny house, built from scrap and donated lumber by volunteers and homeless people, could be a model for ending homelessness in South Carolina.

A group called “Tiny House Fit For a King” wants Charleston’s blue ribbon panel on the homeless to consider tiny houses as a way of helping people now living in tent cities under highway overpasses in the city.

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“It was time to pick up a hammer and hit some nails and see what happened,” project organizer William Hamilton told WCBD News.

They hope to show that the homeless, using essentially free building materials, can assemble their own temporary housing — safer and better insulated than tents.

WATCH:  Man Builds Tiny House for Homeless Woman Sleeping in the Dirt

Churches have sponsored tiny house villages for the homeless in Nashville, Tennessee and Seattle, Washington and Austin, Texas, but Charleston is one of the first city governments considering tiny houses as viable temporary shelter for the homeless.

(WATCH the video below from WCBD News) — Photo: WCBD News

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Solar-Powered Retreat in New Zealand Built For Only $75,000

By
Good News Network
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skysphere-new-zealand-released

There is a gleaming white artificial tree house floating over Linton, New Zealand. It’s called the SkySphere, and its designer, Jono Williams, put it together over the course of three years for only $75000.

The club house is perched securely atop a 10 meter high steel tower, providing a wide view of the New Zealand countryside. Williams initially planned to build the structure in the trees, but a steel “tree” support makes it much more versatile–it can be placed almost anywhere..

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The walls are completely transparent: the living space is surrounded by 360 degrees of two-meter high polycarbonate windows, custom built for the SkySphere. The electronics and color-changing LED lighting are completely powered by the custom-built solar panels installed on the thin arches of the roof.

There’s only one room inside, but it’s spacious enough for a queen-sized bed, custom couch, and entertainment system. Everything inside the SkySphere, including lights, movie projector, and beer refrigerator, can be controlled by a smartphone application. The home’s entrance is also app-controlled, and the motorized front door opens with a fingerprint security system.

skysphere-jono-williams-released

There are some improvements that Williams is considering as he designs the next version of the SkySphere. For one thing, there’s currently no bathroom on board. He built a small bathroom on the ground outside, but a toilet and shower weren’t feasible inside the SkySphere itself due to a lack of plumbing. Another drawback of the current design is the narrow entryway.

MORE: Solar-Powered Pod Allows You to Live Anywhere Off the Grid, Now For Sale

The steel column supporting the home is also its front door, and visitors must climb the ladder inside to access the living space. Because of the restricted size, Williams had to furnish the SkySphere from outside, lifting furniture in through the open windows before the polycarbonate was installed. There’s a pulley system in the column for lifting heavier supplies, but future SkySpheres may come with an elevator.

Focus on Energy Independence

Jono Williams is no stranger to minimalist green design. His previous project, the TreeBach, began as a simple bachelor’s tree house in the forest, built out of leftover materials from construction sites. By the end, it evolved into a small and comfortable getaway home running off of solar power, completely isolated from the world. There’s no plumbing in the house, because that would have made the home “permanent” and therefore illegal where it was built, but the outdoor propane-heated bathtub is easy to fill with collected rain water and has a lovely view.

MORE: When a Solar Plant Becomes a Sculpture Garden, Tulip Power Blooms

Williams’ designs take energy independence and our environmental footprint very seriously. With the SkySphere, he’s built a beautiful modern living space with high-tech amenities that can exist in complete isolation from the rest of the world. Living “off-grid” doesn’t have to mean a tiny hut in the woods (although Williams’ TreeBach demonstrates that’s not necessarily as bad as it sounds) when the green technology exists to power all the necessities of modern life without needing to plug into a municipal power grid.

Jen MacCormack is a medical laboratory scientist and freelance writer with an interest in science communication and renewable, sustainable technologies. (Photos used with permission)

This article was brought to you by UnderstandSolar.com.

Besties Furever: Collie Answers ‘Who’s Your Best Friend’ (WATCH)

By
Terry Turner
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Best Friend Dogs Vine Lottie the Collie

You don’t have to ask Lottie the Collie twice.

When she hears the question, “Who’s your best friend?” Lottie gives a big bear hug to Grizzly the German shepherd.

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The video below is worth watching over and over.

Her Vine page is also loaded with more hugs and adventures from the two.

(WATCH the video from Vine below, but Unmute the audio in bottom right corner)

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Preparations Underway For Afghanistan’s First Women’s University

By
McKinley Corbley
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Young Muslim Women

Plans for Afghanistan’s first all-women’s university have been unveiled by the country’s first lady, Rula Ghani.

“Building a university for girls is one of the promises of Mr Ghani that he vowed during presidential campaigns and now we are on the eve of its implementation,” Rula announced on January 20th.”Those girls that are not allowed to study at other universities can continue their higher education in this university.”

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Currently dubbed the Mawlana Afghan-Turk University, its inauguration date has not been released, but the school in Kabul will be built in a joint effort with Turkey, according to officials.

ALSO: Afghan Girls, Not Allowed On Bikes, Shred On Skateboards Instead

They intend the 47-acre site to be a safe haven for women seeking education in the conservative nation.

No more information is available. –Photo by Garryknight, CC

Tian Tian The Panda Frolicks In Piles of New Snow (WATCH)

By
McKinley Corbley
-

 

There’s snow better time to be outside than now – take it from Tian Tian the panda in Washington D.C..

The Smithsonian National Zoo released video of their resident panda frolicking in the newly fallen snow that has blitzed the East Coast.

The thirty second clip of a 264-pound animal rolling around in the white powder has scored over 16 million views since it’s publication this morning on Facebook.

(WATCH the video above and SHARE with your Animal-loving friends…)

Virginia Jeep Club Shuttles 150 Nurses to Hospital During Blizzard (Video)

By
McKinley Corbley
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video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

 

Even Snowmageddon has it’s heroes.

The Seven Hills Jeep Club has volunteered its wheels to shuttle back and forth from work the nurses, who are always needed in the Lynchburg, Virginia hospitals, even in the midst of an East Coast blizzard.

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The jeeps will be available with driving services until the snowfall subsides this weekend.

(WATCH the video above from WDBJ)

Principal Surprises Student With Star Wars Squad and New 3D Arm (WATCH)

By
Good News Network
-

 

Even the dark side can conjure good deeds.

Unlike Anakin Skywalker who lost his limb in a lightsaber battle, Alvin Garcia Flores has lived his whole life since birth without having the lower half of his right arm.

Recently, thanks to Alvin’s school principal, the Dark Lord showed up to surprise the young Star Wars fan in front of his entire school, to give him a new arm — and a “New Hope.”

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Gateway Elementary principal Terry Burton reached out to the Florida nonprofit Limbitless Solutions, which specializes in 3D-printed prosthetics, asking them to fashion one especially for the second grader.

WATCH: Boy Gets New Bionic Arm From ‘Tony Stark’ Himself (Robert Downey Jr.)

darth-vader-with-prosthetic-screenshot

He could have stopped there, but Burton went the extra parsec and asked the Star Wars fan group 501st Legion, known for doing charitable work dressed as Sith lords and storm troopers, to present the surprise in front of all of Alvin’s classmates–and his mother.

(WATCH the galactic surprise in the video above from WOWT-6 News)

Fulfill Your New Year’s Goal and Rid Your Home Of Clutter For Good

By
Michelle Ploog
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clutter-CC-Sally_Monster

A dear friend of mine told me that her New Years Resolution was to remove the clutter from her home. I found this to be an admirable goal that I could help her with. Then I realized it was something I could share with everyone here!

What you need to know about clutter is… The biggest hurdle in clutter removal is the misconception that clutter is an entity. Clutter is not something you can pick up and throw out.

Clutter is the result of a series of habits that create upheaval throughout your space. Therefore, clutter is not easily removed.

The most successful way to rid your life of clutter is to change your habits. This is much more challenging than clearing the house out once every couple of months, but much more effective in making your home a stress-free environment.

LOOK: Comfortable High Heels For Women Designed by Orthopedic Nurse

I have a system that can lead you toward living in a clutter-free environment…

Try it for yourself:

1. See the clutter. What don’t you like dealing with or putting away? (Receipts? Papers? Cards? Random objects?

2. See where you pile up that particular clutter. Where do certain things tend to land? (Receipts on the bedroom dresser, junk mail on the kitchen island, cards on the coffee table?)

3. Strategize a convenient organizational system in the spots that you naturally want to throw the clutter. What could be an easy alternative to this? (Receipt folder in the top drawer of the dresser, a paper shredder in a pull out cabinet in the kitchen, a “card album” on your coffee table?)

CHECK Out: Wonderfully Imperfect: Don’t Define Yourself By Your Flaws

4. Make it happen. Your organizational systems are in your go-to locations, now you just have to make a habit of using them. DO IT!

It takes a bit of preparation, but the result is worth it. Your home will be clutter-free and more relaxing.

Photo by Sally_Monster, CC

First Year With No Deaths in Alaska Fishing Industry

By
Good News Network
-

Thanks to more stringent safety procedures governing the dangerous commercial fishing industry, zero commercial fishing deaths were recorded for the 2015 season. (Alaska Dispatch News)

Teen Invents Rain, Fire-proof Sleeping Bag for Homeless, and Offers Jobs

By
Terry Turner
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Sleeping bag for homeless screenshot TheJournal

An Irish girl has invented a life-saving sleeping bag for the homeless–with the added benefit of creating jobs for some former street dwellers.

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emily-duffy duffily bags released Desmond College
Emily Duffy (Photos by TheJournal.ie video; Desmond College)

Emily Duffy came up with the idea after “living rough” for a day on Dublin’s streets, experiencing life as the homeless do to raise money for a charity that helps them.

The 15-year-old Desmond College student thought cloth bags were too impractical — dirty, dangerous, and hard to keep dry.

Duffy’s invention, dubbed “Duffily Bags,” have a highly reflective, fire retardant and waterproof shell. Velcro straps replace the usual zippers, allowing the user to get in and out more easily.

RELATED:  Teens Turn Plastic Bags Into Sleeping Mats for Homeless

She recently showed off her invention at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Dublin, which showcased some of the brightest ideas of the country’s young people.

The bags are already being produced by former homeless people now earning $10 an hour at the Mendicity Institution — a homeless service center in Dublin.

(WATCH the video below by the TheJournal.ie, or READ more at the Irish Times)

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Cat Rescued by 3 Huskies is Now One of the Pack (Cuteness Overload)

By
Terry Turner
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Huskies save cat Facebook Lilo the Husky

When a Siberian husky took in a stray kitten as her own, the little cat grew up thinking she was part of the pack.

The scrawny stray ignited Lilo’s maternal instincts and she began treating the little kitten as if it were her own puppy—and the cat grew up with the heart of a sled dog.

 

Seven months later, Rosie the cat goes everywhere that Lilo and the family’s two other huskies go. The cat also features prominently in photos alongside Infinity and Miko on Lilo’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

 

(WATCH the kitten and surrogate mom at the start of the video below) –Photo: Lilo the Husky, Facebook

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Number of Uninsured Latino Children Hits All-Time Low in U.S.

By
Terry Turner
-

latino kid CC Alex Barth

A new report credits the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with reducing the number of uninsured Latino children in America to an all-time low.

The study only looked at the first year the ACA was in effect, but found the percentage of uninsured Hispanic kids dropped from 11.5% to 9.7% between 2013 and 2014.

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Roughly 300,000 more Latino kids had insurance over the year, reducing the number who are without insurance to 1.7 million.

The largest decline came in Nevada, where the uninsured rate among Hispanic children fell nearly seven percentage points — form 20% to 13.3 percent in one year.

Researchers say the vast majority of those Latino children who remain uninsured are American citizens eligible for Medicaid and CHIP health coverage.

CHECK OUT: American Teens Shun Alcohol and Cigarettes in Record Numbers

“This report points to the need to remove more barriers to coverage, and find ways to get the whole family covered so that Hispanic children can grow up healthy and more financially secure,” report co-author Sonya Schwartz said.

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the National Council of La Raza collaborated on the report.

Photo: Alex Barth, CC

Disabled Veteran Converts Wheelchair into Snow Plow to Help Town (WATCH)

By
Terry Turner
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Snow Plow Wheelchair screenshot WOWT

A one-legged, Iraq War veteran has taken it upon himself to clear sidewalks in his snowy Nebraska community — and he does it with his wheelchair.

But this is not your typical wheelchair.

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The motorized monster, with tank treads instead of wheels, was supposed to be for off-road adventure but Anderson decided last year to turn it into a machine of goodwill.

He added a snow blade that he can adjust to different levels and he says it only takes a couple of hours after a typical Omaha snowfall to blaze a trail along the sidewalks to the local elementary school.

The easy-going vet, with a personalized license plate on his pick-up reading “HOPALONG,” brushes aside the praise as easily as his snowplow-wheelchair clears the slush.

WATCH:  Son Builds A ‘Tank’ Wheelchair to Delight His WWII Veteran Dad (WATCH)

He calls the chore “very gratifying,” because it gives him a chance to pay it forward to a community that supported him as a wounded warrior coming home.

(WATCH the video below from WOWT News) — Photo: WOWT News

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Cancer Treatment Shows “Remarkable” Ability to Reverse Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

By
Terry Turner
-
Geralt, CC license

neurons multiple sclerosis cc geralt

A medical treatment intended for cancer patients appears to be able to reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS), as well–and some people paralyzed by the condition have been able to walk again.

About 20 patients suffering from MS in Sheffield, England were given bone marrow transplants using their own stem cells.

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The treatment — haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) — first destroys a faulty immune system in cancer patients, then uses the stem cell transplant to rebuild it.

It effectively “reboots” the immune system in patients.

MS is a neurological disorder that causes the immune system to attack the linings of nerves and the spinal cord. Doctors thought if HSCT could rebuild the immune system in cancer patients, it might also work with MS.

One of the patients, Steven Storey went from a marathon runner to needing a wheelchair and 24-hour nursing care within a year of being diagnosed with MS. Four days after the HSCT treatment, Storey was able to move his toes and was able to stand on his own four months later.

RELATED: French Firm Announces Multiple Sclerosis Drug Breakthrough

“It’s been incredible. I was in a dire place, but now I can swim and cycle and I am determined to walk,” Storey told the BBC.

Hospitals in the UK, U.S., Sweden, and Brazil are taking part in international trials gauging the long-term benefits of the procedure on MS patients.

As with cancer patients, those with MS would need to endure multiple rounds of chemotherapy to effectively destroy their faulty immune system before the transplant can reboot it.

The one time cost of the stem-cell transplant — $43,000 — is about the same as the yearly cost of standard MS treatments.

CHECK OUT:  Malaria Protein Accidentally Found to Be Cancer-Killing Weapon

A Chicago study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed benefits from the treatment lasting at least four years in some MS patients.

Doctors are now looking to the completion of a large trial in two years that could propel HSCT toward FDA approval as a treatment MS.

Photo: geralt, CC 

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Young Football Fan Pulls Own Tooth With Dad’s Brilliant Idea (Adorable)

By
Terry Turner
-

Leo and Jim Deveraux Football tooth Facebook

Seattle Seahawks fans didn’t have much to smile about after seeing their team lose to the Carolina Panthers Sunday.

But a five-year-old fan did have a grin with a gap after his own personal loss during halftime of the National Football League play-off game. He lost a tooth.

Leo Deveraux’s loose tooth had been bothering him while watching the game on television at home.

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During the break, his dad tied one end of a string to Leo’s tooth and the other end around a football. Dad then crossed the room and told him to make a pass just like his hero quarterback, Russell Wilson.

“To to add some excitement to a tough first half, Seahawks vs. Panthers, we decided to do a tooth extraction,” dad Jim Deveraux wrote on his Facebook page, calling it “12th Man Dentistry.”

The play worked — yanking Leo’s tooth out and sending it for a one or two-yard gain.

WATCH:  Epic Series of Fumbles In NFL Play Synced to Wacky Song

His mom called it “the best play of the whole game” and Seahawks fans, reflecting on their season-ending, seven-point loss, might just have to agree.

(WATCH the video below from Jim Deveraux’s Facebook page)

To to add some excitement to a tough first half, Seahawks vs. Panthers, we decided to do a tooth extraction- 12th Man Dentistry, Russell Wilson style.

Posted by Jim Devereaux on Sunday, January 17, 2016

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Self-Filling Water Bottle Converts Humidity to Drinks for Thirsty Cyclists, Arid Towns

By
Terry Turner
-

Fontus released James Dyson Foundation 2

A water bottle that refills itself out of thin air could mean clean drinking water for millions of people.

Austrian designer and university student Kristof Retezár dreamed up Fontus as a way for cyclists to top off their water supply on long rides.

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It collects humidity in the air and under ideal conditions — 86-to-100 degree temperatures and 80-to-90 percent humidity — it can produce a half-liter of water every hour.

Fontus is solar powered and uses water repelling surfaces to direct water particles in the air through filters and into a condenser that cools it into liquid water.

FONTUS design James Dyson Foundation

Retezár points out that by 2030, nearly half the people in the world will be facing water shortages. He says his idea simply uses modern technology to update 2,000-year-old methods of water harvesting in a way that could one day address global water scarcity.

CHECK OUT:  Fire Extinguisher of the Future is ALL About That Bass

Retezár’s invention is a candidate for the James Dyson Award for innovations by product or industrial design engineering students.

He plans a crowdfunding campaign in March to bring his idea to market. He wants to keep the price below $100 and hopes to start delivering Fontus nine months later.

Photos: James Dyson Foundation

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