Pexels / Philippe Donn

Pete Kelly

Friday, April 12th, 2024 4:03pm

Here are some feel good stories from this week:

A Rochester teacher fulfilled a promise made to his science class in 1978 that they'd all reunite for this year's solar eclipse! 

A "space gas station" is launching which will allow some spacecraft to refuel in space by 2026!

Heat generated from electronics is being used to heat a city in Finland all winter!

Pixabay minka2507

Pete Kelly

Friday, April 5th, 2024 4:23pm

A new solar-powered system can convert saltwater into fresh drinking water! (Good News Network)

Coffee grounds have been shown in a study to clean polluted water! (Good News Network)

Scientists are deep-freezing corals to repopulate the ocean! (Freethink)

Pixabay / geralt

Pete Kelly

Friday, March 15th, 2024 1:04pm

Here are some good news stories going into the weekend! This week all of our stories are about the positives of artificial intelligence thanks to Freethink!

• AI is helping replant forests in Brazil! AI is able to use drones to pinpoint and drop seeds in hard-to-reach areas, and can drop 180 seed capsules every minute. That's roughly 100 times faster than humans!
• AI is helping with recycling! A UK startup has developed an AI system that analyzes recycling facilities that can help recover and recycle more waste that currently ends up in landfills. The company says they've identified over 85 tons of material that could be recovered.
• AI is helping with melting icebergs! AI has been trained to map icebergs and measure changes in them roughly 10,000 times faster than humanly possible! This will allow scientists to learn more about them and potentially start proactive measures to slow their melting.

Read more about these stories and more here!

Pexels / juan mendez

Pete Kelly

Friday, March 8th, 2024 3:08pm

Here are some good news stores for you going into the weekend!

Crime Rates Dropped Considerably in 2023

2023 was the largest single-year drop in homicides ever recorded, and the largest percentage decline for violent crimes! Murder was down over 13% in smaller cities, and over 12% in large cities! The only caveat -- Chicago & Los Angeles weren't included in the survey as data wasn't available for those cities as of the study being published, but it's still encouraging news!

90-Year-Old British Soccer Player

Mike Fisher, better known as "Ninja", is a 90-year-old soccer player. This grandfather of two has been playing soccer for 75 years, plays about 3 times a week, and scores roughly 3 goals per game! To celebrate his 90th birthday he scored five goals in a single game!

Smartphone App Detects Ear Infections

A new AI powered app can detect if you have an ear infection just by using a cell phone camera. This would allow doctors to diagnose and treat these infections better, and help doctors skip using antibiotics if they’re not necessary

Image by Lars Nissen from Pixabay

Pete Kelly

Friday, January 26th, 2024 4:13pm

In all of 2023, there were no large aircraft involved in any crashes after tens of thousands of flights! The next time you're nervous to board a flight, just remember we're living in the safest time to fly in history.

Read more here from Good News Network!

Image by ktphotography from Pixabay

Pete Kelly

Friday, January 26th, 2024 3:48pm

A new study reveals dancing significantly benefits overweight individuals, improving body mass, waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, fitness, cognitive disorders, and mental health. 

Creative dance styles show notable body composition benefits over traditional exercise due to full-body motions and reduced fatigue. Dance's social aspect makes it easier to sustain compared to other exercises. Dancing is a holistic approach to health improvement, offering a fun and effective alternative for combating obesity and related ailments.

Read more from Good News Network!

Jocelyn Slaughter

Sunday, January 7th, 2024 2:07pm

All around the world, people have found and shared hundreds of ways that they ring in the New Year. Most importantly, doing so in the happiest and healthiest light. 

According to recent surveys, there a few different ways that our populations will be ringing in the New Year with “good health” in mind. Now, let’s keep in mind that being “healthy” looks different for everyone. But when it really comes down to it, what levels of self-care are sought out to be most prevalent for the 2024 New Year?

Well, according to the Good News Network, these are the current standings: 

1. Be more physically active — 40%
2. Eat healthier foods — 37%
3. Maintain a positive mindset — 30%
4. Spend time doing things they love — 22%
5. Sleep more hours — 22%
6. Spend more time with loved ones — 19%
7. Set goals for themselves — 16%
8. Monitor stress levels — 16%
9. Utilize products that help their body internally (vitamins, superfoods) — 14%
10. Visit their health care provider more often — 12%

At the end of the day, it seems there’s quite a few ways to get these healthy rituals in place. Which ways are you going to practice self-care and healthy behaviors this 2024 New Year?

Pixabay - TheDigitalArtist/Pete Linforth

Pete Kelly

Friday, January 5th, 2024 1:05pm

Scientists have discovered a new antibiotic that has the potential to kill bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used drugs. Antibiotic resistance is a significant global health concern, and this finding represents a promising development in the ongoing battle against drug-resistant bacteria. The new antibiotic could be a crucial tool in treating infections that were previously difficult to address, offering hope for more effective medical treatments in the future. Swiss scientists say this could completely eliminate one of three antibiotic-resistant infections. 

Read more here from Good News Network!

Pixabay - ElisaRiva

Pete Kelly

Friday, January 5th, 2024 11:50am

Scientists have found a connection between memory and a protein called LIMK1 in the brain. This protein helps shape the structures that neurons use to communicate, allowing us to form memories. In an experiment with mice, researchers modified the LIMK1 protein, essentially creating a "molecular switch." When this switch was activated, it improved the mice's ability to form and recall memories, and even slowed down memory decline in older mice.

The researchers hope it could lead to new drugs that might help with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. Their next steps involve more research to prove the effectiveness of these potential treatments.

Read more now from Freethink!

Pixabay - Pexels

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 15th, 2023 10:19am

Last week, 12-year-old Isaac Winfield opened a gift bank to help parents who can't buy presents for their kids. On the first day, 200 children came, and they received baby toys, books, dolls, teddy bears, Nerf guns, blankets, toiletries, and more! He's previously helped open up food banks in his community.

Read more from Good News Network!

Pixabay - albertoadan

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 15th, 2023 9:52am

Detroit just set up the first wireless-charging road in the U.S.! It uses Electreon technology, with coils in the road that charge electric vehicles while they drive over them. The charging happens through a magnetic field when a car with a compatible receiver is nearby. In 2024, they plan to upgrade more of the city with inductive charging!

Read more here from Good News Network

Pixabay - PublicDomainPictures

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 8th, 2023 10:26am

Geologists at MIT have found a clay mineral which could help lower global temperatures! This mineral found on the seafloor called smectite, can capture carbon over millions of years. Researchers believe these minerals may have contributed towards the ice ages as they were created after major tectonic events. Used in small amounts, it's possible these minerals could help offset increasing global temperatures.

Read more about smectites here!

Pixabay - Myriams-Fotos

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 8th, 2023 10:05am

Biochemists at Stanford University have developed a hydrogel treatment for diabetes which can treat patients for up to four months with just a single dose! This hydrogel is easier to manufacture, inject and eliminates the need for daily or weekly injections. 

So far it's been successfully tested on rats and now it just needs to be tested in larger animals, including humans. With 38 million people in the United States with diabetes, and nearly 100 million with prediabetes, this could help a large part of our population live better lives!

Read more about it here!

Pixabay - geniuserp

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 8th, 2023 9:48am

According to Good News Network, crime rates have been falling in major US cities over the past year!

In Detroit, they are on pace for their lowest homicide rate in 60 years, with homicide rates down 18%.

In Chicago, shootings and homicides have dropped 19%, and have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Other major cities, including Los Angeles, have reported similar drops in homicides, with Los Angeles homicides falling by 25% year-over-year.

Pixabay - Efraimstochter

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 1st, 2023 1:00pm

Charlie Jeffers, a high school senior in California started Pass The Bricks in 2020 to provide kids with LEGO bricks who couldn't afford them. Since then, his team has collected used LEGO bricks, restored them and distributed the bricks to over 3,000 kids in need!

Read more now from Good News Network!

NASA

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 1st, 2023 12:00pm

NASA is developing a new supersonic jet that's considerably quieter and nearly twice as fast as the Concorde! The plane, called the X-59, could fly passengers from New York to London in just 1.5 hours.

Read more from Good News Network!

Pixabay - minka2507

Pete Kelly

Friday, December 1st, 2023 10:00am

The FDA could soon approve an anti-aging drug for dogs that could extend the life of your dog! A biotech company called Loyal has developed an injection to be given every 3 to 6 months for the duration of a dog’s adult life, which would cost an average of less than $100 a month. 

Read more here from Freethink!

Pixabay - Kanenori

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 17th, 2023 4:25pm

From Freethink: MIT and Harvard University scientists have devised an effective method for transforming carbon dioxide into formate, a substance that exists in liquid or solid states. Formate can be utilized similarly to hydrogen or methanol, serving as a fuel source for powering fuel cells and producing electricity. This innovation can be applied both in the atmosphere and in the exhaust emissions from power plants, contributing to the generation of additional electricity.

Pixabay - mkupiec7

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 17th, 2023 4:19pm

From Good News Network: A new study found that 70 to 75% of people can reduce their blood pressure just by reducing the amount of salt they put on their food. Just one teaspoon of salt less per day had the same effect as medication for some participants!

Note: We're not medical experts, so please talk to your doctor before discontinuing any medication.

Pixabay - Storme22k

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 17th, 2023 4:01pm

From Good News Network: Based on a nationwide study conducted by the FDA and CDC, there has been a significant reduction of approximately 25% in smoking rates among teenagers in high school compared to the previous year. The survey indicates that only 12.6% of high school students currently use tobacco products, marking a notable decline from the 21% recorded in 2009.

Pixabay - Pexels

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 10th, 2023 4:40pm

According to MIT and Freethink: A new series of reactors at MIT are being worked on that would create carbon-free hydrogen fuel solely by using the sun! According to the MIT team's concept, it could harness up to 40% of the sun's heat to generate the hydrogen. The best designs at the moment can only harness a fraction of that, and are low-yield and high-cost.

Pixabay - PhotoMIX-Company

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 10th, 2023 4:02pm

From Good News Network: A new toothpaste containing tiny amounts of peanut has been tested to reduce the effect of peanut allergies and build immunity over time! The worst side effect was a slight itch in the mouth. No word yet on when it'll be available. 

Read more here!

Pixabay - Pexels

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 10th, 2023 12:00am

According to Good News Network, a French company has developed generically enhanced houseplants that can remove approximately 30 times more pollutants from your home's air than a normal plant. The plant is expected to cost roughly $200 and is still waiting approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Pixabay - geralt

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 3:00pm

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have engineered a bacteria that can break down plastics into liquids, which could then be used to make makeup, perfumes, medications and more!

YouTube - CBC News: The National

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 2:00pm

According to the CBC, Marcel LeBrun sold his successful social media monitoring company and is now using that money to build 99 tiny homes for the homeless in Canada. Each home has a kitchen, a living room and bedroom, a bathroom, and solar panels on the roof. He's even providing jobs on-site to help them further.

YouTube - Central Oregon Daily News

Pete Kelly

Friday, November 3rd, 2023 12:02pm

On Halloween, a group of teenagers in Oregon came across a candy bucket which was empty. Instead of just moving onto the next home, they helped re-fill the bowl with their own candy and encouraged others to help out too! 

Watch the video below, and read more about it here!

Pixabay - bhumann34

Pete Kelly

Friday, October 13th, 2023 4:04pm

Reported in the Times Union, National Grid predicts that heating bills could drop nearly 20 percent this winter compared to last year! They say due to a combination of a warmer winter, lower natural gas prices and other things will cause bills to drop roughly 18.3 percent! This is expected to save the average customer nearly $30/month.

Read more here from the Times Union.

📷 Pixabay - Tumisu

Pete Kelly

Friday, October 6th, 2023 12:50pm

A small strand of RNA could be crucial to fighting cancer and other diseases using our own immune system. Our bodies have T-cells, which specialize in fighting pathogens like tumor cells. These T-cells can learn how to fight foreign antigens and remember how to fight them for up to 70 years. This is how vaccines work - they train these memory cells to recognize specific enemies.

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts found a tiny molecule called let-7 that helps these memory cells do their job better. When T-cells have more let-7, they're less likely to be tricked by cancer cells and more likely to become powerful memory cells. If we can boost let-7 in T-cells, we might be able to help our immune system remember and fight cancer better. This could lead to better cancer treatments in the future.

Read more now from Good News Network!

📷 MIT

Pete Kelly

Friday, October 6th, 2023 10:25am

With 97% of the world's water undrinkable, this new passive solar-powered desalination device can produce 4-6 liters of drinkable water every hour! Because it requires no electricity, cost estimates put it cheaper than producing tap water and could help water scarcity.

Read more here - Earth.com

Read more here - MIT News

📷 Re:wild/Fred Jordão

Pete Kelly

Friday, October 6th, 2023 9:13am

The Pernambuco holly, a small tree once thought to be extinct, has been rediscovered in northeastern Brazil! This is the 9th species rediscovered from the Search for Lost Species since 2017. The project assistant for the search, Juliana Alencar said,

“Nature surprises us. Finding a species that hasn't been heard of in nearly two centuries doesn't happen every day. It was an incredible moment, and the emotion of it was felt throughout the entire team. When I looked at Professor Milton Groppo, I saw that he had tears in his eyes.”

This can give us hope that things that we thought were once lost, can still be found again!

You can read more here!