Good News Notes: “As Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion, crowds hailed his arrival, crying out, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.’ Some Pharisees on hand didn’t like that and asked him, ‘Rebuke your disciples.’ To which Jesus responded, ‘I tell you, if they keep…
Surprise Donation Gives New Life To Whitewater Canal Trail
Good News Notes: “A very generous and unexpected donation will help make the Whitewater Canal Trail whole. Whitewater Canal Trail President Shirley Lamb tells Eagle Country 99.3 that an anonymous donor has gifted nearly $700,000, which will enable the building of new trails that will connect existing trail sections into a continuous 11-mile trail. “This…
A blood test could diagnose depression and bipolar disorder
Good News Notes: “In adults, a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes the growth and survival of nerve cells and is known to play a vital role in learning, memory, and maintaining brain flexibility, or ‘plasticity.’ Psychological stress reduces blood levels of one form of the protein, called mature BDNF (mBDNF), and low levels are…
Israeli researchers find a new bee species, amid worries about declining swarms
Good News Notes: “Researchers studying the effect of eucalyptus trees on ecosystems in Israel have found and identified a new species of bee, amid concern over damage wreaked on wild populations due to habitat destruction and other causes. Little is known yet about the new species, named Lasioglossum dorchini, but researchers plan to study it to…
Southern Railway: Dumped bikes donated to charity
Good News Notes: “Every month dozens of bikes are dumped and left at train stations. Southern used to sell them at auction, but now donates them to organisations which make them roadworthy, and find new homes for them. Last year 103 refurbished bikes were donated to NHS workers, this year four new charities in the…
This circular economy start-up recycles chopsticks into sustainable furniture
Good News Notes: “Most people would look at an old pair of chopsticks and see nothing but trash. At a push, maybe something their kid could use in a school art project. Felix Böck saw desks, tables, chopping blocks, even dominos – and the basis of a thriving business that shows the circular economy in…
Samsung’s Galaxy Upcycling turns old phones into IoT devices
Good News Notes: “A few years ago, Samsung announced a sustainability initiative called ‘Galaxy Upcycling’ an effort to repurpose and reuse older smartphones. We haven’t heard much about it since then, but today at CES 2021 Samsung announced an evolution of that program called Galaxy Upcycling at home. At its core, the idea is to let people…
Vuori Vows to Help Eliminate Plastic Waste From Oceans
Good News Notes: “Vuori, the California-based activewear brand, is committed to keeping the oceans clean. So it is partnering with CleanHub, a company dedicated to freeing the planet from plastic pollution, to calculate its plastic usage and invest in programs to remove an equal or larger amount from the environment. In a blog post on…
Discovery of new praying mantis species from the time of the dinosaurs
Good News Notes: “A McGill-led research team has identified a new species of praying mantis thanks to imprints of its fossilized wings. It lived in Labrador, in the Canadian Subarctic around 100 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs, in the Late Cretaceous period. The researchers believe that the fossils of the new…
Pair upcycle plastic waste into benches for public in a Hong Kong town, showing the potential of a circular economy to reduce marine pollution | South China Morning Post
Good News Notes: “Old milk containers, juice jugs and toy cups are not the type of products usually associated with high-concept furniture, but two designers in Hong Kong have taken these and other items and upcycled them into stylish pieces of public furniture. Tasked with creating a collection of 12 benches for the town hall…