Prosthetic fin could save injured rare turtles

Good News Notes: “Researchers from AUT BioDesign Lab have developed a prosthetic fin to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. Healthy oceans need sea turtles, but they are unfortunately frequently injured by human factors such as boats and fishing nets, with all seven species now endangered. A damaged fin limits swimming range and survival and prevents female…

Volunteer to plant trees at these Staten Island parks in April

Good News Notes: “Spring is officially here and NYC Parks is calling on Staten Islanders to get their hands dirty to help grow a greener city by volunteering at tree planting events in April. Earth Day last year was unlike any other as the world shifted to digital celebrations amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Now,…

4 Urban Gardens In Mumbai

Good News Notes: “With our cities choc-a-bloc with concrete, traffic and people, there’s not much greenery in most of India’s urban spaces. This also holds true when it comes to the fresh produce that we shop for in cities. Surprisingly, Mumbai, despite being one of our most densely populated cities, has places right in the…

Coffee pulp helps Costa Rican forests grow back from deforestation

Good News Notes: “Just like us, forests move faster with a little coffee in their system. A recent experiment tested whether coffee pulp, a leftover of the coffee growing process, could help bring Costa Rica’s rainforests back to life. Researchers from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa tested two plots to see how the coffee…

How one nonprofit helps at-risk teenage girls in DC and Montgomery Co.

Good News Notes: “Crittenton Services of Greater Washington aims to help hundreds of at-risk teenage girls across D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, every year — even during the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for people from all walks of life and at-risk youth are no exception. “The pandemic has certainly impacted the young…

These biodegradable facemasks bloom into flowers when planted after use

Good News Notes: “A Dutch designer has created biodegradable facemasks made from rice paper that will transform into flowers when planted. Face masks are now part of our daily lives and are likely to remain so for months, if not years. But while they may be essential in stopping the spread of coronavirus pandemic, they…

When foster kids have no belongings, one Columbus nonprofit steps in

Good News Notes: “One Columbus nonprofit has been helping foster kids adjust to new environments. Stitched Together provides Hope Cases to children that are removed from their homes. The organization started two years ago after Karie Griffin, a licensed foster parent, saw foster kids arrive at their new homes with no belongings. Stitched Together collects donations of…

Saudi Arabia sees fields of green with major tree-planting drive

Good News Notes: “Saudi Arabia aims to plant 10 billion trees in the coming decades as part of an ambitious campaign unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday to reduce carbon emissions and combat pollution and land degradation. The de facto ruler of the world’s top oil exporter said that Saudi Arabia aims…

‘Balloon Buddies’ Bring Big Joy to Residents of Discovery Village at Boynton Beach

Good News Notes: “Residents of area senior living community Discovery Village At Boynton Beach have recently begun receiving some very special deliveries: ‘Balloon Buddies,’ courtesy of South Florida balloon artist Lenor Ryan. Ryan, through the national ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ program, now aims to handcraft and personally deliver a buddy to each of the 57 residents of the…