Every day the Good Good Good team collects the best good news in the world and shares it with our community. Here are the highlights for this week!
If you want to get good news in your inbox every day, join the Goodnewsletter — the free daily newsletter designed to leave you feeling hopeful.
The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —
After it was damaged in the wildfire, the Lahaina community is celebrating the recovery of a 151-year-old banyan tree
In August 2023, the Maui wildfires devastated the community of Lahaina: 102 people lost their lives, countless homes were destroyed, and wildlife and flora were devastated — including a 151-year-old banyan tree.
Now, one year later, parts of the tree have begun to regrow, with hundreds of new leaves, and even fruit growing on some branches — and the town is celebrating the landmark’s recovery.
Volunteers and arborists have been tending to the tree, which has been a gathering place for generations. It extends 60 feet tall, and its trunks cover almost one full acre of land.
Why is this good news? This same banyan tree was a source of hope for a devastated community after the fire cleared — because while it’s leaves and smaller branches were completely destroyed, the trunk and base of the tree appeared to be unscathed. Now, that image of restoration and rebuilding holds even more promise for Lahaina.
A new, national survey found that key mental health measures for teens have improved since 2021 — especially among girls
A new CDC survey, taken in 2023 by more than 20,000 high school students across the U.S., found that 53% of girls reported extreme depressive symptoms — down from 57% in 2021. The rate for boys remained about the same from 2021 to 2023 — around 28%.
While that might not seem like a big change — it matters, and is important progress to celebrate, as even the smallest improvement in youth mental health is good news, and a sign that efforts to address the teen mental health crisis are working.
For example, one expert said that these improvements could be due to an increased focus on getting teens earlier access to mental health services — like right at pediatricians’ offices.
It’s equally important to note that there is still a lot of progress to be made — because the number of teens reporting persistent sadness in the 2023 survey was still higher than at any other point in the last decade, aside from 2021.
→ Read more
The U.S. FDA just approved the first non-injectable drug for severe allergic reactions
Providing the first-ever needle-free alternative to injectible epinephrine, the U.S. FDA just approved a nasal spray that can stop severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.
Called Neffy, the drug is approved for use in adults and children weighing more than 66 pounds. It’s given as a single dose sprayed into one nostril, a second dose can be given if needed — similar to the injectable drug.
It can be extremely stressful, as one expert put it, “deciding when to inject epinephrine to themselves or a child” — which can cause a dangerous, potentially life-threatening delay. And when it comes to an allergic reaction, “earlier administration is better.”
What’s the nuance? While the shelf-life is significantly longer than injectables (30 months vs. 18 months), and co-pays can help bring the cost down, the cost of a two-pack of Neffy is still prohibitively high. Now that it’s been approved, though, and as more companies start to produce it, it could help lower the cost.
A teen is flying solo to all seven continents to raise money for childhood cancer research
A 19-year-old from Florida is on his way to becoming the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents — and he’s doing it for a good cause.
Ethan Guo was inspired to make a difference after his cousin was diagnosed with stage-four blood cancer. He’s hoping the attention from his record-breaking feat will help him reach his goal of raising $1 million for childhood cancer research.
Taking off from Memphis, Tennessee in May, so far he’s made stops in Switzerland, and is on his way to Greece.
Guo is looking to cover 50,000 miles over 100 days and stops in 60 countries. So far, he’s raised $20,000 on his journey. And while the risks of the journey are plentiful, he says accepts them because “this is what I believe in.”
Saving the species from extinction, a lab-grown starfish was just released into the wild for the first time
Due to sea star wasting disease, lower oxygen levels in seawater, and rising temperatures, starfish populations — the original keystone species — are at risk around the globe. One species, the sunflower star was nearly wiped out completely, with its numbers plummeting by over 90% in the last decade.
In 2019, marine biologist Jason Hodin stepped up to save the sea stars from extinction, carefully growing and raising several generations of sunflower starfish at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs from a sample he rescued.
And now, five years in the making, Hodin and his research team just made history by releasing their lab-grown starfish into the wild for the first time. While they can’t “repopulate the entire ocean,” they can help lead the way and show others how it’s done.
More good news for sea creatures:
- Scientists discovered a new, rare coral species off the coast of the Arabian peninsula.
- Breakthrough new research shows that the tiniest ocean creatures play a huge role in carbon removal.
- Scientists discovered a new animal with 200 legs that crawls the deep sea floor cleaning up ocean trash.
- A new method to eliminate harmful “forever chemicals” in water uses “oxidizing bubbles” — and it’s 99.2% effective.
- Revolutionizing treatment for people with type 1 diabetes, a new “smart” insulin responds in real-time to changing blood sugar levels.
- Newly developed water-powered “electric bandages” help heal wounds faster than conventional methods.
The world’s largest 3D-printed neighborhood is almost complete in Texas
In 2022, ICON’s massive 3D printer began “construction” on the Wolf Ranch community outside of Austin, Texas — the final houses are now being printed. Once completed, it will be the world’s largest 3D-printed community.
When compared to traditional construction, 3D printing homes is faster, less costly, and minimizes waste. A single-story three- to four-bedroom home takes about three weeks to finish printing.
The concrete walls are also resistant to water, mold, termites, and extreme weather.
Why is this good news? In addition to the fact that traditional construction contributes 27% of global greenhouse emissions, UN-Habitat also predicts that by 2030, three billion people around the world will require improved housing.
3D-printing homes, especially in disaster-prone areas, offers an efficient, viable alternative — and neighborhoods like this help prove their effectiveness.
→ Read more
The number of children not attending school globally has declined by nearly 40% since 2000
According to the most recent data from UNESCO, 244 million children globally were not in primary or secondary school in 2023 — down from 390 million in 2000, representing nearly a 40% reduction.
Additionally, the global population of children has gone up in that same time period, so this decline is even more encouraging and significant.
While progress has slowed in the last five years, it’s incredibly good news that so many millions more children are getting the opportunity to receive an education than 20 years ago.
Looking even closer, the gap between girls and boys not attending school has nearly closed — historically, many more girls were not attending school than boys.
→ Read more
With a 96% success rate, MIT scientists reversed opioid overdoses using a ‘Narcan sensor’ implant
In 2023, more than 100,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. Researchers at MIT and Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital have created a new device they hope will help to save more lives.
The iSOS is an implantable sensor — about the size of a stick of gum — that is placed under the skin, monitors vitals, and when it determines that an overdose has occurred, it rapidly administers a dose of naloxone.
While further testing must be done to reach clinical development, this approach could change the trajectory of the opioid crisis, helping those at the highest risk — like folks living with substance use conditions who have already survived an overdose.
Why is this good news? Up until this point, the most effective way to save a life from an opioid overdose is for a first responder or bystander to immediately deliver naloxone — often in the form of Narcan nasal spray. But responders can’t always reach a person in time, and overdoses can cause permanent brain damage in less than three minutes, and heartbreakingly, death just minutes later.
We can’t be the only ones whose week felt a little emptier without the Olympics on our screens. Here are some more good moments you might have missed as the Paris 2024 Olympics wrapped up:
- We’re still trying to bottle the Olympic spirit to use for the next four years.
- A commentator for the BBC is going viral for all the right reasons.
- An Olympics Refugee Team member showed us all how to speak up for what’s right, no matter the cost.
- 26 of Team USA’s 40 gold medals were won by women, a record-setting accomplishment.
- After enjoying free health care in the Olympic Village, a USA Rugby player is universal health care’s newest (and most passionate?) advocate.
- Lauren Scruggs made history as the first Black American woman and the first Black, out lesbian to win an individual fencing medal.
- We’ve got one more for you at the end of this Goodnewsletter!
By the way... these roundups aren’t ending just because the Olympics did. We’re actually just getting started.
The Olympic high jump gold medalist just donated $24,000 of her prize money to support animal shelters in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh took gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the women’s high jump event and announced she’d be donating some of the prize money to help animals.
In announcing the donation, Mahuchikh acknowledged the crisis of homeless animals in Ukraine right now and encouraged people to support shelters caring for these animals — and to adopt an animal if they’re able.
A “cat mom” to her “favorite jumper,” which she adopted from a shelter, Mahuchikh said, “if you have the opportunity to save an animal, save it!”
In addition to supporting UAnimals, an animal rescue and environmental organization along with four animal shelters, the gold medalist also donated some of her winnings to support the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as to a psychological support fund.
→ Read more
More good news of the week —
With human-wildlife contact on the rise, Wyoming just introduced a new Instagram filter to keep visitors safe. It’s also safer for the animals, who can be cast out from their herds or may avoid revisiting these areas altogether after a human encounter.
With fewer than 600 in the wild, one of the world’s rarest animals was just born at a UK zoo. Related to domestic donkeys, Persian onagers hail from the semi-desert regions of Iran, and conservationists say this new foal could help safeguard the species.
A Colorado utility company is rolling out a $440 million plan to deploy heat pumps and electrify buildings. In a unique test case, Colorado actually directs utility companies to make energy efficiency upgrades and holds them accountable for helping the state reach its climate goals.
Google and Selena Gomez are partnering on a new $10 million initiative to compensate teachers who take mental health trainings. Google searches for “teen mental health” have doubled in the last four years, reaching an all-time high in 2023.
South Korea’s recycling, trash, and compost system allows residents to recycle 98% of their food waste. Amounting to around 5 million tons annually, the food waste is processed into animal feed and fertilizer for farms across the country.
Related: Part of a groundbreaking zero-waste strategy, Milan became the first major city to enforce a citywide food waste policy in 2015.
Hundreds of extremely rare baby hammerhead sharks were spotted off the coast of Australia. Humans pose the largest threat to the sharks, with Australia allowing several tons to be caught annually, alongside illegal fishing and accidental bycatches.
The world’s first wind-powered electric ship-charging station just debuted in the Belgian North Sea. Alongside innovations like hydrogen ferries and innovative sail systems, bringing clean energy to the seas is no longer a pipe dream, and it comes with seemingly endless benefits.
A grocery store chain in Canada is getting EV chargers at more than 130 locations. With at least 500 charging ports being installed in August alone, the stores will be getting fast chargers, which can get EVs from 10% to 80% in about 15 minutes.
California and Nevada just joined the movement to ban slavery in prisons, adding it to the 2024 ballot. While the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery, a loophole still effectively legalizes involuntary servitude as punishment for convicts.
After a weatherman had an on-air panic attack, his coworkers stepped in to help while he recovered. The now-viral clip illustrates beautifully the difference a supportive work environment can make for those with anxiety — or any kind of mental health struggle.
Philadelphia just rolled out free unlimited transit passes for 25,000 low-income residents. The innovative program is helping remove transportation barriers for residents, a matter of both economic and social justice.
In an effort to restore the country’s tree cover, Kenyans are using an app to help plant 15 million new trees. The Jazamati app helps locals select and plant trees based on their ecological zones, it’s part of a 10-year effort to achieve 30% tree cover by 2032.
The White House announced people will save thousands of dollars on some of Medicare’s most popular and costliest drugs. It’s a landmark deal for the program, which provides health care coverage for more than 67 million older and disabled Americans.
Pakistan’s capital just launched a free bus service to offer reliable, safe transportation to women workers, students, and teachers. The pink bus service project also aims to help connect rural areas with urban centers and schools across Islamabad.
In a “game-changing discovery,” a Colorado biologist just found tadpoles for a dwindling frog species. The result of years of conservation work from wildlife experts, the wild boreal toad tadpoles were discovered in a wetland area at 11,500 feet of elevation.
