What better way to start the weekend than with some positive news nuggets?
Izzy Wheels
Meet the Irish sisters who are turning wheelchairs into fashion statements. Izzy Wheels, founded by Ailbhe and Izzy Keane, has collaborated with over a hundred famous designers to create award-winning wheel covers that allow wheelchair users to express their personalities through disability fashion. “Izzy Wheels empower wheelchair users to make a statement about themselves, it makes a person’s wheelchair into a friendly object rather than something purely functional,” said Izzy, who was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down, per the company’s website. “Having stylish wheels on your chair that match your outfit or show off your interests immediately addresses the chair and opens conversation.”
Free Entry
Today is the start of America's National Park Week, an annual celebration that was first held in 1991 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the National Park Service. This year it runs from April 20-28, and it’s kicking off with free entry to every national park in the country. “National Park Week invites us to reflect on what parks mean to us and what they provide for our communities, as well as commit to protecting these cherished places,” the National Park Foundation writes on its website. While big name parks like Yosemite (pictured) and Zion are perhaps the most well known, there are a whopping 429 sites in total, ranging from scenic trails to war memorials and historic homes.
Tonight's The Night! Whether you're in the northern or southern hemisphere, the annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight.
Dinosaur Track Site
Roughly 150 million years ago, a long-necked dinosaur tromped through present-day Colorado. At some point, the creature decided to change direction, making a wide, 270-degree turn as it walked. Today, the sauropod’s 134 consecutive footprints - created during the Late Jurassic period - make up the largest continuous dinosaur trackway on the planet. And now, they’re federally protected for researchers and the public to access. Now, the US Forest Service announced it purchased three parcels of land in San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Two of the parcels - which together total 27 acres - encompass the 106 yards of sauropod tracks, known as the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Track site.
Latest Ever?
On 13 February 1919, a reader in Colorado checked out Ivanhoe, Walter Scott’s historical romance novel, from the Fort Collins Public Library. The book was finally returned to the library - now named the Poudre River Public Library District - 105 years after its due date. This must surely be a record for a late return. Luckily for the unknown reader who checked out the book, the library stopped enforcing overdue materials fines in November 2020. Otherwise, about $14,000 would be due!
eWolf
With their roaring diesel engines, tugboats push, pull and guide much larger vessels into port and out to sea. They are small but mighty - and incredibly dirty, spewing huge amounts of toxic exhaust and planet-warming emissions every year. Now, however, the humble harbour craft is going electric. America’s first fully battery-powered tugboat - called the eWolf - recently docked at the Port of San Diego, where officials are working to decarbonize not just tugs but also diesel cranes and trucks.
EPA Cracks Down on PFAS
For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set limits for six types of hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in drinking water. Known as "forever chemicals" because they do not naturally break down, PFAS are common in the environment and pose significant health risks. The EPA's action will reduce PFAS exposure for about 100 million people, officials said. Public health advocates called the limits "historic" and estimated they could prevent thousands of illnesses.
Hydrogen Ginetta G20
Hydrogen-fueled combustion engines have slowly emerged in the mobility world, designed to run everything from race cars to pleasure boats. The latest zero emissions hydrogen ICE to rumble to life was born with a special mission at its core: claim an all-out land speed record or two for the emerging hydrogen-combustion space. A team of students at the University of Bath in south west England have successfully got their first house-built hydrogen-burning prototype engine up and running and are moving forward with testing. Once ready, the record-targeting engine will be a Ford 2.3-liter EcoBoost adapted to hydrogen that will be mounted in the gorgeous Ginetta G20 (pictured) in pursuit of myriad hydrogen-combustion land speed records.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
On This Day
20 April 2008: American race car driver Danica Patrick won the IndyCar 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar championship event.
Mood Booster
Enjoy a flying visit to France's remarkable Mont Saint Michel.