Some bite-sized chunks of upbeat news to brighten the day.
Is That an Audi?
As the saying goes, “It takes years, sometimes decades to build up a brand’s reputation, and just seconds to destroy it.” It took over 15 years to establish Tesla as the world’s leading electric vehicle company. Now, after just a few short weeks of Elon Musk’s shenanigans across the globe, disillusioned owners are finding novel ways to divorce themselves from the brand and are becoming inventive in finding humorous ways to distance themselves from Tesla. Such as removing their Tesla emblems and swapping them for badges from other automakers - like this one that is now adorned with full Audi A5 badging.
Turbine Made
Most wind turbines have a life span of about 20 years, meaning the massive infrastructure boom of wind energy is now generating some waste. The good news? Innovative professionals are finding ways to recycle decommissioned wind turbines - and the newest case study might even help you “hang ten.” Acciona, a global renewable energy company, has partnered with professional surfer Josh Kerr to create the world’s first surfboards made from decommissioned wind turbine blades. Ten prototype boards have been made as part of Acciona’s Turbine Made initiative, which is Australia’s first program to explore innovative ways to transform retired turbine blades into new products.
Christina's Corner
In Pocatello, Idaho, the last video rental store has closed, but owner David Kraning preserved part of the collection for a special customer. For 35-year-old Christina Cavanaugh, who has Down syndrome and is mostly nonverbal, renting movies has been a vital routine for over 15 years. To maintain this cherished activity, Kraning created 'Christina's Corner' in his adjacent convenience store.
Seeing Again
Children born with leber congenital amaurosis, a rare condition that causes blindness, can now see, following a groundbreaking gene therapy treatment conducted in the U.K. in 2020. The one-hour procedure involved injecting healthy copies of the affected AIPL1 gene into the back of an eye to "'kick-start' sensitivity," said The Telegraph. Four years after the treatment, all 11 children involved in the trial, who previously could barely distinguish between light and dark, reported being able to see shapes, find their toys and recognize faces.
Urban Sanctuaries
Hidden above Basel’s bustling streets lies a quiet environmental triumph: thousands of green rooftops teeming with life. Thanks to policies set decades ago, the Swiss city now boasts some of the most biodiverse green roofs in Europe, transforming once-unused spaces into urban sanctuaries. Unlike many cities that treat green roofs as decorative, Basel insists on native plants, fostering real ecological richness. These lush rooftops don’t just support biodiversity - they cool the air, absorb rainwater and reduce noise pollution.
ULEZ
In London, the implementation and expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has reduced air pollution by decreasing amounts of nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter and carbon emissions, according to new data by City Hall reviewed by independent air quality experts. In total, the ULEZ has reduced enough carbon emissions to equal the impact of removing 3 million one-way passenger trips from Heathrow Airport to New York City, according to the report.
Ice Cream?
Imagine seeing this as the next ice cream truck rolling through your neighborhood? Yep, Rivian and Ben & Jerry’s have teamed up to create the electric ice cream truck we’ve been waiting for. The “Scoop Truck” will be hitting the road to hand out ice cream this week and honestly, it looks pretty sweet. Sean Slattery of Ben & Jerry’s joked that “Rivian helped Ben & Jerry’s reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in a small way, while making things a little bit cooler… which, as an ice cream company, is extremely difficult to do.”
“Just keep waking up every day and take one step forward.” Mel Robbins
On This Day
11 March 1990: Following a vote in the parliament, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its independence from the U.S.S.R.
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