Let’s face it, 2020 has been a horrific year; murder hornets, devastating wildfires in Australia, a nonstop pandemic, and so on. It’s easy to see all of the bad, it’s on every news network in all the papers and on everyone’s social media feeds.
But what you don’t hear is the good news, such as the wildfires that were brought under control and the national parks that are preparing for a year of renewal in 2021. You don’t hear about those things because unfortunately, bad news sells and that’s what the news needs to do to survive. So I thought for a change I’d bring good news, things that will make you feel good and smile.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
A Norwegian study has revealed a way to cut down on bird deaths at wind farms. By painting one of the blades black an effect called motion smear is cut down. This allows the birds to actually see the blades, cutting down strikes up to 70 percent. It is commonly known that wind farms are given a government exemption to the environmental impact of bird deaths. Hopefully, this will grant our feathered friends a much-needed reprieve.
Next, an engineering student in the Philippines has invented a new type of plastic dubbed AuREUS. AuREUS is created using waste fruit and vegetable matter and can be easily attached to the side of buildings. AuREUS can convert UV light into energy and works even when not facing directly towards the sun because it can pick up sunlight bounced off nearby buildings. This has great applications for reducing the environmental impact caused by electrical usage in homes, and it will be exciting to see where it goes in the future.
And finally, the WHO has declared the continent of Africa to be Wild Polio free, following a massive vaccination campaign. This campaign started by Nelson Mandella after a study revealed that approximately 75000 children were left paralyzed by the virus. Met with many difficulties including geography and militias, it is great to hear that a terrible disease has finally been brought under control.
I will finish off by reminding everyone that as bad as things may seem there is lots of good in the world. The news media has made it difficult to see, but there is plenty of good. Just make sure to look around, if anything it will raise your spirits and brighten your day.
