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The baby’s infectious laughter has melted hearts across the country

Source: Baby hears for the first time: Watch as baby gets first hearing aids, giggles uncontrollably at sound of big sister’s voice – CBS News

Infectious indeed!

A trend of planting wildflowers on solar sites could maintain habitat for disappearing bees and butterflies

Source: Solar Farms Shine a Ray of Hope on Bees and Butterflies – Scientific American

Seems like a great idea.

Canadian air traffic controllers have bought hundreds of pizzas for their American counterparts over the past few days in what has become an industry-wide show of support during the U.S. government’s partial shutdown.

Source: Canadian air traffic controllers buy pizza for U.S. colleagues hit by shutdown – 680 NEWS

A very cool show of support.

Two hours after I realized my clutch was gone, I heard a knock on my front door.

Source: I left my wallet on a bus in D.C. Here’s how I got it back. – The Washington Post

Another quote: “An undercurrent of decency runs through this town and shows up in unexpected ways.” – I find that very reassuring.

(A note about paywalls.)

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. cancer death rate has hit a milestone: It’s been falling for at least 25 years, according to a new report. Lower smoking rates are translating into fewer deaths. Advances in early detection and treatment also are having a positive impact, experts say. But it’s not all good news. Obesity-related cancer deaths are rising, and prostate cancer deaths are no longer dropping, said Rebecca Siegel, lead author of the American Cancer Society report published Tuesday.

Source: US cancer death rate hits milestone: 25 years of decline

This is so encouraging.

After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, 81-year-old Ron Robert decided to enroll in university as a personal experiment to see if education could keep the chronic neurodegenerative disease at bay.

Source: Following Alzheimer’s diagnosis, this 81-year-old Ont. man enrolled in university | CTV News

Honestly, I think this is very brave. I hope it serves him well, and sets an example for others.

Pam Bales left the firm pavement of the Base Road and stepped onto the snow-covered Jewell Trail to begin her mid-October climb.

Source: Footprints in the snow lead to an emotional rescue | Outdoors | unionleader.com

I’m not going to give it away, but there’s a twist in this story that makes it absolutely amazing.

A patient in Bulgaria recently received one of the first 3D-printed rib transplants as part of a potentially lifesaving operation. It demonstrated a new approach to create artificial ribs, using a process that’s both cheaper and materially superior to alternative methods.

Source: Patient Receives 3D-Printed Rib Implant in Breakthrough Procedure | Digital Trends

This is fascinating. It’s something that works today, with some amazing promise for the future as well.

A rare condition that left Simon Wheatcroft completely blind by age 27 has not slowed the marathon runner down, as he tests new technologies he hopes will help the visually-impaired

Source: Running blind: Unable to see since age 27, marathon runner Simon Wheatcroft tests new technologies he hopes will help the visually-impaired – CBS News

The technology is impressive, but not nearly as impressive as Mr. Wheatcroft.

A Muslim youth group in Philadelphia joined a national effort to clean up U.S. parks shuttered by the government shutdown.

Source: Muslim youth clean up Independence Mall amid government shutdown

I’ve run across a couple of stories now of various groups banding together to help maintain during the shutdown.