Not All News is Bad!

Researchers may have found an effective, green way to remove microplastics from our water using readily available plant materials. Their device was found to capture up to 99.9% of a wide variety of microplastics known to pose a health risk to humans.

Source: Plant-based filter removes up to 99.9% of microplastics from water

Wow!

Among the rookie recruits monitoring New York’s pools, at least four were born in the Eisenhower administration. But they all passed the notorious lifeguard test, and the city needs them.

Source: ‘These Old Guys?’ Short on Lifeguards, New York City Finds New Recruits

Great idea for all concerned.

The United States is pivoting away from fossil fuels and toward wind, solar and other renewable energy, even in areas dominated by the oil and gas industries.

Source: The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think

The progress has been pretty amazing.

Guoliang “Greg” Liu of the Department of Chemistry has discovered a new method of recycling plastics — from milk cartons, food containers, and plastic bags — into soap. The method: Heat the long carbon chains in the plastics then quickly cool them.

Source: An unexpected way to upcycle: Plastic waste transforms into soap

Pretty cool.

A family of seven has anointed their 82-year-old neighbor an honorary grandpa and makes sure he’s invited to every holiday and gathering.

Source: Family of 7 takes in elderly neighbor as honorary grandpa

So cool.

A family in Lowell, Massachusetts, had a close call last Christmas when a family member choking on their dinner was saved by a present sitting under the tree. Now, they are paying it forward by donating more than 200 LifeVac anti-choking devices to local schools. “I knew right away when I handed over the anti-choking device on Christmas, I was…

Source: Family donates hundreds of anti-choking devices after Christmas gift saves man’s life

Had no idea these existed. Cool.

It turns out even short, friendly interactions with canines can be good for our health.

Source: Petting other people’s dogs, even briefly, can boost your health

Heck, I could’a told ya that!

Benny is a 3-month-old kitten with many duties in his new role as library cat at Swanton Public Library.

Source: From the streets to the shelves: Former stray cat finds next life in public library

Doesn’t every library need a cat?

Robots, computers, and algorithms are hunting for potential new therapies in ways humans can’t—by processing huge volumes of data and building previously unimagined molecules.

Source: AI Is Building Highly Effective Antibodies That Humans Can’t Even Imagine

Another example of the up-side of AI.

With wildfires blazing across Canada and blotting out the sun in much of America’s Midwest and Western Europe, not to mention the onset of California’s “wildfire season,” the rush is on to create better early response technology and even ways to precisely predict breakouts and early intervention, which offers the best chance of controlling wildfires. […]

Source: Fight Fire With — AI? Artificial Intelligence Tackles Wildfires

Another cool use of machine learning (aka AI).