Not All News is Bad!

The baby had been diagnosed with an especially challenging case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Source: Surgeons first in world to perform open heart surgery on baby mid-delivery

Wow.

One year since the launch of routine malaria vaccinations in Africa, over 9.8 million doses of malaria vaccines (in total 12 million since 2023) have been delivered to 17 endemic countries through the Gavi malaria vaccination programme.

Source: One year anniversary of malaria vaccine rollout underscores remarkable progress, offers new data on potential impact

Vaccines work.

Research in Chile could help to provide drinking water for some of the world’s most arid places.

Source: Fog harvesting could provide water for the driest cities

Fascinating.

The late game show host donated $500,000 toward the renovation of a unique homeless shelter in Los Angeles.

Source: LA roller rink now a homeless shelter funded by ‘Jeopardy!’ host Alex Trebek

Very cool.

Now engineers from MIT and Freie Universität Berlin have developed a new type of glue that combines the waterproof stickiness of the mussels’ plaques with the germ-proof properties of another natural material: mucus.

Source: Engineers create new glue that mimics mussels and mucus to prevent bacterial buildup

OK, kinda icky, but still very cool.

In the wake of deadly disasters, communities across the United States have banded together to search for lost photographs stuck in rivers and trees, or buried in the rubble.

Source: How photos lost in American disasters find their way home, with a little help from people who care

I was briefly part of a similar effort years ago. It’s very touching.

Szabad founded Hearts in Bloom Buffalo last year after seeing the concept on social media in another part of the country. The nonprofit delivers flowers free of charge to widows and widowers on Valentine’s Day.

Source: Hearts in Bloom Buffalo makes Valentine’s Day easier on widows

What a cool idea.

With this new lightweight prosthetic hand, activities like tying knots, combing hair, and playing chess could become much simpler.

Source: China’s dexterous prosthetic hand ties knots, combs hair, plays chess

Fascinating.

A 19-year-old Asda worker is called a “godsend” after helping rescue a vulnerable customer after a fall.

Source: Quick-thinking Warrington delivery driver saves 81-year-old’s life

Well done!

The document charred by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is being ‘unwrapped’ using X-ray scans and AI.

Source: First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2,000 years

I just find this incredibly fascinating on so many levels.