‍

The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —

In a final act of kindness, Pope Francis donated his entire personal bank account to prisoners right before he died

As Catholics around the world mourn the death of the late Pope Francis, more details are surfacing about his final days. One thing is more clear than ever: he will be remembered as someone who fought for the rights of prisoners.

The official responsible for managing Francis’ charity and prison pastoral care in Rome said that before his death, the pope donated €200,000 (about $226,400 USD) to a juvenile prison in Rome.

That last bit of his personal wealth specifically went to fund a pasta factory he’d maintained a close connection to throughout his papacy, which employs inmates to work toward reintegration in society and prevent recidivism.

Even better: Throughout his time as pope, he was entitled to a papal salary of some €30,000 a month, but Pope Francis refused to collect it. Instead, he deferred it to various organizations, churches, and groups in need.

‍

Thousands of books were destined for the landfill — these Turkish garbage collectors rescued them and built a public library instead

‍

An islandwide network of volunteers is growing native trees to restore what the Maui wildfires destroyed

For the past year and a half, volunteers, local farmers, nurseries, and hotels have come together to nurture thousands of young saplings growing in pots to be replanted in Lahaina, which was devastated by wildfires nearly two years ago.

Since launching months after the fires cleared, the Treecovery Hawaii project has grown 6,200 trees across 25 grow hubs. Around 160 trees have already been planted at homes that have since been rebuilt.

Ensuring that homeowners can focus on returning to their homes, this network of volunteers is caring for the all-native trees to eventually surround them with.

‍

Under new rules, solar panels will be mandatory on all new-build homes in England by 2027

Within two years, nearly all new-build homes in England must be constructed with solar panels under new planned regulations.

While the policy is expected to add between £3,000 and £4,000 ($3,984 to $5,312 in USD) to building costs, homeowners would also save over £1,000 on annual energy bills — helping them recoup the added cost within around 4 years.

The government is also planning to offer government-funded loans and grants to help install solar panels on existing homes.

Why is this good news? While commercial-sized clean energy installations are essential, rooftop solar has enormous potential, too. One study estimated that it alone could provide nearly two-thirds of the world’s electricity.

‍

Scientists use an Isaac Newton-inspired method to clean up trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

‍

A man survived hundreds of deadly snake bites to help pioneer a universal anti-venom

For the past 20 years, Tim Friede has been one of the most notorious “unconventional” medical researchers, undergoing over 200 bites from the world’s deadliest snakes — and more than four times as many — 850 — venomous injections.

And he did it all in the name of science. Now full of antibodies, his blood is now the source material researchers are using to develop an anti-venom capable of neutralizing a broad spectrum of snake bites.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 100,000 people are killed by snake bites each year, with countless more being disabled by the venom of the deadly reptiles.

‍

National park advocates erected hundreds of billboards in cities across the U.S. to protest ‘DOGE’s dangerous cuts’

To protest the Trump administration’s funding and staffing cuts at national parks, pro-labor news outlet and advocacy nonprofit More Perfect Union launched a multimillion-dollar campaign, erecting 300 billboards in more than 40 cities across the country.

The billboards show the notoriously gorgeous vistas of various national park sites, designed to resemble a classic postcard. But instead of a “wish you were here” message, the billboards say things like: “Rocky Mountain National Park: Now with reduced staff,” and “Death Valley National Park: Heat deaths rise, safety staff cut.”

Spanning locations from Arizona to North Carolina, the campaign aims to demonstrate the impacts of these funding cuts and remind people of their power to protect national parks.

Why is this good news? There’s been an influx of in-person protests at all 433 national park sites in the U.S. in recent months, and it’s entirely possible that these billboards could inspire a longer-term effort to protect public services like the NPS.

‍

This unique ‘wildlife gate’ uses AI recognition to let tiny marsupials in and keep invasive species out

‍

A 90-year-old woman has rescued 10,000 animals from neglect and mistreatment — and she’s not stopping

Barby Keel has spent the last 54 years running her animal sanctuary located in the United Kingdom. It all started when a soldier asked her to care for his dog, and the two formed a bond so deep that the dog never left.

While some of the thousands of animals she’s taken into her sanctuary in the decades since have been rehomed, today Keel cares for over 600 animals, including 160 cats, 8 dogs, 16 pigs, 80 rabbits, and 100 chickens.

And while she managed the sanctuary on her own for two decades, Keel now has a team of loyal volunteers who help care for the animals.

‍

Two major scientific societies are reviving a cornerstone federal report on the impact of climate change in the U.S.

The American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union announced they would work together to provide peer-reviewed research that assesses the current and future impacts of climate change on the U.S.

The announcement comes after the Trump administration dismissed about 400 scientists working to produce the National Climate Assessment, required by law every four to five years by a 1990 federal law, putting the publishing of the next report in jeopardy.

One climate scientist said that the two groups stepping in to fill these scientific research gaps “is a testament to how important it is that the latest science be summarized and available.”

Why is this good news? This comprehensive report forecasts 25 to 100 years into the future, which helps people, communities, governments, and more understand how climate change is impacting decisions made today — from the size of sewer pipes to install or preparing for extreme heat.

‍

A ‘self-fueling ocean cleaning factory’ turns ocean garbage into hydropower

‍

Charitable foundations that support U.S. national parks have seen an increase in donations and volunteers

Shenandoah National Park Trust, which raises money for Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, has received “more than 150 inquiries about volunteering in just the past two months” — ​​more than triple the number it received in all of 2024.

And it’s a similar story at national parks across the country, from Acadia to the Grand Canyon, with people looking to offer in-person or monetary support for their favorite outdoor spaces in the face of funding and staffing cuts threatening the stability, conservation, and protection of the parks.

While the NPS is funded by the federal government, nonprofits pay for a wide array of programs, from trail maintenance and educational classes for kids to seasonal staff inside the park.

‍

To get around a statewide ban, Salt Lake City and Boise designated the Pride, transgender, and Juneteenth flags as official city flags

Earlier this year, both the Utah and Idaho state governments passed bans on flying the rainbow Pride flags and other “unofficial flags” on government property.

In Utah’s capital city, the mayor of Salt Lake City proposed adopting three new official city flags, which were unanimously approved by the city council. The three flags feature the city’s traditional sego lily design over a Pride, trans, and Juneteenth commemoration flag.

And in Idaho, the capital city of Boise’s mayor issued a proclamation to retroactively make the Pride flag an official city flag.

Why is this good news? As Salt Lake City’s mayor said, flags are “powerful symbols” of the state’s values. And in Idaho, the state capital building has flown the Pride flag for years, and its mayor said that removing it at this point “would not be a neutral act” and “signal a retreat from values we’ve long upheld.”

‍

Study finds that one sustainable farming fix produces ‘enough income for farmers to feel security for their whole operation’

‍

Litter on the EU coastline declined by nearly one-third in five years

A new report found that the amount of “marine macro litter” — or items larger than 2.5 centimeters — on the EU coastline declined by 29% between 2015-2016 and 2020-2021.

Notably, single-use plastic was reduced by 40%, fishing-related items by 20%, and plastic bags by 20%. The largest regional reduction, 45%, was seen along Baltic Sea coastlines.

It’s the result of a multilateral, national, regional, and citizen effort as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. And while the progress is significant, the amount of litter is still above the agreed-upon threshold — so more work is needed.

‍

More good news of the week —

New York City is changing longstanding rules to help fill affordable housing units faster. The new rules will apply to tens of thousands of apartments with capped rents for low- and middle-income tenants, but they would sit empty for months after tenants move out due to requirements to go through a lottery system.

​For the fourth year in a row, New England’s grid saw a new record low for electricity demand. At more than 1,200 MW lower than the previous record of 6,596 MW set in April 2024, it was the most significant year-over-year difference during that period.

​A record number of endangered ocelots have been recorded at a wildlife refuge in Texas. For the first time in decades, researchers have confirmed at least 22 individual cats roaming the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge at least 22 individual cats, a hopeful milestone for one of the continent’s most endangered felines.

​An immunotherapy breakthrough could change the way certain cancers are treated. Cancers with certain mutations can put the brakes on our immune system, allowing a mismatch repair-deficient solid tumor to grow, and this new treatment is an antibody that releases those brakes so the immune cells can attack the cancer.

​Republican lawmakers in several U.S. states are sponsoring legislation to spur community solar to help more people access cheap, clean power. Community solar installations, allow households to reap the benefits of cheaper, clean power without putting panels on their own roofs — and customers who subscribe to these projects can save money on their electricity bills.

​A Wisconsin nonprofit rescued over 7,000 pounds of food from the NFL Draft to give it to local families in need. Distributing it to 13 area pantries and shelters, Rooted In collected a majority of the food — like salads, meat, fresh produce, and, of course, cheese — from catered draft events, along with vendors with unsold leftovers.

​In a “historic ruling,” a Dutch court upheld a ban on fossil fuel advertisements in The Hague. The law has technically been effective since January 1 of this year, pending a lawsuit by the travel industry, and supporters are hopeful that the court’s backing will encourage other cities to take similar action, too.

​A longtime Washington Post editorial cartoonist who quit in protest after editors cut her sketch criticizing the paper’s owner just won a Pulitzer Prize. Ann Telnaes won for “delivering piercing commentary on powerful people and institutions” for her cartoon depicting a group of media executives bowing before then President-elect Trump, offering him bags of money, including Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

​Twenty-two Canadian WWII veterans were greeted by thousands in Netherlands to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the country’s liberation from Nazi Germany. The city of Apeldoorn was liberated by Canadian troops on April 17, 1945, and thousands lined the streets and draped Canadian flags from their balconies to welcome and celebrate their heroism with a parade.

​More than 30 calves were born into a bison herd at Rocky Mountain Arsenal — with more on the way. The national wildlife refuge is located about 10 miles from downtown Denver, and with the new calves, the herd will grow to around 220 total bison.

​A pilot project in the UK is capturing carbon from seawater to help combat climate change. Some scientists believe that a better alternative to capturing carbon from the air would be to capture carbon from seawater, because the ocean is the planet’s largest carbon sink, absorbing 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions.

​A major tuberculosis vaccine trial completed its enrollment faster than expected. For what could be the world’s first new tuberculosis vaccine in a century, the Phase 3 study is taking place at 54 sites across four countries, and it’s already recruited the 20,000 participants needed.

​After three years of war in Ukraine, Europe announced its plan to ban all gas imports from Russia within two years. The European Union has been slowly reducing its reliance on Russian gas, which some argue has long compromised EU sovereignty and funded the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

​A new tech startup is looking to modernize and streamline the way people donate to charities. On the platform, users set a monthly giving amount, and then funds are automatically distributed across vetted charities for a cause they care about, such as the climate crisis, LGBTQ+ rights, ending animal suffering, and more.

​Thanks to medical advancements, stomach cancer is increasingly being diagnosed earlier. One of the deadliest types of cancer, stomach cancer is typically difficult to catch early and tends to be discovered at an advanced stage when cancer cells have spread — earlier diagnoses are offering hope for improving survival rates, too.

​Bill Gates announced he’s pledging the rest of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, accelerating his giving for the next 20 years. Amounting to more than $200 billion in additional giving targeting health and human development, and shutting down the foundation earlier than planned, Gates and his team believe that their central goals can be achieved in a much shorter time. (Gifted link)

​A nursing home in the Netherlands offers free rent to college students in exchange for their time and companionship. The solution addresses two problems at once: a shortage of student housing and loneliness among seniors, since recent studies have found that intergenerational friendships can mitigate stress, lower depression, and boost self-esteem in older people.

​Pittsburgh International Airport is turning an old landfill into a massive field of solar panels. PIT is already the first airport in the US to be fully powered by a microgrid, and its new solar project will generate an additional 4.7 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to cut around 5 million pounds of carbon emissions annually.

​Morocco announced a new high-speed rail project that will connect its capital with coastal cities. With a goal of providing “sustainable, inclusive, and competitive mobility,” the new route would shorten travel times significantly on Africa’s only high-speed rail network.