Good News in History, January 6

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63 years ago today, Mutual of Omaha’s ‘Wild Kingdom’ was first broadcast on NBC. Hosted by American zoologist Marlin Perkins and filmed by Jim Fowler, the program won 4 Emmys for Outstanding Program Achievement during its original running on NBC every Sunday. ‘Wild Kingdom’ brought the wilds of the Amazon River, the Serengeti, and more […]

Good News in History, January 5

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73 years ago today, Waiting for Godot premiered in France. The tragicomedy play written by Irishman Samuel Beckett in interpretation of an earlier French play, En attend de Godot, it’s regarded by critics as “one of the most enigmatic plays of modern literature.” Featuring two characters spilling their thoughts out as they wait for the eponymous […]

Good News in History, January 2

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Today is also National Science Fiction Day, a date that honors the birth, 106 years ago, of literary sci-fi genius Isaac Asimov. A Russian immigrant in Brooklyn, he taught himself to read at age 5, skipped several grades, and got his high school diploma at 15. He sold his first short story at the age […]

Good News in History, January 1

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125 years ago today, the Federation of Australia was born. The Constitution of Australia came into force, uniting the 6 colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia under one federal government. The idea of being ‘Australian’ had been celebrated in songs and poems for decades; finally, a fireworks display […]

Good News in History, December 29

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On this day 80 years ago, a decade and a half after the Irish War of Independence and its treaty-induced interim government, Ireland was born when it adopted its own Constitution. A document committed to democratic ideals that enshrined the people as masters, it also provided the right to every child for a free primary education provided […]

A Rare Cancer-Fighting Plant Compound has Finally Been Decoded

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Canadian researchers have figured out how plants make a rare natural substance—mitraphylline—with its potential for fighting cancer and becoming a sustainable new medicine. Mitraphylline is part of a small and unusual family of plant alkaloids, molecules that are defined by their distinctive twisted ring shapes, which help give them powerful anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. For […]

New Eco-Friendly Tech Eliminates ‘Forever Chemicals’ With Record-Breaking Speed–And it’s Reusable

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University researchers in Texas and Korea have collaborated to developed an eco-friendly water purifier that captures—and destroys—toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) more than 1,000 times better than current methods. Their study marks a major milestone in addressing one of the world’s most persistent environmental and health threats. PFAS are synthetic chemicals first created in the 1940s […]

Good News in History, December 28

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Happy Birthday to Denzel Washington who turns 71 today. The acclaimed actor grew up in blue-collar households in Mount Vernon, New York, and Florida, after which he attended university and discovered his talent for acting while working at a summer camp. He went on to win a Tony and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor […]