🐦 + 🌳 = 😍

Good morning. In Michigan, falcons aren't just adorable, they're helping farmers keep their cherry trees healthy.

Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, we can see what it looks like when a star takes its last breath, appearing like colorful smoke.

And in Nova Scotia, an animal shelter is celebrating empty cages after a rush of adoptions. I’m not crying, you’re crying…

👉 P.S. If you enjoy these stories, consider joining our premium newsletter. You’ll be supporting our mission of sharing good news and helping a small, independent team keep going.

—Stephanie S

This morning, let’s take a moment to appreciate the American kestrel, a tiny falcon with a big impact on Michigan’s cherry orchards. Researchers found that inviting these birds to nest among the trees led to a dramatic drop in crop damage and foodborne pathogens.

Instead of relying on chemicals or nets, farmers are turning to nature’s own pest control. Kestrels keep fruit-eating birds and rodents at bay, which means fewer cherries lost and less risk of disease for consumers.

One study showed orchards with kestrel nest boxes had 81 percent less crop damage and far fewer traces of harmful bacteria. It’s a simple idea that brings beauty and balance to the fields.

It makes you wonder what other solutions might be waiting in the wings, just outside our windows.

A man in a small French town just gave away a field he inherited, but with a twist: the land had to become a community orchard. Now, neighbors are planting apple, pear, and plum trees together, with plans for everyone to share the harvest.

It will be a few years before the first fruit is ready, but the real magic is already happening as the town comes together.

Curious how a forgotten field turned into a community project? Take a look at the full story.

The James Webb Space Telescope just delivered a jaw-dropping new look at the Helix Nebula, a dying star 650 light-years away. The image reveals columns of gas that look like smoke, swirling in vivid color.

What’s wild is these “smoke” columns are actually the star’s last breath, sending material out to seed new stars and planets someday.

If you love space or just want to see something beautiful, this is worth a peek.

If you’re a decision maker at your company, you need to be on the bleeding edge of, well, everything. But before you go signing up for seminars, conferences, lunch ‘n learns, and all that jazz, just know there’s a far better (and simpler) way: Subscribing to The Deep View.

This daily newsletter condenses everything you need to know about the latest and greatest AI developments into a 5-minute read. Squeeze it into your morning coffee break and before you know it, you’ll be an expert too.

Subscribe right here. It’s totally free, wildly informative, and trusted by 600,000+ readers at Google, Meta, Microsoft, and beyond.

Here’s a feel-good story for your morning: a Nova Scotia animal shelter has been so swamped with eager adopters that its cages are completely empty. Even senior cats and those with medical needs are finding homes almost as soon as they’re listed.

Staff say it’s been a whirlwind, with lines out the door and animals adopted within hours. The demand is so high, they can’t keep pets on the website for more than a day.

If you need a little hope today, this one’s worth a look.

💍 Virginia: After 70 years of marriage, a couple in their 90s finally celebrated their dream wedding with a full ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

🌊 Japan: The Goto floating wind farm has started operation, marking a milestone in expanding renewable energy.

✈️ Global: Researchers say halving aviation’s carbon footprint is possible by removing premium seats and fully booking flights.

🧬 Australia: UNSW researchers demonstrated a CRISPR-based method that reactivates genes by stripping silencing tags, rather than slicing DNA.

🦌 Colorado: Colorado’s new 10-year wildlife conservation plan was federally approved, securing funding and policies to safeguard the state’s vulnerable species and habitats.

68 years ago today, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, the son of a Danish carpenter and toymaker, filed a patent for a system of interlocking plastic bricks that would become the foundation of LEGO. Meaning “play well” in Danish, LEGO was transformed when Godtfred recognized the potential of plastic to replace wood in children’s toys.

It took five years to perfect the material. The final design used ABS polymer, giving bricks their remarkable strength, consistency, and longevity. LEGO bricks made in 1958 still connect seamlessly with those produced today. More than 600 billion bricks have been manufactured, and just six standard 2×4 bricks can be combined in over 915 million ways.

Other notable January 28 events:

1813: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was first published.

1887: The largest snowflakes on record reportedly fell in Fort Keogh, Montana.

1921: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

1982: Italian police rescued a U.S. general held hostage by the Red Brigades.

— Virginia Satir

Every day brings amazing advances and uplifting moments that remind us just how wonderful the world can be. Here are five reasons why today is the best time ever to be alive:

🚰 Water Recycling: Wastewater recycling plants are turning sewage into safe water for irrigation and industry.

🏛️ Digital Museums: Digital museums are making priceless art collections accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

🎹 Advanced Prosthetics: Advanced prosthetics are enabling pianists to play again after losing fingers.

🛠️ Printed Tools: 3D-printed medical tools are being created on-demand in remote field hospitals.

🍎 Child Nutrition: Global nutrition programs are reducing childhood stunting and improving long-term health.

Spread a little good news, and good things come back your way.

When you share your unique link, you’re not just passing along uplifting stories; you’re earning a few surprises from us, too. Brighten someone’s day, grow the circle, and enjoy some goodies while you’re at it. You’re currently at {{rp_num_referrals}} referrals.

Click the button below, then copy and paste the link to share.

If that button doesn’t work, you can copy and share your referral link with your friends: {{rp_refer_url}}

Manage your referrals here