🐶 Stray Pooch Wins Hero Dog of the Year

Good morning. It’s been a busy holiday week, and the stories we’re covering reflect both heart and momentum. From a once-stray dog in Nashville now bringing comfort to families after tragedy, to Colombia’s bold move to protect its Amazon rainforest, we’re reminded how compassion and courage can spark real change.

We’re also seeing a rise in phone-free activities as people look for more genuine connections.

Maybe a phone-free Thanksgiving is the 2025 playbook 🦃. Enjoy the holiday, everyone!

—Stephanie S

Sgt. Bo, a once-stray mutt from Nashville, has been named the 2025 Hero Dog by the American Humane Society for his extraordinary service after a tragic school shooting. Rescued from the streets in 2022, Bo became a certified therapy dog, working with former officer Faye Okert to comfort children and families in crisis.

After the Covenant School shooting, Bo provided steady support at the reunification site, letting students rest against him and staying until every family was safe. His gentle presence helped ease anxiety and brought hope to a grieving community.

Bo’s journey inspired a program to train homeless pets as therapy dogs, showing that healing can come from unexpected places. Now retired, Bo still visits schools, helping shy children open up and spreading comfort wherever he goes.

His story is a reminder that even the most unlikely heroes can make a lasting difference.

Colombia has announced a ban on all new oil and mining projects in its Amazon region, protecting an area the size of Sweden. This bold move covers 42% of Colombia’s territory and 7% of the entire Amazon rainforest.

The decision aims to prevent forest loss, river pollution and threats to biodiversity. It also calls on neighboring countries to join in safeguarding the Amazon’s future.

The region is home to 10% of the world’s plant species and is vital for millions who depend on its water.

A growing trend is seeing thousands flock to phone-free concerts, dates, and social events, seeking genuine human connection. Groups like the Offline Club and companies such as Kanso and Sofar Sounds are curating experiences where phones are locked away, encouraging real conversation and shared activities.

Participants report forming new friendships and even business connections at these events. The movement is a response to social media fatigue and a desire to reconnect in person.

Apps like 222 also help people meet offline, matching users for spontaneous group outings. As digital life grows, these analog experiences are proving more popular than ever.

A new study from King’s College London reveals that successful root canal treatment can do more than save your smile. Researchers found it reduces inflammation linked to heart disease and helps improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

The study followed patients for two years and showed significant drops in blood sugar, a key factor in diabetes prevention.

These findings highlight the deep connection between oral health and overall wellness. Taking care of your teeth could help protect your heart and more.

104 years ago today, Rued Langgaard’s Music of the Spheres (Sfærernes Musik) premiered at the Konzerthaus in Karlsruhe, Germany. The sprawling, otherworldly work sought to capture the sensation of outer space long before electronic music existed, employing extreme registers, tone clusters, unusual textures, and even a second, hidden orchestra positioned offstage to evoke a sense of celestial distance. It was inspired by a line of Danish poetry describing stars as “kindly” twinkling, yet “cold and merciless” in their message.

Langgaard’s score pushes the orchestra into experimental territory: strings sustaining single tones like orbiting bodies, pianists plucking directly on the strings, and choirs emerging like distant voices in a vacuum. Its apocalyptic climax dissolves back into serenity. Though initially celebrated, the work was set aside for decades after a lukewarm Berlin performance, until a 1968 revival in Stockholm sparked a modern renaissance of Langgaard’s visionary music.

Other notable November 26 events:

1789: President George Washington declared a national Thanksgiving to celebrate the U.S. Constitution.

1842: The University of Notre Dame was founded.

1942: Casablanca premiered for the first time.

2011: NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory carrying the Curiosity Rover.

🎨 Florida: Artist Cristiam Ramos creates stunning portraits of celebrities and animals by meticulously assembling tiny pieces of old denim jeans.

🎨 Mexico: A stolen 18th-century painting of St. Francis has been returned to a church after being missing for over two decades.

🏺 Netherlands: The country will return a 3,500-year-old looted stone bust to Egypt following the grand opening of a lavish new Egyptian museum.

🕊️ Armenia: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is making historic moves to end a century of ethnic hatred by establishing peace and diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

🎁 USA: Delivering Good, a nonprofit, celebrates 40 years of distributing over $3 billion in new clothing, toys, and essentials to families and children in need across the country.

— Juvenal

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:

🤖 Ocean Mapping: Marine drones are mapping the seafloor, advancing science and helping protect underwater ecosystems.

♻️ Recycling Credits: Community-based recycling credits are incentivizing households to reduce waste.

❄️ Cooling Hubs: Solar-powered cooling hubs are helping farmers store crops and reduce food spoilage.

📜 Legal Learning: Online legal education platforms are empowering people to understand their rights.

🥗 Nutrition AI: AI-powered nutrition apps are helping users make healthier eating decisions daily.

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