Turning Trash Into Treasure...Literally

Good morning, from our new home. We hope you like our new format, which will be delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. Our new team is dedicated to putting a smile on your face with every read. Now let’s get into it.

— Stephanie S

ENVIRONMENT

New Study Shows Plastic Bag Bans Are Working

New research shows that shoreline litter dropped by nearly half after plastic bag bans or fees were implemented across the U.S.

Scientists from the University of Delaware and Columbia University analyzed data from over 10,000 beach cleanups and found a 25–47% reduction in plastic bag waste where policies were in place.

The effect was most substantial in areas with severe plastic waste problems and showed lasting change over time. With one-third of Americans now living under such policies, the study demonstrates how local action can have a global impact.

EVERYDAY HEROES

Man Trapped by Boulder Saved by Heroic Firefighters

In the Alaskan wilderness, 61-year-old Kell Morris was caught in a rockslide and pinned face-down in an icy creek by a 700-pound boulder.

His wife ran for help, and thanks to GPS and good weather, rescue teams quickly located him. A volunteer firefighter diverted his helicopter tour to assist.

Crews used airbags and brute force to lift the boulder, pulling Morris to safety just as hypothermia was taking hold. He escaped with only minor injuries, a near-miraculous outcome.

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES

Alzheimer’s Breakthrough from Rosemary Compound

Researchers at Scripps have developed a drug candidate from rosemary and sage that improved memory in mice with Alzheimer’s.

The compound, called diAcCA, becomes active only in inflamed areas of the brain. It reduced toxic proteins, such as amyloid-β, and enhanced neural connections.

It’s early research, but the compound’s safety and precision make it a promising future therapy for Alzheimer’s, and possibly other inflammation-based diseases.

ANIMALS

Rescue Dog Senses Stranger’s Seizure Before It Happens

At an adoption event in Virginia, a shelter dog named Sienna walked up to a man she didn’t know and gently placed her paw on his leg—then refused to move.

Moments later, his wife confirmed he was about to have a seizure. Sienna had no medical training, just pure instinct.

The couple couldn’t adopt her, but others quickly stepped in to cover her care. Now, Sienna, wise, gentle, and special, is ready for her forever home.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: June 23, 1887

Canada Established Banff National Park

On this day in 1887, the Canadian Parliament passed the Rocky Mountains Park Act, officially creating what would become Banff National Park, Canada’s first and most iconic national park. Inspired by the creation of Yellowstone in the U.S., the act expanded a small preserve of 26 square miles (which included hot springs) into 260 square miles of protected wilderness.

Today, Banff is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws over 3 million visitors annually, contributing more than $6 billion CAD to the Canadian economy each year.

Other notable June 23 events:

1888: Frederick Douglass became the first African American nominated for U.S. president.

1958: Women were officially accepted as ministers by the Dutch Reformed Church.

1960: The FDA approved the first birth control pill for general use.

2001: California’s Hearst Castle became the first state park to use 100% natural gas buses, reducing emissions by 75%.

2013: Nik Wallenda became the first person to cross the Grand Canyon on a tightrope.

GOOD NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

What made us 😄 this week

🧵 United Kingdom: Cornwall opens the world’s first microfibre recycling plant, turning tiny plastic threads into reusable materials.

🇮🇳 India: A 93-year-old man asked to buy a wedding necklace for just ₹20 and left the store with more than he expected.

🌾 USA: A Kansas farmer surprises his wife with a love note spelled out in 65 million red wheat seeds, visible from the sky.

🐠 Australia: Tiny coral “micro-nurseries” help restore damaged reefs along the Great Barrier Reef.

🐘 Guatemala: A zoo elephant pulls a drowning gazelle to safety using its trunk.

WORDS TO INSPIRE

Life in abundance comes only through great love.

— Elbert Hubbardsum

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

Good news is such a vibe

Every week, we’re reminded how far we’ve come and how much wonder exists in the world today. Here are five reasons to feel amazed by the moment we're living in:

🚀 Pocket-Sized Power: The smartphone in your hand holds more computing power than all of NASA had during the moon landing. What once filled a room in 1969 now fits in your palm and connects you to the cosmos.

🚰 Clean Water on Tap: Just a century ago, even major cities like New York struggled with unsafe drinking water. Today, billions of people around the world can drink straight from the tap, an invisible miracle we rarely stop to appreciate.

🧠 Mind Meets Machine: We’re entering an era where brain-computer interfaces enable people with paralysis to type with their thoughts, and scientists can map memories or restore movement through neurotechnology.

🌍 Crisis Response in Real Time: From wildfires to medical emergencies, global networks now enable life-saving aid to be mobilized in minutes, not days, through the use of satellites, drones, and grassroots apps.

🫶 Stories That Spark Action: A single story of kindness or courage can now circulate the globe within hours, uniting strangers, funding miracles, and turning empathy into impact on a scale our ancestors couldn’t have dreamed of.

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That’s it for this week.

Written with ❤️ in Connecticut