Your Dose of Good: All-Autistic Car Wash Expands to Four Locations

Good morning. It’s been a week of inspiring progress and bold ideas. In Florida, a car wash staffed entirely by people with autism is celebrating a decade of breaking barriers and building community, now with four thriving locations.

Scientists are on the verge of a breakthrough for Parkinson’s patients, as a new stem cell therapy moves closer to approval after promising trial results.

Meanwhile, Helsinki is demonstrating to the world what’s possible in urban safety, marking a whole year without a single traffic fatality thanks to people-first planning.

—Stephanie S

Rising Tide Car Wash in Parkland, Florida, has spent the past decade empowering individuals with autism by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities. The business was founded by John and Tom D’Eri, inspired by Tom’s son Andrew, who is on the autism spectrum.

Starting with one location, Rising Tide now operates four sites and employs over 90 people with autism. The company’s supportive environment helps staff build confidence and develop valuable skills.

Customers praise the car wash for its excellent service and positive impact on the community. Many employees have found a sense of purpose and belonging through their work.

Rising Tide’s success demonstrates how inclusive hiring can benefit both businesses and individuals, breaking down barriers and positively impacting lives.

A new stem cell-based treatment for Parkinson’s disease is seeking approval in Japan and the US after promising clinical trial results. Seniors who received injections of induced pluripotent stem cells saw halted or reversed symptoms.

The trial, led by Kyoto University, showed improvement in most patients and no adverse side effects. This approach uses reprogrammed cells to replace those lost to the disease.

If approved, this therapy could offer new hope for millions living with Parkinson’s.

Helsinki has achieved a remarkable milestone: a whole year without a single traffic death. This success is credited to lower speed limits, improved public transport, and thoughtful street planning.

Decades ago, the city saw dozens of fatalities each year. Now, safer roads and better infrastructure have made a real difference.

City planners continue to adapt, utilizing data and new technology to ensure everyone's safety on Helsinki’s streets.

Engineers at RMIT University have developed a new 3D-printed titanium alloy that is approximately 30% less expensive to produce than standard alloys. By replacing costly vanadium with more accessible elements, the team achieved a material that is not only stronger but also has a more uniform structure.

This breakthrough could transform aerospace and medical manufacturing, making high-performance titanium more affordable. The new alloy also prints more evenly, solving key challenges in 3D metal printing.

Researchers are now working to commercialize the technology, aiming to push the boundaries of what’s possible with 3D printing.

Forty-one years ago today, Nawal El Moutawakel became the first Moroccan, and the first woman from a Muslim-majority country, to win Olympic gold, dominating the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Her historic victory shattered cultural barriers and challenged deeply rooted assumptions about what Muslim and African women could achieve in global athletics.

El Moutawakel went on to become a celebrated figure in international sports, serving as Morocco’s Minister of Sport and a senior member of the International Olympic Committee. In her honor, King Hassan II declared that every girl born that day in Morocco should carry her name, a tribute to a trailblazer whose legacy still inspires.

Other notable August 8 events:

1969: The Beatles shot the Abbey Road cover photo.

1988: Straight Outta Compton, N.W.A’s groundbreaking debut album, was released.

1991: British journalist John McCarthy was freed after 5+ years in captivity in Lebanon.

1992: The U.S. "Dream Team" won Olympic basketball gold in Barcelona.

🏡 USA: A new home siding made from upcycled rice husks is helping to save thousands of trees and divert agricultural waste from landfills.

🐕 Pittsburgh: A Pittsburgh man and a persistent pit bull teamed up to save two unconscious people after the dog led him to their hidden encampment.

🪶 UK: The country’s rarest breeding birds have successfully raised chicks for the first time in six years thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.

🐶 USA: A hero service dog sensed his military veteran owner's dangerously high heartbeat and alerted him, helping prevent a catastrophic stroke.

🐻 Wisconsin: A bear in Wisconsin was rescued and released after being found with a snack jug stuck on its head.

— Kahlil Gibran

Each day offers breakthroughs and inspiring moments that show just how incredible life can be. Here are five reasons why there's never been a better time to be alive:

🚀 Exploring Together: International collaboration on space exploration is at an all-time high, with missions to Mars and beyond.

🌿 Urban Harvests: Community gardens are thriving in urban areas, providing fresh produce and fostering neighborhood revitalization.

🌊 Cleaner Seas: Ocean cleanup projects are removing tons of plastic from waterways, protecting marine life and coastal health.

🤝 Crowdfunding Hope: Crowdfunding platforms allow communities to rally around causes and fund life-saving treatments for individuals.

📖 Modern Libraries: Public libraries are expanding their services to include digital lending, free internet access, and community education programs.

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