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The Good News Sunday Edition
Homecoming of Tigers, Restoring visions, Game-changer Innovations and more.
Charbel Zeaiter
November 17, 2024
Happy Sunday evening from Sydney,
I’ve switched off the mainstream news this week, to give myself a mental break. Instead, my team and I have sourced some uplifting and hope-filled news.
As always, the Sunday edition is less about the business of building businesses, and more about people, communities, products and organisations that are making the world better, because they chose to.
Yes, Good Things DO Come To Those Who Make, and good things happen for the world as a result.
Oh, how much do we love Dolly Parton? Why? Read on.
With love,
Charbel
Good Things Happening Around the World
Visionary Breakthrough: Stem-Cell Treatment Brings Sight Back to Patients
Homecoming of Tigers: They return back to where they disappeared 70 years ago
The Onion Acquires Infowars: Plans to Relaunch with a Bold Anti-Gun Violence Mission
Revolutionary Cycling Helmet Promises Infallible Safety
Middle Schooler Wins STEM Prize: Built a water filter out of animal bones
More Good News
Visionary Breakthrough:
Stem-Cell Treatment Brings Sight Back to Patients
Four individuals with severe vision impairment made history as the first to receive cornea transplants derived from reprogrammed stem cells—and the results are nothing short of eye-opening.
For three of them, the groundbreaking procedure has delivered lasting, substantial improvements in sight over a year later. While the fourth patient experienced only temporary benefits, the overall outcomes are being hailed by researchers as “impressive” and “an exciting development.”
Why its worth smiling about: Sure, creating a world that’s accessible to the blind and visually impaired is crucial, but breakthroughs like these offer renewed hope for those eager to regain their vision. Plus, this success isn’t just about sight—it could spark advancements across other areas of medical research. The future is looking clearer than ever.
Homecoming of Tigers:
They return back to where they disappeared 70 years ago
In a conservation win that’s nothing short of wild, Amur tigers have made their triumphant return to Kazakhstan after 70 years of absence.
The Big Picture
Bodhana and Kuma, two Amur tigers, have been reintroduced to the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve. Their return marks the first-ever international reintroduction of wild tigers, aiming to restore the region's ecosystem and biodiversity.
The Journey
The tigers traveled from the Netherlands to Kazakhstan via Germany, including a six-hour flight and a helicopter ride to their new home.
The nature reserve, spanning over 4,151 square kilometers, underwent six years of preparation, including reforestation and the reintroduction of other species like Bukhara deer and Kulan.
Why its worth smiling about: Amur tigers are apex predators, essential for maintaining ecological balance.
Besides, Tigers have crossed international borders not for captivity but for reintroduction into the wild—an unprecedented conservation feat.
“It’s not often wildlife gets a second chance,” said WWF's Stuart Chapman. This milestone is more than a win for tigers—it’s proof that when humanity unites for nature, we all thrive.
Historic Birth for Black-Footed Ferret Conservation:
The clone of one of North America’s most endangered species successfully birthed two kits
Once considered lost to extinction, black-footed ferrets—the only ferret species native to North America—are making an impressive comeback, all thanks to conservationists who just won’t quit.
One big part of this revival involves genetic cloning, a strategy essential to maintaining a healthy population since every black-footed ferret alive today traces back to only seven wild ancestors.
And here’s the latest milestone: a black-footed ferret, cloned using DNA from a ferret who lived back in the 1980s, has just given birth to two healthy kits—the first live births from a cloned endangered species!
Why its worth smiling about: Genetic cloning helps a great deal in saving endangered species. If science advances in the field of cloning at this rate, we will not only be able to preserve our planet’s diversity but also rejuvenate the bio-ecosystem.
The Onion Acquires Infowars:
Plans to Relaunch with a Bold Anti-Gun Violence Mission
In a move that feels ripped straight from its own headlines, satirical newspaper The Onion has officially acquired Alex Jones’ infamous media platform, Infowars, at auction.
Here’s the setup:
The Backstory: Jones was court-ordered to liquidate assets to pay $1.5 billion in damages to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims, after relentlessly spreading false claims that the tragedy was a hoax.
The Buyers: Backed by Sandy Hook families, The Onion plans to transform Infowars into a parody platform paired with educational resources from Everytown for Gun Safety, an organisation dedicated to preventing gun violence.
Why its worth smiling about: Infowars, once a hub of harmful conspiracy theories, is being reimagined into something constructive. The irony here? Infowars itself becomes the ultimate punchline—a win for accountability, humor, and hope.
Revolutionary Cycling Helmet Promises Infallible Safety
The Lumos Nyxel helmet is here to revolutionise cycling safety, combining cutting-edge technology with style. Here's everything you need to know about this lifesaving innovation:
Cycling Risks:
Each year, approximately 71,000 cyclists die in road traffic accidents worldwide, representing about 6% of all fatalities, while between 30 to 50 million people are injured. In the U.S., cyclist deaths reached 1,105 in 2022, a 13% increase from the previous year, with most fatalities involving male riders aged 20 and older, primarily due to collisions with motor vehicles.
While better infrastructure is critical, tools like advanced helmets can dramatically enhance individual cyclist safety.
Smart Features
Lights Everywhere:
Bright white LED strip in the front and red LED strip in the back for full visibility.
Side lights for turn indication.
Brake lights triggered by sudden deceleration using an internal accelerometer.
Crash Detection Tech:
Quin’s technology monitors impacts 1,000 times per second, alerting emergency contacts or even calling local ambulances in the U.S. and Europe.
Data from crashes can be shared with medical professionals for better post-accident care.
App Control:
Adjust light brightness and settings via a smartphone app.Battery Life:
USB-chargeable with up to 14 hours of runtime.
Why This Matters?
The Nyxel isn't just a helmet—it's a wearable safety system designed to save lives and inspire confidence on the road.
The company’s vision makes it more clear. “We’ve always believed in inspiring people to move freely with confidence,” says Lumos CEO Eu-Wen Ding.
This helmet isn’t just about safety—it’s about redefining how we ride. Whether you're a daily commuter or a weekend warrior, the Lumos Nyxel makes hitting the road smarter, safer, and a little more stylish.
Middle Schooler Wins STEM Prize: Built a water filter out of animal bones
When Tina Jin learned last summer that over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, she didn’t just feel alarmed—she took action. Her surprising inspiration? The tiny, porous structure of leftover bones from family meals.
With a staggering 130 billion kilograms of animal bones discarded globally each year, Jin saw potential where others saw waste. Determined to address both the water crisis and bone waste, she spent months saving dinner scraps and experimenting with their honeycomb-like design.
Why its worth smiling about: Jin’s curiosity resulted in her inventing a natural, bone-based water filtration system that could change the game. Who would’ve guessed that solving a global problem might begin with last night’s dinner?
More Good News
What I’m working on
 Velvet Onion & Friends We’re in the process of rebranding Velvet Onion & Friends. Why? It’s an important stage in our evolution, and deepens the link between agency, product & education. |  Faster Zebra We’re at the final stages of planning for our pilot program. Working name is “99 Problems But A Pitch Ain’t One;” cute for internal projects, not sure it’s the name. Coming soon! |
