NASA Makes Historic Mars Landing

At 1:32 am EDT, NASA rover Curiosity landed safe and sound inside a large crater on Mars. The descent to the martian surface was one of the most perilous in the history of space robotics. There was no room for error as the car sized rover used a combination of parachute, rockets, and a tether to navigate the 7 mile drop to the surface. Applause erupted throughout the NASA command center as their dreams and hard work finally came to fruition.

With budget cuts and the cancellation of the space shuttle program still fresh in their minds, the NASA scientists who have worked on Curiosity see this landing as especially meaningful. There has not been another astrobiology mission to Mars since the late 1970s and scientists are eager to see what their rover comes back with. Within minutes of its landing, Curiosity was already sending back spectacular photos of a distant world. The project is slated to last an entire 2 years, during which the rover is slotted to search for signs of potential life as well as evidence that life may have existed at one point.

To read more and see a video of the touchdown, please click here.

Turkeys and Apologies

We here at GNN apologize for not having our normal daily post up at noon. There was some delay in getting it ready. By way of apology, please have this video of the Turkey Whisperer. I dare you not to at least giggle.

Cancer "Stem Cell" Discovery Could Revolutionize Treatments

It's the dreaded word that no patient wants to hear: cancer. For many years, it simply meant there was no hope but doctors have continued to struggle with new and improving ways to treat this deadly disease. Now, a medical break-through may be on the horizon. For the past few years, scientists have hinted that some solid forming tumors may be linked back to particular cells that cause their growth. These cancer "stem cells" are sometimes left behind when treating a tumor and patients experience regrowth. Proof was lacking, however, that such cells really existed.

Now, three separate teams of scientists, all working on independent studies, have found proof that these stem cells do exist. This could mark a major turn in how doctors treat tumors in their patients. Previous treatments all aimed at removing the tumor itself but now doctors may begin aiming at these stem cells to prevent the tumor from growing larger. Once it is removed, killing the stem cells would also mean no relapses. There is some concern that the cancer stem cells appear very similar to normal stem cells responsible for regenerating healthy tissue in the body. This means targeting them may risk damaging the healthy stem cells as well. For now, research is on-going with emphasis being placed on providing distinction between healthy and cancerous stem cells as well as how to target only the malignant kind.

The discovery and proof of the cancer stem cells is still a major step in the right direction according to Prof Hugo Snippert of the University Medical Centre in Utrecht. "Cancer stem cells change the paradigm. The goal of shrinking tumours may well turn out to be less important than targeting the cancer cells in that tumour," he stated, "Many argued that these cells did not exist. But we have shown for the first time there is such a thing as a cancer stem cell and that tumours are maintained by them."

Man's Dying Wish To Leave Tips Goes Viral

We recently brought you the story of Aaron Collins and his last wish for his family to raise $500 and leave it as a tip for some unsuspecting waiter or waitress at a pizza place. His family was able to fulfill that dream and they posted a video of the good deed on-line. Since that day, a little over a month ago, the video has gone viral along with the message of kindess that spurred it. People have generously donated to the Aaron's Last Wish fund with totals already breaching $50k and growing. The family now has enough funding to continue their kind acts once a week for the next 2 years. Sean, Aaron's brother, has already passed out another $1500 to 3 more service staff and videos can be seen on their facebok page.

For the people on the receiving end of these tips, they are a breath of relief during a time of economic turmoil. One waitress is working three jobs at once just to get through college while the other two have young children at home that they are trying to provide for. Aaron's legacy will go to good use with all three.

To read more, click here.

Tiger Population in Nepal Doubles

Extinction is a very real threat for the Bengal tigers living near Nepal and in 2009, that's just what researchers thought would happen. Only 18 total adult tigers had been spotted in Bardia National Park that year, a paltry number that worried conservationists. Hidden cameras had been placed around the park in the hopes of counting just how many of the majestic cats were still around and when the shockingly low numbers came to light, the Nepalese government began working closely with park rangers to double security. Poachers are the number one threat to the tigers and for years, the locals had been trying to stop the killings on thier own.

Fortunately, the cause has been taken up by high level politicains who have pressed to add more guard posts and offered greater support for the rangers cracking down on poaching. Over 300 poachers were caught in 2011 alone. The results of this increased secrutiy have had a noticable impact though and researchers are elated to find that the population of tigers has doubled, going from 18 in 2009 to 37 in 2011. For more information, click here.

80-Year-Old Lobster Rescued from a Boiling Connecticut Pot

People Are Awesome: 80-Year-Old Lobster Rescued from a Boiling Connecticut Pot - News - GOOD

Sometimes the folks who benefit from kind deeds aren't people at all. Lobsters need love, too! The best part is that the lobster in question was released into a habitat that's safe from fishing boats, so he's not likely to be caught someplace else.



(Photo by flickr user Patrik Neckman)

Company Turns Bombs Into Jewelry to Help Laos Farmers

The aftermath of a war is rarely thought about when the powers that be are coming up with tactics. Sadly, this was the case with the country of Laos during the Vietnam war. In an effort to prevent communism from taking hold there during a Lao rebellion, the US dropped over 2 million tons of explosives. The total population of Laos is only 6 million, making that one ton of explosives for every 3 people. The number is staggaring. With the war long behind most other countries, the people of Laos are still struggling with the daily reality of unexploded ordinance (UXOs) littered around their country. It makes farming an extremely risky undertaking.

That's where NY designer, Elizabeth Suda comes in. During her time working for Coach, she became curious about the countries where their merchandise came from and she was shocked to discover the story of Laos in the process of her travels. What she found there wasn't just a people living with daily terror, however, but a people trying to make the best of a bad situation. The locals had taken to disarming the bombs and melting down the metals they were made from to reforge them into spoons. This one simple idea, of turning items meant to destroy into items meant for daily use, inspired Suda to take up the cause. She has begun working heavily with the Lao people under her company Project: peaceBOMB.

"Watching the artisans transform deadly pieces of history into spoons, something useful, I felt this story had to be told," remembers Suda. "In an instant, I thought of making a bracelet and it was just one of those moments.They were already doing this: this was their own innovation through their own initiative."

Suda has worked hard to ensure that the jewelry created by the company isn't just your typical fare either. She designs the pieces to truly stand on their own as beautiful works of art that any person would be proud to own. The irony of US citizens buying back jewelry made from the very bombs their country dropped on Laos is not lost on her and she feels it's a fitting situation. The generousity of those who purchase from Project: peaceBOMB are helping the Lao people to clear their lands of deadly UXOs. Since the company started, they have sold enough jewelry to clear 10,000 square meters of bomb-littered land. To read more about this amazing inititive, click here.