2020 has been challenging, but there have been incredible, heart-warming and hopeful stories from this year too. Spend a moment reading some positive news this #NewYearsEve. Here is a thread of my top 10 #GoodNews stories from 2020 that you may have missed:

1. Canadians developed another breakthrough for diabetes. Instead of treating it, scientists at the University of Alberta believe they can cure it. They cured diabetes in mice, opening the floodgates for research on adapting this cure for humans, potentially helping 422m people.

2. The company, 4Ocean, that sells ocean plastic bracelets, have pulled an astounding 8 million pounds of waste from the sea.

3. Solar panel driveways may soon be powering households, and charging electric vehicles, with clean electricity made from recycled plastic bottles, thanks to Platio Solar. Compressed into paving stones, the material is more durable than concrete while still being non-slip.

4. Scientists at the University of York in the U.K. have increased the ability of solar panels to absorb light by a stunning 125% by using a checkerboard design.

5. Goodwood Plastic Products Ltd is collecting roughly 80% of the plastic waste in Halifax and turning it into "lumber." The plastic lumber can be drilled, nailed, glued, and handled the same way as wooden lumber—but without any of the same deterioration.

6. Researchers in Wales have discovered a new type of killer T-cell that offers hope of a “one-size-fits-all” cancer therapy. This cell recognizes and kills most human cancer types, while ignoring healthy cells.

7. Sewing groups in #Guelph, across Canada, and all around the world, spontaneously popped up to provide millions of masks for frontline workers and regular citizens.

#GoodNewsStoriesFrom2020

8. An unprecedented level of international cooperation has resulted in Covid-19 vaccines.

9. Polio has officially been eradicated on the continent of Africa.

10. The pangolin has been withdrawn from the pharmacopoeia of traditional Chinese medicines. 200,000 were being pulled from the wild every year. China has also more broadly forbidden the use of wild animals for consumption as food, citing a risk of transmissible disease to humans

Let's ring in 2021 with the perspective of hope for humanity and better things to come.
Thank you to all the frontline workers, humanitarians, animal rights activists, environmentalists, and scientists who are driving us forward to a brighter future!
#NewYear2021