Need some good news? Here are 7 stories you missed this week
Between the fires in Australia, the earthquakes in Puerto Rico and tensions with Iran, it's been a busy week. But it's not all death, fire and destruction. Amid the mayhem, a few more positive glimpses of life have fallen through the cracks.
We're taking action to help the victims of the bushfires. We're accomplishing great feats at ages over 100. We're learning more about how to stay healthy (even in space). And while we may have forever lost the paddlefish, we're learning more about the cuttlefish and how the species evolved.
Here's a roundup of all the good news you missed this week.
Hand-knit kangaroo pouches
Crafters across the globe are sewing, knitting, ironing and more to aid Australian wildlife, whose numbers have been devastated by the raging wildfires.
The crafters are making protective cloth pouches for young kangaroos and other marsupials as well as creating bat wraps that rescue volunteers Down Under can use to help the animals recover.
Australia's fires are still burning: Here's how you can help
World War II veteran finally receives his medals of valor
A Massachusetts man finally received his medals of valor at the age of 103. Peter Fantasia, of Somerville, received eight medals, including a Bronze Star and a World War II Victory Medal, in a ceremony Monday in which Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., presented him with his long-deserved awards.
Scientists put 3D glasses on cuttlefish
Researchers at the University of Minnesota put 3D glasses on a cuttlefish and showed it a video of a shrimp. What they found helps scientists better understand the species' evolution and could contribute to research in medicine and neuroscience.
Buying a house may now be easier for millenials
The Great Recession set back the early careers of many millennials, prompting young adults – slapped with massive student loan debt – to live with relatives, or to rent, and put off home purchases.
Now, the starter home is making a comeback. Builders are putting up more small, low-priced homes as demand from millennials picks up. The comeback is also helping address a nationwide shortage of affordable housing for low- to middle-income Americans of all age groups.
Drinking tea may help you live longer
Consider pouring yourself a cup of tea — hold the milk and sugar!
A new study suggests that people who drink tea three or more times a week may live longer and suffer a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than their non-tea drinking counterparts.
Treating a blood clot ... in space
Two months into a six-month mission at the International Space Station, an astronaut made the potentially perilous discovery – the first known instance of a U.S. astronaut developing a blood clot while in outer space. Space fan and University of North Carolina professor Stephan Moll rose to the challenge.
105-year-old woman renews driver’s license
Lois Estes Paulson first learned to drive on a farm and drove area kids to their schoolhouse in her early teen years, before she ever needed a license to do so.
This past fall, at 105, she successfully renewed her driver’s license, making her the fourth-oldest licensed driver in Illinois, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Follow Paste BN's Grace Hauck on Twitter @grace_hauck.