April 17, 2021 So much depends on perspective. Whether you're coming or going depends on what direction you look. One person's greeting is another's farewell. And the longest, most meaningful journeys don't have to take you across the world — they don't have to take you anywhere at all. This week, we'll meet a few remarkable people on their own journeys, and you'll find that how they get there, and where they started, is just as important to the story as where they end up. If there's something you'd like to see here, shoot us an email. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do. Our favorites this week Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week From castle to castle On the trail again
Bear with it Raise a glass to... Noura Al-Matrooshi, who just became the United Arab Emirates' first female astronaut. Al-Matrooshi and fellow astronaut Mohammed Al-Mulla were chosen out of 4,000 candidates to join the country's space program, and will train with NASA for future space exploration. "The nation gave me unforgettable moments today," Al-Matrooshi tweeted after she was selected. "I aim to work hard to script historical moments and achievements that will be etched forever in the memory of our people." A bright idea Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have turned spider webs into music. The project is incredibly cool, and the result is, well … about as eerie to listen to as spider webs are to look at. The team worked with Berlin-based artist Tomás Saraceno to take two-dimensional laser scans of a spider web as a spider was weaving it. They then converted that to a 3D model, and Buehler compared the web to a stringed instrument that changes as the structure becomes more complex. Spiders rely a lot on vibration as they move. So in a way, this growing, resonating web mimics how spiders view the world. Since spiders are also able to build their webs with very little support, taking a closer look on how they build could help create better 3D printing techniques. You gotta see this It is absolutely essential you direct all of your attention and love for a moment to Clarence, the first Official Police Comfort dog in the US. The fluffy, 160-pound St. Bernard roamed the halls of Congress this week, providing support and lighthearted moments for legislators, staff and other Hill denizens who have seen plenty of heartache in the last few months. Clarence and his handler, Lt. William Gordon, have been on hand in the aftermath of some of the country's worst tragedies, include Sandy Hook, the Las Vegas shootings, and the Boston Marathon bombing. Clarence's latest assignment on the Hill shows there is at least one thing we can agree on in these divided times: There's nothing quite like the comfort and love of a very good dog. Heroes among us On April 15, 2013 — eight years ago this week — Heather Abbott's life was upended when she was injured in the Boston Marathon Bombing. She faced an agonizing decision: Life with a lifetime of pain, or have her left leg amputated below the knee. She chose the latter, and learned quickly about the often prohibitively high cost of prosthetics. Specialized prostheses can range from tens of thousands to more than $100,000, and aren't always covered by insurance. Abbott was lucky, and through donations, was able to acquire different prostheses that allow her to walk in high heels, run and even paddleboard. But she wanted others have the same opportunities. "It is frustrating to see people who can't have what they need to live the life they want just because money's an obstacle," she says. In December 2014, she created the Heather Abbott Foundation. Since then, her organization has raised more than $1 million and helped provide customized prosthetic devices to more than 42 amputees across the US, so they can play sports, stay active, and yes, wear high heels. Wanna get away? For the first time ever, visitors will be able to freely explore the expansive gardens of Buckingham Palace this summer. The palace provides guided tours, but this year, Queen Elizabeth II has decided to allow a more self-guided approach. The public will be able to take in rare flora and fauna, along with primroses, bluebells, magnolias, mulberry trees, flowering bushes and historic landscape design details dating back to the 1820s when, on King George IV's instruction, Buckingham House first became a palace. The public can also stroll through a rose garden, pass by a placid lake, and marvel at a massive 500-foot herbaceous border, shown here. The view will be especially poignant given the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, who is being laid to rest today. Who knew? What's an astronaut's favorite bread? No, it's not a joke. It's more a matter of anti-gravity. According to NASA, tortillas are preferred over other breads, because they don't leave crumbs floating around in a weightless environment. Since the astronauts don't have the luxury of a fully stocked pantry on the space station, their favorite uses of a tortilla lean toward simple sandwiches like peanut butter and jelly, burritos, and burger wraps. So, if you want to eat like an astronaut, grab a tortilla, raid your pantry and go to town! Impact your world Get ready for National Volunteer Week! Since the pandemic has presented myriad staffing and financing challenges for charitable causes around the world, non-profits are using this year's celebration, which runs April 18 through 24, to ramp up support. Don't know where to start? This article has some inspiration, including more information on these can't miss ideas:
Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored Are Lululemon leggings worth it? Absolutely. Here's why We rounded up 10 staffers (who wear a range of sizes) to put more than a dozen pairs of leggings to the test. After weeks of testing, Lululemon's Align Pant was crowned the best workout leggings. Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now. Congratulations to the Brevard Zoo, who just welcomed its first baby sloth in two years! The little cub doesn't have a name or a gender yet, but has already discovered the most important thing in life: being warm and cozy. (Click here to view) A newsletter for the good in life
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