China's pollution declines came at a cost
More than 20 years ago, the Chinese government instituted the Scientific Outlook on Development (SOD) program, tying local leaders' job performance evaluations to environmental quality improvements. More than 350 river monitoring stations measured their success.
What to take away
Watch whether the local support keeps growing after the first win.
Why it's good
It shows practical action making shared natural spaces cleaner and healthier.
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Community WinsAfter 5-yo Diagnosed with Rare Disease, Little Sister Wanted to Be Her ‘Brave’ Bone Marrow Donor
From Salt Lake City comes the touching story of a 5-year-old girl saved thanks to a bone marrow transplant from none other than her 2-year-old sister. Emma Meline was diagnosed with an extremely rare bone disease after her mother Amanda brought her to the pediatrician with a rash and swelling on her leg. Little Lucy,
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Community WinsInspired by His Grandparents, High Schooler Invents Crosswalk System That Adapts to Pedestrians’ Speeds
They say necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes it takes a thoughtful observer to notice and address a particular need. For rising high school senior Jay Jung, a lightbulb went off while he was crossing the street. Jung is the creator of SmartBlink, an adaptive traffic light system that adjusts its signal changes
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Community WinsFrom Belgium to Maryland, These Newer Towns Were Designed to Look Old
Imagine living in a walkable town with buildings that boast all the charm and character of a village from centuries past, but lack many of the problems — like decay, outdated systems, and toxic materials — that come with it. This may sound like something out of an architect’s utopian fantasy, but a handful of
Nice News - Jul 19
Community WinsHow human activities compromise coral health and resilience
Human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of coral reefs, according to a study led by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and published in Nature Communications. The research team discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of corals around Maui, Hawai'i. Additionally, in areas affected by human activities, energy and nutrient availability within coral tissue decreases, making corals significantly less resilient to environmental stressors such as warmer or more acidic waters.
Phys.org Biology - Jul 17