A potential solution to the catastrophic ice loss we are experiencing in the poles?! SAY NO MORE! Read on.

Original article by McKinley Corbley via The Good News Network

A shocking new discovery in Antarctica might be a potential life saver in the fight against climate change.

According to a study conducted by The Ohio State University, the earth under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is rising faster than ever recorded before. While that may sound alarming, it’s actually good news for the crumbling ice sheets above.

GPS stations attached to the Arctic bedrock shows that the “uplift rate” of the region is measured at roughly 41 millimeters (1.6 inches) per year. In contrast, areas such as Iceland and Alaska were considered…

Original article by Klaus Sieg via Reasons to Be Cheerful

Kebab stands. Hairdressers. Shisha bars. Cell phone stores. Berlin’s Hermannplatz is a riot of commerce at the junction of two districts, Kreuzberg and Neukölln. The backdrop to it all is the mighty Karstadt building, a 775,000-square-foot department store that was the largest and most modern in the world when it opened in 1929. In September, the Karstadt logged another milestone by becoming the first department store in Germany to dedicate a large portion of its floor space exclusively to used goods.

The symbolism is as potent as the real-world impact — imagine if Bloomingdale’s or Saks dedicated a whole floor to used blouses and pre-owned pants. But in the German…

Two varieties of apples that were thought to be wiped off the face of the earth made a come back in our beautiful home state of Oregon! Our state’s biodiversity never ceases to amaze us.. Read on!

Original article by Shannon Gormley via Willamette Week

Last fall, Dave Benscoter traveled to a remote corner of Oregon in search of an apple that hadn’t been identified in over a century.

Benscoter is the founder of the Lost Apple Project, an organization that tracks down apple varieties deemed extinct. This week, Lost Apple Project and Oregon-based Temperate Orchard Conservancy announced they had found seven more types of apples though lost to time. Two of those…

A beautiful medical discovery regarding detection for early tumor recurrence! Medicine is getting better every day.. Enjoy this read!

Original article by Jennifer Pereira & Mya Green via Good Morning America

A new blood test seeks to change the game in cancer management.

Signatera, a “tumor-informed” blood test developed by Natera, can detect circulating tumor DNA in the bloodstream for certain types of cancers.

“What makes the tumor DNA different is that it has certain mutations that actually lead to the uncontrolled cell growth that became the cancer,” Solomon Moshkevich, the general manager of oncology at Natera, told “Good Morning America.” “And by virtue of analyzing a sample of the tumor, from the patient, we actually know what the mutations…

Although there may be differences of opinion on whether this is positive, the creative thinking to enhance downtown is worth noting. What do you think? Do you know a ‘Positive’ story from #backyardbend? Reach out to us at info@backyardbend.com and we’ll share it with the community.

The Downtown Bend Business Association on Wednesday officially unveiled new details on a plan to turn Minnesota Avenue between Bond and Wall streets into a pedestrian-only promenade.

Mindy Aisling, Executive Director with the DBBA, presented the plan to the Bend City Council Wednesday night, sharing their findings from two years of studying the plan.

Aisling said the DBBA recommends funding a “comprehensive planning effort to develop…

A Colorado woman has spent 23 days picking up 126 bags of trash across the country.

Having over a month off from her job at a campus recreation center, 24-year-old Stefani Shamrowicz decided to take a trip to help clean up the environment.

She’s now driven over 70 hours through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York—cleaning up everything from pee-filled bottles to lawn ornaments.

“About 80 per cent is drinking bottles and face masks have been pretty common,” said the Fort Collins local. “I’ve found a few fast-food toys and a tire with a pair of cowboy boots in it.”

Stefani said her aim isn’t to shame, but rather encourage people…

How about a nice read this Sunday in Backyardbend to lift your spirit knowing generosity and kindness are out there, we just have to look around to see it sometimes.

From CNN by Anna Sturla

A Massachusetts high school student made an unexpected announcement during her graduation ceremony last week when she asked that a $40,000 scholarship awarded to her be given to a student attending community college instead.

“I am so very grateful for this. But I also know that I am not the one who needs this the most,” Verda Tetteh, 17, said during the Fitchburg High School graduation ceremony on Friday.

The crowd, made up of her fellow classmates, their families, teachers and school administrators, applauded and…

Here is several good news stories from One Tree Planted to help maintain a positive vibe this week.

He’s the king of the world! At the very least, Leonardo DiCaprio is an incredible hero for the environment. This month, Leo pledged $43 MILLION towards conservation of the Galápagos Islands. DiCaprio said, “Around the world, the wild is declining.

We have degraded three-quarters of the wild places and pushed more than 1 million species to the brink of extinction. More than half of Earth’s remaining wild areas could disappear in the next few decades if we don’t decisively act”. We’re on board with this effort,…

Acclaimed choreographer and dancer Reuel Rogers kicks off the Planet Classroom We Can Be Heroes show by inspiring each and every one of us to be the change we want to see in the world, starting with “the one thing we have mostly under control,” which is ourselves, “if we take the time for it.”

South Korean Director Sangmok Lee, who talks about the loss of his deaf mother and her love for him being his inspiration for The Mime, notes: “I think that mime is the most effective way to express the irony in our life.”

Director Christopher Carpenter, whose film The Boy Who Found His Voice focuses on a teen poet in India…

Summer is on and many will be camping in our #backyardbend in the next few months. We found this article to help you think about a sustainable experience. From One Tree Planted by Meaghan Weeden

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE CAMPING TRIP

n many places, the weather is warming up, nature is starting anew, and after a long winter at home you’re probably itching to hit the road and have all the adventures. In light of the global pandemic, many people are finding the perfect solution to their wanderlust: camping! From the beach to the mountains, from tent camping to yurt camping to beach…