Ever Widening Circles: It's Still An Amazing World

over 1027 reasons to be optimistic

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  • Innovation
      • All Innovation
          • Image: Gomi Designs speaker in bright multicolors on a bookshelfTurning Plastic Bags into Speakers!Some of the most important innovators of our time are finding ingenious ways to look at waste as a resource. Here's a clever group that has found an artistic and functional way to use single-use plastic bags!
          • Image: Beekeeper pointing to beesMushrooms are Saving Honeybee Colonies!Mushrooms are saving the day for us yet again! Did you know that 70% of the fruits and vegetables we eat count on bees for pollination, and yet bee populations are plummeting? But the good news here is that some mushrooms have been found to have an ingenious property that allows them to defend the beehives!
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
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      • Technology
          • Image: Gomi Designs speaker in bright multicolors on a bookshelfTurning Plastic Bags into Speakers!Some of the most important innovators of our time are finding ingenious ways to look at waste as a resource. Here's a clever group that has found an artistic and functional way to use single-use plastic bags!
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
          • Image: People in a crowd dancing at a concertHow Music Reshapes Our BrainsHave you ever gotten chills when the right song comes on? What about that feeling of euphoria you experience singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs on a beautiful day? Is this just a quirk of humanity or is there something deeper going on here that connects us to our shared humanity? Science has some pretty remarkable answers to these questions!
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      • Education
          • Image: An older and and a younger hand reach out to touch a red roseHow a High School in a Nursing Home is Changing LivesWhat if we saw this new wave of people reaching retirement as a new generation of mentors? Connecting youth and older adults has remarkable benefits for everyone! Heres how one program is helping lead the way for whats possible.
          • Image: A basketball close up with children in the backgroundStamford Peace Project: Classroom, Community and the Potential of Youth SportsWhat would our schools look like if we made the most of the amazing untapped potential involving 45 million kids? There is a model for an entirely fresh approach to all youth athletics that would ensure students would leave the system at any level, with a remarkable toolbox of coping skills, character assets, and academic strength to access for the rest of their lives. Now here's what innovation looks like at its best!
          • Image: A funny scientist giving a talk, people laughingHow Teaching Improv Skills to Scientists Will Change the FutureWhat would the world look like for us all if we could understand each other better? Alan Alda may be best known for his skills as an actor in the hit series M*A*S*H* but for the past two decades, he has been educating scientists on how they can communicate their important work to all of us. His methods aren't just for Ph.D.'s though, they are skills every one of us can use to become better communicators!
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      • Business
          • Image: A funny scientist giving a talk, people laughingHow Teaching Improv Skills to Scientists Will Change the FutureWhat would the world look like for us all if we could understand each other better? Alan Alda may be best known for his skills as an actor in the hit series M*A*S*H* but for the past two decades, he has been educating scientists on how they can communicate their important work to all of us. His methods aren't just for Ph.D.'s though, they are skills every one of us can use to become better communicators!
          • Image: A lone tree on an island with the sun setting on low tide around it.This is Day One (On Day Two)What would our world look like if we were all tuned into recognizing and calling out the good in others? Could pride, trust, and potential soar? It is possible, and the fantastic Drew Dudley will help us with it.
          • Image: Colorful Sailboats on the OceanHow to Catch the Winds of LuckWhat if you could have more luck without just wishing for it? Here's a Stanford Professor, with decades of research, pointing to 3 simple ways to start increasing the odds of finding more "good luck" in your life!
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      • Life Hacks
          • Image: a cluster of wooden signs pointing in many directionsThe Unexpected Place You’ll Find Your Best Creative ImpulsesWhat's the key to getting our best creative impulses to surface? Well, Tim Harford believes that it's waiting for us in the "messes"; the very things that seem like obstacles in the heat of the moment. Here are some ideas on how our frustrations and the unexpected can be exactly what we need to create our best work. Take a look!
          • Image: dead lightbulbs surround a single illuminated bulbWhen Everything Seems Dark, Here’s How to Find Some LightThe next time you or someone you love faces a heartbreaking turn of events, there is a recipe for the resilience it takes to come out the other side of a loss with a remarkable sense of progress. Here's a story that gives us all the keys to unimagined possibilities!
          • Image: A team of people walk through a field of lupine picking up trash in a national forestHow You Can Help Remove Thousands of Pounds of Litter from our Planet Every Year!Look almost anywhere and you'll see litter, so what can we do to be better stewards of the environment? Why not join a growing movement of people taking little steps to collect thousands of pounds of litter, together! Heres a story that will inspire you to get involved.
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  • Thought Leaders
      • All Thought Leaders
          • Image: a cluster of wooden signs pointing in many directionsThe Unexpected Place You’ll Find Your Best Creative ImpulsesWhat's the key to getting our best creative impulses to surface? Well, Tim Harford believes that it's waiting for us in the "messes"; the very things that seem like obstacles in the heat of the moment. Here are some ideas on how our frustrations and the unexpected can be exactly what we need to create our best work. Take a look!
          • Image: dead lightbulbs surround a single illuminated bulbWhen Everything Seems Dark, Here’s How to Find Some LightThe next time you or someone you love faces a heartbreaking turn of events, there is a recipe for the resilience it takes to come out the other side of a loss with a remarkable sense of progress. Here's a story that gives us all the keys to unimagined possibilities!
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
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      • TED Talks
          • Image: a cluster of wooden signs pointing in many directionsThe Unexpected Place You’ll Find Your Best Creative ImpulsesWhat's the key to getting our best creative impulses to surface? Well, Tim Harford believes that it's waiting for us in the "messes"; the very things that seem like obstacles in the heat of the moment. Here are some ideas on how our frustrations and the unexpected can be exactly what we need to create our best work. Take a look!
          • Image: two children in the ocean on a surfboard being held in place by a coach who sports a #SurfTherapy graphic on their shirtThe Unexpected Ways Surfing is Helping Youth HealLife is tough, but it's a whole lot easier when we're around people who share similar experiences in a no pressure environment. Waves for Change is one of the organizations out there harnessing the power of sport and play to create environments where children are able to open up and heal!
          • Image: a chain of weaver ants bridges two leavesWhat Ants Can Teach Us About Problem-SolvingDid you know that there is FAR more to the ant/human relationship than painful bites? Turns out, weaver ants have been used for centuries to help farmers protect their crops! And better yet, these remarkable problem-solvers have some tips that can teach us all about our own lives.
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      • Education Enrichment
          • Image: free diver with whalesExplore the Unseen Depths of our Oceans on One Breath Around the WorldOften the most extraordinary windows are opened for us when someone takes us on a journey we could never have gone on without them. Here is an extraordinary view of the unseen 70% of our planet. The video feels like a breathtaking freefall into wonder.
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
          • Image: Two whales spy hop to see the world around them above the waterHere’s What Killer Whales Have in Common with Your Grandmother!Killer whales have more in common with your grandmother than you may think. It's a fascinating story and an opportunity for all of us to easily make the world a little better place today! Turns out, some wise elders of the Pacific Northwest, grandmother killer whales, are at a tipping point for their survival, but we can influence that quickly. This is an amazing story and a chance to be change-makers!
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      • Happiness & Hope
          • Image: a cluster of wooden signs pointing in many directionsThe Unexpected Place You’ll Find Your Best Creative ImpulsesWhat's the key to getting our best creative impulses to surface? Well, Tim Harford believes that it's waiting for us in the "messes"; the very things that seem like obstacles in the heat of the moment. Here are some ideas on how our frustrations and the unexpected can be exactly what we need to create our best work. Take a look!
          • Image: a boy and his seizure response dog train togetherHere’s How Seizure Detecting Dogs are Changing People’s LivesCan dogs really be life-savers? Meet the dogs that are helping their owners detect seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur! It's a fascinating story. These pups are making life safer and easier for people who suffer from seizures.
          • Image: dead lightbulbs surround a single illuminated bulbWhen Everything Seems Dark, Here’s How to Find Some LightThe next time you or someone you love faces a heartbreaking turn of events, there is a recipe for the resilience it takes to come out the other side of a loss with a remarkable sense of progress. Here's a story that gives us all the keys to unimagined possibilities!
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      • Humor
          • Image: Three men walk across a stone covered beach in on the Fundy Footpath with the Bay of Fundy behind themTaking on the Fundy Footpath!Have you ever been inspired to embrace a passion for something and then quickly realized you don't have the training to enjoy it as you imagined? Maybe what we can appreciate is something very different than what we had in mind, and that makes the adventure even better.
          • Image: Elderly couple hugging and smilingSo, What’s it like to Grow Older?We have something that's going to make you feel a whole lot better about growing older. These masters of aging gracefully and keeping your spirit lively have a few tips for us all!
          • Image: Ice cream cone melting in a persons handThe Warmer the Better! Right?Here's an inspiring way to look at what will actually happen to our individual lives if, as predicted, it gets 4 degrees warmer. But this is a new approach: a refreshing look with a little humor and uplifting thoughts on climate change and how we are all empowered to transform the future.
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      • Philosophy
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.
          • Image: A famous, wild roller coaster at dusk in GermanyIs Happiness Truly Our End Goal?Most of us are running around looking to hold on to this thing called happiness, but these seem to be fleeting moments. Should we be focusing on something else instead? Listen to writer Emily Esfahani Smith's eye opening insight in her TED Talk!
          • Image: people placing their hands and feet in a circleWhy Asking for Help is a Sign of StrengthWhy do we feel embarrassed to ask for help? The wonderful (and hilarious) TED Talk Speaker Michele L. Sullivan helps us re-frame our perspective on asking for help, and how it all starts with having a little more compassion!
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  • Nature
      • ALL NATURE
          • Image: free diver with whalesExplore the Unseen Depths of our Oceans on One Breath Around the WorldOften the most extraordinary windows are opened for us when someone takes us on a journey we could never have gone on without them. Here is an extraordinary view of the unseen 70% of our planet. The video feels like a breathtaking freefall into wonder.
          • Image: two wild pigs staring at the cameraHunting for a Solution to the Damage from Wild PigsWild pigs are one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States. They're devastating ecosystems, destroying agriculture, killing other animals, and costing billions of dollars in damage. But there's something that we can do, and it all ties back to who our species is at our roots.
          • Image: Beekeeper pointing to beesMushrooms are Saving Honeybee Colonies!Mushrooms are saving the day for us yet again! Did you know that 70% of the fruits and vegetables we eat count on bees for pollination, and yet bee populations are plummeting? But the good news here is that some mushrooms have been found to have an ingenious property that allows them to defend the beehives!
        • Close
      • Animals
          • Image: a boy and his seizure response dog train togetherHere’s How Seizure Detecting Dogs are Changing People’s LivesCan dogs really be life-savers? Meet the dogs that are helping their owners detect seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur! It's a fascinating story. These pups are making life safer and easier for people who suffer from seizures.
          • Image: free diver with whalesExplore the Unseen Depths of our Oceans on One Breath Around the WorldOften the most extraordinary windows are opened for us when someone takes us on a journey we could never have gone on without them. Here is an extraordinary view of the unseen 70% of our planet. The video feels like a breathtaking freefall into wonder.
          • Image: two wild pigs staring at the cameraHunting for a Solution to the Damage from Wild PigsWild pigs are one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States. They're devastating ecosystems, destroying agriculture, killing other animals, and costing billions of dollars in damage. But there's something that we can do, and it all ties back to who our species is at our roots.
        • Close
      • Environment
          • Image: Gomi Designs speaker in bright multicolors on a bookshelfTurning Plastic Bags into Speakers!Some of the most important innovators of our time are finding ingenious ways to look at waste as a resource. Here's a clever group that has found an artistic and functional way to use single-use plastic bags!
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
          • Image: Two whales spy hop to see the world around them above the waterHere’s What Killer Whales Have in Common with Your Grandmother!Killer whales have more in common with your grandmother than you may think. It's a fascinating story and an opportunity for all of us to easily make the world a little better place today! Turns out, some wise elders of the Pacific Northwest, grandmother killer whales, are at a tipping point for their survival, but we can influence that quickly. This is an amazing story and a chance to be change-makers!
        • Close
      • Conservation & Sustainability
          • Image: two wild pigs staring at the cameraHunting for a Solution to the Damage from Wild PigsWild pigs are one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States. They're devastating ecosystems, destroying agriculture, killing other animals, and costing billions of dollars in damage. But there's something that we can do, and it all ties back to who our species is at our roots.
          • Image: Beekeeper pointing to beesMushrooms are Saving Honeybee Colonies!Mushrooms are saving the day for us yet again! Did you know that 70% of the fruits and vegetables we eat count on bees for pollination, and yet bee populations are plummeting? But the good news here is that some mushrooms have been found to have an ingenious property that allows them to defend the beehives!
          • Image: Rain forest Connection founder places a device in a tree that uses an old cellphone to detect illegal loggingOld Cellphones: The Key to Stopping Climate ChangeDeforestation causes more emissions than all of the cars and trucks on our planet combined, so what can we do to stop it? Could the unlikely hero in this story be the old cell phone tucked away in your junk drawer? It is! Read on and you'll see problem-solving at its best!
        • Close
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  • Creativity
      • All Creativity
          • Image: a cluster of wooden signs pointing in many directionsThe Unexpected Place You’ll Find Your Best Creative ImpulsesWhat's the key to getting our best creative impulses to surface? Well, Tim Harford believes that it's waiting for us in the "messes"; the very things that seem like obstacles in the heat of the moment. Here are some ideas on how our frustrations and the unexpected can be exactly what we need to create our best work. Take a look!
          • Image: dead lightbulbs surround a single illuminated bulbWhen Everything Seems Dark, Here’s How to Find Some LightThe next time you or someone you love faces a heartbreaking turn of events, there is a recipe for the resilience it takes to come out the other side of a loss with a remarkable sense of progress. Here's a story that gives us all the keys to unimagined possibilities!
          • Image: Yo-yo player doing a complex trick with the string wrapped around their fingersIs the Yo-Yo Making a Come Back?When you think of a yo-yo you probably don't think athleticism, creativity, and community. For those in the know, though, yo-yo can be all of these things! Yo-yos have become a creative and artistic outlet for a remarkable community of people. Check out how a world champion yo-yoer got his start and what world champion yo-yo skills look like!
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      • Art
          • Image: Golden Ratio spiral over image of saxophone playerCan You Hear the Golden Ratio?Could there really be a universal ratio that unites beauty, nature, and art? The Golden Ratio can be found all over the place if you know where to look. But did you know it's found in music too? Is this coincidence, on purpose, or a creative tool? We'll let you test it out and decide for yourself!
          • Image: Artlifting founder Liz Powers with ArtLifting artist painting at an easelArtLifting: The Business of Empowering Hidden TalentsArtLifting began as a business working to empower homeless and disabled artists by giving them a marketplace for their work. Now, they've grown into a model that makes us ask: What if more businesses worked to energize the hidden talent around the world? How could that change all of our lives?
          • Image: art projected on trees and house at Alys Beach. Viewers are taking photosAlys Beach, the Town Transformed by Color After DarkFor one weekend every year, the entire town of Alys Beach transforms. As the sun dips below the horizon, the walls of their houses are doused in art from around the world. Check out how this unique town is embracing what they have, and giving the world a new way to experience art.
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      • Dance
          • Image: Shaheem Sanchez tuttingMeet the Dancer Combining Sign Language & Hip HopShaheem Sanchez lost his hearing as a child, but now as a professional dancer, teacher, and advocate he is on a mission to make ASL dance a movement. His work points to possibilities all around us, probably hiding in plain sight, if we can just eliminate our assumptions.
          • Image: Cinco Dancers with a beautiful, flowing gownThe Fascinating Story Behind Why We Dance!We seem to be born to do it and it may even be a key to our success as a species! So why was it that dancing became engrained in the fabric of being human? This video clues us in on how dance has shaped human life throughout our evolution. And we can't help but ask: could dance actually help us through difficult times now?
          • Image: Four young ballerinas lined up and practicing next to a chain mail fence.Building Futures One Plié at a TimeIn a place where violence reigns, girls are finding refuge in a surprising way—and it's all thanks to one amazing woman.
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      • Music
          • Image: Golden Ratio spiral over image of saxophone playerCan You Hear the Golden Ratio?Could there really be a universal ratio that unites beauty, nature, and art? The Golden Ratio can be found all over the place if you know where to look. But did you know it's found in music too? Is this coincidence, on purpose, or a creative tool? We'll let you test it out and decide for yourself!
          • Image: People in a crowd dancing at a concertHow Music Reshapes Our BrainsHave you ever gotten chills when the right song comes on? What about that feeling of euphoria you experience singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs on a beautiful day? Is this just a quirk of humanity or is there something deeper going on here that connects us to our shared humanity? Science has some pretty remarkable answers to these questions!
          • Street SymphonyBringing the Symphony to the StreetWe have all felt the connective and uplifting power of a great musical performance. But what if you couldn't access to those moments that most feed your soul? Thanks to the work of a remarkable organization, the residents of LA facing homelessness and incarceration, these moments are no longer lost.
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      • Design
          • Image: art projected on trees and house at Alys Beach. Viewers are taking photosAlys Beach, the Town Transformed by Color After DarkFor one weekend every year, the entire town of Alys Beach transforms. As the sun dips below the horizon, the walls of their houses are doused in art from around the world. Check out how this unique town is embracing what they have, and giving the world a new way to experience art.
          • Image: Whistling emojiThere’s a Common Language We All Speak!You are fluent in a language that you don't even realize you know! And it might be a place we can find some real fun and eventually share the struggle for connection.
          • Image: Children working on a problem at a makers faireSadie McCallum Shows Us Why Invention is for EverybodyMeet Sadie McCallum, a young inventor who is taking the unique problems she faces with Cerebral Palsy and building innovative solutions to help others!
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      • Photography
          • Image: Colorized Image of peasant women from RussiaBringing Color Back to our PastWhat stories do images from the past tell us? How might they speak to us differently if we could easily see ourselves reflected in them?
          • Image: Graffiti of a cubist style painting of a faceStories Behind the Faces of PowerWhat if we removed the veil of power and could see people at "the top" for who they really are? Here's a photographer whose stories do just that!
          • Image: Graffiti face on a garbage canLitterati: Connecting Us All and Changing Paradigms!Have you heard of the amazing social media project that can eliminate litter from our planet? It's bringing together ordinary people, brands, governments and the power of big data--all with a novel artistic magnetism!
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  • Science
      • All Science
          • Image: Beekeeper pointing to beesMushrooms are Saving Honeybee Colonies!Mushrooms are saving the day for us yet again! Did you know that 70% of the fruits and vegetables we eat count on bees for pollination, and yet bee populations are plummeting? But the good news here is that some mushrooms have been found to have an ingenious property that allows them to defend the beehives!
          • Image: People in a crowd dancing at a concertHow Music Reshapes Our BrainsHave you ever gotten chills when the right song comes on? What about that feeling of euphoria you experience singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs on a beautiful day? Is this just a quirk of humanity or is there something deeper going on here that connects us to our shared humanity? Science has some pretty remarkable answers to these questions!
          • Image: a large school of silver fish swimming around a coral reefMeet the People Using Technology to Save Our Coral ReefsCoral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems on the planet to each and every one of us, but few realize the connection. You may know coral is in danger, but the future isn't as dark as we so often hear. Meet the people who are hard using amazing, cutting-edge technology to save our corals and building a brighter future for us all!
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      • Health
          • Image: a boy and his seizure response dog train togetherHere’s How Seizure Detecting Dogs are Changing People’s LivesCan dogs really be life-savers? Meet the dogs that are helping their owners detect seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur! It's a fascinating story. These pups are making life safer and easier for people who suffer from seizures.
          • Image: Man walking with back faced to us, down a paved road between thick rows of trees growing along the sidesThe Extinction of Silence and the Man Who is Saving ItModern noises find us almost everywhere we go, and it's having an impact on our health! But Gordon Hempton is leading the charge to protect and preserve the places we have left. (Make sure you have your headphones when you pop into this)
          • Image: two children in the ocean on a surfboard being held in place by a coach who sports a #SurfTherapy graphic on their shirtThe Unexpected Ways Surfing is Helping Youth HealLife is tough, but it's a whole lot easier when we're around people who share similar experiences in a no pressure environment. Waves for Change is one of the organizations out there harnessing the power of sport and play to create environments where children are able to open up and heal!
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      • Space
          • Image: Man standing underneath a rock arch looking up at the stars of the night skyPreserving Our Nights Skies: A Mission Beyond the StarsWhen was the last time you gazed up at the stars of the night sky? Imagine if future generations didn't have access to that wonder? Light pollution impacts 80% of humanity, and it can have serious impacts on our health and the planet. Here are the people working to save our dark skies and the easy ways you can make a positive impact too.
          • Image: Mae Jemison in SpaceHappy Birthday Mae Jemison!The story of Mae Jemison's life is one about pursuing your dreams and striving for better. And tomorrow's her birthday! So let's celebrate.
          • Image: Astronaut on space walk orbiting earth and waving at the cameraHow Do Space Suits Even Work?We've seen people walk on the moon in them, but how has that been possible? What is it about a space suit that enables it to protect us out there?
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      • Psychology
          • Image: Nouria Newman Kayaking though a large rapid in LadakhLessons on Being Prepared from One of the World’s Best Extreme AthletesStarting a new job, a new chapter in life, or maybe just doing something you've always wanted to do? Extreme athletes may seem like unlikely sources of inspiration, but their skill at how to avoid panic can be a great example of what we can do in our own lives!
          • The problem is not the lack of goodness in our world, it is the lack of awareness about all that promise.#ConspiracyofGoodness: A Movement That’s Changing our FutureWhy don't we know about the awe-inspiring people who are making the world a better place? There is already a movement underway of people working towards a better collective future and you're already a part of it. This is the Conspiracy of Goodness, the movement all around us just waiting to be celebrated!
          • Image: A basketball close up with children in the backgroundStamford Peace Project: Classroom, Community and the Potential of Youth SportsWhat would our schools look like if we made the most of the amazing untapped potential involving 45 million kids? There is a model for an entirely fresh approach to all youth athletics that would ensure students would leave the system at any level, with a remarkable toolbox of coping skills, character assets, and academic strength to access for the rest of their lives. Now here's what innovation looks like at its best!
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  • Culture
      • All Culture
          • Image: a crowd of people watch as people build a human tower called a CastellHow Spain’s Human Towers Define CommunityHow do you build a tower of people 50 feet tall and weighing as much as three elephants? Maybe more importantly, why? The castell builders of Catalonia, Spain are, quite literally, the definition of an uplifting and supportive community.
          • Image: the Mole Poblano Asuncion family team together in their kitchenMole Poblano Asuncion: The Sauce Made with 3 Generations of LoveWhat tastes like home to you? When we're far from home, food can bring us comfort and make us feel a little less homesick. The three generations of women at Mole Poblano Asuncion are bringing the flavors of Mexico to those who miss it most in New York City. Here's their remarkable story!
          • Image: a boy and his seizure response dog train togetherHere’s How Seizure Detecting Dogs are Changing People’s LivesCan dogs really be life-savers? Meet the dogs that are helping their owners detect seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur! It's a fascinating story. These pups are making life safer and easier for people who suffer from seizures.
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      • Travel
          • Image: Nouria Newman Kayaking though a large rapid in LadakhLessons on Being Prepared from One of the World’s Best Extreme AthletesStarting a new job, a new chapter in life, or maybe just doing something you've always wanted to do? Extreme athletes may seem like unlikely sources of inspiration, but their skill at how to avoid panic can be a great example of what we can do in our own lives!
          • Image: A girl smelling a rose with deep satisfactionWalk Through the City You Didn’t Know You Were Smelling Everyday!Perfume has influenced our lives for more than 4000 years! But did you know many of the perfumes we know best today have their origins in the fields and flowers of one city in France? Let's travel to this city behind some of the most iconic smells in history to learn how perfume has shaped our cultures.
          • sherpaSupporting Education in the Mountains of NepalThe vast majority of people who have summited Mount Everest have porters to thank for it—but being a porter is far from a safe profession. Yet, for many Sherpa, this is their only way to support their families. After becoming a porter at the age of 12 and summiting Everest 21 times, Apa Sherpa has created a foundation to ensure that children have another path to travel in life through their education.
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      • Sports
          • Image: Nouria Newman Kayaking though a large rapid in LadakhLessons on Being Prepared from One of the World’s Best Extreme AthletesStarting a new job, a new chapter in life, or maybe just doing something you've always wanted to do? Extreme athletes may seem like unlikely sources of inspiration, but their skill at how to avoid panic can be a great example of what we can do in our own lives!
          • Image: Race car at night with blurry and colorful lightTradition on the TrackSince the invention of the wheel, racing has been a part of life... but why do millions of people come together around car racing? Its appeal, like so many other sports, begins with something simple: community.
          • Image: two children in the ocean on a surfboard being held in place by a coach who sports a #SurfTherapy graphic on their shirtThe Unexpected Ways Surfing is Helping Youth HealLife is tough, but it's a whole lot easier when we're around people who share similar experiences in a no pressure environment. Waves for Change is one of the organizations out there harnessing the power of sport and play to create environments where children are able to open up and heal!
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      • Food
          • Image: the Mole Poblano Asuncion family team together in their kitchenMole Poblano Asuncion: The Sauce Made with 3 Generations of LoveWhat tastes like home to you? When we're far from home, food can bring us comfort and make us feel a little less homesick. The three generations of women at Mole Poblano Asuncion are bringing the flavors of Mexico to those who miss it most in New York City. Here's their remarkable story!
          • Image: Woman in Peru buying food at a marketTasting Peru: from Sea to Summit, the Andes to the AmazonOur foods and their traditions tell the stories of who we are. And even when we can't seem to find common ground with someone on anything else, we can find common ground around the dinner table! Food is powerful. So we're traveling to one of the most diverse foodscapes in the world to see how they're preserving the legacy of their remarkable culinary culture! 
          • Image: two wild pigs staring at the cameraHunting for a Solution to the Damage from Wild PigsWild pigs are one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States. They're devastating ecosystems, destroying agriculture, killing other animals, and costing billions of dollars in damage. But there's something that we can do, and it all ties back to who our species is at our roots.
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      • History
          • Image: tea being poured four waysCelebrating a Global Communi-TEA!Did you know you probably have some fascinating connection to tea? This beverage has reshaped history and cultures around the world and led to many aspects of our lives today. So what does that say about some of the universals of human nature and our shared humanity?
          • Image: a child looks deeply at a huge pop up bookInto the Fascinating World of Pop-Ups!There are very few things in life that promise to delight and fascinate us at any age. And it turns out, pop-up books are one of them! They have a fascinating history as a practical wonder and offer a welcomed expansion of our common notions. This is some pretty fun stuff, take a look!
          • Image: Satellite photo of the Uffington White HorseThe White Horse: An Effort that Links 90 Generations!This piece of art has been draped across an entire English hilltop for three thousand years. And we have an unbroken thread of ordinary people to thank for it being here today; they showed up unfailingly and sat patiently smashing it with hammers. Take a look!
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      • Special Occasion
          • Image: People celebrating wildly throwing colorful things in the airWhat We’ve Learned from 5 Years of Curating the WebWant an antidote for the daily news, without completely abandoning ship? We're celebrating 5 years of publishing "the rest of the story" here at Ever Widening Circles! So join us as we point you to some of the amazing topics we've discovered while curating the web for the insights and innovations being missed by most.
          • Image: Fireworks exploding above a city skylineGunpowder, Stars, Art, and… Bigfoot?When you see fireworks, you're witnessing an art form with a surprisingly rich history. How fireworks grew from scaring away a creature of lore to the beautiful spectacle today is an incredible story that will leave you with a little more awe the next time you see the night sky light up.
          • Image: Person looking up at the night skyWant to Help Us Create the Antidote for the Daily News?Ever wonder if there is anything you could do, personally, to affect the direction of things? Turns out there is! You can easily help us get the word out that this is still an amazing world and we can actually change the negative dialogue together! Here's how...
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      • Saturdays Around the World
          • Image: a crowd of people watch as people build a human tower called a CastellHow Spain’s Human Towers Define CommunityHow do you build a tower of people 50 feet tall and weighing as much as three elephants? Maybe more importantly, why? The castell builders of Catalonia, Spain are, quite literally, the definition of an uplifting and supportive community.
          • Image: Two women smiling and embracingAlaffia: Proof that Traditions are a Global Resource We Can All Enjoy!Does economic prosperity always have to come at the cost of tradition? Or can tradition help us create an even better business model? Let us introduce you to Alaffia, a company that has found a way to harness centuries of knowledge to empower a new generation of skilled craftswomen.
          • Image: Large waterfall running between two green mountainsThe Japanese Art of Waterfall ClimbingWhen was the last time you had your breath taken away by the natural world? For Sawanobari climbers, these moments are all around them as they scale Japan's magnificent waterfalls and experience the raw power of some of nature's most beautiful features, in a whole new way!
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Featured Circle

Aging With Grace!

By Renee Laroche-Rheaume

How can we get the most out of aging? Here are some great articles all about moving through this thing called life. (This circle is paired with our June 2019 edition of Conspiracy Chronicles. You can access the newsletter here!)

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