began

In 2020, a New Jersey man lost his job and began mowing lawns for free; six years later, his volunteer network has grown to more than 2,000 people across all 50 US states

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In 2020, a New Jersey man lost his job and began mowing lawns for free; six years later, his volunteer network has grown to more than 2,000 people across all 50 US states

(Photo: Courtesy of Wahl) When Brian Schwartz lost his digital marketing job during the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020, he pulled out his lawnmower and began cutting grass for elderly neighbors in Wayne, New Jersey. Six years later, that simple act has grown into a nationwide volunteer movement operating in all 50 U.S. … Read more

A Chicago couple began protecting their Illinois woodland in the 1980s rather than develop it; decades later, all 126 acres have been bought for a new public preserve carrying their family name

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A Chicago couple began protecting their Illinois woodland in the 1980s rather than develop it; decades later, all 126 acres have been bought for a new public preserve carrying their family name

Representative image from Canva In the 1980s, Dr. Shin Theke Kang and his wife, Tae Sue Kang, made a long-term decision to protect a piece of land in southwestern Will County, Illinois, rather than develop it. Over the decades, the Chicago couple restored former agricultural areas, planted thousands of trees and cared for the woodland … Read more

In 2014, a small group in Goulburn began pursuing a community-owned solar farm; 12 years later, 300 mostly local investors had raised $3.3 million and the 1.4MW plant with a 4MWh battery opened

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In 2014, a small group in Goulburn began pursuing a community-owned solar farm; 12 years later, 300 mostly local investors had raised $3.3 million and the 1.4MW plant with a 4MWh battery opened

A small group of Goulburn residents gathered around kitchen tables in late 2014 to discuss a simple idea: making their own clean electricity. Twelve years later, that discussion became Australia’s first community-owned solar farm paired with a large-scale battery. The 1.4-megawatt facility, backed by a four-megawatt-hour battery, officially opened on an old industrial site on … Read more

At 10, Minnesota girl Natalie Flaherty began handing out Anne Frank-inspired bracelets; two years later, 100,000 have reached all 50 states and 50+ countries, earning her a $10,000 Young Hero Prize

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At 10, Minnesota girl Natalie Flaherty began handing out Anne Frank-inspired bracelets; two years later, 100,000 have reached all 50 states and 50+ countries, earning her a $10,000 Young Hero Prize

Natalie Flaherty, a Minnesota teen is one of the recipients of the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. At just 12, the girl has been able to work towards and achieve something that generations before her struggled to. The Fairmont native founded ‘I Stand With Anne’, a campaign that aims to turn Holocaust remembrance … Read more

In 1888, George Vanderbilt began building a vast North Carolina estate; 26 years later, his widow sold 86,700 acres for $433,500, helping create the core of Pisgah National Forest in 1916

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In 1888, George Vanderbilt began building a vast North Carolina estate; 26 years later, his widow sold 86,700 acres for $433,500, helping create the core of Pisgah National Forest in 1916

A major property deal that began more than a century ago with a grieving widow turned a huge private wilderness in North Carolina into one of the most important public conservation achievements in American history. In May 1914, Edith Vanderbilt agreed to sell 86,700 acres of valuable mountain forest from the private Biltmore Estate to … Read more

In 2001, California began removing non-native trout from high-Sierra lakes; by 2011 nearly 44,000 fish were removed from 19 lakes, as frogs in three restoration lakes rose from about 190 to over 18,800

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In 2001, California began removing non-native trout from high-Sierra lakes; by 2011 nearly 44,000 fish were removed from 19 lakes, as frogs in three restoration lakes rose from about 190 to over 18,800

High in California’s Sierra Nevada, a conservation project changed the future of a disappearing amphibian. In 2001, staff at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks began removing non-native trout from selected lakes and streams, restoring water bodies that had historically been home to mountain yellow-legged frogs but were naturally fishless. By 2011, nearly 44,000 trout … Read more

In 2017, one woman began collecting menstrual products for women in need; 8 years later, Project Dignity was supporting nearly 1,900 women and girls every month

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In 2017, one woman began collecting menstrual products for women in need; 8 years later, Project Dignity was supporting nearly 1,900 women and girls every month

For many women, buying pads or tampons is an ordinary part of the monthly shop. For someone already struggling to pay for food, rent or other essentials, the same purchase can become a difficult calculation. Across Western North Carolina, that gap has left some women and girls without reliable access to menstrual products. The consequences … Read more

In 2021, researchers began placing concrete-block oyster reefs in bare eelgrass patches on Prince Edward Island; within two years biomass was about 45 times higher and 45 taxa had colonised the structures

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In 2021, researchers began placing concrete-block oyster reefs in bare eelgrass patches on Prince Edward Island; within two years biomass was about 45 times higher and 45 taxa had colonised the structures

Representative Image (AI-generated) What started as piles of concrete blocks on the seafloor off Prince Edward Island soon became a magnet for marine life. Researchers began installing the artificial oyster reefs in 2021 to test whether they could provide some of the ecological functions lost from areas where eelgrass no longer grew. Within two years, … Read more

China expanded planted forests by about 35,000 sq km; 20 years of data show carbon uptake began declining within 15 years in 80% of areas

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China expanded planted forests by about 35,000 sq km; 20 years of data show carbon uptake began declining within 15 years in 80% of areas

Representative Image of the Yellow River Basin with expanding planted forests across dryland regions, viewed from above (AI Generated Image) China’s Yellow River Basin has gained roughly 35,000 square kilometres of planted forest over the past three decades, but a study of nearly 20 years of monitoring data suggests some of those forests begin losing … Read more

In 1992, Elton John began buying Atlanta apartments and eventually combined six into a 13,000-square-foot home; three decades later, it sold for $7.225 million

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In 1992, Elton John began buying Atlanta apartments and eventually combined six into a 13,000-square-foot home; three decades later, it sold for $7.225 million

Sir Elton John’s long-time Atlanta home, created over more than 30 years by combining six separate apartments, has sold for $7.225 million (£5.9 million). The final price was more than $2.2 million above the original asking price, after a short bidding period for the high-rise property. Located on the 36th floor of the Park Place … Read more