Top 15 good news stories of 2016 (with images)

As we told you in another article about our planet, here are some good news that we collected as a review for 2016. The following points prove that mankind can do something good for its home.

We hope we can leave this planet a better place than the world that we’ve found.

1. Giant Panda is no longer an endangered species

The giant panda has just been downgraded from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Vulnerable’ on the global list of species at risk of extinction, demonstrating how an integrated approach can help save our planet’s vanishing biodiversity.

2. The Ocean Cleanup project plans to cleanup 40% of ocean plastics starting this year

The Ocean Cleanup develops advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. One passive system could theoretically remove about half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 10 years.

3. Ice Bucket Challenge provided ALS research enough money to identify a gene associated with the disease

Within weeks of the challenge going viral, The New York Times reported that the ALS Association had received $41.8 million in donations from more than 739,000 new donors from July 29 until August 21, more than double the $19.4 million the association received during the year that ended January 31, 2013

4. The manatee is no longer on the endangered species list

Officials have said that the “downlisting” does not change federal and state protections for the animals, which were put on the endangered list in March 1967. They say the move shows various partners have worked to increase the population numbers and protect habitat.

5. A drone called juno flew ofer 445 bilion miles to orbit Jupiter and learn about the origin of our solar system

After an almost five-year journey to the solar system’s largest planet, NASA’s Juno spacecraft successfully entered Jupiter’s orbit during a 35-minute engine burn. Confirmation that the burn had completed was received on Earth at 8:53 p.m. PDT (11:53 p.m. EDT) Monday, July 4.

6. Canada protected 85% of the Great Bear Rainforest, part of the world’s largest temperate rainforest.

The Great Bear Rainforest was officially recognized by the Government of British Columbia in February 2016, when it announced an agreement to permanently protect 85% of the old-growth forested area from industrial logging.

7. Measles has been eradicated from North, Central & South America

On Tuesday (Sept. 27), the Pan American Health Organization (which is part of the United Nations) declared measles, a very contagious viral illness, to be eliminated from countries in the Americas. This includes all the countries in North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

8. Malawi saw its HIV rate among children drop by 67%

Malawi lowered its HIV rate by 67%, and in the past decade has seen a shift in public health that has saved over 250,000 lives.

9. 20 Countries created 40 protected marine parks (covering an area the size of the USA)

More than 20 countries including Lebanon, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Seychelles have announced 40 new marine protected areas and expansions of existing ones, during the two-day Our Oceans conference currently being held in Washington, D.C.

10. Israel produces 55% of its freshwater from the sea, turning the desert into farmland

One of the driest countries on Earth now makes more freshwater than it needs

11. An Ebola vaccine was developed by Canadians with a 100% success rate

An experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus was found to be 100% effective, according to a study published in The Lancet on Thursday.

The results offer hope of better protection against the disease that ravaged West Africa in 2014, killing more than 11,000 people.

12.World hunger has reached its lowest point in 25 years

World hunger drops below 800 million for the first time in 25 years

13. Tigers number is on the rise for the first time in 100 years

After a century of constant decline, the number of wild tigers is on the rise! According to the most recent data, around 3,890 tigers now exist in the wild—up from an estimated 3,200 in 2010.

14. After more than a century, Einstein’s theory of gravitational waves has proven correct

Scientists say they have proven the existence of gravitational waves — the ripples in space-time that stem from objects moving throughout the Universe. If true, it’s the first time these waves have been measured directly and marks one of the biggest scientific discoveries in decades. But there have been a few false alarms before.

15. India planted 50 million tress in 24 hours with 800 000 volunteers

Still, the young trees aren’t out of the woods yet, so to speak. Saplings need water and care and are susceptible to disease. Experience shows mortality rates as high as 40 percent after such massive tree plantings.