Latest news with #NiceNews
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Historic ship embarks on final voyage to become world's largest artificial reef: 'An emotional maritime moment'
An ocean liner that holds the transatlantic speed record and once carried movie stars and presidents across the sea is about to embark on a new voyage — at the bottom of the ocean. The SS United States, long celebrated as America's flagship, will soon be transformed into the world's largest artificial reef, according to Nice News. The ship had long been out of use and was under a court eviction order, putting it in the crosshairs of being scrapped. Instead, the historic vessel will be carefully prepared and sunk off the coast of Florida, becoming a permanent home for marine life and an intriguing destination for divers and researchers. "This is an emotional maritime moment," Capt. Joseph Farrell, a ship-sinking and reef expert, told NBC Philadelphia. "The SS United States is a testament to America's might and engineering ingenuity. Her sinking is the final chapter for the last all-American-made, America-flagged ocean liner." And it's easy to understand the nostalgia. The ship, which is over 100 feet longer than the Titanic, set off on its maiden voyage in 1952 and once carried John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, Judy Garland, John Wayne, and Marilyn Monroe as an iconic symbol of Americana. Its next journey may just be the most meaningful yet. The SS United States Conservancy has long been working to protect the ship's legacy, and former President Bill Clinton called it "a symbol of our country's industry and accomplishment." However, attempts to find a new port or make it an attraction have failed. Luckily, artificial reefing offers the SS United States a new life that preserves its legacy in an eco-friendly way. Artificial reefs help restore damaged ecosystems by providing shelter for fish, coral, and other marine life. They also ease pressure on natural reef systems by drawing tourism and supporting coastal economies. This is a perfect example of how communities can honor their cultural heritage while also boosting local economies and building a cleaner, safer future for all of us. "As the World's Largest Artificial Reef, the story of the SSUS will be told to thousands of divers from around the world as they explore her unique design and features," a news release stated. "She will also benefit her surrounding ecosystem and become home to countless marine species that will thrive from the presence of her structure." How concerned are you about the plastic waste in our oceans? Extremely I'm pretty concerned A little Not much Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Research reveals unexpected heroes of natural disaster response: 'Every study ... has revealed'
When it comes to disaster response, most of us think of first responders as firefighters, police, EMTs, soldiers, and medics. But the very first responders, in the truest sense of the word, are the people in the immediate vicinity when a disaster takes place — and studies show that they form a critical part of disaster relief. Nice News explained the vital, yet often overlooked, role that these civilian responders play in the immediate wake of a disaster. They used the example of the Los Angeles fires in January, detailing how celebrities and everyday people went out of their way to assist their neighbors. For example, several people helped clear the streets to allow ambulances through; others helped their elderly neighbors evacuate; others volunteered their trailers to evacuate horses or braved the blazes to rescue injured wildlife. Businesses opened their doors to allow displaced residents to shower and charge their phones. Without this immediate, tangible assistance, it's almost guaranteed that many more people would have been injured or even killed. And beyond the L.A. fires, Nice News explained, over 60 years' worth of research from the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center has proved the importance — and the ubiquity — of local assistance during emergencies. "Every study of a large-scale disaster conducted by the Disaster Research Center has revealed some level of emergent, informal helping behavior," they shared. Research published in the journal Environment & Urbanization found that in crises when each minute matters, it is the people already on the scene — friends, family, and neighbors — who are most likely to save lives. From digging would-be victims out of debris to evacuating survivors from potentially dangerous zones, these people are the first line of defense even before the first responders. Local volunteers also provide critical assistance in the weeks following any disaster, even if their contributions aren't officially logged and measured. Nice News referenced a range of disasters where volunteers contributed hundreds of thousands of hours of help, from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing to the Kobe earthquake in Japan, the September 11 attacks in New York, the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, and more. And as the dust settles — literally — there is often a need for skilled volunteers, which is why Nice News encouraged anyone in the vicinity of a disaster to look for ways to contribute in the months and even years afterward. For example, as the city recovers from the L.A. wildfires, many residents will need help navigating insurance claims, correctly filling out FEMA paperwork, rebuilding temporary and new homes, looking for new jobs, and more. If you don't live near a disaster but would like to help contribute to recovery efforts, donating money to reputable volunteer and disaster relief organizations is an excellent way to lend a hand. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers create incredible 'DNA NanoGripper' that could revolutionize medicine: 'This approach has bigger potential'
University of Illinois researchers have created a nanorobot that can cling to individual virus cells, according to Nice News. "We wanted to make a soft material, nanoscale robot with grabbing functions that never have been seen before, to interact with cells, viruses and other molecules for biomedical applications," said lead researcher Xing Wang in a release by the school. "We are using DNA for its structural properties. It is strong, flexible and programmable. Yet even in the DNA origami field, this is novel in terms of the design principle. We fold one long strand of DNA back and forth to make all of the elements, both the static and moving pieces, in one step." The so-called NanoGripper has been initially used to bind to COVID-19 cells. Thanks to a little collaboration with computer scientists, researchers have been able to make a highly accurate COVID test on par with what's used in hospitals. When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you? Cost Brand name Ingredients Packaging Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Our test is very fast and simple since we detect the intact virus directly," electrical and computer engineering professor Brian Cunningham said. "When the virus is held in the NanoGripper's hand, a fluorescent molecule is triggered to release light when illuminated by an LED or laser. When a large number of fluorescent molecules are concentrated upon a single virus, it becomes bright enough in our detection system to count each virus individually." Researchers foresee many uses for this technology, including preventative medicine, diagnostics, and treatment for a wide range of serious diseases. "This approach has bigger potential than the few examples we demonstrated in this work," said Wang. It would be great to see a tool like this aimed at problems introduced by microplastics in the body, or the effects of particulate pollution, assuming it is as flexible as suggested. Of course, we aren't likely to see practical, large-scale applications of this technology for a few years, but it's certainly a novel and promising development. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
