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In the headlines...

🪧 In response to President Trump’s announcement that he’d be deploying National Guard to Chicago this week, thousands joined together in the city to protest.

🎬 Hundreds of actors, directors, and other film industry professionals have signed a pledge not to work with Israeli film groups “implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.”

Governments doing good

Boston is transforming abandoned office space into affordable homes for 1,000+ residents

In 2023, Boston launched a city-first Office-to-Residential Conversion Program. The initiative offers a tax deduction of up to 75% for up to 29 years for downtown office buildings that convert to residential use.

Fast forward about two years, and the first residents to benefit from the program are now moving into their new homes.

The city has received 15 applications to create 762 housing units across 20 buildings and convert over 600,000 square feet of office space. Once they’re complete, the projects will bring an estimated 1,500 new people living downtown by the end of 2026. With project proposals due in December, it could be even more.

Why is this good news? People deserve housing that’s affordable in their community. Instead of office spaces sitting vacant or underutilized, the program helps convert them into something that serves the city’s residents — especially those who can’t afford skyrocketing rent prices.

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More Good News

​Chemists introduced a new plastic upcycling process that could make mixed-plastics recycling a reality. The process harnesses a new, inexpensive nickel-based catalyst that selectively breaks down polyolefin plastics consisting of polyethylenes and polypropylenes—the single-use kind that dominates nearly two-thirds of global plastic consumption.

​James Patterson is giving up to $50,000 to new, emerging authors to help them finish their books. After years of giving millions of dollars to literacy programs, bookstore employees, and librarians, Patterson announced the first 12 recipients of grants from his “Go Finish Your Book” campaign.

​A German biotech startup just launched the world’s first vegan pregnancy test, developed entirely without animal-derived antibodies. The “Hey Mela” test is over 99% reliable, which matches the accuracy of conventional pregnancy tests while eliminating animal involvement entirely, reaching people looking for a cruelty-free, sustainable alternative.

​Argentina’s last captive elephant was relocated to an elephant sanctuary in Brazil. Kenya’s release was made possible by a 2016 Argentine law that mandated the closure of the nation’s zoos, their transformation into ecoparks, and the relocation of exotic animals to sanctuaries or rescue centers.

Technology

Can smartphones actually enable teens to get outside? How tech is empowering youth to ‘touch grass’

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good Data

Solar power has overtaken gas to become Hungary’s second-largest energy source

Just a decade ago in Hungary, solar power generated a mere 0.2% of the country’s electricity — it was essentially non-existent.

In 2024, after years of skyrocketing growth, it officially overtook gas to become the country’s second-largest source of electricity, behind nuclear.

Over the same time period, coal fell to just 6% of the country’s energy generation, which helped lead to the country’s carbon emissions dropping by 45% since 1990.

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More Good bits

🇮🇪 Solar is having quite the moment in Ireland, too.

⭐️ The cutest baby (stars) you’ve ever seen.

🌱 When self-defense has major environmental benefits.

💪 A vegan athlete is the world’s strongest man.

🍊 How is this fruit-sticker-alternative not already a thing. (Instagram)

What’s good?

It’s cool to see cities using what they have to help their residents.

What do you think of Boston’s office-to-housing program?

Reply to this email and let me know!

— Megan