🗞️ Happy news for today: Scientists in Japan have developed a new kind of plastic that completely dissolves in seawater within hours, leaving no trace behind! It’s a huuuge breakthrough in tackling ocean pollution, and could even one day replace the plastic used in packaging and other industries.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A councillor in Staffordshire is working to make Biddulph the UK’s first mental health-friendly town. Adam Parkes, who has experienced his own MH struggles, has trained 60 people in mental health first aid to build a community where more feel safe to speak up and be heard.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A new “Nature Positive” bill has been introduced in Wales to protect wildlife and restore habitats. If passed, it’ll let the public challenge pollution and environmental harm, while making councils legally responsible for publishing nature recovery plans with clear targets.

🗞️ Happy news for today: The UK has joined countries like Belgium and Australia in banning disposable vapes from today. The ban tackles the 8 million vapes binned every week, many of which pollute beaches, start fires in bins, and harm wildlife with hidden batteries and plastic waste.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A UK dog festival has created a beach just for pups, with real sand and palm trees brought in for the weekend. Dogstival, in the New Forest, gives dogs the chance to run, play and feel the sand under their paws, just as many beaches across the UK bring in summer dog bans.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A cat who survived a 380-foot fall into a canyon has been adopted by the rescue pilot who found her. Twelve-year-old Mirage was discovered in a soft pet carrier after a tragic accident at Bryce Canyon. Shaken and injured, she somehow survived the drop with her life.

🗞️ Happy news for today: France is banning smoking in public outdoor areas like beaches, parks, and near schools to help protect children from secondhand smoke. The law comes into force this July, making public air cleaner for everyone, and reflecting growing public support for smoke-free spaces.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Spain is set to ban wet wipes and plastic balloons to protect the environment. Under new legislation, manufacturers will be forced to pay for cleanup costs, while flushing wet wipes and releasing balloons will be banned to stop sewer blockages and marine pollution.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A livestream of bald eagles brings joy to thousands. Jackie, Shadow, and their two chicks, Sunny and Gizmo, live near Big Bear Lake in California and have been watched online by fans since hatching in March. Now 11 weeks old, the chicks are preparing to take flight.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A man who quit his job to sail across the Pacific with his cat has arrived safely in Hawaii. Oliver Widger left his life and taught himself to sail so he and his cat Phoenix could be free on the open ocean. After weeks at sea, they were welcomed in Honolulu with cheers.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Scientists are developing a battery that can charge up while removing carbon from the air. The lithium–CO₂ battery absorbs carbon dioxide and stores energy at the same time, offering a clever way to tackle two climate problems at once. And it could even work on Mars!

🗞️ Happy news for today: UK zoos will soon have to follow new rules to better protect animal welfare. It’s the first major update to zoo standards in over a decade, and will mean bigger habitats for animals like elephants, and an end to outdated practices like tethering birds and touching stingrays.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Italy’s top court has ruled that both mothers in a lesbian couple can now be legally recognised as parents. The Constitutional Court says denying the non-biological mother legal status violates equality and harms the child’s right to care and continuity from both parents.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Flowers make sweeter nectar when they hear bees buzzing nearby. A new study found that snapdragons respond to the sound of snail-shell bee wings by producing more nectar with a higher sugar content - a clever way from them to attract the pollinators that help them thrive.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A scared lil rescue dog named Tiki is starting to heal, and the internet is cheering him on! When Isabel brought him home, Tiki wouldn’t leave his bed or let anyone near him. But three weeks later, he’s walking around sniffing the house, and his progress has gone viral.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Endangered water voles in Wales are being fed glittery apples to help save them from extinction. The glitter, which is biodegradable and safe to eat, lets scientists track their movements via glittery poop, giving researchers insight into how to protect their habitats.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A 10-year-old boy has helped save a stranded endangered sea turtle in Ireland. Jonathan Padden spotted the tiny lifeless loggerhead turtle on a beach in Mayo and quickly jumped into action, wrapping it in a towel and helping get it to Galway Atlantaquaria for urgent care.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A school in LA is turning grey into green, giving children a better start! Washington Elementary has replaced asphalt with veggie beds, butterfly plants, and 26 new trees - adding shade, cleaner air, a healthier space for students, and greenery to an area that had little.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Barbie is ditching the heels in a win for progress! A new study has found that most new Barbie dolls now wear flat shoes instead of heels. The research team say that this reflects how far we’ve come, changing careers, workplace rules, and freedom of choice for women today.

🗞️ Happy news for today: In a world first, a baby with a life-threatening genetic condition has been saved by personalised CRISPR gene therapy. Six-month-old KJ is now meeting milestones after doctors corrected the mutation causing toxic ammonia buildup, offering hope to others with rare diseases.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Brontë country is now a protected national nature reserve! The new 3,100-acre Bradford Pennine Gateway will connect eight nature sites across West Yorkshire, preserving moorland, peat bogs, and the sweeping landscapes that inspired Wuthering Heights and other Brontë novels.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A bodega owner in Staten Island is giving free snacks (and even $100) to local kids who bring in good grades. Wail Alselwi, known as ‘Island Ock’, started the tradition to encourage a young regular. Now, lots of students come from across the city to celebrate their success.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Rescuers were called to help a distressed seal spotted on a UK beach… Only to discover it was a large rock! The member of the public did exactly the right thing by keeping their distance and calling Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue, who came searching for the ‘seal in distress’.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Sweden’s famous Great Moose Migration livestream is back for the season! Thousands of moose are making their annual journey across rivers and forests, with GPS tracking showing that most moose head north to their summer grazing grounds before returning south by October.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A peregrine falcon at Worcester Cathedral has welcomed her first chick of the year, and it hatched on Easter Sunday! Peggy the peregrine and her mate Peter have returned to the cathedral every spring since 2022, to the joy of their viewers all around the world.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A team of seed collectors is helping restore California’s landscapes one plant at a time! Travelling across the state’s wildlands, they collect native seeds to grow new supplies for habitat restoration projects, supporting the state’s conservation and biodiversity goals.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A global project is preserving the unique sounds of the world’s heritage sites, from rare whales to ancient cities. The Sonic Heritage project has captured 270 incredible soundscapes across 68 countries, helping to protect natural and cultural wonders through sound.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Endangered sea turtle populations are showing signs of recovery in over half the regions they call home worldwide! A new global survey has found that decades of conservation efforts, like banning hunting and protecting nesting beaches, are making a real difference.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A Michigan town formed a 350-foot human chain to help move a beloved independent bookstore’s 9,100 books to a new location. Over 300 people, plus one very good dog, showed up to help Serendipity Books relocate without closing, passing every book by hand in just two hours!

🗞️ Happy news for today: A Yorkie lost during Hurricane Laura has been found five years later, 300 miles from home! Kingston the Yorkie was discovered outside a Mississippi frat house and became their unofficial mascot, until a microchip scan revealed his identity and led to a long overdue reunion.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Major shipping nations have agreed to the world’s first global fee on greenhouse gas emissions from ships! The $100-per-ton charge will fund cleaner technologies and support developing countries, significantly cutting pollution and boosting green shipping worldwide.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Living near trees could help you live longer, new research says! A study of 6 million people in Switzerland found that those living near well-connected tree-covered spaces had significantly lower mortality rates, highlighting the importance of urban greenery for health.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A new breast cancer pill is being made available on the NHS in England and Wales. Capivasertib is a twice daily pill that has been approved after trials showed it can significantly slow cancer progression in patients with advanced hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Pet rats are making art that’s being sold around the world! Vet nurse Steph Toogood’s rats create mini paintings by walking through non-toxic water-based paint on tiny canvases. Their artworks sell globally for up to £35 each and are helping change people’s views on rats.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Mexican gray wolves are making a remarkable comeback in the wild. Once nearly wiped out, at least 286 of the wolves now roam Arizona and New Mexico. It is the highest count in decades, with more pups and family groups helping restore balance to the region’s ecosystems.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A UK woman has become the first to give birth after a womb transplant. Grace Davidson welcomed baby Amy Isabel in February, after receiving her sister’s womb in 2023. It’s the first birth of its kind in the UK and offers hope to others unable to carry a pregnancy.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Two nearly 100 year old Galápagos tortoises at Philadelphia Zoo have become first-time parents! The critically endangered pair, Mommy and Abrazzo, welcomed four tiny hatchlings, making Mommy the oldest first-time mum of her species and marking a historic first for the zoo.

🗞️ Happy news for today: The UK has banned fake reviews and hidden fees for online shoppers! New laws mean retailers must now clearly show the full upfront cost, including booking fees. Online marketplaces must also actively remove fake reviews, boosting transparency and trust when shopping.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Plastic pollution on Australia’s coastlines has dropped to its lowest level in a decade! A new study found coastal plastic waste has fallen by 39% (!), while areas completely free from plastic debris have risen by 16% (!!), highlighting growing public awareness and action.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Inmates at San Quentin have reunited with the service dogs they lovingly raised as puppies, now fully trained and matched with their disabled owners. The program teaches incarcerated men to train assistance dogs, giving them purpose while helping others gain independence.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Floating islands have been installed in a Middlesbrough dock to help wildlife thrive in an area where there are few natural habitats. The pre-seeded platforms in Middlehaven Dock will grow native plants, creating a safe shelter for insects, fish, molluscs, and birds.

🗞️ Happy news for today: NFL star Khalen Saunders is launching an LGBTQ-friendly youth football camp, saying “football is for all.” The camp, announced at the GLAAD Media Awards, is part of Khalen’s mission to make the sport more inclusive and give every child a space to feel seen, valued, and safe.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Ancient footpaths in China are being restored as walking trails, reconnecting rural communities and preserving local heritage. Led by Mei Zhang, the GUDAO Project is reviving the historic Tea Horse Trail in Yunnan, once a trade route between tea-growing regions and Tibet.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Planned expansion of England’s heather burning ban could protect over 368,000 hectares of deep peatland! The Government’s new proposals would cover over half of all blanket bogs in England, helping tackle climate change, reduce flood risk, and improve air and water quality.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A volunteer phone line sharing daily positive messages is celebrating its 30th (!) anniversary! ‘Ideas for Positive Living’ has been sharing kind words, poems, jokes, and encouragement by phone since 1995, giving over 1,000 callers some comfort, calm and connection each day.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A 15-year-old boy from New York used CPR skills he learned at school to save his stepdad’s life! Anthony Killinger, a 10th grader, sprang into action when his stepdad collapsed at home. While his mum called 911, he performed CPR until his stepdad started breathing again.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A new café in Bristol will be staffed by former prisoners, helping them gain job skills, confidence, and a fresh start. Set to open in May, the not-for-profit 'Key Cafe' will sit opposite HMP Bristol and will serve bread, bakes, and jam made by serving prisoners too.

🗞️ Happy news for today: A retiree group called 'Grandpas United' is helping children while boosting their own health too! They visit classrooms to mentor young boys, teach life skills, and play games during lunch. For the retired men, it brings friendship, purpose, and a reason to get up each day.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Two childhood sweethearts have reunited after 85 years, all thanks to an old class photo. Jim and Betty, now both 96, grew up across the street from each other in 1930s Eyemouth and used to walk to school hand in hand every day, but lost touch when Jim moved away in 1939.

🗞️ Happy news for today: Five lions rescued from near the frontline in Ukraine have found a new forever home in the UK. After surviving neglect and shell shock, the lions arrived at a sanctuary in Kent where they touched grass for the first time and are finally safe, cared for, and free to roam.