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More young people are volunteering, according to research by the British Youth Council

New research has shown that up to 20,000 young people across the UK are volunteering in their local areas. ... Read more >>

Good news: Boy, 15, survives sixteen storey balcony fall in New Zealand , with minor injuries

A 15-year-old New Zealand boy has survived with minor injuries after falling 16-storeys from the balcony of his family's apartment onto a concrete floor. ... Read more >>


Active play: Encouraging adolescents to keep active could reduce future cardiovascular disease, study suggests

Active play has a positive impact on children's physical activity and could play an important part in the health of future generations, a new study suggests. ... Read more >>

Never too old for love: Henry Kerr, 97, marries Valerie Berkowitz, 87, after four year courtship

You're never too old love – just ask 97-year-old Henry Kerr, who has married his 87-year-old sweetheart Valerie Berkowitz after four years of wooing her. ... Read more >>

Hairy nosed otter: World's rarest otter species rediscovered in Borneo

The hairy nosed otter has not been spotted for over a decade but the world's rarest otter has been rediscovered in Borneo, after being captured on camera. ... Read more >>

Mother's affection towards her child helps it cope better with adult stress, study suggests

The affection given to a young child by its mother can make it better able to cope with the stresses and strains of life as an adult, a study has found. ... Read more >>

Action For Kids urges businesses to take part in Brighton Beach Volleyball Tournament

It's a chance to bond over a game of volleyball and supportthe national disability charity, Action For Kids. It's already proved a hit with city workers in London and now the charity is seeking firms in Brighton to do their bit. ... Read more >>

Young Achievers Awards: Search for England's star achievers

A national search is underway for England's star achievers with the opening of nominations for the prestigious Young Achievers Awards. ... Read more >>

Joking Computer: Scientists develop joke generating software to help children's language skills

A computer programme that generates jokes has been created by Scottish scientists to help children develop their language skills. ... Read more >>

Death rates at their lowest ever, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics

Latest figures show that death rates in England and Wales are at their lowest-ever level, falling about five per cent in 2009. ... Read more >>

Good news for conservation: Dainty Damselfly found in UK after more than half a century

It's been AWOL for more than half a century. Now the Dainty Damselfly a delicate, blue-hued insect has re-appeared in the UK, to the delight of conservationists. ... Read more >>

Engineers Without Borders - Young people in rural India learn engineering skills from students at Bath University

Engineers Without Borders - Eleven students from the University of Bath are teaching basic engineering skills to young people in rural India to help them find solutions to problems in their communities. ... Read more >>

Paramedic-trained pizza delivery man saves life of heart attack victim

A laid-off paramedic who turned to delivering pizzas to make ends meet is credited with saving the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest just as a pizza was delivered to his door. ... Read more >>

Forty mile party along closed German motorway, the A40 autobahn, celebrates European Capital of Culture

It was a party on a grand scale – with over two million party-goers, as crowds of people joined a street party on a 40-mile stretch of specially-closed German motorway. ... Read more >>

First gay couple to marry in Argentina offered free honeymoon in Mexico City

It's an historic moment in Argentinian history - the first gay couple to marry under a new law. And now Mexico City is helping them to celebrate by arranging a free honeymoon. ... Read more >>

Butch Cupcakes: Lawyer who lost his job finds success with manly cakes

He lost his job as a Wall Street lawyer two years ago, but businessman David Arrick wasn't going to take the news lying down. He spotted a gap in the market - making cupcakes more appealing to men. Butch Bakery is selling cupcakes for dudes.<... Read more >>

Painkiller to relieve chronic diabetes pain

Scientists could be one step closer to developing a unique painkiller for millions of people worldwide with diabetes, who currently have little in the way of effective treatments for the severe chronic pain associated with diabetes. ... Read more >>

Good news: Troubled teenager Korrel Kennedy puts ASBO life behind him to become a catwalk fashion model

He was apparently branded one of the most problematic youngsters in Brighton, but Korrel Kennedy is turning his life around, with a new career on the catwalk. ... Read more >>

Good news: Inspirational former model launches The Katie Piper Foundation to support burns survivors

She is an absolute inspiration - a former model who has transformed her life with astonishing bravery after her ex-boyfriend threw acid in her face, causing her severe facial disfigurement. ... Read more >>

Skoog: Invention by University of Edinburgh researchers enables severely disabled children to make music

A new university invention is helping children who cannot use traditional instruments to make music of their own.The Skoog is a colourful, squeezy cube that is sensitive to the slightest touch, yet robust enough to resist strong handling. ... Read more >>

Nudists stage world record skinny dipping attempt to overcome prudishness

It's being billed as a chance to be part of history... naked history at least - breaking a world record in the nude, just as nature intended. ... Read more >>

Honest hotel cleaner Essa Khan in Pakistan hands in £33,000 left by guest

It affirms your faith in the goodness of human nature. Certainly, you have to admire the honesty of a hotel cleaner who handed in over £33,000 left by a guest. ... Read more >>

Yoko Ono thanks students from Chester University for recreating garden at John Lennon's childhood home, Mendips

John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, has thanked five history students for their help in preserving the former Beatle's childhood home. ... Read more >>

Solar Impulse HB-SIA: Aircraft completes first solar powered night flight

A giant glider-like aircraft the Solar Impulse HB-SIA has completed the first night flight propelled only by solar energy. ... Read more >>

Cancer patients are twice as likely to survive compared to the 1970's, says Cancer Research UK

People diagnosed with breast, bowel and ovarian cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are today twice as likely to survive for at least 10 years as those diagnosed in the early 1970s according to new figures released by Cancer Research UK. ... Read more >>

Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle searches for an unknown singer to duet on her new album

She dared to ‘dream a dream' and now Susan Boyle has launched her own search to find an unknown talent who could follow in her footsteps. ... Read more >>

Back For Good: Robbie Williams reunites with Take That and duets with Gary Barlow for Brokeback Mountain style video

They said it could never happen, but Robbie Williams is set to reunite with Take That. And, get this, Robbie and Gary Barlow have apparently already filmed a music video together based on the film Brokeback Mountain. ... Read more >>

Singing In Harmony: Women's Institute members audition to record with new WI band The Harmonies

First they were known for making jam, then they became famous for posing nude for a charity calendar. Now, The Women's Institute is aiming to set alight the music charts. ... Read more >>

Psychic octopus Paul at Sealife in Germany predicts Spain to beat Holland in World Cup final

If you can't wait to find out who wins Sunday's World Cupfinal in South Africa, help is at hand. An octopus credited with psychic powers is being called upon to predict who will be crowned winner. ... Read more >>

Chinese Goat Horn Tree finally flowers at Rowallane Garden after 91 years

It's been 91 long summers, but a tree that's been tended by staff at Rowallane Garden near Saintfield, County Down has finally flowered. ... Read more >>

First Class Honours degree student Mark Stevens celebrates graduation at Bath University after leukaemia battle

A student who's battled leukaemia will graduate today, when he receives a First Class Honours degree at the University of Bath. ... Read more >>

Most sunbathing Germans are confident of their bodies, survey finds

If you want a little more confidence on the beach this summer – take a few tips from German sun worshippers. A new survey suggests the majority of German men won't allow a beer belly to stop them taking off their tops. ... Read more >>

Bike The Planet: Expedition to inspire world debate ahead of United Nations Earth Summit 2012

It is a 30-month expedition, by bicycle and ship, aiming to connect with everyone from grassroots folk to government leaders - inspiring and empowering them to achieve the collective shift required for survival on Earth. ... Read more >>

Young winners of Explorer 8 Life Academy Awards impress with their philanthropic ideas

They were selected from hundreds of hopefuls - twelve finalists, who went head to head in a live pitch to win one of three £10,000 grants which would help them put their philanthropic ideas into action. ... Read more >>

Good news: Study by University of Graz could help phobics overcome over their fear of spiders

For some, just the mere sight of eight legs sends shivers down their spine and has them shrieking at the tops of their voices. Now a university study is seeking girls with a phobia of spiders for a project which could help ease their fears long te... Read more >>

IVF babies are emotionally secure teenagers, Dutch study finds

Parents who conceive through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) can rest easy - their children will be just as moody as other teenagers conceived "the old fashioned way" but no more so or less so, according to new research from the Netherlands. ... Read more >>

World's luckiest lottery player Joan Ginther from Texas collects fourth jackpot

If you thought luck could run out, think again... Joan Ginther from Texas has just collected her fourth jackpot win in 17 years - the $10 million top prize from a lottery scratchcard. ... Read more >>

You're hired! Young business hopefuls take part in University of Birmingham's ROCKET Challenge 2010

They would make Alan Sugar proud... would-be entrepreneurs from schools in the Midlands are taking part in a challenge to test their business acumen. ... Read more >>

Babyboomer generation plans adventurous retirement, Aviva survey finds

New research from insurance group Aviva reveals how theBabyboomer generation could disrupt the typical view of retirement. Reluctant to hang up their hats, they intend to travel the world,enhance their social lives and improve their health and fit... Read more >>

Good news: Dogslife project could boost puppies' health

Thousands of Labrador Retriever owners are being asked to help find out how a dog's lifestyle affects its health. ... Read more >>

Cross examination tips help witnesses be more accurate in court

Witnesses who receive guidance on cross-examination techniques present more accurate court testimony than those who are unfamiliar with the style of questioning, a study has found. ... Read more >>

Ga Ga about each other: Lady Ga Ga fans get engaged at concert

There's a lot of people who love Lady Ga Ga, but few can say they have sealed their love for each other at a Lady Ga Ga gig. Now two fans have got engaged during one of her concerts. ... Read more >>

Hypo-alert dog Shirley saves diabetes sufferer Rebecca Farrar from coma

They say a dog is man's best best friend – and for six-year-old diabetes sufferer Rebecca Farrar that could certainly be true. ... Read more >>

Heart disease patients could benefit from reduced air pollution, University of Edinburgh study finds

Reducing exposure to air pollution could help those with heart disease, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that wearing a facemask reduced the effects of traffic fumes in heart disease patients. ... Read more >>

Europe's first dedicated Chinese herb garden at University of Bristol offers healing research

A flower whose essential oil is, weight for weight, more expensive than gold is one of the species in Europe's first dedicated Chinese herb garden. ... Read more >>

Good news for festivalgoers: Wellington boots that charge mobile phones

Modern festival-goers who dread ending up with a dead mobile phone battery after days stuck in a muddy field with no electric plug power points may now have a solution - power boots. ... Read more >>

Bionic cat: Pioneering surgery by Noel Fitzpatrick provides injured cat Oscar with two prosethic limbs

In a world-first operation, a cat that had its back feet severed by a combine harvester has been given two prosthetic limbs.The pioneering operation by a UK vet created the new feet for an injured cat called Oscar. ... Read more >>

Children who garden are happier and more confident, finds Royal Horticultural Society study

Gardening can help a child feel happy and boost their development, latest research has found. ... Read more >>

Friends remember brave Ben Edkins with sponsored walk in Lake District for the Sarcoma Trust

He was just 25 when he died after battling Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. But Ben Edkins' friends will be remembering him for a very good cause when they embark on the Lake District's longest walks in his memory. ... Read more >>

Academics from University of Liverpool boost 3D film production

Scientists at the University of Liverpool are providingtraining for film makers to enhance understanding of how the human brain processes the visual information in 3D film and television. ... Read more >>

World Cup: Record number of BBC online users view England's win against Slovenia

They tuned in online in their hundreds of thousands for what was by anyone's standards a crucial match – and, thankfully, for England's fans, the result didn't disappoint. ... Read more >>

Good news: Former bookseller Ali Shaw is named author of the future by Desmond Elliott Prize judges

A former bookseller from Dorset has been named ‘author of the future. ' Ali Shaw was named the winner of the £10,000 Desmond Elliott Prize for The Girl with Glass Feet. ... Read more >>

football supporters' involvement in the boardroom backed by Economic study by University of Manchester

A study by University of Manchester economists has backed calls from supporters groups who argue that their representation in the boardroom is generally good for football. ... Read more >>

Good news: National Trust celebrates record year for Large Blue butterfly

The National Trust says one of the greatest British wildlife success stories of the last 30 years, the reintroduced Large Blue butterfly, has enjoyed a record twelve months. ... Read more >>

Study to investigate how urban habitats can boost pollinating insects

The lure of urban habitats for bees, flies, beetles and butterflies is to be investigated by researchers hoping to find a solution to the declining numbers of insect pollinators. ... Read more >>

Software development enhances CT scan quality and cuts radiation

A new software programme that enhances the quality of CT images has allowed doctors to cut in half the radiation dose needed for a colon scan and still produce clear images, U.S. researchers have revealed. ... Read more >>

Coffee and tea could cut risk of heart disease, according to Dutch study

When you pick up a cup of coffee or tea ‘to go', you may be doing your heart some good. Drinking the caffeine-based beverages appears to protect against heart disease, a Dutch study has found. ... Read more >>

Larry McClure wins Best U.S. Moustache in America's first National Beard and Moustache Championships

It's an unusual achievement perhaps, but imagine the pride of Californian Larry McClure who's scooped the honour for the best moustache in America. ... Read more >>

Sailor Reid Stowe returns to shore after 'record breaking' longest sea voyage

He has spent more than three years at sea and is believed to have set a new world record. And the welcome home sailor Reid Stowe received must surely have made it all worthwhile. ... Read more >>

Grateful taxi customer leaves cabbie Don Pratt her £250,000 estate in her will

For 20 years he ferried her to and from the shop and to the doctors, now taxi driver Don Pratt has been remembered by the grateful customer, with a £250,000 sum in her will. ... Read more >>

British researchers' influence celebrated in poll to celebrate Universities Week

A new poll highlights the important influence of researchers at British universities in developing innovations, theories and technologies that have changed our lives. ... Read more >>

Good news: More Americans are choosing to walk instead of taking their car

Walking or riding a bicycle is becoming a more common choice for transportation in the United States, a country notorious for its love affair with the car, according to government data that also showed growing pedestrian and cyclist safety. ... Read more >>

New marine biodiscovery centre in Aberdeen to research ocean compounds for cancer treatment

A new £1.6 million centre has opened, which will harness the potential of natural resources from the depths of the world's oceans totreat diseases such as cancer. ... Read more >>

Peter Andre and David Beckam top list of top ten celebrity dads for Father's Day

They're rich and they're famous – and perhaps most importantly, they're also dads. David Beckham, Brad Pitt and Peter Andre are viewed as ideal father figures in a new poll. ... Read more >>

Cyclists highlight danger to them on the road with Naked Bike Ride

It was a way of them being noticed, they say – and potentially saving their lives. Cyclists across the globe have stripped off to remind motorists of their presence on the road. ... Read more >>

Prince William rescues Ruby Lawrence after she break her leg on Mount Snowdon

For many women, it's a dream scenario – a handsome prince coming to their rescue. So imagine the delight of Ruby Lawrence when Prince William went to her aid after she fell and broke her leg on Mount Snowdon. ... Read more >>

Meditation helps people cope better with pain, University of Manchester study finds

People who meditate regularly find pain less unpleasant, a new study has found. ... Read more >>

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown donates Downing Street possessions to homeless charity Bethany Christian Trust

He left 10 Downing Street just a few weeks ago, but Gordon Brown hasn't wasted any time in having a good old clear out and getting his life in order – to the benefit of a Scottish charity shop. ... Read more >>

Good news: Fewer heart attack admissions to hospital following smoking ban

Smokefree legislation in England has achieved a 2.4 per cent drop in the number of emergency admissions to hospital for a heart attack since it came into force three years ago, according to researchers from the University of Bath. ... Read more >>

Fame - David Beckham to become comic book hero

David Beckham will get a new look in a comic book recounting his life, from dreaming of the game as a kid to finding major success both on and off the field. ... Read more >>

Officials in Indonesia accept woman's claim to be history's oldest person

She claims to be the oldest person in history – a whopping 157-years-old - and certainly census officials in Indonesia believe her. They have reportedly accepted South Sumatran villager Turinah's claim that she was born in 1853. ... Read more >>

Student Andrew Ross from University of Sheffield breaks world ice cream making record

A culinary whizz from the University of Sheffield has smashed world records at the Sheffield Food Festival by whipping-up a litre of ice cream in 10.34 seconds. ... Read more >>

Japanese restaurant owner orders Sydney cutomers to eat up for the good of the environment

An Australian restaurateur fed up with the waste left by diners has ordered her customers to eat everything on their plates for the sake of the earth or pay a penalty and not return. ... Read more >>

Medical breakthrough for treatment of blood poisoning

The lives of millions of people struck down by blood poisoning could be saved thanks to a team of researchers who have made a medical breakthrough in how the condition is treated. ... Read more >>

Good news: UK employees take fewer sick days, CBI survey reveals

UK workers are taking fewer sick days. The rate of absence from work in the UK is the lowest since surveys began in 1987. ... Read more >>

New hope for lung cancer: Drug tests show erlotinib prolongs life

Three times as many women with advanced lung cancer were alive and had no progression of their cancer 12 months after taking the drug erlotinib compared to those who did not receive the drug, according to a new study. ... Read more >>

Welsh sing Sir Tom Jones' hit song Delilah to celebrate his seventieth birthday

He's one of its biggest exports so what better way to celebrate the seventieth birthday of Sir Tom Jones than having people the length and breadth of Wales singing one of his most memorable songs. ... Read more >>

Good news: A bad mood makes you think more clearly, research finds

If you're starting the week in a bad mood, all is not lost. Feeling down in the dumps could actually be good for you, according to latest research. ... Read more >>

Smart clothes: Textiles that detect human mood could offer emotional support

If you find modern life stressful, there may soon be some light relief to be found in the clothes you wear. Textiles have been developed that could help the wearers cope better. ... Read more >>

University of Sheffield student Jon Leary develops bicycle-powered water pump for Guatemala

An innovative bicycle-powered water pump, created by a student at the University of Sheffield, has proved a huge success and is now in regular production in Guatemala, transforming the lives of rural residents. ... Read more >>

New technology could improve efficiency of elections

Time-consuming manual vote-counts and ballot boxes could soon be consigned to the history books, thanks to innovative new secure voting technology. ... Read more >>

New hope for threatened Little Owl species with University of Reading study

Safeguarding the future of the Little Owl is at the heart of a study by a University of Reading PhD student who is researching why the species is declining. ... Read more >>

Tests on vaccines could lead to improved swine flu immunisation

The first tests to be carried out on vaccines issued during the swine flu pandemic have revealed high immune response rates amongyoung children, which could lead to an improved immunisation policy. ... Read more >>

Real ale fan Stuart Ashby completes five year Good Beer Guide pub crawl

It's taken him five long years, but real ale fan Stuart Ashby has completed an extraordinary car-free pub crawl which has taken him to every establishment listed in the Good Beer Guide. ... Read more >>

Future of books is safe, says founder of Hay Festival of Literature

For all the talk of a bleak future for books, the founder of one of Britain's largest literary festivals held each year in a small town in Wales is confident the written word is secure. ... Read more >>

Blonde parade to cheer up Latvia in recession

It's been hit hugely by the recession and seem its economy shrink by 18% - with Europe's highest unemployment. So it's not surprising perhaps that hundreds of blonde Latvian women marched through their capital city to try to bolster the national s... Read more >>

Mother's Union members knit woollen breasts to help teach breastfeeding mums

If you imagine that most knitters only knit outsize jumpers to present to unfortunate husbands or sons at Christmas, then think again. A team in Somerset has knitted 150 woollen breasts for the NHS to help women breastfeed. ... Read more >>

UK Eurovision entry Josh Dubovie still smiling after coming last in song contest

You have to look on the bright side... even when you come last in the Eurovision Song Contest. UK entry Josh Dubovie may have scored just ten points but he says he's "still smiling". ... Read more >>

Perfection: New baby Malayan tapir lives up to his name at Edinburgh Zoo

His name means ‘perfection' – a lovely, positive name for the newest addition to Edinburgh Zoo.The male baby Malayan tapir called Kamal is exploring his enclosure under the watchful eye of his mum Sayang. ... Read more >>

Good news: Persian cat survives washing machine full cycle

A Persian kitten gave her owners the shock of their lives when she emerged from the washing machine, dizzy and bedraggled after surviving a full cycle. ... Read more >>

Boy is saved as he falls from shopping centre escalator in Istanbul

A four-year-old boy has escaped unscathed after falling from the top of an escalator in Turkey. ... Read more >>

Good news: University of Manchester's AquAid water coolers save children's lives

A billion people are living without access to clean water and as a result five million children die every year. But the University of Manchester's choice of water cooler has so far potentially saved thelives of 33,000 children. ... Read more >>


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If you are an optimist – or aspire to be one - welcome to our world. Here at Optimist World you'll find daily good news headlines, inspiring stories about charities, positive corporate social responsibility activities, sustainable travel, optimistic stories from the world of sports, and so much more

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