With many bad things being portrayed in the news, including shootings, celebrity deaths, and more, I thought it was time that we list off some of the GOOD things that have happened so far this year.

  • 1

    The Tiger Population Has Increased

    And not by just a little bit! The tiger population has increased by a whopping 22%! Back in 2010, the estimated numbers of tigers left in the wild was at 3,200. Now, in 2016, it's estimated that 3,890 tigers are living in the wild! While nearly 3,900 tigers doesn't seem like a lot, it's definitely an optimistic outlook!

    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
    loading...
  • 2

    India Plants 50 Million Trees In One Day

    To help fight climate change, over 800,000 volunteers planted 49.3 million trees on July 11th, smashing the world record!

    The record has not yet been made official by Guinness World Records, but Indian officials have reported it.

    The previous world record was (while still amazing) not near what was done in India. That record, 847,275, was set in Pakistan in 2013.

    Eighty different species of trees were planted along roadways, railroads, and public land.

    Cancan Chu/Getty Images
    Cancan Chu/Getty Images
    loading...
  • 3

    Juno Space Craft Reaches Jupiter

    After a five year journey, the Juno Space Craft finally entered Jupiter's orbit. And it just so happened to fall on July 4th! Independence Day is always something to celebrate, but this just added a little extra something this year.

    It was confirmed on Earth at 8:53pm PDT (11:53pm EDT)

    NASA via Getty Images
    NASA via Getty Images
    loading...
  • 4

    Researchers Identified The ALS Gene

    With this discovery, we are one step closer to eliminating ALS!

    Oh, yeah...the research was funded by money raised through the Ice Bucket Challenge!

    Steve Gleason, of course, has been a huge advocator of finding a cure for ALS.

    Also, this came out this year:

    Anthony Johnson/Stringer/Getty Images
    Anthony Johnson/Stringer/Getty Images
    loading...
  • 5

    A Plane Went Around The World With No Fuel

    A plane, using nothing but solar energy, made a trip around the world. Not one drop of fossil fuel was used.

    The Solar Impulse 2 has a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747, and carries over 17,000 solar cells on it's wings.

    It spent more than 23 days in the air.

    Bertrand Piccard, the lone pilot of the Solar Impulse 2 had this to say after landing:

    “I hope people will understand that it is not just a first in the history of aviation, but also a first in the history of energy,”

    Handout/Getty
    Handout/Getty
    loading...
  • 6

    The Ozone Layer Is Repairing Itself

    An Antarctic ozone hole repaired itself as global environmental efforts help the Earth to heal!

    All the work we did to get rid of aerosol chemicals and such were so worth it!

    Scientists predict that the damage will be completely healed by 2050 after a worlwide ban on harmful CFC compounds in 1989. It has shrunk by more than 1.5 million square miles since its peak in 2000.

    Hulton Archive/Getty Images
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images
    loading...
  • 7

    Bob Ross Came To Netflix

    The soothing voice of Bob Ross has been brought to Netflix with his show "Beauty is Everywhere."

    This show is perfect for any kind of situation really. You can literally just watch it to enjoy. You can actually learn how to paint happy little trees and landscapes. You can put it on for soothing background noise. You can use it to fall asleep to. If you and your spouse are fighting, put this on. There's no way a fight can continue...The list is endless!

    BRI Productions
    BRI Productions
    loading...

More From 97.3 The Dawg