The year 2020 was unprecedented and challenging for people of all ages around the world. Humanity was confronted by a pandemic that altered the way we live in unimaginable ways. But despite the struggles of 2020, good things that happened can be found if we take a step back and look for them. This collection of good news from 2020, compiled by the team at AAAStateofPlay, is not meant to minimize the tragic toll that COVID-19 has taken but rather to celebrate how humankind has adapted and thrived through the darkness. We hope you enjoy this roundup of kindness, resilience, discovery, and progress during such a difficult year.
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- The COVID-19 vaccines were developed faster than any other vaccines in history.
- A survey of 2,000 Americans found that people spent far more time enjoying outdoor recreation.
- Polio has been officially eliminated in Africa.
- The total number of donations to charity increased by 7.2% from 2019 to 2020.
- Water has been discovered on the moon.
- Home gardening bloomed in popularity.
- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to scientists who discovered the CRISPR gene-editing technology.
- Forty-eight bird and mammal species have been saved from extinction.
- An enormous coral reef taller than the Empire State Building was discovered.
- Advances in telemedicine made medical care more accessible.
- The first blood test for Alzheimer’s disease has been cleared for widespread use.
- The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was the first approved vaccine to use mRNA technology.
- SpaceX’s Crew Dragon delivered astronauts to the International Space Station.
- DeepMind’s AI program AlphaFold can now determine the 3D shapes of proteins.
- The UK committed to net zero emissions by 2050.
- No-kill, lab-grown meat began hitting the markets.
- College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving offered free moves for those fleeing abusive homes in the U.S. and Canada.
- AuREUS System Technology won the first James Dyson Award for Sustainability.
- ITER, a giant nuclear fusion reactor that could provide unlimited clean energy, launched in France.
- Ocean Voyages Institute set a record for the largest single haul of plastic removed from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
- French startup Carbios discovered an enzyme that can recycle plastic.
- Tech startup Air Company found a way to create carbon-negative rocket fuel.
- A California highway became the first made from recycled plastic in the U.S.
- John Krasinski’s Some Good News YouTube show went viral, spreading much-needed cheer.
- The University of York invented solar panels that absorb 125% more light.
- A veteran walked 100 laps around his garden for his 100th birthday to raise money for the NHS.
- The 116th Congress became the most diverse in history.
- South Korean Bong Joon Ho won the Oscar for Best Director for Parasite.
- Finland gave equal parental leave to all parents.
- Dogs trained to protect wildlife have saved the lives of 45 rhinos from poachers in South Africa.
- Crayola launched new inclusive skin-tone crayons.
- LGBTQ employees were deemed to be protected by civil rights employment statutes.
- Drools the dog was found his forever home after waiting in a Colorado shelter for 729 days.
- Animal shelters were emptier than ever.
- Scotland became the first country to make menstrual products free.
- The 2020 election had the highest voter participation in 120 years.
- NASA had major successes in space exploration.
- The elephant population doubled in Kenya.
- Deaths caused by terrorism fell for the fifth consecutive year.
- Ten percent of all cars sold in 2020 were electric.
- Fourteen countries owning 40% of the world’s shorelines formed the Ocean Panel to end overfishing, restore habitats, and reduce plastic pollution.
- People united over the Tiger King Netflix documentary.
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
