| TGIF, QuickTake readers! After a week of somber news, lift your spirits with these 10 positive and impactful stories from the past week.  1. Elephants triumphed over coal in Zimbabwe. Bending to pressure from environmentalists, the country banned mining in its national parks after earlier allowing Chinese firms to search for coal at Hwange park. 2. Jacinda Ardern campaigned from her parents' house. The New Zealand PM launched her pre-election tour from her hometown in rural Morrinsville so her mom and dad could babysit. 3. London museum-goers can solve a Bronze Age mystery. A trove of over 450 bronze objects found in 2018 is going on display, but exerts say key questions, such as who buried them and why, are still unanswered.  4. Honeybees became a new cancer weapon. In groundbreaking new research, Australian scientists found venom from the sweet pollinators was remarkably effective in killing aggressive breast cancer cells. 5. Baltimore's getting another trash-eating monster. Mr. Trash Wheel, Captain Trash Wheel, and Professor Trash Wheel have gobbled up more than 1,500 tons of ocean waste since 2014—and a fourth is on the way.  6. A paralyzed engineer is giving freedom back to outdoor buffs. After being sidelined by a spinal cord injury, Christian Bragg designed a line of all-terrain recumbent mountain bikes for people with physical limitations. 7. Converse is sponsoring giant murals made with smog-eating paint. The American shoe company is collaborating with 13 artists who are using photocatalytic paint that breaks down pollutants and helps clean the air.  8. Thailand is prioritizing environmental recovery. After seeing a resurgence in wildlife during the pandemic, the country will shut national parks for several months each year to reduce damage at tourist hotspots. 9. Nintendo is releasing Mario Kart IRL. To mark 35 years of Super Mario Bros., the game maker will debut a new version on Switch that comes with a camera-equipped go-kart and that twists, turns, and drifts. 10. Berlin lit up with gratitude and unity. The German capital's 16th Festival of Lights transformed its historic buildings and neighborhoods into an open air light gallery under the motto "together we shine."  Have a great weekend! Watch your inbox for our next newsletter next Friday. Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Thanks for reading!
-Andrew Mach | 
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