What went right in August? Sparking Joy

1. Rescue Mission in Devon Led by Two Teenage Heroes

Over in Devon, UK, two 13-year-olds (Eva Wishart and Emily Smith) have been quietly pulling off something amazing. Starting two years ago, they lovingly bred harvest mice (Britain’s tiniest rodents) in 27 tanks at their homes. With a boost of £4,000 raised by the public and help from bffs they’ve successfully released 250 of these adorable little mice into a local nature reserve using a soft-release enclosure. They used natural materials like honeysuckle and hazel to make cozy habitats. It’s hopeful, heartwarming, and ready to inspire. Next up? Lizards!

2. The World’s Biggest Railway Party in Derby

All aboard for some railway greatness! From 1–3 August 2025, Derby (England) hosted The Greatest Gathering, the largest-ever assembly of historic and modern trains at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works. About 40,000 railway fans showed up to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first passenger train pulled by Locomotion No. 1 (September 1825). It was a rolling-stock extravaganza for the history books full of shiny engines, nostalgia, and communal “choo-choos”!

3. Pet Adoption Gets Legal Glow-Up with Pet “Prenups”

This one’s quirky, caring, and gives you all the feels: James Sexton, a divorce attorney, has launched TrustedPetNup a legal service offering free pet prenups to couples who adopt rescue animals. Because pets are family, not property, these agreements help ahead-of-time planning in case relationships end (so no animal ends up stuck in custody limbo). If you’re not adopting, it’s a pay-what-you-want model, with proceeds helping shelters. Roommates, worried about who gets custody of the cat? This covers that too.

4. Geneva Gathers Nations to Tackle Plastic Pollution

Imagine more than 170 countries huddled in Geneva back on August 5, 2025, hashing out the final touches of a Global Plastics Treaty - a UN-supported effort to get serious about plastic waste. The big questions on the table? Should we cap plastic production? What about limiting toxic chemicals in plastics? It’s global teamwork at its finest and it’s shaping up to be a game-changer for our planet. 

5. Can this Brand-New Recycling Superhub help solve the pollution crisis?

Here’s a glow-up for Asia: Mura Technology is planting roots in Singapore with a cutting-edge 50 kiloton/year advanced recycling facility. This eco-friendly expansion isn’t just business - it’s a big leap for regional recycling, strengthening their presence in Asia and giving waste a second shot at life. 

Credit: Matt Hunt/Anadolu Agency via Getty