United States of America eSeries: The one thing we all have in common

April 24, 2021

Every time I go to EPCOT in Walt Disney World, Spaceship Earth (aka the giant silver geodesic dome), is my first stop. Listening to Dame Judi Dench croon about human innovation while being propelled in near-darkness is the epitome of relaxation, and the ride gives you plenty of time to ponder. "Hey, Earth really is like a spaceship," you think, somewhere between the fall of Rome and the invention of the telegraph. That fact can be immensely scary. We are the only crew this spaceship has, and Earth Day, which was this week, often brings dire warnings that our vessel is in deep disrepair. But there are also countless reminders that we can make decisions that will navigate us to a better future, one Dame Judi and the animatronic citizens of Spaceship Earth would be proud of.

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Our favorites this week

Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week

Let's get together
Humans aren't the only species that band together in a crisis. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, researchers were sure that populations of rhesus macaques, a species of monkey living on Cayo Santiago Island, would become more aggressive with each other. The monkeys live in a highly competitive society, and will fight to protect resources like food and water. After observing the monkeys' response to their changed environments, researchers were amazed. Instead of sticking to their small friend groups, the island's residents became more tolerant of each other and expanded their social circles. Grooming networks became denser, with more monkeys making connections. Scientists think the macaques decided to make friends so more of them could benefit when finding resources, and to create stronger support systems for the next time hardships come their way.

One big Gothic family

Quick — what's the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque? (The answer is after this section) A conservation group funding the restoration of Paris' famed Notre Dame cathedral has come up with a unique way to get people invested in the building's restoration. Through a crowdfunding campaign, donors can "adopt" some of the cathedral's most famed residents, like its grotesques, saints and paintings, by donating to their specific restoration. Some of the cathedral's grotesques are so famous, they've acquired nicknames — like Stryga, pictured above. While various saints have already reached their goals, there are plenty of these fantastic beasts (and a likeness of Joan of Arc) that need a little more love.

Gargoyles drain rainwater, while grotesques are simply statues.

Skating with history
Paige Tobin, a skateboarder from Lake Macquarie, Australia, is already winning competitions, amassing a huge social media following, and challenging gender stereotypes. That's quite the resume for a 9-year-old. Paige has been hitting the ramps ever since she found her mother's skateboard in their garage four years ago. She recently gained international attention for a video that shows her dropping into a ramp, bedecked in a leopard-print helmet and flowing pink dress. But her incredible skill isn't just fun to watch. Skateboarding experts say there's been an explosion of interest in the sport among women, girls and gender non-conforming skaters in recent years. They hope seeing Paige and other young skaters like Sky Brown, a British teenage skateboarding sensation, will help show young girls that they can fly high, too.

Raise a glass to...

Everyone working to make our world — and more specifically, the Earth — a better place. Here is a great gallery of different conservation efforts targeting at-risk species and places. We love the ingenuity of Paso Pacifico, a US-based conservation group working in Central America to protect the olive ridley sea turtle. Though it's the most abundant sea turtle, its eggs are prime real estate for poachers, who destroy an estimated 90% of the sea turtle nests along Central American beaches. Scientists at Paso Pacifico have developed a clever trick to catch these criminals: decoy eggs fitted with a GPS transmitter and a SIM card, so they can track them down and combat trafficking. Sneaky!

A bright idea

How do you plant produce when space is at a premium? Think up — in the Euclidean sense. Plenty, an agricultural startup, is planning an indoor vertical farm in Compton to help bring more jobs and loads of fresh fruits and veggies to the California city. The company says it will condense 700 acres of farmland into a 95,000-square-foot warehouse. Not only is such a setup a great solution for crowded urban centers, Plenty says it's also better for the environment since the vertical crops use less water and energy and don't require pesticides. They already have one vertical farm up (literally) and running in San Francisco.

Wanna get away?

The next time you go on a trip, you absolutely must keep a good travelogue. I was talking to a reader named Leroy this week who has traveled the world and kept detailed logs of his adventures — down to the breakfasts he ate and the people he met — spanning back decades. What better way to remember a few days in, say, the Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo? Built along the banks of the winding Yantra River, this medieval-style town was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which existed between the end of Byzantine rule in 1185 until the Ottoman invasion of 1396. CNN Travel details even more colorful and historic places to visit in one of Europe's oldest countries.

Hear, hear!

It's not who you are. It's something, because we have this amazing, wondrous, fragile brain, it's part of being a human being.

- Oscar-nominated actress Glenn Close on mental illness. When she's not on screen, the Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe winner is busy shining the spotlight on mental health awareness. Her sister Jessie has bipolar disorder, and Jessie's son, Calen, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2001. Together with her sister and nephew, Close started Bring Change to Mind, a non-profit that advocates mental health awareness and support in schools and communities.

Who knew?

"Luke, I am your father." They're some of the most immortal words in cinema, and an original "Star Wars" script for the actor who played Darth Vader reveals how, exactly, the movie's creators kept the line top secret. Remember, James Earl Jones may have voiced the iconic character, but it was British actor David Prowse who donned the dark suit and mask. In Prowse's script for "Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back," now up for auction, the pivotal "I am your father" line doesn't appear, and decoy text is in its place. "Luke, we will be the most powerful in the galaxy. You will have everything you could ever want ... do not resist ... it is our destiny," it says instead. So the big reveal only fell into place when James Earl Jones voiced the line, and everyone else, except for a few cast members, were none the wiser. Another fun fact: Prowse was a champion bodybuilder, and had played looming on-screen monsters before. His large frame made him an easy pick for the imposing villain.

Impact your world

Need some more ideas on how to be a good Earth advocate? It's as easy as popping, locking and dropping it (in the recycling bin). NFL star JuJu Smith-Schuster has partnered with Adidas and everyone's favorite green guy, Kermit, to show just how easy being green can be. To reduce your plastic waste, pull out one of these moves:

Recycle your plastic products instead of throwing them away
Try to avoid single-use products, like plastic bags and takeout cutlery
Choose products made from natural or recycled products
Buy in bulk or large containers to reduce the use of plastic packaging

Rec of the week

Brought to you by CNN Underscored

The $10 sleep mask you've been missing out on

We tested eight sleep masks for design, how much light each filtered out and comfortability to find the best option. Ultimately, this one won us over.

Shameless animal video

There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.

I'll be honest, when I first saw Penzi, I made a rather undignified sound of joy. Can you blame me?! This sweet little elephant just celebrated her first birthday at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. Thank you to the reader who sent this in and introduced Penzi into our lives! (Click here to view)