Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Slideshow: The Beautiful and Impactful Aerial Imagery of Grassroots Mapping

The DIY cartography movement of grassroots mapping not only creates stunning imagery, but collects important data that can make a real difference.

Ben Jervey
By Ben JerveyMar 25, 2011
Ben Jervey
Ben is a writer and editor covering climate change, energy, and environment, and is currently the Climate and Energy Media Fellow at Vermont Law School. He was the original Environment Editor at GOOD Magazine and his work has appeared regularly in National Geographic News, Grist, DeSmogBlog, and OnEarth. He recently worked with the non-profit Focus the Nation to publish an Energy 101 primer. When living in New York City, he wrote a book, The Big Green Apple, on how to live a lower impact life in the city. A bicycle enthusiast, Ben has ridden across the United States and through much of Europe.
See Full Bio

Want to learn more about grassroots mapping? Read this post about the burgeoning movement and the Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science.

All images have been dedicated to the Public Domain, or used with permission by the photographers/cartographers.

Special thanks to Jeff Warren, Stewart Long, Liz Barry, Ray Cha, and all of the grassroots mappers who are building a cartographic movement that makes a difference, and for providing their images and expertise here.

mappingcartographygoogle mapsgeographyoil spillgulf oil spillgrassroots mappingcitizen mapping

The Latest

swiffer, cleaning hacks, money saving tips, life hacks, economy
Life hacks

6 Swiffer hacks for an immaculate home that'll save you money, too

siblings, brothers, sisters, sibling relationships, adult relationships
Family

Which sibling pairs are closer, brothers or sisters? Research answers the age-old debate.

concrete, EC3, battery, concrete battery, prototype, MIT, scientists, science
Science & Tech

Solar power times 10: MIT's new concrete battery may revolutionize green energy storage

Kantaro Inagaki, Shiba Inu, walking across Japan, San-Chan, travel vlog, viral video, TikTok, Japan travel, wholesome story, dog adoption
Past Events

A man was walking across Japan alone for 256 days. Then he met a tiny Shiba Inu.

More For You

Japanese aquarium, Kaikyokan Aquarium, sunfish, animal enrichment, lonely fish, good news, viral story, animal welfare, creative solutions, Shimonoseki

A young girl watches fish in an aquarium

Canva

A Japanese aquarium's sunfish got lonely. Their low-tech solution was brilliantly adorable.

When the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, temporarily closed for renovations late last year, the staff noticed one of their most popular residents was not doing well. A beloved ocean sunfish had stopped eating and started exhibiting strange behaviors, and no one could figure out why. After exhausting the usual medical explanations, a staff member floated a wild theory.

“Maybe it’s lonely because it misses the visitors?” they suggested, according to a post on the aquarium's X account.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will Ferrell, success, comedy, dreams, vocation, work

Will Ferrell's success was due to an "anti-pep talk" from his dad.

via Will Ferrell/Wikimedia Commons

Will Ferrell reveals how his dad's 'anti-pep talk' led him to wild comedy success

Will Ferrell is one of the most celebrated and successful comedians in the world, with several years of making audiences laugh on Saturday Night Live and decades of making popular comedies on the big screen. From Anchorman to Elf, Ferrell’s work has and will continue to stand the test of time.

One would figure that his success comes from constant encouragement from his family and belief in himself, but he actually had the complete opposite happen to him. In an interview on Off Camera with Sam Jones, Ferrell shared that before he started breaking into comedy, his dad offered him some pragmatic wisdom that could leave others bewitched.

Keep ReadingShow less
McDonald's, employee bonus, bad boss, corporate culture, Reddit, viral story, worker appreciation, low wages, fast food, employee gift

Woman at work looks at her laptop

Canva

A McDonald's employee shared their yearly 'bonus' and people couldn't believe it

At the end of a long year, a gesture of appreciation from an employer can go a long way. But for one McDonald's worker, the company's attempt at a "bonus" was so underwhelming it went viral, sparking a wave of online outrage and commiseration.

In a post on Reddit, user u/MMS37 shared a photo of the gift they received from the fast-food giant. "I work for one of the biggest companies in the world. This was my bonus," they wrote.

Keep ReadingShow less
mental health, mental health state ranking, mental health tips, therapy, psychology

Where does your state rank in mental health?

Photo credit: Canva

New report ranks the best and worst states for mental health in America

Many of us are trying to get better. Better at managing our emotions. Better at treating other people with kindness and respect. Better at stewarding our mental health in healthy, effective ways. All of that requires availability, access, a positive environment, and time to address our unique issues. With that in mind, Mental Health America conducted research and released a report ranking all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to identify which have the most mentally healthy citizens and provide the best mental health care resources and access.

Mental Health America is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting mental health and protecting against mental illness across the United States. After analyzing 17 data measures, including surveys, they've published their 2025 report.

Keep ReadingShow less
adult friends, making friends, friendship apps, friendship tips, socializing

You're never too old to make new friends.

Photo credit: Canva

Social skills educator shares three easy-breezy ways for adults to meet new friends

At some point in adulthood, you may find yourself wondering, “Where did all of my friends go?” Friendship is easier when you’re young, but after marriage, kids, and/or a career, many adults in their 30s and 40s find themselves more isolated and in need of companionship. But where do you start? It’s not like you’re in school or college, surrounded by people with lives and interests similar to yours. Fortunately, a friendship expert has some quick and simple tips that can help you meet and make new friends easily.

An advice TikToker known as Mary has built an audience and published an e-book on how to make friends. In a viral video, Mary gave three simple methods for adults to meet new people and get started in their friend-finding missions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jeff Bridges, Jimmy Kimmel Live, celebrity, The Dude, The Big Lebowski, Oscar-winning actor, ICE, Trump

Jeff Bridges performs 'The Dude' on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Image via YouTube from Jimmy Kimmel Live

Jeff Bridges revives classic 'The Dude' Lebowski character to tell Americans to 'calm down'

There's a lot of political strife happening in America these days, and many people can't stand how aggressive and partisan things have become in our country.

Bringing a little levity to the situation was Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges. During his guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 7, promoting his new movie, Tron: Ares, he embraced his iconic character, "The Dude," from the classic Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski, Bridges. The Dude's message to the American people: "Calm down."

Keep ReadingShow less
Sydney Frost, viral baby, Carson, NFL, TikTok, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, chunky baby, good news, parenting

Toddler holds a stuffed animale

Canva

This 33-pound 'linebacker' baby took over TikTok and caught the NFL's eye

Earlier this year, Texas mom Sydney Frost posted a playful TikTok of her five-month-old son, Carson, that turned him into an overnight internet sensation and the NFL's most sought-after prospect... for the 2045 draft.

In the video, which has since exploded with over 17 million views, Frost jokingly uses Carson’s impressively round tummy as a rotary phone to "dial" the NFL. Her caption read: “Dialing the NFL now… Breaking news: No contract for these rolls yet. Coaches, what’s the holdup?”

Keep ReadingShow less
oncology nurse, chemotherapy, patient care, innovation, acts of kindness, Whitney Carpenter, Levine Cancer Institute, CBS News, healthcare heroes, patient dignity

Female chemo patient hugs someone

Canva

A nurse saw her chemo patients struggle with their clothes. So she invented her own solution.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, treatment days are filled with profound challenges, both big and small. Whitney Carpenter, an oncology nurse at Levine Cancer Institute in South Carolina, noticed one of the smaller, more persistent struggles: the simple act of getting dressed. Her heartfelt solution has since grown from a personal project into an inspiring community movement.

As she explained in a CBS News feature, many of her patients receive treatment through a chest port, a small device implanted under the skin. Accessing this port often requires patients to stretch their collars or partially undress, leaving them feeling uncomfortable and exposed. While specialized "port shirts" with built-in access exist, they can be prohibitively expensive.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025