Goodable

Dozens of endangered rat-kanagroos were released into the wild in a conservation milestone, according to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC).

AWC transferred 140 of the marsupials, known as woylies, outside of “a feral-predator-free fenced area,” where they were initially reintroduced in 2015 after an absence from Western Australia’s Wheatbelt of more than 100 years.

In 2015, 162 woylies were introduced to a fenced-in area “cleared of all foxes and cats.” Over the next decade, the population flourished, surpassing 1,000, the group said.

Foxes and cats are “the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia,” AWC said.

“While it is risky to release a predator-prone species such as the woylie into an area where cats are present, we sometimes have to take well-considered risks to advance conservation,” AWC chief executive Tim Allard said.

“We have evidence from previous releases of other species, and from monitoring the outcomes of predator control on the release site, to suggest that woylies have a good chance of establishing outside the fence.”

Footage released by AWC shows woylies being released outside the fenced area.

Dozens of endangered rat-kanagroos were released into the wild in a conservation milestone, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) said on July 7.AWC transferred 140 of the marsupials, known as woylies, outside of “a feral-predator-free fenced area,” where they were initially reintroduced in 2015 after an absence from Western Australia’s Wheatbelt of more than 100 years.In 2015, 162 woylies were introduced to a fenced-in area “cleared of all foxes and cats.” Over the next decade, the population flourished, surpassing 1,000, the group said.Foxes and cats are “the primary driver of native mammal extinctions and ongoing declines in Australia,” AWC said.“While it is risky to release a predator-prone species such as the woylie into an area where cats are present, we sometimes have to take well-considered risks to advance conservation,” AWC chief executive Tim Allard said.“We have evidence from previous releases of other species, and from monitoring the outcomes of predator control on the release site, to suggest that woylies have a good chance of establishing outside the fence.”Footage released by AWC shows woylies being released outside the fenced area.

This Bouncing Rat-Kangaroos Was Just Released Into the Wild in a Conservation Milestone

The Cool Down

A newborn goat and its mother were rescued from an isolated spot on a cliff in Ajo, Spain, footage released on January 22 by the Cantabria Government Emergency Response Center shows.

“The mother could have given birth there and, since the baby did not come up, she remained with it at that point,” they wrote on X.

Firefighters carried the baby to a safer place where there were more goats, they said.

A Tiny Newborn Goat and Its Mother Were Just Rescued From  a Cliff in Spain

Talker News

A museum once on the brink of permanent closure is getting a second lease on life—thanks to passionate rug lovers.

The Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had shut its doors last month after visitor numbers dropped to just six a day. But following an outpouring of public support and a grassroots campaign by shag pile enthusiasts, the museum is set to reopen on February 14 for a special four-day half-term run.

Yes, that’s Valentine’s Day. And yes, someone has already declared it the perfect romantic outing. “I’m definitely taking my girlfriend there on Valentine’s Day, she loves a good shag pile!” one cheeky commenter wrote online.

The museum’s team is hoping the limited reopening could pave the way for a full comeback.

“Volunteers expressed great enthusiasm and commitment to open the museum as much as possible in the coming months,” said Geoffrey Gilbert, chair of the Carpet Museum Trust. “Meanwhile discussions continue on support and funding for the development of a new Museum for Kidderminster.”

Entry during the half-term period will be free, a move designed to draw more visitors and drum up momentum for future plans. Regular admission had previously been £6 for adults and £17 for families.

For locals in Kidderminster—a town once known as the carpet capital of Britain—the news has been warmly welcomed.

“It’s marvelous news to see such an important slice of the town’s history opening once more,” said 70-year-old Graham Connell. “Almost everyone living in this country has carpets in their homes and that is down mainly to this town and the people who lived and worked here. When the museum opens again, I’ll be first in line.”

Housed in an 18th-century mill and launched in 2012, the Museum of Carpet has showcased three centuries of British carpet-making, with everything from vintage underlay samples to iconic designs. In its early years, it attracted school groups, coach tours, and textile buffs from around the country. It even developed something of a cult following online, thanks in part to a tongue-in-cheek promotional video featuring Gary Barlow calling it a “very nice day out.”

The museum boasts a solid four-star rating on TripAdvisor, with reviewers calling it “an absolute gem” and praising its hands-on exhibits and passionate volunteers.

But like many niche museums, it struggled with rising costs and declining footfall. Maintaining the collection and the building cost roughly £100,000 a year, and by late December, the numbers just didn’t add up. The doors closed on December 20, seemingly for good.

That’s when the community stepped in. The unexpected groundswell of support has not only reignited interest in the museum, but also spurred conversations about creating a more sustainable future for the space.

For now, museum fans can mark their calendars. February 14 is looking a lot more textured.

Britain’s Only Carpet Museum to Reopen After Shag Pile Fans Rally to Save It

Scientific American

More than 500 years after his death, researchers are still trying to understand what made Leonardo da Vinci tick. Now, they’re turning to cutting-edge genetic tools—and centuries-old art—to try and find out.

A new study, not yet peer-reviewed, claims to have found traces of male DNA on a chalk drawing often attributed to da Vinci called Holy Child. And while the researchers stop short of saying it’s definitively the artist’s, the discovery marks the latest step in an ambitious international effort: the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project.

The project brings together a broad cast of characters—art historians, geneticists, forensic scientists, physicians, and environmental researchers—who are united by one big question: could understanding da Vinci’s DNA help explain his extraordinary talents?

“What can we learn about his ability to see things that you and I just don’t have that ability to see?” said forensic scientist Rhonda Roby, who’s part of the team. “He could see the flutter of a dragonfly’s wings… envision helicopters when there weren’t even helicopters built.”

The idea of finding da Vinci’s genetic material first took off more than a decade ago. It hasn’t been easy. Da Vinci had no children, and his remains were moved and likely lost during the French Revolution. So instead, the team started looking elsewhere—at works of art he might have handled, documents he might have signed, and descendants of his family line, some of whom are still alive today.

Roby herself swabbed items in a private collection for DNA back in 2021. She says much of the work involves “very small biomass,” making it especially tricky. Unlike medical researchers who have test tubes of blood to analyze, forensic scientists often work with minuscule traces—like dust particles on the corner of a 500-year-old sketch.

That’s where Holy Child came in. Before sampling, the team made a high-resolution image of the drawing and used it to map out possible swabbing locations without physically touching the actual artwork. They focused on the edges of the drawing—where someone might have handled it carefully over the centuries—and collected DNA there.

Roby says the group has also experimented with different sampling methods on lesser-known artworks, including punching tiny holes (1.2 or 2 millimeters wide) to compare how much material each method could retrieve. “Most likely, the bigger the punch, the more material you’re gonna get,” she said, though the team is careful not to damage significant pieces.

Sometimes they’ve even used a wet vacuum technique, wetting the surface lightly and then sucking up the moisture to capture any biological traces left behind.

It’s not just human DNA they’re finding. On historical letters, they’ve even uncovered traces of malaria, suggesting that pathogens from past centuries can still be identified on documents that have long since stopped being infectious.

For Roby, one of the project’s biggest achievements isn’t a single eureka moment—it’s the steady progress in building techniques that could someday help researchers confirm the authenticity of disputed artworks.

It’s still early days. Roby notes that any attempt to use genetics to authenticate art will need far more data, a large enough DNA reference database, and access to multiple verified works. But she believes that with time, these methods could become part of a broader toolkit, alongside traditional provenance research, pigment analysis, and stylistic comparisons.

“I think just like a criminal case that we do, there’s a lot of information that comes in together,” she said. “There’s fingerprints, there’s eyewitness accounts, there’s alibis, and then there’s the DNA testing... It’s a case. This is a piece—an exciting piece—and it can be built upon.”

Still, there are concerns. One of the potential goals of the project is to see whether aspects of da Vinci’s genius—like his extraordinary visual perception—might be partially explained by his genes. That raises ethical questions in today’s world, where some tech billionaires and biotech companies are investing in genetic engineering to boost intelligence or other traits.

Roby acknowledges the concern but says it’s not what drives her work. “I’m just a scientist looking to answer some questions,” she said. “I hope people use science to help us in this world… I can’t spend my time worrying about what people will do with the little bit of information I’m putting out.”

For now, the search continues. Whether or not the DNA found on Holy Child actually belonged to da Vinci remains to be seen. But the techniques being developed in the process could reshape how we study the past, piece by piece—dust speck by dust speck.

Scientists are hunting for Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA—on his drawings

Good News Network

When Ms. Sun lost her ear in an industrial accident, doctors at a hospital in Shandong, China faced a daunting challenge. The blood vessels and nerves around the injury were too damaged for immediate reattachment. So instead, they did something extraordinary: they grafted the ear onto her foot.

It’s part of a process called “heterotopic survival,” where severed body parts are temporarily transplanted onto other parts of the body to keep them alive. In Sun’s case, the ear was stitched to the top of her foot, where blood flow and thin skin helped keep it viable.

For five months, Sun lived with her ear on her foot, wearing oversized shoes to protect it. Doctors monitored it closely, especially after early signs of necrosis. But the ear gradually regained color and remained healthy, thanks to the foot’s steady blood supply.

In October, surgeons determined the time was right to reconnect the ear to her head. The procedure required delicate work to restore blood vessels and nerve connections, but it was a success.

Experts told The Mirror that when immediate reattachment isn’t possible, heterotopic survival techniques like this can be the best option—especially for fragile body parts like ears. Ms. Sun is now recovering well.

Woman's Severed Ear Successfully Reattached After Temporary Graft on Foot

The Guardian

Scientists at Rice University say they’ve developed a new way to remove and destroy PFAS chemicals—at speeds up to 100 times faster than today’s filtration systems.

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of more than 16,000 compounds used in everything from non-stick cookware to waterproof clothing. Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” they don’t break down naturally and have been linked to cancer, liver damage, kidney disease, and birth defects. They’re also notoriously difficult to remove from the environment.

But in a new peer-reviewed study, researchers at Rice detailed a copper-aluminum material that could change that. The compound is a type of layered double hydroxide, or LDH, and works by drawing in PFAS through charge-based attraction. Because the material is positively charged and PFAS are negatively charged, they’re pulled together like magnets.

“It just soaks it in to the order of 100 times faster than other materials that are out there,” said Michael Wong, director of Rice’s Water Institute and co-author of the study.

That speed could be a game-changer. Most current filtration systems—including granular activated carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis—can trap PFAS but can’t destroy them. That leaves facilities with filters full of toxic waste, which then has to be stored or incinerated. Burning the material can release harmful byproducts or simply break large PFAS into smaller, still-dangerous fragments.

Rice’s approach goes further. By heating the soaked LDH material to 400–500°C—well below the temperatures used in current thermal processes—researchers were able to break the carbon-fluorine bonds that make PFAS so indestructible. The resulting fluoride binds with calcium in the LDH, forming a stable calcium-fluoride compound that Wong says is safe to dispose of in landfills.

The key is concentration. Because the material absorbs PFAS at such a high rate, researchers don’t need to heat massive volumes of water. They can simply isolate the PFAS in the filter and destroy it in small, controlled batches.

“It’s going to be important for the direction of research on PFAS destruction in general,” Wong said.

The process worked especially well on long-chain PFAS, which are among the most common pollutants in drinking water and wastewater. It also showed promise with shorter-chain PFAS, though Wong said more research is needed to confirm how broadly it works.

One potential advantage is that the material can be dropped into existing filtration infrastructure. That makes it easier and cheaper to implement than entirely new systems—always a hurdle when trying to scale up new environmental technologies.

Still, experts say caution is warranted. “I’m always skeptical of claims around total destruction of PFAS,” said Laura Orlando, a civil engineer with the non-profit Just Zero. She pointed to the complexity of dealing with wastewater in real-world conditions, where variables like temperature, flow rates, and occupational safety come into play.

Other hurdles include regulatory approval, permitting, and long-term durability. But if Rice’s technology holds up in larger trials, Orlando said, “then it would be really something to pay attention to.”

For now, Rice’s team is continuing lab tests and preparing to explore how the material behaves in field conditions. They say the next steps will focus on scalability—and ultimately, making the process affordable and reliable enough to be used by municipal water systems, industrial sites, and cleanup efforts nationwide.

New Material Destroys ‘Forever Chemicals’ 100 Times Faster Than Current Filters, Researchers Say

Sunny Skyz

In 2005, Kansas City musician Billy Brimblecom was trying to stay alive. Diagnosed with cancer, he underwent 13 rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment worked—but it came at a cost. Doctors had to amputate his leg.

Then came another blow. His insurance would only cover about half of the $60,000 needed for a prosthetic limb.

That’s when his old friend, Jason Sudeikis, stepped in.

Long before Ted Lasso or Saturday Night Live made him a household name, Sudeikis met Brimblecom at a Kansas City improv workshop. When he heard what Brimblecom was going through, he decided to help the only way a Midwesterner knows how—by throwing a barbecue.

That fundraiser covered the cost of Brimblecom’s new leg. But the story didn’t end there.

What started as a one-time act of generosity has grown into something much bigger: Thundergong!, an annual music and comedy variety show that raises money for amputees who can’t afford prosthetic limbs. The event supports the Steps of Faith Foundation, which Brimblecom now leads as CEO.

Since 2017, the show has helped more than 2,000 people regain their mobility—and their confidence.

“I think a big reason that something like Steps of Faith is important is because you get people an arm that they lost through some tragedy or a leg that they lost—you’re giving them their confidence back,” said Sudeikis.

The most recent edition of Thundergong! in 2025 raised $1.13 million, pushing the total raised over the last nine years to more than $5 million.

For Brimblecom, the mission is personal. After his own surgery, he visited another amputee who was struggling emotionally. The conversation stuck with him.

“I don’t even remember what I said,” he said. “But I remember how I felt, and how he was looking at me. I could see the excitement and the hope in his eyes. And I said, ‘Gosh, I wish that could be my job.’”

Today, it is.

“It’s about hope, confidence, surviving, and thriving,” he said.

Sudeikis summed it up best: “To do something that you love with people you love, to help people you may never meet—I wish it on everyone.”

How Jason Sudeikis and his Buddy Helped Transformed a Friendship Into a Lifesaving Fundraiser

ABC News

For more than a century, a collection of sharp-toothed gargoyles has stood watch over Covington, Kentucky, perched atop the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. This year, they’re getting some company—and a facelift.

In January, workers began installing new terra cotta gargoyles on the cathedral’s facade, one of the final steps in a two-year, $7.8 million restoration of one of America’s most ambitious Gothic revival churches. Known by many as “America’s Notre Dame,” the cathedral’s design was modeled after its famous French namesake, complete with flying buttresses, pointed arches, and rows of grotesque stone figures.

Unlike the Notre Dame in Paris, which underwent massive repairs after a 2019 fire, Covington’s cathedral has suffered a slower erosion—125 years of rain, wind, ice, and Ohio River air taking a quiet but steady toll on the building’s limestone, metal, and terra cotta features.

“We consider ourselves blessed to be able to ensure the cathedral is taken care of for coming generations,” said the Very Rev. Ryan Maher, rector of the cathedral.

The recent work has included replacing large sections of limestone, sourced from the same quarry in Bedford, Indiana, that supplied the original 1901 construction. The new gargoyles and 26 rooftop chimeras are exact replicas of the worn originals, recreated using high-resolution scans and hand-finishing techniques.

“It’s hard to believe that you’re able to replicate a piece that was built a hundred years ago by men that are no longer with us,” said Brian Walter, executive vice president of Trisco Systems, the company leading the restoration.

Walter called the work “an art and a science” that’s been passed down through generations. “Every part of it is challenging.” Crews have been hoisting massive stones high above a busy Covington street through winter winds and summer heat, all while trying to preserve the intricate character of the original design.

The cathedral has undergone previous renovations, including new statues in 2019. But the current overhaul was triggered by a startling discovery in 2018—a chunk of stone had fallen from the building. Maher took it as a sign that more serious restoration work was overdue.

This time around, workers replaced corroded carbon steel with more durable stainless steel pins and brackets, ensuring longer-lasting support for the facade.

The cathedral itself is an architectural statement. Opened in 1901, it was the vision of Belgian-born Bishop Camillus Paul Maes, who wanted to build something grand enough to reflect what he called “heaven on earth.” At the time, Covington had a population of just over 40,000—about the same as today—but Maes believed the fast-growing immigrant Catholic community needed a sanctuary as awe-inspiring as any in Europe.

Inside, the high vaulted ceilings and massive stained-glass windows were inspired by another Paris landmark, the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Outside, the facade was meant to echo Notre Dame de Paris—albeit at half the scale and without the iconic twin towers.

Cathedral historian Stephen Enzweiler said the design was part of a larger Gothic revival movement in the U.S. around the turn of the century. “At the time, no one had ever heard of Covington,” he said, but the cathedral’s quality and ambition made it stand out.

“It shows the talent of the bishop, the architect and the craftsmen,” said Duncan Stroik, professor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

Ironically, much of the “medieval” Gothic revival was itself influenced by 19th-century renovations to Notre Dame, spurred in part by the success of Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The chimeras—those fantastical, non-functional creatures atop Notre Dame—were added by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc during that era. Covington’s versions are purely decorative too; unlike traditional gargoyles, they don’t serve as rain spouts.

What exactly gargoyles were meant to represent remains up for debate. Were they spiritual guardians? Warnings to the wicked? Or just the creative whims of medieval masons? Whatever the answer, their image has softened over the years—from demonic protectors to cartoon sidekicks, garden ornaments, and even the name of the cathedral’s newsletter: The Gargoyle Gazette.

Funding for the $7.8 million project came from more than 2,000 individual donors, plus several foundations. Maher said the community rallied quickly. “It was kind of an easy sell, because of what the cathedral means to not only our parishioners but to the whole community.”

If all goes to plan, the restoration will be finished by March. For Maher, the timing is perfect—and symbolic.

“When everything is upside down, this is a place where people can experience the calm of the Lord,” he said.

'America's Notre Dame' Cathedral Undergoes Renovation, Gargoyles Included

BetaKit

It may be freezing in Edmonton right now, but three local tech companies are already looking ahead to wildfire season.

FireSafe AI, Wyvern, and AIRmarket—three startups based in Edmonton—are joining forces to roll out a modern, data-driven wildfire detection and prevention system ahead of summer 2026. Together, they’re hoping to create a faster, more accurate way to detect wildfires before they grow out of control.

The collaboration brings together each company’s strength: FireSafe AI specializes in early wildfire detection using artificial intelligence. Wyvern provides hyperspectral satellite imagery. AIRmarket handles drones and real-time aerial surveillance.

“Ultimately, it’s really about creating that… 2 a.m. operational view where [FireSafe AI] can be trusted to respond, detect, and ultimately reduce losses in business continuity, property and in lives,” said Nafaa Haddou, founder and CEO of FireSafe AI.

FireSafe AI is the core of the system

FireSafe’s AI platform combines data from its mobile fire detection towers, traffic cameras, and satellites to produce fire hazard scores and send alerts to emergency crews. In 2025, the company began integrating satellite imagery from Wyvern, which allows the system to get even more detailed and localized.

“What [it] allows us to do is to get a layer of data that’s not easily accessible to a lot of people,” said Haddou. “That hyperspectral layer allows us to categorize based on species, to see under the tree canopy better, rather than just greens and dryness.”

FireSafe users will soon be able to request satellite data directly, thanks to new APIs Wyvern is building specifically for the partnership.

If the AI system detects a fire, AIRmarket’s drones can be launched immediately to confirm the threat and provide real-time situational awareness to crews on the ground. Haddou said the integration was a “natural kind of fit.”

Last summer, FireSafe and AIRmarket held joint demonstrations in Alberta’s Municipal District of Bighorn, showcasing their ability to operate drones beyond visual line of sight—something Transport Canada has recently loosened regulations on.

The need for rapid detection isn’t theoretical.

In July 2024, a lightning strike near Athabasca Falls ignited a blaze that torched 3,500 hectares in just a few hours. The fire ultimately consumed 32,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of Jasper. A few years earlier, in 2021, the entire village of Lytton, B.C., was destroyed by fire in a matter of minutes.

As Canada’s wildfire seasons grow more intense and unpredictable, there’s growing urgency for new solutions. Fires that burn closer to populated areas carry not just human cost, but economic fallout as well.

In 2023, Vermilion Energy was forced to halt operations at a facility near Entwistle, Alberta, due to a nearby wildfire. The shutdown resulted in a loss of about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

“That’s significant costs for a lot of these clients,” Haddou said. “So even being able to keep an operation online for an additional hour, or making sure they can go out to create proper firebreaks to limit damage—that’s where the benefit is.”

FireSafe is currently working with Sturgeon County and the Municipal District of Bighorn to deploy its platform. Haddou said the company is focusing on county governments for now, since they often cover large areas and have mandates for public safety.

“They have to make the most out of their resources,” he said. “So being able to reduce false positives and callouts is huge, and in turn to be able to be notified and get the triangulated location to respond in that critical window… is astronomical in improving the ultimate outcome for these communities.”

Beyond governments, FireSafe is targeting industries like oil, gas, and utilities, where wildfires can disrupt operations and cause massive financial losses.

FireSafe AI was founded in 2023 and bootstrapped its way through early development. The company received a $125,000 angel investment in 2025 and support from programs like the Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator. They’re now in the process of raising $1.5 million USD in seed funding.

“Currently we’re aiming to raise a target of $1.5 million USD to really allow us to accelerate development, go to market and get to product market fit,” said Haddou. “We’ve got traction, we’ve got pilots, we’ve got customers, but we’re calling it seed. Effectively, it’s still an early-stage fund for us.”

As fire seasons continue to intensify, FireSafe hopes that the right mix of AI, satellite data, and drones can give first responders an edge—and give communities more time to act.

Edmonton Startups are Teaming Up to Tackle Canada’s Next Wildfire Season

A new wearable innovation from South Korea could change daily life for people with degenerative muscle conditions — and it fits just like a T-shirt.

Engineers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials have developed a soft, shirt-style exoskeleton that weighs less than a kilogram and helps users regain arm mobility with ease. The device is designed specifically for individuals with conditions like muscular dystrophy, who often lose the ability to carry out basic tasks like lifting an arm or brushing teeth.

Unlike bulky, metal-powered exoskeletons that can cost tens of thousands of dollars and weigh several kilograms, this new version is light, wearable, and far more affordable. The key lies in the shirt’s high-tech fibers, which are thinner than a human hair and made of shape memory alloy — a material that “remembers” its original form and contracts when activated.

That contraction mimics muscle movement. In testing, the shirt reduced the physical strain on users’ muscles by 40 to 57 percent. The fabric itself can lift up to 15 kilograms (34 pounds), and when paired with the user’s own motion, it can help restore everyday movement with significantly less effort.

“It felt amazing because it was light and easy to wear, just like clothing,” said 15-year-old Myung Ha-yul, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Myung participated in a clinical trial at Seoul National University Hospital and said the shirt helped him lift his arms more easily — something he has long struggled with.

Myung was diagnosed in elementary school and, like many with Duchenne, faces a progressive loss of muscle function. His doctors had warned that simple tasks like combing his hair could one day become impossible. The new exosuit offers a different future.

Lee Woo-hyung, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at the hospital, said the simplicity and effectiveness of the design is what makes it so promising. “The biggest achievement is that patients can put it on and take it off like clothing, while receiving active muscle support that leads to real functional improvement,” he said.

The shirt system includes a light nylon harness to hold the electronic components, but otherwise looks and feels like everyday clothing. In practical terms, it gives users a sense of normalcy — and more independence — without the heavy machinery that typically accompanies assistive exosuits.

The development is part of the Child Cancer and Rare Disease Project, a major initiative launched in 2021 with a 300 billion won (about $204 million) donation from the family of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee. The project aims to accelerate medical breakthroughs for children with rare and life-limiting conditions.

For Myung and others like him, that investment is already paying off. He may still require help for some activities, but now, getting through daily routines could come with a little more strength — and a lot more dignity.

South Korean Engineers Unveil Shirt-Like Exoskeleton to Boost Mobility for Muscular Dystrophy Patients

GoodGoodGood

Tony Hawk might have stepped off the board competitively, but he’s still pushing the limits — this time, through philanthropy.

Through his nonprofit, The Skatepark Project, Hawk has helped fund nearly 700 public skateparks across all 50 U.S. states. Since 2002, the organization has awarded $13 million in grants, making safe skating spaces available to an estimated 17 million people every year.

But Hawk isn’t just building ramps and rails. He’s also trying to build leaders.

“We’re not just helping to build skateparks. We’re also working to build community in entirely new ways,” Hawk said in a video for the nonprofit.

Through fellowships and advocacy training, the organization equips young people with the tools to create their own skate spaces, especially in underserved communities. The idea is simple: skateparks are more than places to land tricks — they’re places where young people build confidence, community, and resilience.

That spirit has extended far beyond the U.S.

In recent years, The Skatepark Project has supported skateboarding initiatives in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa. Meanwhile, other grassroots skateboarding groups have taken root in regions affected by conflict, using the sport as a lifeline.

In Gaza, where daily life is shaped by war and occupation, SkatePal is giving young Palestinians a place to learn, play, and breathe. The nonprofit has built four skateparks over the last 11 years, hosted summer camps, and created programs to bring more girls into the sport.

“Skateboarding is not for a specific type of person,” said Malak, a volunteer in Ramallah, on the organization’s website. “Skateboarding is for everyone, no matter what religion, color, or place.”

Lately, much of SkatePal’s focus has shifted toward basic survival. Amid ongoing violence, the group has redirected funds to help with essentials, while also supporting local skate groups like Gaza Skate Team and skateboarding.ps with gear and equipment.

Despite the destruction, photos and videos on SkatePal’s social media show kids still skating — smiling, learning tricks, and finding moments of joy on crumbling pavement.

“It’s a tool to escape everything,” said Mahmoud Kilani, founder of skateboarding.ps, in an interview with DAZED Magazine. “Because we don’t have freedom here. We are surrounded by walls. Sometimes we can’t go to the park because they say we can’t, so we take our boards and we go skate somewhere else. It’s just a break from the occupation.”

Thousands of kilometers away in Mukono, Uganda, another DIY movement is gaining momentum. What began with a teenager’s dream has grown into the Uganda Skateboard Society, a youth-led effort to build skateparks and provide free lessons and gear to kids in low-income communities.

“Skateboarding has existed… in Uganda, but no one was there to promote it and get companies or individuals to come on board to make the youth more interested,” co-founder Gerald Gose told Jenkem Magazine. “So we decided to make it the DIY way.”

Gose, now the head coach of Uganda’s Olympic skateboarding team, said it’s about more than just tricks. When one young skater couldn’t afford school, the community stepped in and raised the money. The skatepark has also become a safe space where kids can pursue their passion and stay away from crime.

“When I leave here, I hope to be able to look around and say we have done a good job and made a good foundation for the future,” Gose said. “I believe Ugandan skateboarders have the potential, and we have set goals for what we intend to achieve.”

From California to Gaza to Uganda, skateboarding is proving it doesn’t just build balance — it builds communities. And for many young people, a skateboard isn’t just a toy. It’s a tool for freedom, belonging, and possibility.

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