Soothing stories from A Beautiful World

This election season has brought into the spotlight plenty of things that are wrong with the world.

Minnesota Public Radio's A Beautiful World is here to remind you that there are good things happening, too.

Take a second and relax with these fascinating stories focusing on technology, science, art, music, culture and positive change.

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Beautiful sculptures that create clean energy

The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) brings together artists, architects, scientists, landscape architects, engineers, and others to create renewable energy art.

The first elephant orphanage in Africa

Why do elephants line up to hug a little old lady in Nairobi National Park? She's their mother — their adopted human mother. Meet Dame Daphne Sheldrick.

Healing music for dogs

Ever wonder how sound and music affects your central nervous system? Turns out it has a similar effect on dogs. Heather McElhatton interviews classical pianist and "Dog Music" composer Lisa Spector and her colleague Joshua Leeds, a world-renowned expert in bioacoustics about their book and accompanying CD series, "Through a Dogs Ear."

How seeing the earth from space changes everything

The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift that affects some astronauts when they see the earth from space. Many say they no longer identify with a specific nationality or culture after seeing earth from outer space. Instead, they see themselves — and all citizens on earth — as one people, living on one world.

How one woman's fear of the unknown turned into an inspiration

Allison Carmen was a high-powered Lawyer in Manhattan who suffered from an addiction. She was addicted to certainty. Anxiety and worrying about the future nearly put her in the hospital, until she heard a story that changed her life.