It's truly been a year like no other, yet people around the world have done so much good in 2020.

Scientists have not just been working on COVID vaccines, researchers have made major diabetes breakthroughs, discovered new cancer therapies, and launched critical green innovations to make the world a better place for us all. 

And though this year has been difficult for our favorite restaurants and bars, and people losing jobs—millions of people have done whatever it takes to keep them afloat. 

From all of us at WS, thank you to our readers, for your hilarious and heartwarming comments, and for sharing our positive stories with your friends. 

With everyone proclaiming, ‘Good Riddance to 2020', we can't help but bask in the magnificent glow of kindness, resilience, and personal growth that has emerged… 

Watch this young-hearted senior as she sews homemade face masks for all her friends, family, and community members—while jamming out to The Beatles.

The Oscar award-winning actor hosted several virtual bingo games for the Round Rock Senior Living facility—with his family cheering them on.

Dozens of Facebook groups for the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine" popped up across America so ‘wine fairies' can leave gifts for community members.

Sheltering in place, Jimmy Fallon produced a Tonight Show ‘At Home Edition', and his Hashtags segment was hilarious #MyQuarantineInSixWords

The Fownes Hotel in Worcester housed 45 rough sleepers during the COVID-19 shutdowns—and in return, the homeless repayed the kindness.

Although it took the little English family 6 hours and 40 sticks of jumbo chalk, their brick house became a source of cheer for the community.

When electrician John Kinney found Gloria Scott living in a house that was falling into disrepair, he rallied their MA. community to help.

A senior supermarket customer praised a teenage employee for being "the light of day" after she insisted on paying for his groceries.

The employees of the Colonial Steakhouse in Pine Bluff, Arkansas were over the moon with gratitude after a customer left them a particularly hefty gratuity.

Huntly, New Zealand restaurant customers jumped in to help when Thai Food Huntly lost most of its staff on a busy Friday night.

The IKEA Instagram page published 6 DIY illustrations on how to build the best blanket forts—from the Cåve to the Wigwåm.

JOANN Fabrics rallied behind America's healthcare workers by donating fabric and materials to anyone who wants to sew masks—with curbside pickup option.

A moving company serving the U.S. and Canada has been donating its time and labor to help victims of domestic violence move safely and quickly.

The Newtons have created ‘Britain's best garden' and grown a spring spectacular bursting with color in Walsall after spending lockdown tending their oasis.

Inspired by his grandma's love of gardening, England's Tony Le-Britton has been growing rare house plants worth $15,000 per leaf.

Rather than learn to live with a smartphone, this engineer designed her own cell phone with a rotary dial—and she is helping others to make their own.

Since bringing the nifty little "Stick Library" to his local park, more than 50 dogs have delighted in the stash of sticks.

Several social media pages asked their followers to combat quarantine boredom by recreating iconic paintings using just three objects from their house.

When Nandi Bushell challenges you to a drum-off by playing your Foo Fighters hit song "Everlong," if you're Dave Grohl, you say ‘yes'—and more.

The activities director for a London nursing home, Robert Speker, shot photos of seniors recreating classic album covers while in lockdown and donated calendar proceeds to an Alzeimer's organization.

The company that has been selling $20 plastic bracelets made of ocean plastic is expanding operations and succeeding in a big way.

Carvey Ehren Maigue invention harvests UV rays and converts it into visible light to generate electricity.

The assembly phase of one of humanity's most-complex engineering projects—a giant nuclear fusion reactor called ITER—launched in France.

Ocean Voyages Institute made history, removing 103 tons of fishing nets and consumer plastics in one trip to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Air Company is using their NASA award-winning carbon conversion technology to turn air pollution into eco-friendly rocket fuel.

Young Dutch scientist Boyan Slat is responsible for cleaning up the worlds oceans—and he is now cleaning up rivers with his new invention: The Interceptor

It has been 35 years since the world passed legislation to protect the ozone layer—and new research says it has been a thrilling success.

Not only is the process used by Caltrans more eco-friendly that traditional methods, the material lasts 3 times longer than normal asphalt.

You've already heard about solar-paneled rooftops, but now, a company from Hungary is powering residential homes with solar driveways.

Dutch biodesigner Bob Hendrikx has designed a coffin made of mushroom—a "living cocoon" that will turn a deceased body into super compost.

The University of York has increased the ability of solar panels to absorb light by a stunning 125 percent using a checkerboard design.

Katy Ayers has succeeded in growing her own canoe out of mycelium—and the student believes it's a perfect example of how mushrooms can save the world.

More than 80% of the municipal plastic recyclables of Halifax are being processed by a brilliant local company that turns it all into lumber.

Swedish startup Azelio is deploying solar systems that use recycled aluminum to store and generate power using thermal energy—without batteries.

Edmonton's Dr. James Shapiro has cured diabetes in mice, raising hopes for a cure in humans with funding and more research.

Once the researchers determine the mechanism of the revolutionary new T-cell, they hope to trial the treatment by the end of the year.

On a meteorite, scientists believe they have discovered the first complete extraterrestrial protein that could define life's origins on earth.

Solving Hawking's black hole information paradox, scientists end a 50-year contradicton of what happens to things that fall in a black hole.

After enduring three heartbreaking losses in the same year, this former airman quit his job so he could find happiness on the road with his pet ferret.

Jaguar, the tortoise named for his speed, loves to play soccer with the family's Dachshund, which is usually an unfair fight.

Bunny the dog may only be 11 months old, but he has already learned to communicate with his owners using a 45-button sound board.

An amateur Seattle bird watcher was stunned to discover that the neighborly crow family in his front yard had left him two "mind-blowing" gifts.

An Australian woman found that her Christmas tree had a new ornament after a live koala wandered inside and snuggled up the branches.

When a random basketball fan approached Shaquille O'Neal to express his condolences, the NBA legend repaid the kindness by buying the guy a laptop.

Linda Herring has fostered more than 600 children of every age, gender, race, and medical category.

Rather than tear down the elaborate model train display in this New Jersey warehouse, a businessman paid a quarter-million to renovate it for the public.

Shetara Sims won $100, but even though she needed it, she donated it to a Kansas City officer, but the police department then raised $145,000 for her kindness.

Jeremy Cohen became internet-famous after he published a series of videos on how he won the heart of his neighborhood "quarantine cutie."

Zach Regan and Matty Johnson were camping on Vancouver Island when they found a lost dog stuck in a sea cliff cave for months.

When African-American Shawn Dromgoole was afraid to walk in his gentrified community, he expressed his fear and 75 neighbors walked with him—and started a movement around the country.

Here's to 2021, during which we wish for you—and the world—all the good news possible. 

Tell us Your Favorite 2020 Story in the Comments—and Don't Forget to Share!