Restart Dogs are currently working with Adult Estates training prisoners to raise and train puppies as assistance dogs. The analysis found the program led to a reduction in reoffending (再犯) rates in prisoners compared to those who had not participated.

Based in the UK, Restart Dogs is a vocational education programme that trains adult prisoners to become assistance dog trainers. They raise and train dogs to become assistance dogs, teaching them key skills such as door manners, staying where they are asked, walking to heel on a loose lead, and settling next to their handlers while they work and study. But most importantly, they are learning to have faith in their handlers guiding them through their new adventures and environment.

The programme is paid for by the Prisoners Fund, raised by the work that prisoners do in prison. There are a few conditions that prisoners must meet before they can take part in the programme, for example, they must be free of behaviour-related violation (违反) for a specified period before admittance to the programme as well as continued good behaviour throughout the programme.

For prisoners, the benefits of training dogs have been well researched and recorded. Working with professionals to train dogs responsibly allows prisoners to improve their social skills, empathy, self-regulation, respect and overall well-being. The analysis reported a 36% difference in reoffending rates in the training group compared to the control group. These outcomes are similar to those found with more traditional programmes such as education, employment and training programmes.

Meanwhile, for people in need of an assistance dog, there can often be a long waiting list due to the length of time it takes to train an assistance dog—it usually takes two to three years. Thanks to the work that Restart Dogs is doing, as well as training the dogs for future success and happiness, prisoners are able to get a second chance in society!

Plastic pollution has long been a problem, but now it's gotten to a new height-literally.

Microplastics, referring to plastic fragments and particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter, have been found on Mount Qomolangma as high as 8,440 meters above sea level, just 408.86 meters below the peak of the mountain, according to a recent study published in the journal One Earth.

“These are the highest microplastics ever discovered so far, “ lead author Imogen Napper from the University of Plymouth, UK, said in a statement.

Scientists collected snow and water samples from 19 different locations from 4, 200 meters above sea level all the way up to the top of Mount Qomolangma. They found microplastics in all the water samples and part of the snow samples. The most polluted sample was from the Base Camp in Nepal, where most human activity on the mountain is concentrated. It had 79 particles of microplastics per liter of snow.

But how have these fragments made it all this way and in such a great abundance? The answer is apparent-human activities. It is climbers who bring plastic products to the mountain. Even if they don't litter, just walking for 20 minutes or opening a bottle of water can release microplastics into the environment.

Even covered in ice, the Arctic is also a victim of plastic pollution. A 2020 report published in Nature suggests that there are 2,000 to 17,000 plastic particles per cubic meter in Arctic ice cores. Experts think microplastics may be transported by air and then reach the North Pole in snowfall.

“What we don't yet fully know is the potential problems these tiny pieces of plastic could be having to ecosystems," said Christian Dunn of Bangor University , UK.

Then what can we do? “We need to start focusing on deeper technological solutions that focus on microplastics, like changing fabric design and include natural fibers instead of plastic when possible, " Napper said.