Contrary to what mainstream news outlets want you to believe, the world is not going to hell in a hand basket any time soon. With the 24-hour stream of stories about murders, disasters, and economic crises, it's easy to assume that society is doomed. But the sordid picture that the media portrays couldn't be further from the truth. From the adorable to the hilarious, here are 15 facts that will make you smile and remind you that the world isn't such a bad place after all.

1.Sea otters hold hands when they sleep. (National Wildlife Federation)

2. Nearly 5,900 couples got married today. (CDC)

3. There's a basketball court on the top floor of the Supreme Court Building. It's referred to as "the highest court in the land." (US Government Publishing Office)

4. Roughly 2.4 million kittens and puppies were born today day. (Humane Society)

5. The actor and actress who voice Mickie and Minnie Mouse are married in real life. (Daily Mail)

6. A group of flamingoes is called a flamboyance. (Business Insider)

7. Every year a bunch of people in the UK chase a wheel of cheese down a hill. (Cheese Rolling In Gloucestershire)

8. Russia did not recognize beer as alcohol until 2011. Before that, they classified as a soft drink. (BBC)

9. Almost 1 billion people have been taken out of poverty in the last 20 years. (The Economist)

10. Schools are starting to replace detention with meditation. The results are astounding. (Newsweek)

11. A Nepalese doctor has cured over 100,000 of blindness for people living in poverty. (New York Times)

12. Last year over 305 million Americans visited national parks, setting an all-time record. (National Park Service)

13. America donated 7.9 billion hours of volunteering last year. (Corporation for National and Community Service)

14. There is an organization called CCI that donates skilled assistance dogs to people with physical and developmental disabilities, free of charge. (Canine Companions for Independence).

15. Cuddling is good for you. (Daily Mail)