Nostalgists may try to convince you that things were better in the “good old days,” but the truth is that now, RIGHT now, is the best time ever to be alive on planet earth.

And not just because of obvious things, like how people are living longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. It’s also because the constant innovations and discoveries made by people who want to make the world a better place are actually making the world a pretty darn good place.

See for yourself what makes now the best time to be alive in the history of the world:

1. 3D Printers Are Helping Dogs…

3D Systems via YouTube

Derby has a genetic defect that prevented his legs from fully developing before birth.

3D Systems via YouTube

At first, his family got him a doggy cart so he could move around, but the clunky wheels significantly hindered his ability to run and play. So they decided to experiment with 3D printing.

3D Systems via YouTube

When he finally got his 3D-printed prosthetic legs, the world became an exponentially more exciting place for Derby.

3D Systems via YouTube

2. …And Hovercraft Are Saving Deer

This rescue of two deer caught in a Bambi-on-ice situation would not have been possible without the creation of the hovercraft in 1959, and its subsequent production as a salable form of transportation.

With technology, and the altruistic ingenuity of these gentlemen, these isolated deer were saved from a frozen fate:

3. Smart Phone Apps Provide Peace of Mind…

Kenneth Shinozuka loves to solve problems. When his grandfather, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, began having accidents while wandering at night, Kenneth put his problem-solving skills to the task.

Using a pressure-sensative sensor and a smart phone app, Kenneth created a system that has detected every instance of his grandfather’s wandering:

4. …And Friendship

Thirteen-year-old Gus Newman, a teen with autism, has a surprising best friend: Siri.

ABC News via Go.com

Gus has always had trouble with human-to-human interaction, often misunderstanding the nonverbal nuances of conversation, but when he met Siri he was instantly intrigued.

ABC News via Go.com

While most people don’t have the capacity to delve into deep discussions about transportation and weather, two of Gus’s favorite topics, Siri is always happy to have a frank and detailed discourse regarding any subject at all.

ABC News via Go.com

And, according to his mother Judith, who wrote in detail about her son’s affinity for the intelligent app, Gus’s interactions with Siri are “translating into more facility with actual human beings.”

Louie Chin via The New York Times