💉 How a vaccine turned the tide in the fight against Ebola
The Ervebo vaccine has demonstrated over 95 percent effectiveness against the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. The vaccine is now used as a cornerstone in the fight against Ebola and has been successfully deployed in several African countries as a preventive measure.
💉 mRNA vaccine against pancreatic cancer shows promising results
Patients who developed an immune response from the personalized cancer vaccine have not yet experienced recurrence after more than three years of follow-up. The vaccine creates T cells that can live for up to 100 years and retain their ability to identify and fight cancer cells.
👮 Deadly violence decreased in Sweden during 2024
A total of 92 cases of deadly violence were recorded during 2024, which is 29 fewer cases than the previous year. The number of victims under 18 years decreased by 7 cases, from 17 to 10 cases compared to 2023.
🤼 Record increase in young sports participants in Sweden
The number of participation occasions in Swedish sports has increased by almost five million between 2019 and 2024. Football shows dramatic growth with a 23 percent increase since 2019. Several martial arts show positive development after difficult pandemic years.
💉 New drug slows ALS
The drug Tofersen shows good results for patients with ALS caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene, which accounts for 5-6 percent of all ALS cases. Several patients have experienced significant slowing of disease progression, and in some cases the disease has stabilized at the same level.
☄️ New telescopes make us safer from asteroid threats – but the media will keep scaring us
The media reported extensively on asteroid 2024 YR4, which was at risk of hitting Earth. That risk has since been downgraded. Several powerful new telescopes will soon come into operation, which are expected to increase the discovery of near-Earth asteroids by 10 to 100 times.
🦾 AI saved Joseph Coates' life - and can save millions more
Researchers are using AI to find new uses for existing drugs that can treat rare diseases. Joseph Coates survived a deadly blood disorder thanks to a treatment identified by an AI model.
🏭 The number of planned coal power plants in the OECD has decreased by 96% since 2015
The number of proposed coal power plants within the OECD region has decreased from 142 in 2015 to only five today. Of the five remaining proposals, four plants include plans for carbon capture.
🏊♀️ Global drowning deaths have decreased by 38 percent since 2000
Progress has been unevenly distributed globally. Europe experienced a 68% reduction in mortality while Africa only decreased by 3%. WHO advocates several community-based actions to prevent drowning.