👮 Crime continues to decline in major American cities
New data shows significant decreases in several crime categories in 49 medium and large American cities. Murders, car thefts, and burglaries decreased by over 22 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Statistically significant decreases were also noted for robberies and assaults.
🐝 Insects in Sweden have not decreased according to new study
A new study shows no decrease in insects in Sweden over the past 35 years. In one location in Skåne, the number of insects has even increased. The study is based on data from four different locations in Sweden.
📉 C02 emissions from energy in advanced economies at lowest level since 1974
Emissions in advanced economies fell by 4.5% during 2023. At the same time, GDP in advanced economies grew by approximately 1.7%. Coal use in advanced economies is down to the same level as in 1900.
💡 Premium Supporter recap + fact-based optimistic news
🐳 Whales have a phonetic alphabet. 🌒 Space probe returns with samples from the far side of the moon - for the first time. 🔭 Solar telescope tracks the source of the solar wind for the first time.
🧬 Newly discovered system allows researchers to edit DNA using RNA
Researchers at Arc Institute have discovered a completely new molecular system for editing DNA using RNA. The system enables programmable DNA changes such as inserting, removing or inverting DNA sequences.
🔋 Battery prices continue to drop, lowering the cost of electric vehicles
The price of lithium-ion batteries in China has decreased by 51 percent in the past year. Lower battery prices make electric vehicles cheaper than fossil fuel cars in many segments, and large-scale battery solutions in energy systems become more profitable.
🐳 AI has been used to identify a phonetic alphabet in sperm whales
CETI is a research project aimed at understanding whale communication. Sperm whale vocalizations show a structure similar to human language. They have now discovered 156 distinct coda types instead of the previously known 21.
👩🏫 AI teaching tool Khanmigo now free for all US teachers
Khanmigo, an AI tool for teachers, is now free for all teachers in the USA. The tool helps teachers with over 20 different tasks and can save more than 50% of their preparation time. Microsoft and Khan Academy are collaborating to improve math education with small language models.
🔭 Solar telescope tracks the source of the solar wind for the first time
Solar Orbiter has made the first direct measurement of the solar wind and traced it back to its source. Measurements show that the solar wind comes from areas with sunspots where the magnetic field is intense. The discovery could improve predictions of solar storms that affect Earth.
🌒 Space probe returns with samples from the far side of the moon - for the first time
The Chang'e 6 probe has successfully retrieved rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon. The samples are expected to contain 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock. This is the first time samples from the far side of the moon have been collected.
🦾 AI-designed proteins work in stem cell study
AI-designed proteins have successfully transformed stem cells into blood vessel cells. The proteins helped build regenerative tissues and worked in animal transplants. The technology can potentially be used to repair damaged tissue and treat diseases.
💡 21 fact-based optimistic news from June
🌎 The last ozone-depleting chemical is now decreasing. 🚀 First crash-free test of Starship. ✈️ Plane hijackings have decreased dramatically. 🏭 Has China’s CO2 emissions peaked? New stats suggest so. 🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon reaches lowest level since 2018.
☢️ Bill Gates invests in next-generation nuclear power in Wyoming
Bill Gates and his energy company TerraPower are starting the construction of an advanced nuclear power plant in Wyoming. The project uses sodium for cooling instead of water, making it safer and more efficient. The plant is estimated to cost up to 4 billion dollars.
💡 Premium Supporter recap + fact-based optimistic news
🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon reaches lowest level since 2018. 🗳️ Human rights have improved in all world regions. 🔭 New space telescope could potentially see city lights on exoplanets.
📉 The number of countries with high economic inequality is decreasing
The number of countries with high inequality has decreased from 77 in 2000 to 52 in 2022. High inequality is mainly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Reduced inequality can lead to increased economic and human development.
📚 Top Reads
We're honored to present these top reads from world-class writers, who contribute to Warp News because they believe in our mission of spreading fact-based optimism all over the world.
🆙 Warp Levels - an idea to level up humanity
Humanity is doing the high jump without a bar. We have no goal. With Warp Levels, we determine what the next level for humanity should contain, so we can level up and make progress faster.
📚 Kevin Kelly: Focus on the biggest opportunities, not the biggest problems
We talk about some of the 450 advice in his new book, but also about his new project: Protopia - the hundred-year desirable future. And Kevin Kelly give advice for how Warp News should grow faster: "Wrap it around people and their dreams."
💡 A new mindset for humanity can impact billions of people now and in the future
If we succeed in giving humanity more optimism about the future, it will not only affect those living now but also all generations and billions of people who will live in the future.
💰 Wall Street legend: “Pessimists sound smart – optimists make money”
Jim O'Shaughnessy is a legendary investor on Wall Street. He shares what he thinks is the biggest opportunity for the future and explains how the world is going through a great reshuffle.
🔋 Northvolt and the benefit of understanding the future
The story of Peter Carlsson and Northvolt teaches us two lessons: You need to understand the future to see all the possibilities, and you must be a fact-based optimist to grab them.
💡 David Deutsch: Optimism, Pessimism and Cynicism
With so much progress in the world, how can pessimism still be widespread? It is because of cynicism, denying that “so-called-progress” is progress, argues David Deutsch, professor at Oxford University and one of the world's leading intellectuals on optimism.
