📈 Human Progress
In the last decades humanity has made great progress with less extreme poverty, increased health, wealth and democracy. We follow in the tradition of professor Hans Rosling.
🦠 Scientists recreate life's most important microbial interaction
Scientists have for the first time managed to observe how a bacterium begins living inside a fungal cell. The results provide new understanding of how complex life has evolved.
😷 Covid symptoms are getting milder
Despite covid-19 variant XEC showing concerning early results in the laboratory, hospitalizations are fewer than previous winters. The majority of those infected are either asymptomatic or experience only mild cold symptoms that can be confused with seasonal allergies.
🐅 India's tiger population is roaring back – doubled in twelve years
India has increased its tiger population from 1,706 to 3,682 tigers between 2010 and 2022. The country is now home to 75 percent of the world's wild tigers. Local communities benefit from ecotourism linked to the tigers.
🐦 Scientists closer to recreating extinct dodo
Genetic researcher Beth Shapiro leads the work to recreate the dodo, a bird that went extinct over 300 years ago. The technology being developed can be used to save currently endangered species, like the pink pigeon in Mauritius.
💵 Economic inequality decreases in more countries
The number of countries with high inequality has decreased from 74 to 51 between 2000 and 2020. The number of countries with low inequality increased from 20 to 32 between 2000 and 2020.
🚭 Teen drug and alcohol use reaches historic low levels
Alcohol consumption among middle school students in the US has decreased from 46 to 13 percent since 1997. Marijuana use is at its lowest in three decades among high school students. Nicotine vaping among seniors has decreased from 35 to 21 percent since 2020.
🦈 Shark attacks decreased during 2024
The number of shark attacks decreased from 69 to 47 during 2024, well below the ten-year average of 70 attacks. Four of the attacks resulted in fatalities. Bull sharks were responsible for the majority of identifiable attacks during the year.
⚕️ Nine countries eliminated diseases in 2024
Cape Verde and Egypt became malaria-free countries in 2024. Jordan became the first country ever to be certified as leprosy-free. Pakistan, Vietnam and India eliminated trachoma, a disease that causes blindness.
🌾 Record year for global food production
Global production of rice, wheat and soybeans reached new record levels during 2024. Corn production remained at high levels, comparable to the 2021 harvest. Yields per hectare for most staple crops were equal to or higher than previous years.