📈 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.
🍄 Plastic-eating mushrooms - a key to removing plastic waste?
Some scientists believe that certain mushrooms with the ability to consume polyurethane - which is one of the main ingredients in plastic products - is the key to cleaning up our earth.
🎗 33 percent fewer deaths from cancer in the US in 30 years
Vaccination, better treatments, and fewer smokers are some of the factors behind a large reduction in cancer mortality in recent decades.
🌻 Regular trips in nature could reduce people's reliance on antidepressants
Research has found that visiting green spaces between three and four times a week can drastically lower the need for mental health drugs.
🐭 No animal testing is needed to get a drug approved
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will no longer require animal testing to approve new medications.
🌍 The dangerous ozone hole is getting smaller and smaller
It's progressing slowly, but it's progressing nonetheless. In a few decades, the ozone hole that lets dangerous UV radiation through will be a thing of the past.
🦋 California County sees largest number of monarch butterflies in 20 years
In November last year, employees and volunteers of a conservation group counted more than 129 000 individuals of the famous black and orange striped western monarch butterfly. This many monarch butterflies haven’t been counted in 20 years.
🚬 Tobacco companies in Spain now fit the bill for cigarette butt clean-up
Under a new environmental legislation in Spain, tobacco companies are duty-bound to pay for the cleanup of the millions of cigarette butts smokers throw away on the streets each year.
🔥 New stoves can save hundreds of thousands of lives in Africa
By switching to gas or electricity instead of wood and charcoal, many people would avoid inhaling dangerous gases when cooking.
🗳️ New study: No evidence of democratic decline
The study analyzed data from over 160 countries over a period of 30 years and found no evidence of widespread democratic decline.