📈 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.
🌐 The ozone hole over Antarctica continues to shrink
The ozone hole over Antarctica was the seventh smallest since 1992. Scientists estimate that the ozone layer could be fully restored by 2066.
📉 Deaths from air pollution decrease globally
Deaths caused by air pollution from fossil fuels decreased by 7 percent between 2016 and 2021.
🚣 The Cuyahoga River was so polluted it caught fire - now it's making a comeback
The Cuyahoga River in Ohio has undergone a dramatic improvement from being one of America's most polluted waterways to now having water quality good enough to reintroduce sturgeon. The river that used to regularly catch fire due to industrial pollution is now home to blue herons and bald eagles.
👩⚕️ Tuberculosis steadily declining
Global tuberculosis cases have stabilized after pandemic increase - 10.8 million cases in 2023 compared to 10.7 million in 2022. Mortality continues to decline - 1.25 million deaths in 2023, down from 1.32 million in 2022.
🐠 Coral reefs show unexpectedly strong resilience to warming
Coral reefs continue to grow even under warmer conditions according to a new two-year experiment in Hawaii. The experiment shows that coral reefs can survive if global warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius.
🎓 People worldwide have high trust in scientists
A new comprehensive study shows that the majority of people in 68 countries have high trust in scientists and their methods.
💓 Heart failure mortality has steadily decreased over 25 years
Deaths from heart failure have decreased by two percent annually between 1997 and 2022. New medications and improved medical technology help patients live longer after diagnosis.
🍦 The age of miracles is not over - McDonald's ice cream machine crisis gets a solution
The US government is tackling one of the greatest crises of our time - McDonald's broken ice cream machines. Franchise owners can now repair the machines themselves without depending on the manufacturer.
🚭 Youth smoking at lowest level in 25 years
Only 8 percent of American teenagers use tobacco products, the lowest figure since 1999. E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco product with 5.9 percent of youth users.