💡 Fact-based optimistic news from August
🌾 Lower food prices, thanks to record harvests. ⚖️ Global inequality decreases. 🌅 Wind and solar energy surpass coal power in the EU, in the US and in China. 🔥 Much lower risk of fire in electric cars. 🦾 AI Scientist can write science papers on its own.
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In August, we published three news that are each historic in their own right and together demonstrate a historic shift for the climate:
Solar and wind energy is larger than coal energy in the EU, in the US, and in China.
This is driven by falling prices for solar, wind, and batteries, and of course by political decisions linked to the need to stop climate change.
When the media focus on individual negative news about the climate, it's easy to become fixated on that and miss the even bigger things that are happening.
Coal and oil have been the energy sources that have been a decisive factor in the increased prosperity we see across almost the entire world. Now we are in the process of replacing both with something better.
Many milestones are to be passed on the journey to a climatically sustainable world. We have just passed a major one.
Scroll down a bit and you'll find all of this month's fact-based optimistic news.
Mathias Sundin
The Angry Optimist
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💡 Fact-based optimistic news
📉 Poverty in the Philippines decreases faster than expected
The poverty rate in the Philippines dropped to 15.5 percent in 2023, from 18.1 percent in 2021. The number of poor Filipinos decreased by 2.45 million between 2021 and 2023. The result surpasses the government's development goal for 2023, which was set at about 16.0 percent.
☢️ First generation four reactor begins construction in the USA
Kairos Power starts building Hermes, the first Generation Four reactor approved in the USA. The reactor uses a new combination of fuel and coolant for increased safety and simpler design. With Generation IV, what is now seen as a problem, nuclear waste, is transformed into a resource.
🧬 Reconstructed genome may help us revive the mammoth
Scientists have succeeded in reconstructing the mammoth's genome and the 3D structure of its chromosomes from a 52,000-year-old tissue sample. The study shows that the mammoth's genome structure is similar to that of the modern elephant, which could facilitate the revival of the mammoth.
🤑 Money brings happiness far up the income scale
New research shows that the relationship between money and happiness continues far up the economic ladder. Billionaires report higher life satisfaction than people with annual incomes of $500,000.
💉 Ivory Coast first in the world to use new malaria vaccine
Ivory Coast introduces new effective malaria vaccine. The vaccine is expected to save tens of thousands of children's lives each year. 15 African countries plan vaccination campaigns during 2024.
⚕️ New treatment for Parkinson's enters clinical trial
Researchers have developed a cell therapy that can replace lost dopamine-producing neurons. The treatment has shown promising results in studies on primates. Clinical trials on humans have now begun.
💵 More and more Nigerians are refusing bribes
Over 70 percent of Nigerians surveyed refused to pay bribes at least once during 2023. The proportion reporting bribery attempts increased from 3.6 percent in 2019 to 8.6 percent in 2023.
🐟 Giant fish in the Amazon recovers, after successful efforts by local population
The arapaima, one of the world's largest freshwater fish, is increasing in numbers in the Amazon. Local communities have introduced sustainable fishing methods that led to a 425% increase in 11 years.
⚡ The fusion power industry continues to grow
Investments in the fusion industry increased to over $7.1 billion. Government funding increased by 57 percent. Timelines for electricity production from fusion in the 2030s remain unchanged.
📉 Domestic violence decreases in Australia
The number of women killed by current or former partners has decreased significantly since 1989-90. Significant reduction in the proportion of women experiencing physical violence since 2012.
🦟 Bangladesh is close to zero malaria deaths
The number of malaria cases and deaths in Bangladesh is steadily decreasing. The country has seen a 96 percent reduction in malaria deaths between 2008 and 2023. Over 85 percent of the population has access to malaria treatment.
📉 Reduced mortality for all ages, not just children
Infants, children, adults, and the elderly all have a lower risk of dying today compared to the past. The risk of dying during the first day of life has decreased sevenfold in 100 years in England and Wales. At one year of age, the risk of dying is 100 times lower 2021 compared to 1921.
🦾 AI Scientist can write science papers on its own
A new AI system called "The AI Scientist" can independently carry out the entire research process. The system generates research ideas, writes code, conducts experiments, and produces complete scientific manuscripts. It is much faster and considerably cheaper than if humans do the work.
🔥 Much lower risk of fire in electric cars compared to fossil fuel cars
The risk of fire in a rechargeable vehicle is 0.0012 percent, compared to 0.1 percent for combustion engine vehicles. According to this statistic, fires in gasoline or diesel-powered cars are over 80 times more common.
🌌 The Milky Way may NOT collide with Andromeda in five billion years *phew*
New study indicates that the Milky Way has a 50 percent chance of avoiding collision with the Andromeda galaxy. Previous research suggested that a collision was inevitable within 5 billion years.
🩸 New blood testing technology becomes reality, despite the Theranos scandal
Companies develop working alternatives to traditional blood tests with large needles. Finger-prick methods can now be used for routine medical tests in Austin. New technology reduces discomfort and facilitates sample collection for patients. This time without fraud.
🌞 Solar and wind surpass fossil fuels in EU electricity production
Wind and solar power generated 30% of EU's electricity during the first half of 2024. For the first time, 13 EU countries produced more electricity from wind and solar than from fossil fuels.
🌅 Wind and solar energy surpass coal power in China
China's combined capacity for wind and solar power has for the first time exceeded coal. Solar energy is expected to surpass coal as China's primary energy source by 2026. China has reduced new coal power projects and is focusing on phasing out smaller coal power plants.
🌾 Record harvests lead to lower food prices
Grain prices have fallen to their lowest level in four years. American farmers are expected to harvest record amounts of corn and soybeans. Weather conditions have been favorable in the world's most important agricultural areas.
🍔 Food-from-air company Solar Foods advances in NASA's space food competition
NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge aims to find new ways to provide astronauts with nutrition during long space missions. Solar Foods won the international category in the competition. The company is developing a concept to produce the protein Solein in space.
⚖️ Global inequality decreases both between and within countries
Global inequality has decreased dramatically since the 1980s. Inequality within countries has stopped increasing and has decreased over the last decade. Poverty is decreasing faster than previously estimated, even at higher poverty thresholds.
🚗 Waymo doubles the number of paid robotaxi trips to 100,000 per week
Waymo now provides over 100,000 paid robotaxi trips per week in the USA. The company has expanded its service to new areas in California and Arizona. Waymo is now testing driverless vehicles on highways around the San Francisco area.
🏭 Wind and solar energy produce more electricity than coal in the US
Wind and solar energy generated more electricity than coal in the USA during the first seven months of the year. In the USA, almost twice as much solar energy will be added compared to last year.
Other texts
🦾 Keep calm, AI is not a bubble
The stock market went down, panic arose and the pessimists proclaimed in panic: The AI bubble is bursting. That is nonsense.
🔋 Come on, Northvolt is not a pipe dream, and batteries are not a green bubble
Is Northvolt a pipe dream? asked the reporter. That was when I realized this wasn't a serious investigation, but a witch hunt. Let’s scrutinize this absurd claim.
💡 Musings of the Angry Optimist: Whatever, keep writing in a complicated way, I understand anyway
What Martin Luther and a double unicorn founder can teach us about AI, and the first Swede on Mars.
🗞️ They led the digital transition, now they ban AI...
AI can filter, refine, and enhance, but this newspaper prefers outdated forms.
💡 Musings of the Angry Optimist: What was humanity's first idea?
Once upon a time, there were no ideas. Not a single one. But then someone had an idea. Humanity's first.
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