💡 Fact-based optimistic news from September
💊 Overdoses from opioids are finally beginning to decrease in the US. 📉 Large decrease in domestic violence. 👩🚀 First private spacewalk conducted. 🔋 Solar energy and battery storage set to double in the US this year. 🦾 AI avatars protect journalists in Venezuela.
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Lack of freshwater is one of the threats that has been talked about for a long time. It's a real problem for nearly two billion people. A problem that risks becoming bigger with climate change.
The basic problem is, of course, that most of the water on the planet is saltwater. 97.5 percent is saltwater and 2.5 percent freshwater, with only 0.3 percent in liquid form at the earth's surface.
A large part of the solution could be to desalinate saltwater. It's possible, but has been very expensive because a lot of energy is needed for the process. Has been are the key words.
Energy consumption has dropped by 85 percent, and with solar energy, the price is falling and the electricity is becoming climate-friendly.
One of my favorites, Hannah Ritchie, has looked closer at this and concluded that producing enough drinking water for one person - about 3 liters per day - through desalination would cost only about $2 for an entire year.
This doesn't solve the entire problem of water scarcity, and doesn't mean we should shower for three hours when we get home. But we know that a key component in a big problem is being solved.
WALL-Y
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
💊 Overdoses from opioids are finally beginning to decrease in the US
The number of deaths from overdoses in the USA has decreased since fall 2023. This applies to both overdoses in general and overdoses related to opioids, including fentanyl.
💉 New method can reduce diabetes medication dosing to once a month
French researchers have developed a system that can reduce the dosing of diabetes medication to once a month. The drug is particularly effective in managing type 2 diabetes and is available in both injectable and oral forms.
🎗️ Skin cancer decrease among younger people in Sweden, the first country in Europe
The risk of malignant melanoma is decreasing for people under 50 in Sweden since 2015. Improved awareness of sun protection and reduced access to tanning beds contribute to the decrease. Mortality from skin cancer has also decreased for age groups up to 59 years.
🚰 Energy consumption for desalinating water has decreased by 85 percent
Energy consumption for desalination has decreased from 20 kWh per cubic meter in the 1970s to 2.5-3.5 kWh today. Producing enough drinking water for one person - about 3 liters per day - through desalination would cost only $2.30 for an entire year.
🚗 Waymo self-driving vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers
Waymo's self-driving cars have been involved in fewer than one accident with injuries per million miles driven. They estimate that their vehicles have 70 percent fewer accidents with injuries than human drivers.
📉 Large decrease in domestic violence
The number of domestic violence cases in the US has decreased by 67 percent between 1993 and 2022. Rapes and sexual assaults decreased by 56 percent during the same period.
🌳 Chainsaw amnesty protects rainforest in Borneo by exchanging chainsaws for healthcare
279 loggers have turned in their chainsaws since 2017. The program has reduced deforestation by 70 percent over 10 years. The initiative combines environmental protection with improved access to healthcare for local communities.
🚢 Plastic in the Pacific Ocean can be cleaned up in ten years, according to Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup foundation has shown that all plastic in the Pacific Ocean can be removed within 10 years for $7.5 billion. The organization has already removed over 450 metric tons of trash from the central parts of the Pacific Ocean over the past three years.
👩🚀 New record: 19 people orbited Earth simultaneously
Three people were launched towards the International Space Station on September 11. This raised the number of people in Earth's orbit to a record-high 19. The previous record was 17 people, set last year.
🐢 Sea turtles in Brazil become healthier as water quality improves
Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay show better health after cleaning efforts. A tumor disease in turtles has decreased since 2023. Investments of over 300 million dollars have been made to clean the water in the area.
🐦 Endangered grasshopper sparrow on the road to recovery
The number of grasshopper sparrows in Florida has increased from 80 to 200 individuals in five years. The 1000th captive-bred sparrow was recently released into the wild. Over 15 percent of the released birds survive and reproduce successfully.
👩🚀 First private spacewalk conducted by SpaceX
SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission performed the first ever commercial spacewalk. The crew reached an altitude of nearly 1400 km, higher than any other manned spaceflight since the Apollo program. The mission tested new SpaceX equipment and conducted 36 scientific experiments.
💉 World's first lung cancer vaccine being tested in clinical trials
Clinical trials of an mRNA vaccine against lung cancer have begun in seven countries. The vaccine is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease. Approximately 130 patients will participate in the study and receive the vaccine along with immunotherapy.
🚀 New company aims for groundbreaking asteroid mining
AstroForge has secured $40 million in funding for asteroid mining. The company plans two missions: Odin to pass by an asteroid and Vestri to land on one. AstroForge aims to be the first to commercially explore metal-rich asteroids.
🔋 Solar energy and battery storage set to double in the US this year
The US is expected to install twice as much solar energy and battery storage as last year. Growth for solar energy and battery storage is accelerating despite increased adoption. A total of 38 GW new solar energy capacity and 14.7 GW battery storage capacity is expected to be added during 2024.
🦾 AI avatars protect journalists in Venezuela
AI-created news anchors are used to protect journalists in Venezuela. The initiative involves approximately 20 Venezuelan news media and 100 journalists. The digital presenters report on government actions against opposition and media.
⛅ Solar energy cost reduction continues despite temporary obstacles
The cost of solar panels has decreased by about 12 percent per year for several decades. Despite short-term cost increases, the long-term trend points towards continued cost reduction. A potential 8-fold reduction in the total cost of solar energy.
🍫 Breakthrough: Chocolate without sugar is no longer a bitter dream
Researchers in Switzerland have developed a method to produce chocolate without added sugar. The entire cocoa fruit is used in the process, which reduces food waste. The method can increase income for cocoa farmers and create jobs in countries of origin.
🥵 Reduced mortality in heat waves
Heat waves cause many deaths globally – but the trend is pointing downward. The number of deaths per capita caused by heat waves decreased by 7.2% per decade globally.
⚡ Baseload Capital to invest $60 million in geothermal energy - IKEA and Bezos among investors
Baseload Capital secures $60 million in a Series B funding round. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that can deliver electricity, heat, and cooling 24 hours a day, all year round.
🔥 BurnBot performs controlled burns to reduce the risk of forest fires
BurnBot has developed a robot that performs controlled burns without flames and smoke. The robot reduces the need for personnel and minimizes the risk of fire spreading uncontrollably.
🎨 New study: AI increases artists' productivity and creativity
Artists using AI tools produce 50 percent more artworks. Artworks created with AI assistance receive 50 percent more appreciation from other users. The study shows that human ability to generate ideas and filter results is crucial for success with AI tools.
🏝️ Several atolls are growing despite rising sea levels
Scientists have discovered that many coral islands are growing or maintaining their size despite rising sea levels. Over 1000 islands have been studied and shown surprising resilience to sea level rise.
💡 AI solves difficult problem of how molecules react to light – may lead to better solar cells and LED lights
Researchers at DeepMind have used AI to create a new method for calculating how molecules behave when hit by light. The technology could lead to improvements in solar cells, LED lights, and other light-sensitive technologies.
🔋 Solar power and batteries help Texas handle record-high energy consumption during heat waves
Texas power grid has broken new records for electricity consumption during the summer of 2024. Solar power has met record-high demand during the day, and batteries have covered the need in the evening.
Other texts
🧐 I've built an AI book editor (that yells at me like Steve Jobs)
The AI editor is my digital twin. It understands me and my vision, and brings out my very best.
👨💻 The Angry Optimist's guide to building your own AI editor
How to create an AI editor that knows you and helps you level up your writing to a new level. It's easy and requires no prior knowledge.
💡 Musings of the Angry Optimist: Wuuut, is AI making artists more creative?!
Even someone without talent can be right sometimes. And shocking news about French farmers.
🙉 Don't get swept away by short-sighted pessimism
Many opinions are based on the tree one is staring at. Instead, take a step back and see the forest. In space, AI, and batteries, I zoom out from the chatter and try to see what's actually happening.
🧙♀️ Harari is trying to create a myth
In Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari tells about harmful myths. At the same time, he's trying to create his own myth. The one about our downfall.
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