What went right this week: the good news that matters

Various indexes try to gauge how humanity is faring mentally, measuring everything from happiness and wellbeing to life satisfaction. Now there’s a new yardstick in the mix.

The Global Flourishing Study aims to fill in the gaps left by existing research by examining all aspects of people’s lives, from personal relationships to their sense of meaning and purpose. Harvard University, US, quizzed more than 200,000 people across 22 nations to build up a picture of human flourishing globally. 

The research is underpinned by the notion that flourishing isn’t just about feeling good, but about functioning well, too. Over time, the five-year study aims to identify what helps and hinders human flourishing.

Indonesia is currently setting the benchmark: the country had the highest mean score in the inaugural study, followed by Mexico and the Philippines. The lowest were in Japan, Turkey and the UK. 

Measuring wellbeing is a notoriously tricky business and the Global Flourishing Study has blind spots, namely its narrow scope of just 22 countries. However, anyone can do a self-assessment as Harvard has made its 12-question survey accessible online to all.

“By identifying and nurturing factors that empower individuals and communities to thrive, we can transform how societies approach conflict, cooperation, and the shared pursuit of wellbeing,” said Dr Tyler VanderWeele, director of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. 

Image: Tyler Morgan

The world’s biggest polluter has committed to producing a comprehensive emissions reduction plan by November, covering – for the first time – all economic sectors and greenhouse gases. 

During a virtual meeting of world leaders, President Xi Jinping said that “no matter how the international situation changes, China will not slow down its efforts to address climate change”.

China previously committed to “carbon neutrality before 2060”, but that net zero target did not cover methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. The country has since dramatically scaled its clean-tech sector, with some experts predicting that its emissions have peaked. 

Xi’s comments have been welcomed by some observers, particularly in light of recent backsliding by the US – the world’s second largest emitter – but it remains to be seen how ambitious the targets will be. China has committed to publishing its emissions reduction plan before the Cop30 climate conference in November. 

Image: Li Yang

Regular exercise helps mitigate the detrimental effects of cancer treatment, such as brain fog and nerve damage, according to the most comprehensive review of its kind.

An overarching analysis of existing research found that exercise in people with cancer also enhances sleep quality, psychological wellbeing, physiological functioning and social interaction, “improving overall quality of life”. 

Types of exercise studied included aerobic and resistance exercise, high-intensity interval training, tai chi and yoga. The research, led by China Medical University, was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. 

“Compared with usual care or no exercise, moderate- to high-certainty evidence supported the view that exercise significantly mitigates adverse events associated with cancer and its treatments,” the review concluded.  

Image: Yaroslav Shuraev

Almost every new home in England will be fitted with solar panels from 2027, under new plans expected to be announced by the UK government.  

Two in five newbuild properties in England are already fitted with solar. Under the new rules, developers will be obliged to equip all new homes with PV panels, although there will be exemptions if plots are not suitable. 

Fitting solar as standard will add an estimated £3,000-£4,000 to the cost of a property, with homeowners expected to recoup that cost in energy savings over four years. 

“For too long we’ve wasted the free energy that falls on the roofs of houses every single day,” said Lily Rose Ellis, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner. “Now, people living in new build homes will save hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills, thanks to this common-sense decision from the government.”

The policy, which is opposed by some housebuilders, was welcomed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. “The UK’s millions of roofs have the potential to generate huge amounts of cheap and sustainable energy, slash people’s bills and ensure we make the best use of our finite supply of land,” said the charity’s chief executive, Roger Mortlock.  

Image: Vivint Solar

Despite the rallying cry of “drill baby, drill” from certain world leaders, captains of industry overwhelmingly believe that the future is renewables not fossil fuels.

That’s according to a global poll of 1,500 business leaders in 15 countries, which found that 97% support the clean energy transition. Not only that, 77% of those surveyed regarded renewables as a key to economic growth, while 75% saw clean energy as instrumental in job creation.

The study by Savanta, a UK-based market research consultancy, also showed that the majority of businesses (52%) are prepared to relocate if their country fails to deliver clear energy access. 

“Companies embracing renewable energy today are positioning themselves to succeed tomorrow — driving greater competitiveness, accelerating innovation and unlocking long-term cost savings,” said Stuart Lemmon, global head of sustainability at the electrical equipment firm Schneider Electric. 

“Renewable energy isn’t merely good sustainability practice; it’s an essential strategy for businesses committed to growth, resilience and long-term success.”

Image: Artur Zudin

Scientists have mimicked the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in a lab using living human brain tissue, a development that they hope will speed up a cure for the condition. 

In a world first, human brain tissue – collected during routine neurosurgery operations – was exposed to a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s to show how it damages connections between the brain. 

This innovative approach offers a rare opportunity to investigate the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, making it easier to test new drugs and potentially boosting the chances of finding ones that work.

“We believe this tool could help accelerate findings from the lab into patients, bringing us one step closer to a world free from the heartbreak of dementia,” said lead researcher Dr Claire Durrant from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 

The results were published in the journal Nature Communications. 

Image: RDNE Stock project

A charismatic kingfisher that was extinct in the wild has laid eggs outdoors for the first time in almost four decades.

Nine young Sihek – also known as Guam kingfishers – were released last year on Palmyra, a near-pristine tropical wilderness in the Pacific. Hand reared by zoologists, the birds are native to Guam, but have not been seen there since 1988 following the introduction of the predatory brown tree snake.   

The Sihek Recovery Program launched to bring the birds back to the wild. Led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), it chalked up a big win when it released nine of the kingfishers last year. Now, in further good news, three pairs have laid eggs.   

“The birds are not only surviving on Palmyra Atoll, they’re already starting the next stage of their journey,” said Dr Caitlin Andrews, a bird conservation scientist for TNS and the Zoological Society of London. “Their strength provides hope they will one day be back on Guam.” 

Image: Jonny Shepherd

The French capital’s radical policies to curb car use and promote cycling have significantly reduced the number of premature deaths linked to air pollution. 

According to a report by Air Parif, a pollution-monitoring NGO, concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have decreased by 55% and 50% respectively since 2005.  As a result, it says, the number of premature deaths has fallen by around a third. 

Under mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris has been transformed, with many roads now closed to cars and parking spaces replaced with cycle lanes. Parisians voted in favour of charging SUV owners more to park their cars, and more recently said ‘oui’ to closing more roads to motor vehicles. 

Image: Juan Ordonez

Electric vehicles (EVs) kept the lights on in people’s homes this week as Spain and Portugal experienced an unprecedented power outage.  

The cause of this week’s blackout has yet to be established. However, it highlighted the potential for EVs to power up properties. 

A growing number of EVs come with V2G (vehicle to grid) or V2H (vehicle to home) functionality, enabling them to export their charge. According to analysis by the UK’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), motorists could make £630 a year by selling their EV’s power back to the grid at peak times when electricity is more expensive. Octopus Energy is among those offering export tariffs. 

“More and more EVs are arriving on the market that are capable of returning power to the home,” said Colin Walker, head of transport at the ECIU. “Owners… [can] charge their cars when electricity is cheap and sell it back to the grid when demand is higher, earning them hundreds of pounds a year.”

Image: Andrew Roberts
Main image: Fariz Fadillah Afdhal