Things aren't as bad as they seem.

Sweden plans to ban PFAS in consumer goods including clothing, cosmetics, kitchenware, waterproofing agents and ski wax from 1 January 2028. The national measure would move ahead of broader EU rules on chemicals linked to cancers, fertility problems, immune disruption and persistent pollution.

Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

29.07.2026

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Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

17.11.2025

Italian “fruit detective” rescues 150 ancient varieties to bolster climate resilience

Isabella Dalla Ragione scours forgotten orchards and Renaissance paintings to revive 150 heirloom fruits — apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches and more. These resilient varieties may help future-proof farming against changing climates.

17.11.2025

Malaga’s former carriage horses begin peaceful retirement in sanctuary

Sixteen horses, once pulling tourist carriages in Malaga, have been rescued after the city revoked all 25 carriage‑licenses. They now live in a sanctuary in Antequera, where they receive care and recovery — a major win for animal welfare.

16.11.2025

Plants may help you slow those “age bursts” in your 40s and 60s

Recent research suggests that aging isn’t always gradual — around ages 44 and 60, people can experience sharp biological changes in metabolism, immunity, and more. A diet rich in plants — leafy greens, whole grains, and legumes — may help ease those bursts.

16.11.2025

Pope returns Indigenous artifacts to Canada in powerful reconciliation move

The Vatican has handed over 62 sacred Indigenous items — including an Inuit kayak, wampum belts, war clubs, and masks — to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. The gesture is described as a “concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity” after decades of cultural suppression.

16.11.2025

Ghana makes mother-tongue instruction compulsory in early schools

Ghana’s Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed that local languages must now be used to teach children in kindergarten through Primary Three. The change aims to improve understanding, protect cultural identity, and lift learning outcomes.

16.11.2025

Light-powered therapy spots cancer and leaves healthy cells intact

Scientists at University of Texas at Austin and University of Porto have developed a near-infrared LED treatment that uses tin-oxide nanoflakes to kill up to 92% of skin-cancer cells and 50% of colorectal-cancer cells in just 30 minutes, while healthy cells remain unaffected.

16.11.2025

European Parliament to allow proxy voting during maternity leave

MEPs have backed a proposal to let pregnant or newly-parenting parliamentarians delegate their votes to a trusted colleague up to three months before birth and six months after. It’s a major step toward gender equality and supporting mothers in political life.

12.11.2025

Urban living re-imagined: a landmark housing for over-65s in London

In Southwark, London the 59-flat project by Witherford Watson Mann Architects and United St Saviour’s Charity — awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2025 — places spacious homes for over-65s around a lush courtyard with shared terraces and garden rooms directly on the high street, reframing later-life housing as vibrant, connected and dignified.

12.11.2025

Australia to offer at least three hours of free solar electricity daily

Starting July 2026, Australian households in New South Wales, South-East Queensland and South Australia will receive at least three hours of free solar power each day under the “Solar Sharer” scheme—even if they don’t own solar panels.

12.11.2025

Ice-battery cooling: smart tech trims building energy bills by ~40%

Commercial buildings are installing systems that freeze water overnight when electricity is cheap and then use that stored cold to cool spaces during peak hours. Big savings: one tower in Manhattan carries 500 000 lbs of ice under its floor. It’s working at more than 4 000 sites already.

12.11.2025

Gun violence drops significantly in over 75% of major U.S. cities

An analysis of 150 U.S. cities shows that gun violence has declined in more than three-quarters of them, with over half seeing deeper drops than last year. The trend spans regions and political lines, pointing to broad-based improvements in urban safety.

05.11.2025

Prison libraries spread across US cellblocks, bringing new chances

The nonprofit Freedom Reads has installed its 500th “Freedom Library” in a Connecticut women’s prison—now present in 51 facilities across 15 states. Each space contains 500 curated books and custom-made shelving, offering access to literature and learning inside cellblocks.

05.11.2025

Powerful new antibiotic from soil bacteria targets superbugs

Researchers studying a soil bacterium discovered a powerful antibiotic that can kill drug-resistant bacteria previously deemed untreatable. The compound emerged from re-examining a known drug’s production process and opens new directions in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

05.11.2025

Student absenteeism falls from pandemic highs

New data across U.S. states show chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more of the school year—has declined since the peak of the pandemic, yet remains well above pre-COVID levels. Schools are focusing on attendance recovery as a key part of ensuring student progress and support.